multiple users and shortcut icons

[Guest]

Put shortcut icons on desktop by dragging and dropping from program menu. There are 3 users on my computer and the desk top icons do nopt appear on their desktop nor does the program appear in the program menu. For example dragged and dropped microsoft Word, shortcut icon "W" appears on my icon and the program menu no longer lists microsoft word
When another user goes to their screen they a) do not have the "W" icon on their desktop, nor does "Microsoft Word" appear on the program menu. Everyone has to use my user identity if they want to use any programmes that I set up shortcut icons for on my desktop. Even for things like the calculator which use to show up in the menu under accessories until I decided to "drag and drop". Aany ideas how to put the programs back on the list? Failing that what about changing back to one user?

 

[frodo]

Basics of the Start menu:

1) each users start menu is made up of shortcuts taken from a) the

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu

and b) the

C:\Documents and Settings\xxxx\Start Menu

where xxxx is the user's name [his "profile" directory]

the two get combined to make that user's start menu. Likewise, there is a
\Desktop\ folder in both locations, and the desktop is also made by
combining.


2) Insatller programs SHOULD ask you whether to install the app for just
the current user, or all users, but many do not. They just pick one
(randomly it seems!)

3) When you drag something off of the Programs' memu, you need to be
careful. Sometimes you're moving the item out of the menu, sometimes
you're copying. To be sure, RIGHT-click and drag; when you let go it'll
ask you whether to move or copy.

4) The BEST way to get things set up the way you want is to simply use
explorer to open the corresponding folders and copy/move the shortcuts
around. If you want everyone to have access to a program, place its
shortcut in the All Users profile (either Start Menu or Desktop, or both).
If you want it to be provyae, place it only in that user's profile.


Note: just because all user's can LAUNCH a program does not mean it will
work the same for all users. Most programs keep user preferences on a
user-by-user basis (in the registry), so when user X runs the program it
may default to folder X, while user Y may have it set up ofr a different
location. That's generally a good thing.


Managing a multi-user system can be a pain! Many XP Home users simply
have a single non-password-protected account that everyone uses; that way
it looks basically the same as W98 did. But you lose a lot of
flexability, in the name of simplicity. It's your choice..