Letting ALL users run a program

[Doug Kanter]

I have XP Pro. I'm the admin account, and there are two "limited" accounts.
("Power User" option doesn't seem to exist on this machine). Here are 2
software installation issues, one which works (the way I'd like it to), and
one which does not. Perhaps someone can explain how to fix "B":

A) Installed Office 2000 while logged on as admin. Afterward, I logged onto
both limited accounts and was able to run all Office apps. The only minor
annoyance was having to respond to the "did you read the EULA" dialog box
for each user.

B) Installed TurboTax while logged on as admin. When I try to run it via
either of the limited accounts, I get a message saying the user must be
logged on as an admin. Or, I can "run as", which I assume means I have to
give the limited user the admin password. Not acceptable.

What's the solution for "B"?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Doug,

The solution to B may be difficult, as the problem is not so much the
account as the way the software is written. It wants to run with admin level
priviledges and you don't want it to. You may need to reinstall the software
using "run as" while logged on as that user. You may also need to change
security permissions on the program folder to give the limited user
sufficient read/write access to run it. This occurs because the program's
installer was not written for this type of user environment, it was written
for an older one that just allowed all users access to critical system files
and folders.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Windows
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Lardy]

To enable a Power User, click Start>Run and copy and paste the following...

%SystemRoot%\system32\compmgmt.msc /s

In the folder tree on the left expand System Tools>Local Users and Groups
and select the folder titled Users. Double-click the username and select
the tab Member Of . Here is where you can add a user to the Power Users
group.
Click Add..., Advanced..., Find Now.
Select Power Users and click OK, OK
Select Users and click Remove, click OK

Lardy.

 

[Viciii3]

I have XP Pro. I'm the admin account, and there are two "limited" accounts.
("Power User" option doesn't seem to exist on this machine). Here are 2
software installation issues, one which works (the way I'd like it to), and
one which does not. Perhaps someone can explain how to fix "B":

A) Installed Office 2000 while logged on as admin. Afterward, I logged onto
both limited accounts and was able to run all Office apps. The only minor
annoyance was having to respond to the "did you read the EULA" dialog box
for each user.

B) Installed TurboTax while logged on as admin. When I try to run it via
either of the limited accounts, I get a message saying the user must be
logged on as an admin. Or, I can "run as", which I assume means I have to
give the limited user the admin password. Not acceptable.

What's the solution for "B"?

I can only tell you what I have been told many times before..."Not
all programs are 'XP aware'". My question is, and remains..."Why isn't
XP "Program aware"???

I have fought with this issue since getting XP. Although I've never
had a crash with it...it is SO stable compared to 98...the program
issue is driving me nuts!

Someone is sure to post Kent's attempt at a fix. Sometime's it works,
other times not. Here it is:

"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.

(you need a Command Prompt to do the below).

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."

Give it a shot...it's worked 70% of the time.

The darn issue still stands, however. It seems simple enough to allow
the Administrator the option of installing for "All users" or not.

I'm sure your not telling me that ANY install to XP couldn't first
come up with a choice box...right?

 

[Doug Kanter]

Hi Doug,

The solution to B may be difficult, as the problem is not so much the
account as the way the software is written. It wants to run with admin level
priviledges and you don't want it to. You may need to reinstall the software
using "run as" while logged on as that user. You may also need to change
security permissions on the program folder to give the limited user
sufficient read/write access to run it. This occurs because the program's
installer was not written for this type of user environment, it was written
for an older one that just allowed all users access to critical system files
and folders.

Ya know....every year, TurboTax has at least one little surprise built into
it. It's the kind of thing that makes you want to reinstate the pillory in
the town square as a form of mild punishment and ridicule.

 

[Doug Kanter]

I can only tell you what I have been told many times before..."Not
all programs are 'XP aware'". My question is, and remains..."Why isn't
XP "Program aware"???

I have fought with this issue since getting XP. Although I've never
had a crash with it...it is SO stable compared to 98...the program
issue is driving me nuts!

Someone is sure to post Kent's attempt at a fix. Sometime's it works,
other times not. Here it is:


(you need a Command Prompt to do the below).

Give it a shot...it's worked 70% of the time.

The darn issue still stands, however. It seems simple enough to allow
the Administrator the option of installing for "All users" or not.

I'm sure your not telling me that ANY install to XP couldn't first
come up with a choice box...right?

What's really stupid is the fact that even though only the admin can run
TurboTax, it still installed its desktop icons for all user accounts. Why
bother?