Windows 11 - Smart App Control blocking install of CC3+ v28
Tez McArt
Newcomer
Tried to install CC3+ update on my new machine and ran into issues with Windows 11 Smart App Control blocking the installation.
I've 'unblocked' the 'CC3PlusUpdate28.exe' application and tried to install it via 'Run as Admin', however, it looks like the MSI installer in the exe gets blocked with Windows 11 complaining it is not signed 'correctly' and/or Microsoft don't recogniser the signature.
You can't just simply turn off Windows Smart App Control for a single application install, it looks like its a security feature that once disabled, its irrevocably turned off, saving a clean reinstall of Windows.
Anyone else run into this / got a work around?
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I don't have Smart App Control, but looking at the Update file, it is clearly signed and Windows reports that the digital signature is ok, so why this SAC feature claim otherwise I have no idea.
Considering you're running the update, I assume you've already installed the program. And the installer is signed the same way as the update, so blocking one and not the other makes little sense to me
Unfortunately, it isn't anything I can do to help, so I suggest you contact tech support through your registered user pages. Maybe they either know about the problem and knows of a way to help, or if it is a new problem, it is important that they get to know about it.
So I just did some digging here, running the install and then checking the unpacked files themselves.
The top level 'exe' does have the digital signature, but the unpacked files do not.
Reading the Microsoft info on Smart App Control it requires several different file types to be signed beyond just the invoking 'exe'.
Executables, DLLs, Scripts, Other executables including installers and uninstallers, and container images.
I'm guessing this is the issue.
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SAC is only enabled on clean Win11 installs, not on upgrades.
The current certificate expires 31/07/2026, so we're not overly far from it needing updating in the grand scheme of things.
I've just installed the exact same files on my brand new Lenovo, Win 11 laptop.
I didn't have any trouble at all with them, but they were downloaded minutes before install. Have you used older installers, perhaps?
EDIT: This Smart App Control is a pain. I'm thinking of switching mine off. That's probably what stopped you installing.
I downloaded the updater fresh from my downloads page and I've been working with Ralf trying to troubleshoot.
The Smart App Control is trying to do a good thing, but it's the equivalent of Jail Breaking your phone when you disable it.
Specifically in my case it wants the MSI file inside the installer 'exe' to be signed, of course that might be the first complaint of many, I guess the aim is to encourage all distributables to be digitally signed.
I'm going to have to turn mine off, or I won't be able to install all the very trusted but abandonware apps I use to make new CC assets.