separate user accounts and settings

Hello all, I was wondering if someone could help me with this. I have windows
vista premium and there are 2 users on our computer. Whenever I load any
software on my side, it also goes on to the other side and visa versa.When we
had xp, this was not a problem as our settings were saved after each session.
So my question is, how do I keep our settings separate in vista? Any help
would be greatly appreciated. Cameron

So to be clear, when you install a program, the shortcuts to that program
appear on the desktop and start menu of both user accounts. You'd like the
shortcuts to appear only on your desktop and start menu.

Generally, where a program puts its shortcuts is that program's business.
Some program installers offer an option to install the program "Just for me"
or "For all users of this computer".


"cameron" wrote:

> Hello all, I was wondering if someone could help me with this. I have windows
> vista premium and there are 2 users on our computer. Whenever I load any
> software on my side, it also goes on to the other side and visa versa.When we
> had xp, this was not a problem as our settings were saved after each session.
> So my question is, how do I keep our settings separate in vista? Any help
> would be greatly appreciated. Cameron

Thanks for your reply, Jeff, but to be more clear, it's not only shortcuts,
but toolbars on internet explorer, the movement of icons on the desktop,
downloaded programs from the internet, and having a program open on one side,
and not being able to use it on the other side. (itunes for example) I have
yet to run into a program that asked me "just for me" or "for all users of
this computer". Thanks, but I'm still stuck!!

"Jeff Smith [MSFT]" wrote:

> So to be clear, when you install a program, the shortcuts to that program
> appear on the desktop and start menu of both user accounts. You'd like the
> shortcuts to appear only on your desktop and start menu.
>
> Generally, where a program puts its shortcuts is that program's business.
> Some program installers offer an option to install the program "Just for me"
> or "For all users of this computer".
>
>
> "cameron" wrote:
>
> > Hello all, I was wondering if someone could help me with this. I have windows
> > vista premium and there are 2 users on our computer. Whenever I load any
> > software on my side, it also goes on to the other side and visa versa.When we
> > had xp, this was not a problem as our settings were saved after each session.
> > So my question is, how do I keep our settings separate in vista? Any help
> > would be greatly appreciated. Cameron

As Jeff wrote, it is the program install process that controls (or not) what
users can access the program. And my experience has been as yours, that I've
yet to have an installation ask me who can use the program.

But there are some manual steps you can take to control access to programs.
The steps I'll lay out won't help with toolbars, however. And I'm confused
as to what you mean my "movement of icons on the desktop".

Anyway:
> after installing program, find the desktop and Start menu shortcuts. If they reside in a public folder like C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs , then move them to C:\Users\<yourusername>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs using Windows Explorer. This will make the shortcuts invisible to other users.
> as to the program exe's, there are a couple possibilities:
>>1. during the install process, when prompted for the install location, rather than accepting the default like C:\Program Files, change the install path to something like C:\Users\<yourusername>\Programs Installed . This way the executables will only be visible to you.
>>2. (alternatively). If you've installed to C:\Program Files, you can change access security on the entire folder to which the program was installed. Using Windows Explorer, navigate to e.g. C:\Program Files\NewProgram, right click, choose Properties, click on Security. Click Edit, select the entry for
Users (YourComputer-DESKTOP\Users) and click Remove. This is the entry
that give all users access to that folder. CAVEAT: make sure before doing
this, that there is an entry for you (or for administrator). The result is
that other users will be able to see C:\Program Files\NewProgram , but they
cannot access it.

Yes, the process is annoying, but's worked for me. If anyone has a more
streamlined approach, I'm open to being educated. Hope this helps.

