Limited users and Internet access

[Bobby]

Apologies if this has been asked before but can I give my kids access to the
Internet using limited accounts (XP Pro SP2 + all updates)?

If I am logged in then they can access the Net OK but they can't when I'm
not.

I would like to give them Internet access. Is there a way of doing this?

Cheers.

Bobby

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Bobby,

Yes, check their network connections folder once they are logged on, they
likely do not have the right default connection set. Limited User accounts
are not normally blocked from 'net access.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Bobby]

Cheers Rick.

How do I give them access?

Bobby

Hi Bobby,

Yes, check their network connections folder once they are logged on, they
likely do not have the right default connection set. Limited User accounts
are not normally blocked from 'net access.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

You shouldn't have to "give" them anything, it's normally automatic. Did you
install software from the service provider to set up the connection?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Bobby]

It's a wireless network. I connect to a router to access the network. Works
perfectly from my (admin) account but they can't connect using a limited
account.

Bobby

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Is it using Wireless Zero Configuration, or software supplied to support the
wireless nic?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[norcam]

Same situation here Rick! Doesn't seem to matter if it is a notebook or
desktop PC -- no internet access is available from anything but
Administrative accounts! Limited or Power Users accounts won't cut the
mustard. The NG management utility won't even load (in the SysTray) in
non-Admin profiles, even if you click on its exe icon from the Programs
menu or its own NG directory. The NG utility attempts to fire up, but
ultimately refuses (with no error message). Switch back to any ADMIN
account, and all is well again (NG icon appears as it should in
SysTray, and wireless connection works).

BTW I have a new Netgear WG311v2 (driver + utility) coupled with a NG
WGR614 [v6] router producing this idiotic behavior (on desktop PC
running XP Pro SP2). Would Windows Wireless Zero Configuration have
anything to do with this?

Netgear Support seems to point the finger at Microsoft or possibly
"user configuration" (lack of proper permissions or rights) as the most
likely culprits, yet I have never read anything that claims there is
such a limitation in XP. Hard to believe an Administrator would be
required to assign internet access rights to every limited user
account! If this should be the case, where the heck in gpedit would I
do it??

When I talked to the NG tech support earlier this week, they insisted
it must be some sort of Microsoft bug or resource limitation (once I
got them to put down their silly, pre-arranged "troubleshooting"
scripts). They refuse to acknowledge any of their NIC drivers or
utilities produce these kinds of limitations, or require ADMIN rights
to function correctly. Yet ironically, I've seen them address this
exact issue on SOME of their wireless NIC card driver updates (but not
all models!)

So I ask, is this an XP or Wireless Zero config hang-up, or is Netgear
simply blowing smoke here?

Cam

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

They're blowing smoke at you (resources? come on now, this is XP, not 98).
The problem lies in how they've written their supporting software. In most
cases, I do not install any supporting software, just the nic drivers (if
not natively supported) and let Wireless Zero Config do it's thing. The
problem with the supporting software supplied by NG and others is that it
installs in admin-only and you have to change permissions on the program
folder to allow non-admin users the right to read and execute the files
within it. You shouldn't need to use it, WZC should be able to handle it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[R. McCarty]

Solid advice - Just use drivers, not the support software.
As to Tech Support, in many cases it's Tech Guesswork,
scanning KB's for matching conditions. Front line tech
support aren't analytical. Their primary objective is not to
fix your issue but obtain a case marked closed & do it as
quickly as possible to move to the next customer (victim).

Hi,

They're blowing smoke at you (resources? come on now, this is XP, not 98).
The problem lies in how they've written their supporting software. In most
cases, I do not install any supporting software, just the nic drivers (if
not natively supported) and let Wireless Zero Config do it's thing. The
problem with the supporting software supplied by NG and others is that it
installs in admin-only and you have to change permissions on the program
folder to allow non-admin users the right to read and execute the files
within it. You shouldn't need to use it, WZC should be able to handle it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

Same situation here Rick! Doesn't seem to matter if it is a notebook or
desktop PC -- no internet access is available from anything but
Administrative accounts! Limited or Power Users accounts won't cut the
mustard. The NG management utility won't even load (in the SysTray) in
non-Admin profiles, even if you click on its exe icon from the Programs
menu or its own NG directory. The NG utility attempts to fire up, but
ultimately refuses (with no error message). Switch back to any ADMIN
account, and all is well again (NG icon appears as it should in
SysTray, and wireless connection works).

BTW I have a new Netgear WG311v2 (driver + utility) coupled with a NG
WGR614 [v6] router producing this idiotic behavior (on desktop PC
running XP Pro SP2). Would Windows Wireless Zero Configuration have
anything to do with this?

Netgear Support seems to point the finger at Microsoft or possibly
"user configuration" (lack of proper permissions or rights) as the most
likely culprits, yet I have never read anything that claims there is
such a limitation in XP. Hard to believe an Administrator would be
required to assign internet access rights to every limited user
account! If this should be the case, where the heck in gpedit would I
do it??

