Different programs for seperate users ?

[Guest]

I have recently set up two seperate user accounts - An Administrator account
and a seperate user account for use by the Kids.
I would like to know if / how I can configure the accounts to have seperate
programs on them.
For instance I recently downloaded msn messenger while logged into the Admin
account but it also appears to be available on the other users account.
I would like to configure the accounts so this program and others are only
available on the Admin account and possibly have games programs etc on the
kids account that are not on the Administrator account.
It was previously suggested that if I right clicked on the Start / All users
tab while in the Admin account I could delete programs (or access to them) by
editing.
However I cannot see how to do this as I am unable to see the programs
listed seperately for both accounts.
I would therefore appreciate any help or suggestions on how to configure the
PC so that the different users have different programs on their accounts.

Eos.

 

[Kelly]

Hi,

If you right click the Start Button and select Explorer you will see
different programs listed under there as opposed to right clicking and
selected Explorer All Users.

 

[RJ]

This is a good question. Especially for home PCs where parents and kids
share the same PC. It is something that Microsoft overlooked, or chose not to address.

There are ways using the local Group Policy to accomplish what you want, but those
changes would affect ALL users who login to the PC.... meaning you wouldn't have
access to the programs either.... even if you are the Admin or a member of the Admin group.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is no simple answer to your question. However, you can try this:

When you install a program in Windows (NT, 2000, XP, 2003),
it can be made available for All Users on the PC *or* just for the user installing it
(currently logged on user).
This "profile aware" functionality has to be incorporated in the program's Installation Routine.

For example, when installing some programs, you will get a dialog box asking if you
want to install the program for this user or All Users, and you can then choose. However,
not all programs have this option available during installation.

When the option is not available, the application usually installs for All Users, although, some
programs will only install for the currently logged on user (the one doing the install).

Now... when a user logs into Windows XP, the operating systems looks at
both that User's Profile and the All Users profile, and combines the two profiles. That is what
you have when you login.
If you look at the Start Menu in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs,
you will see programs listed there, that are not listed under your profile -
C:\Documents and Settings\JohnDoe\Start Menu\Programs. The reason you see programs
in your Start Menu after you login, that are not listed in your profile, is because your profile and
the All Users profile were combined when you logged in.

So how do you prevent certain users from getting programs from the All Users profile?
If you delete programs from the All Users profile, then it will affect All Users (all profiles),
not just your kids, so this is not an option.

You can, however, configure the local computer Group Policy to prevent programs from the All Users
profile
from being added to individual profiles.
Click Start, Run. Type in gpedit.msc, press <enter>
When the Group Policy Management Console opens, open User Configuration,
Administrative Templates, "Start Menu and Task Bar".
In the right hand pane locate, "remove common program groups from Start Menu".
Double click it. When the configuration window opens, click the radio button next to Enable. Click
Apply,
Click OK.
Close the Group Policy Management Console window.
Reboot the PC.

Now, when ANYONE logs in, they will only have the programs listed in their own profile.
But now we have another problem. YOU won't get the programs from All Users!
What you can do to get around that, is to open the All Users profile in Windows Explorer, and copy
any program groups you need from the All Users Start menu to the Start menu in your profile.
However... this may or may not work. Some applications, during install, modify the ntuser.dat file
in the user profile. If these modifications are not present, the application won't work (open).
The only way to find out is to copy the shortcuts for the program(s) to your profile, and test them.

Caveat:
If your kids are knowledgeable enough, they too, can do this. Additionally, if they know the
location
of the program executable file, they can go there and execute it.

 

[Lou]

On XP home, I did the following.

All folders and short cuts in C:\document & settings\all users\start
menu\programs that you do not want the child id to have access to can
be moved to C:\document & settings\userid\start menu\programs where
userid is the ID of the administrator.

Worked for me.