Allowing a non-admin user run a program

[Billiken66]

I've successfully installed a typing tutor program on my Dell Inspiron 1720
running Vista Home Premium. I have no problem using it, but I really
installed it for my mother-in-law to use. She does NOT have an admin
account. If she tries to run it, it asks her for the admin password. I
don't want her to have the admin password, BUT I DO want her to be able to
use this program.

Surely, it is possible to do this with Vista's <Oh so wonderfully new and
enhanced> security. I haven't figured it out yet. Can someone tell me how
to do this.

Thanks1

 

[John Myers]

If this is the same program I installed recently (Typing Instructor for Kids)
then I would first note that this issue is due to the fact that the program
in question is not Vista-comaptible. In fact, it is not compatible with any
version of Windows that came after Windows ME. The issue is that the program
requires modify access to its installation folders in C:\Program Files, which
is unacceptable, of course.

On the other hand, the issue is easy to fix: Simply give your mother-in-law
access to that folder. Right-click on the folder that the program is
installed in, click on the Security tab, the click on the "Edit" button
(administrator access required at this point), click on Users, and put a
check mark in the Modify field. That should do it.

 

[Billiken66]

John,
Nope, the program is Typing Quick and Easy v17.0, and in the system
requirements section on the box, Windows Vista is listed first (then XP and
2000). I would have assumed this meant the thing was Vista compatible.

I'll give what you suggested a try, however.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Billiken66]

Well, that's not doing it! It certainly enabled me to change the security
properties of the folder where the program resides, it still won't run
without an admin password.

I get a window, coming from User Access Control that says:

"An unidentified program wants access to your computer" with a warning
about running unidentified programs. If you want to continue you have to
enter the password for MY account, which is the only user account to have
admin rights.

Anybody got any other suggestions.

 

[John Myers]

Ahh, that's too bad... So, the program wants access to some other system
areas. There's lots of possibilities there, none of which are very easy to
explain. Have you tried contacting their support? Walking you through the
steps to get this program to comply via this forum is going to be hard
otherwise.

In all seriousness, though, if their tech support can't help you, I would
recommend you return the software and get some that works with Vista. The
behavior you describe, althogh sadly not at all uncommon, clearly means that
the software is NOT compatible with Vista, or any other modern operating
system that has come out in this century. Thus, the merchandise does not
perform as advertised, and you can return it for a full refund. That is what
I would do. I am frankly getting sick and tired of incompetent and/or lazy
software developers that try to foist software on consumers that ignores
guidelines that Microsoft has advertised for more than a decade now. Off the
soapbox...

 

[Kurt]

I agree with John, this doesn't sound like a problem with Windows, it sounds
like the program itself.

Kurt Dillard

 

[Billiken66]

First of all I want to thank both of you for trying to assist me. I did send
an e-mail to the vendor on Sunday and have not received a response yet. I'm
not holding my breath, either.

I also agree with you both that this doesn't sound like a problem with
Vista. Plenty of programs, when written to the correct standards, can be
installed and run by a standard user. I think they may need to be installed
by a admin user, but they don't have the issue with requiring and admin user
password.

After some more research, it became pretty clear. The message says:
"An unidentified program wants access to your computer".
I didn't have to look too far in the Vista help for this explanation:
"An unidentified program is one that doesn't have a valid digital signature
from its publisher to ensure that the program is what it claims to be. This
doesn't necessarily indicate danger, as many older, legitimate programs lack
signatures. However, you should use extra caution and only allow this program
to run if you obtained it from a trusted source, such as the original CD or a
publisher's website."

I thank you gentlemen for your time. Looks like I'll be visiting
MicroCenter this weekend!