Windows sudo PowerShell Command Limitation

When attempting to use Windows sudo for file operations via PowerShell commands, encountered “command not found” errors:

sudo move-item -path AdobeCollabSync.exe -destination AdobeCollabSync.exe.unwanted.junk
# ERROR: command not found

Related scenario: Disabling Adobe Collab Sync

Root Cause Analysis

Windows sudo utility is designed specifically to elevate executables, not command-line tooling or PowerShell cmdlets. The limitation stems from:

• Architecture: Windows sudo works by elevating a new process
• Scope: Only direct executables can be launched in an elevated context
• PowerShell cmdlets: Not standalone executables, only available within PowerShell host environment

Workaround

Elevate the PowerShell process itself, then execute the command:

# Correct Approach:
sudo pwsh -command move-item -path AdobeCollabSync.exe -destination AdobeCollabSync.exe.unwanted.junk

Technical Explanation

Why this works:

1. sudo pwsh launches an elevated PowerShell instance (pwsh.exe is an executable)
2. The -command parameter passes the cmdlet instruction to the elevated session
3. Within the elevated PowerShell context, move-item cmdlet is available

Alternative Approaches

1. Elevated PowerShell Session:

   sudo pwsh  # Then run move-item normally in the child shell session
   

2. Standard Windows Approach:

   # Launch PowerShell manually as administrator
   # Then: move-item -path AdobeCollabSync.exe -destination AdobeCollabSync.exe.unwanted.junk