limited accts can't play games?

[joe]

What do I do so limited users can play games? (Soldier of
Fortune, MOH, etc.) I guess the problem is that the games
want to write files? Thanks.

 

[Guest]

could be part of it. Games are probably the most complex
programs commonly in use, using the different graphics
cards, sound cards, and joystick, networking, the list
goes on and on. Anything could be the problem, depending
on how limited that account is. They could even be broken
simply because the installation made registry keys only
for the account that installed it. Older games also can
do things that the OS will ban (talking directly to
hardware is not allowed now). I advise you to make your
limited accounts with the opposite goals if its a home
computer. Think of what you want to block and remove it
instead of trying to think of everything to allow and
adding it back.

 

[bert7715]

I had exactly this problem trying to run games with
limited accounts. I use XP Home but this should work with
Pro.To workaround the problem proceed as follows:

1. Logon as Admin and create a new admin account with
password
2. Now you have to hide this account so that it does
not appear at startup therby preventing junior from
logging on with this account. To do this you need to edit
the registry.
3. Start, Run, type "regedit" in the window and press
OK
4. Select "Edit" - "Find" from the toolbar menu and
type "UserList" in the window. Select "Find Next" and
allow the search to take place. Press the F3 key once. You
should now be in the userlist folder in Winlogon.
5. In the right pane, right click and select New
DWORD Value. Type the name of your new admin account in
the space. Ensure that the value is set to 0 (zero) and
close regedit
6. Now right click on the game Icon on the desktop.
Under the Shortcut tab select Advanced. Place a tick
against Run with different credentials. Click OK - Apply -
OK
7. Now logoff and logon as your child
8. Double click on the game Icon and select "The
Following User". Using the pulldown tab select your new
admin account name and enter the password. Click OK and if
all the planets are in alignment and the Gods of Microsoft
are with you then the game should run as a full admin
account.

This allows junior to play any game as an administrator
but prevents junior from making damaging changes to your
PC. For other games just use steps 6 to 8 above