How set game to ALL USERS

[George]

Using WinXP-pro, have several sign-on accounts set up, let's say: George,
Jane, Kids. Installed a few new games...

The "Need for Speed" game asked if I wanted it to be for All Users (versus
just for self as administrator logged on at the time of installation). The
Microsoft StarLancer didn't ask, so now it's only available to me with
administrative privileges.

What's the easiest way to make it availalbe to ALL USERS, that is, the
desktop icon and on start>programs menu. Won't this take more than dragging
an icon/shortcut into c:documents and settings\all users

Thanks

 

[Chris H.]

It is a LOT easier than dragging and dropping, George. Go into Control
Panel/Folder Options/View tab. All the way at the bottom is "Use simple
file sharing (Recommended)." Remove the check mark from that, and OK your
way out.

Now go into Windows Explorer, locate the top folder of the games you wish to
allow everyone to use, and right-click it. You'll see Sharing and Security
on the right-click Menu, so select that. Then go to the Sharing tab and you
should have two windows (I'm sorry, but I'm not at the right machine right
now and don't remember exactly), with users listed in the top pane and their
permissions in the bottom.

Just highlight each user, give them the full rights in the bottom pane. Do
that for each account you wish to allow access. You'll need to do that for
each program you want shared, and this does NOT allow them additional access
to any files/folders on the system you want them away from.

 

[George]

Thank you, Chris,
Wondered if you have ideas on a few details, thanks.

-there is c:\Program files\microsoftgames\starlancer...would you share at
the microsoft games level or starlancer level

-Does this cause the others to now see this added to their start>programs
menu. And from there I just create and paste-on a desktop icon?

-In sharing, did't see the user's names listed. Did see two choices 1)
local sharing where can drag folder to shared documents...which ends up in
the all users folder, and 2) network sharing...assume we don't wan't that,
right? Would open up to internet

Thanks.

 

[Chris H.]

"Stuff" in-between, George (-->)

Thank you, Chris,
Wondered if you have ideas on a few details, thanks.

-there is c:\Program files\microsoftgames\starlancer...would you share at
the microsoft games level or starlancer level

--> If you want everyone to be free to use those games, I'd share
everything in the Microsoft Games folder (and, hence) and all the files
under the top one. Sometimes you need to individually shall the folders in
a larger structure. You are on XP Pro, correct, because these steps won't
work in the Home version.

-Does this cause the others to now see this added to their start>programs
menu. And from there I just create and paste-on a desktop icon?

--> Depends on the game itself, but you can very easily right-click and
create a shortcut to the games. On the right-click, you'll find
New/Shortcut. Once you click that, you can easily browse to the location of
the game's *.exe file.

-In sharing, did't see the user's names listed. Did see two choices 1)
local sharing where can drag folder to shared documents...which ends up in
the all users folder, and 2) network sharing...assume we don't wan't that,
right? Would open up to internet

--> From your Administrator-enabled account (NOT "the" Administrator) did
you remove the check mark in Folder Options/View for "Use Simple File
Sharing (Recommended)"? The steps are (1) remove that check mark, (2) open
Windows Explorer and navigate to All Programs/Microsoft Games (for
instance), then (3) right-click the top folder (Microsoft Games), (4) select
Sharing and Security, (5) go to the Security tab. All the users should be
listed in the "Group or user names" top pane, with the bottom pane
reflecting "Permissions for (username)." You would put check marks in box
in the Allow category.

Thanks.

--> Hope it works out for you!