Can't make restricted account an admin account

H

Hall

My XP Pro system has 2 user accounts. One is admin, with admin settings,
the other is restricted, without admin settings. The restricted one can't
install software.

Some software seem to only work for the user account if installed by that
account. So to make such a software available for the restricted account, I
need to switch it to an admin type. So I tried that while logged in as the
admin id. But when I switch back to the other id, I still get the message
that I don't have admin privileges.

Is there anything else I need to do to turn a restricted account to an
admin account?

Thx
 
U

Unk

My XP Pro system has 2 user accounts. One is admin, with admin settings,
the other is restricted, without admin settings. The restricted one can't
install software.

Some software seem to only work for the user account if installed by that
account. So to make such a software available for the restricted account, I
need to switch it to an admin type. So I tried that while logged in as the
admin id. But when I switch back to the other id, I still get the message
that I don't have admin privileges.

Is there anything else I need to do to turn a restricted account to an
admin account?

Thx
Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=279783
See the section "To Make Changes to an Account"
 
J

JW

it's best to Not change your restricted account to an Admin account.
To do what you want to, try clicking on the program icon with your right
mouse button, select Run As, and then select Administrator. This way,
you can preserve the other restrictions of your restricted account,
while having Admin privileges only for the program that needs it. This
also works when running the installation program while logged into the
restricted account.
 
M

Michael Wayne

JW Wrote
JW said:
it's best to Not change your restricted account to an Admin account.
To do what you want to, try clicking on the program icon with your right
mouse button, select Run As, and then select Administrator. This way, you
can preserve the other restrictions of your restricted account, while
having Admin privileges only for the program that needs it. This also
works when running the installation program while logged into the
restricted account.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------


While this will work as long as you Do Not have a password assigned to the
Administartor's account. If that is the case, then what is the purpose?

If you have a password assigned to the Administrator's account, then it will
prompt you for the password when you right click and selct Run As. Either
the administrator will have to enter the password or the guest will have to
know the password to run it. Again what is the purpose?

Different programs act differently with regard to requiring admin rights in
a restricted account.

Check out the following link to help you understand a users access rights
with regard to groups.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/usercpl_overview.mspx

Hope this helps...

Michael Wayne
 
B

Bruce Chambers

Hall said:
My XP Pro system has 2 user accounts. One is admin, with admin settings,
the other is restricted, without admin settings. The restricted one can't
install software.

Some software seem to only work for the user account if installed by that
account. So to make such a software available for the restricted account, I
need to switch it to an admin type. So I tried that while logged in as the
admin id. But when I switch back to the other id, I still get the message
that I don't have admin privileges.

Is there anything else I need to do to turn a restricted account to an
admin account?

Thx



You may experience some problems if the software was designed for
Win9x/Me, or if it was intended for WinNT/2K/XP, but was improperly
designed. Quite simply, the application doesn't "know" how to handle
individual user profiles with differing security permissions levels, or
the application is designed to make to make changes to "off-limits"
sections of the Windows registry or protected Windows system folders.

For example, saved data are often stored in a sub-folder under the
application's folder within C:\Program Files - a place where no
inexperienced or limited user should ever have write permissions.

It may even be that the software requires "write" access to parts
of the registry or protected systems folders/files that are not normally
accessible to regular users. (This *won't* occur if the application is
properly written.) If this does prove to be the case, however, you're
often left with three options: Either grant the necessary users
appropriate higher access privileges (either as Power Users or local
administrators), explicitly grant normal users elevated privileges to
the affected folders and/or part(s) or the registry, or replace the
application with one that was properly designed specifically for
WinNT/2K/XP.

Some Programs Do Not Work If You Log On from Limited Account
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307091

Additionally, here are a couple of tips suggested, in a reply to a
different post, by MS-MVP Kent W. England:

"If your game or application works with admin accounts, but not with
limited accounts, you can fix it to allow limited users to access the
program files folder with "change" capability rather than "read" which
is the default.

C:\>cacls "Program Files\appfolder" /e /t /p users:c

where "appfolder" is the folder where the application is installed.

If you wish to undo these changes, then run

C:\>cacls "Program Files\appfolder" /e /t /p users:r

If you still have a problem with running the program or saving
settings on limited accounts, you may need to change permissions on
the registry keys. Run regedit.exe and go to HKLM\Software\vendor\app,
where "vendor\app" is the key that the software vendor used for your
specific program. Change the permissions on this key to allow Users
full control."



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Top