"cameron" wrote:

> Thanks for your reply, Jeff, but to be more clear, it's not only shortcuts,
> but toolbars on internet explorer, the movement of icons on the desktop,
> downloaded programs from the internet, and having a program open on one side,
> and not being able to use it on the other side. (itunes for example) I have
> yet to run into a program that asked me "just for me" or "for all users of
> this computer". Thanks, but I'm still stuck!!
>
> "Jeff Smith [MSFT]" wrote:
>
> > So to be clear, when you install a program, the shortcuts to that program
> > appear on the desktop and start menu of both user accounts. You'd like the
> > shortcuts to appear only on your desktop and start menu.
> >
> > Generally, where a program puts its shortcuts is that program's business.
> > Some program installers offer an option to install the program "Just for me"
> > or "For all users of this computer".
> >
> >
> > "cameron" wrote:
> >
> > > Hello all, I was wondering if someone could help me with this. I have windows
> > > vista premium and there are 2 users on our computer. Whenever I load any
> > > software on my side, it also goes on to the other side and visa versa.When we
> > > had xp, this was not a problem as our settings were saved after each session.
> > > So my question is, how do I keep our settings separate in vista? Any help
> > > would be greatly appreciated. Cameron

It sounds like the problems you list are the sort that are usually problems
with the specific program.

For example, it's a known limitation in iTunes that two people can't use it
at the same time (see here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93395).

In my experience, I've found that most "toolbar" type programs are pretty
egotistical. When one person installs them, they assume everybody will want
and love the toolbar. Of course, you can control them using Internet
Explorer 7's "Manage Add-ons" feature (found in the Tools menu).

The desktop icons bit mystifies me, however.


"JohnDavid" wrote:

> As Jeff wrote, it is the program install process that controls (or not) what
> users can access the program. And my experience has been as yours, that I've
> yet to have an installation ask me who can use the program.
>
> But there are some manual steps you can take to control access to programs.
> The steps I'll lay out won't help with toolbars, however. And I'm confused
> as to what you mean my "movement of icons on the desktop".
>
> Anyway:
> > after installing program, find the desktop and Start menu shortcuts. If they reside in a public folder like C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs , then move them to C:\Users\<yourusername>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs using Windows Explorer. This will make the shortcuts invisible to other users.
> > as to the program exe's, there are a couple possibilities:
> >>1. during the install process, when prompted for the install location, rather than accepting the default like C:\Program Files, change the install path to something like C:\Users\<yourusername>\Programs Installed . This way the executables will only be visible to you.
> >>2. (alternatively). If you've installed to C:\Program Files, you can change access security on the entire folder to which the program was installed. Using Windows Explorer, navigate to e.g. C:\Program Files\NewProgram, right click, choose Properties, click on Security. Click Edit, select the entry for
> Users (YourComputer-DESKTOP\Users) and click Remove. This is the entry
> that give all users access to that folder. CAVEAT: make sure before doing
> this, that there is an entry for you (or for administrator). The result is
> that other users will be able to see C:\Program Files\NewProgram , but they
> cannot access it.
>
> Yes, the process is annoying, but's worked for me. If anyone has a more
> streamlined approach, I'm open to being educated. Hope this helps.
>
> "cameron" wrote:
>
> > Thanks for your reply, Jeff, but to be more clear, it's not only shortcuts,
> > but toolbars on internet explorer, the movement of icons on the desktop,
> > downloaded programs from the internet, and having a program open on one side,
> > and not being able to use it on the other side. (itunes for example) I have
> > yet to run into a program that asked me "just for me" or "for all users of
> > this computer". Thanks, but I'm still stuck!!
> >
> > "Jeff Smith [MSFT]" wrote:
> >
> > > So to be clear, when you install a program, the shortcuts to that program
> > > appear on the desktop and start menu of both user accounts. You'd like the
> > > shortcuts to appear only on your desktop and start menu.
> > >
> > > Generally, where a program puts its shortcuts is that program's business.
> > > Some program installers offer an option to install the program "Just for me"
> > > or "For all users of this computer".
> > >
> > >
> > > "cameron" wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hello all, I was wondering if someone could help me with this. I have windows
> > > > vista premium and there are 2 users on our computer. Whenever I load any
> > > > software on my side, it also goes on to the other side and visa versa.When we
> > > > had xp, this was not a problem as our settings were saved after each session.
> > > > So my question is, how do I keep our settings separate in vista? Any help
> > > > would be greatly appreciated. Cameron