Installing a program from a limited user account

[Guest]

I have my XP Pro set up with three users: ADMIN, Restricted User 1 and
Restricted User 2.
RU 2 did by mistake succede to install Google Earth on the computer from her
own restricted account. Google Earth installed itself on the location:
C:\Documents and settings\RestrictedUser2\Application Data\Google Earth. It
did also place a folder under Local Settings.
This confuses me, as I always experienced the inability to install from a
restricted user account, as you will be prompted for the administrator
password, in order to proceed the installation process. Otherwise the
restricted user will be rejected in his/hers attempt to install. Newertheless
the installation took place. Google Earth worked, but was only to locate in
Add/Remove programs, when logged in as Restricted User 2. Uninstalling the
program created errors and was impossible. All parts of the program had to be
manually removed, including the uninstall registry entry (in order to remove
it from Add/Remove programs under RU2) and other registry entries.
Could anybody explain to me how the installation process was possible at all?
Thanks!

 

[Allan]

I have my XP Pro set up with three users: ADMIN, Restricted User 1 and
Restricted User 2.
RU 2 did by mistake succede to install Google Earth on the computer from
her
own restricted account. Google Earth installed itself on the location:
C:\Documents and settings\RestrictedUser2\Application Data\Google Earth.
It
did also place a folder under Local Settings.
This confuses me, as I always experienced the inability to install from a
restricted user account, as you will be prompted for the administrator
password, in order to proceed the installation process. Otherwise the
restricted user will be rejected in his/hers attempt to install.
Newertheless
the installation took place. Google Earth worked, but was only to locate
in
Add/Remove programs, when logged in as Restricted User 2. Uninstalling the
program created errors and was impossible. All parts of the program had to
be
manually removed, including the uninstall registry entry (in order to
remove
it from Add/Remove programs under RU2) and other registry entries.
Could anybody explain to me how the installation process was possible at
all?
Thanks!

I can't answer your general question but if you want to prevent this from
happening again, find out if there is an ActiveX control used to install
Google Earth and block it by setting the kill bit or use SpywareBlaster
custom ActiveX blocking. Is this a security concern for you? I think the
Google Earth installation process is defective or "not robust" enough.

 

[Harry Johnston]

This confuses me, as I always experienced the inability to install from a
restricted user account, as you will be prompted for the administrator
password, in order to proceed the installation process.

Most programs aren't able to install from limited user accounts, but there is
nothing preventing a program from being designed to do so.

Harry.

 

[Allan]

Most programs aren't able to install from limited user accounts, but there
is nothing preventing a program from being designed to do so.

Harry.

The limited user accounts usually have "limited access" to system folders
which is why many installers check for administrator privileges. The Google
Earth developers should have thought of this problem. Maybe it should be
reported to them as a bug.

 

[Guest]

The limited user accounts usually have "limited access" to system folders
which is why many installers check for administrator privileges. The Google
Earth developers should have thought of this problem. Maybe it should be
reported to them as a bug.

Hello Allan and Harry.
Thanks for both your replies. I have come to the same conclusion. GE is
running the InstallShield installer, which might be the reason for such a
non-standard installation, with a crippled uninstall facility, so everything
has to be removed by hand (rather time consuming as it includes registry
entries to be found under HKEY_CURRENT_USER, where a "legal" installation
would have placed things under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE handle. Had Google
Earth been MSI-packed, I doubt the installation would have been executed.
Depending on the outcome of this thread, I will consider to inform Google
Earth development team.
Thanks again, guys
Anders

 

[Harry Johnston]

The limited user accounts usually have "limited access" to system folders
which is why many installers check for administrator privileges. The Google
Earth developers should have thought of this problem. Maybe it should be
reported to them as a bug.

It isn't necessarily a bug. The software may have been specifically designed so
that a limited user can install it in their own account; there's nothing wrong
with this. More software should support it!

If there is no option for an administrator to install it globally, that would
count as a bug (or design fault) as does the reported malfunctioning of the
uninstall functionality.

Harry.