1 installation for all users

[Ferran Gomis]

Hi,

I'm setting up a fresh installation of Windows XP professional, I have a
computer shared by 2 users. So I want to make the installation once, and give
the 2 users limited accounts.
So I expected I could use the Administrator account and install all the
programs in the "all users" profile. But when I login as Administrator
windows will create an "Administrator" profile separate from "all users".

Why is this happening?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I'm setting up a fresh installation of Windows XP professional, I
have a computer shared by 2 users. So I want to make the
installation once, and give the 2 users limited accounts.
So I expected I could use the Administrator account and install all
the programs in the "all users" profile. But when I login as
Administrator windows will create an "Administrator" profile
separate from "all users".

Why is this happening?

Because that is the way it has always worked.

Install your applications, copy the shortcuts to the all users folders.
Make sure everyone on the computer has the permissions
(file/folder/registry) needed to run each of the aps you choose to install
(not all applications play nice with limited rights) and create your two
users. Log on as each user and verify the applications you wish to run
work. That's it.

 

[Ferran Gomis]

Thanks!
Will do.
It's strange because I was pretty sure that before reinstalling I could
login as Administrator and it would use the "all users" profile... but I
guess I was wrong
Anyway, I'll follow your advice! Thanks!
Ferran

 

[Robert Carnegie]

Because that is the way it has always worked.

Install your applications, copy the shortcuts to the all users folders.
Make sure everyone on the computer has the permissions
(file/folder/registry) needed to run each of the aps you choose to install
(not all applications play nice with limited rights) and create your two
users. Log on as each user and verify the applications you wish to run
work. That's it.

Does this depend on whether the installer tool for a program is smart
enough to install for "all users"? Or whether the developer
understood that option in the installer package?

I think OpenOffice is one that does right, where "installing on the
computer" and "installing for this user" are separate steps.