Which version do you use? It works here using vc9/x86

[2009/09/03 16:18:38] [D:\Personal 
Files\Downloads\Software\Programming\PHP\Latest Snapshots\php-5.3-nts-
win32-VC6-x86-latest] [] >php -n -v
PHP 5.3.1-dev (cli) (built: Sep  3 2009 10:16:30)
Copyright (c) 1997-2009 The PHP Group
Zend Engine v2.3.0, Copyright (c) 1998-2009 Zend Technologies

[2009/09/03 16:18:40] [D:\Personal 
Files\Downloads\Software\Programming\PHP\Latest Snapshots\php-5.3-nts-
win32-VC6-x86-latest] [] >php -n -r "echo passthru('php.exe -n -v');"

Warning: passthru(): Unable to fork [php.exe -v] in Command line code 
on line 1

[2009/09/03 16:18:48] [D:\Personal 
Files\Downloads\Software\Programming\PHP\Latest Snapshots\php-5.3-nts-
win32-VC6-x86-latest] [] >


Basically, all the latest snapshots from windows.php.net are failing 
for me.

All the official releases are working for me.

Checking historical versions ...

PHP 5.3.1-dev (cli) (built: Aug 27 2009 23:21:09) Works
PHP 5.3.1-dev (cli) (built: Aug 28 2009 00:20:34) Works
PHP 5.3.1-dev (cli) (built: Aug 28 2009 01:20:31) Works

I'll get the historical updates and let you know when the failure 
started.

Have you got any uncommitted code?

[2009/09/03 16:18:38] [D:\Personal 
Files\Downloads\Software\Programming\PHP\Latest Snapshots\php-5.3-nts-
win32-VC6-x86-latest] [] >php -n -v
PHP 5.3.1-dev (cli) (built: Sep  3 2009 10:16:30)
Copyright (c) 1997-2009 The PHP Group
Zend Engine v2.3.0, Copyright (c) 1998-2009 Zend Technologies

[2009/09/03 16:18:40] [D:\Personal 
Files\Downloads\Software\Programming\PHP\Latest Snapshots\php-5.3-nts-
win32-VC6-x86-latest] [] >php -n -r "echo passthru('php.exe -n -v');"

Warning: passthru(): Unable to fork [php.exe -v] in Command line code 
on line 1

[2009/09/03 16:18:48] [D:\Personal 
Files\Downloads\Software\Programming\PHP\Latest Snapshots\php-5.3-nts-
win32-VC6-x86-latest] [] >


Basically, all the latest snapshots from windows.php.net are failing 
for me.

All the official releases are working for me.

Checking historical versions ...

PHP 5.3.1-dev (cli) (built: Aug 27 2009 23:21:09) Works
PHP 5.3.1-dev (cli) (built: Aug 28 2009 00:20:34) Works
PHP 5.3.1-dev (cli) (built: Aug 28 2009 01:20:31) Works

I'll get the historical updates and let you know when the failure 
started.

Have you got any uncommitted code?

It works on 2008/Vista/Win7 but fails on XP or 2k3. It seems that CreateProcessAsUser is more restrictive in these versions than in newer releass forcing us to check for ERROR_NO_TOKEN.

If the current thread is not impersonated, it has no token assigned.

Can you try this patch please? http://pastie.org/604529

i have just tested the patch and it seems to work, the output i get is:
on windows xp sp3 (all patches)


C:\php>php -n -r "echo passthru('php.exe -n -v');"
PHP 5.3.1-dev (cli) (built: Sep  3 2009 10:04:34)
Copyright (c) 1997-2009 The PHP Group
Zend Engine v2.3.0, Copyright (c) 1998-2009 Zend Technologies

before the patch, it fails just like the report using svn version up to date.

As this bug is the result of the 1st fix for #27051, I like to continue to follow it there instead, less confusion.

A commit has been done using the patch pasted here in my previous comment, using #27051 as reference.

Mark as bogus/duplicate.

As this bug is the result of the 1st fix for #27051, I like to continue to follow it there instead, less confusion.

A commit has been done using the patch pasted here in my previous comment, using #27051 as reference.

Mark as bogus/duplicate.

Quick note here. It is necessary to give a given IUSR_* the permission to use cmd.exe (%COMSPEC%). It is recommended not to do it as it may introduce security issues, obviously. But if you really want to do it, use:

cacls %COMSPEC% /E /G IUSR_xxxx:R