When I talked to the NG tech support earlier this week, they insisted
it must be some sort of Microsoft bug or resource limitation (once I
got them to put down their silly, pre-arranged "troubleshooting"
scripts). They refuse to acknowledge any of their NIC drivers or
utilities produce these kinds of limitations, or require ADMIN rights
to function correctly. Yet ironically, I've seen them address this
exact issue on SOME of their wireless NIC card driver updates (but not
all models!)

So I ask, is this an XP or Wireless Zero config hang-up, or is Netgear
simply blowing smoke here?

Cam

 

[Bobby]

If I share my Belkin folder might this give my kids access to the Net?

Is that why they can't access it as limited users?

Cheers.

Bobby

Hi,

They're blowing smoke at you (resources? come on now, this is XP, not 98).
The problem lies in how they've written their supporting software. In most
cases, I do not install any supporting software, just the nic drivers (if
not natively supported) and let Wireless Zero Config do it's thing. The
problem with the supporting software supplied by NG and others is that it
installs in admin-only and you have to change permissions on the program
folder to allow non-admin users the right to read and execute the files
within it. You shouldn't need to use it, WZC should be able to handle it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

Same situation here Rick! Doesn't seem to matter if it is a notebook or
desktop PC -- no internet access is available from anything but
Administrative accounts! Limited or Power Users accounts won't cut the
mustard. The NG management utility won't even load (in the SysTray) in
non-Admin profiles, even if you click on its exe icon from the Programs
menu or its own NG directory. The NG utility attempts to fire up, but
ultimately refuses (with no error message). Switch back to any ADMIN
account, and all is well again (NG icon appears as it should in
SysTray, and wireless connection works).

BTW I have a new Netgear WG311v2 (driver + utility) coupled with a NG
WGR614 [v6] router producing this idiotic behavior (on desktop PC
running XP Pro SP2). Would Windows Wireless Zero Configuration have
anything to do with this?

Netgear Support seems to point the finger at Microsoft or possibly
"user configuration" (lack of proper permissions or rights) as the most
likely culprits, yet I have never read anything that claims there is
such a limitation in XP. Hard to believe an Administrator would be
required to assign internet access rights to every limited user
account! If this should be the case, where the heck in gpedit would I
do it??

When I talked to the NG tech support earlier this week, they insisted
it must be some sort of Microsoft bug or resource limitation (once I
got them to put down their silly, pre-arranged "troubleshooting"
scripts). They refuse to acknowledge any of their NIC drivers or
utilities produce these kinds of limitations, or require ADMIN rights
to function correctly. Yet ironically, I've seen them address this
exact issue on SOME of their wireless NIC card driver updates (but not
all models!)

So I ask, is this an XP or Wireless Zero config hang-up, or is Netgear
simply blowing smoke here?

Cam

 

[norcam]

Thanks for the inputs and smart suggestions guys. Limited resources
struck me as a joke too. I'll tell you why Bobby and I are probably
fumbling around for some sort of magic bullet here. It seems whether
the NIC maker utility is used, or even if it is turned off and control
is given over to the WZC, it still remains a no-go. Not sure why, but
it's maddening. And here we are talking of two different maker's
utilities, Belkin and Netgear, producing basically the same
limitations. This is the key reason I started wondering if WZC had a
hand in this, either directly or indirectly.


I swear I have changed the permissions to the NG program folder and
even the IE program directory to allow for FULL CONTROL for limited
users (in my case Power Users). The NG shortcut menu has always shown
up just like it should in the Programs Start Menu (visible even in the
Limited/PU accounts), but simply won't fire up there when engaged. And
of course no SysTray presence for any account but Administrative ones.
I was starting to think a registry or gpedit hack/tweak was going to be
required, if even that would do it.

But I like your guys advice to dump the NIC utility altogether and try
to stick with just the NG drivers and WZC in XP. I will attempt to
uninstall everything and reinstall from scratch tomorrow along these
lines, and report back then with the results (not quite sure if I've
tried this yet, being so busy pulling out my hair). Hopefully our
friend Bobby will report back with his results also. Strangely enough,
I have seen this same issue reported a number of times in the past,
rarely if ever resolved though (at least in the Google/UN threads I've
seen). Who would know it's now squarely in my own wireless lap!


Say it again brother, say it again.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

It's not sharing, it's permissions. The user accounts need "read and
execute" permissions for that folder.

HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions in Windows
XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308418

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

If I share my Belkin folder might this give my kids access to the Net?

Is that why they can't access it as limited users?

Cheers.

Bobby

Hi,

They're blowing smoke at you (resources? come on now, this is XP, not
98). The problem lies in how they've written their supporting software.
In most cases, I do not install any supporting software, just the nic
drivers (if not natively supported) and let Wireless Zero Config do it's
thing. The problem with the supporting software supplied by NG and others
is that it installs in admin-only and you have to change permissions on
the program folder to allow non-admin users the right to read and execute
the files within it. You shouldn't need to use it, WZC should be able to
handle it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

Same situation here Rick! Doesn't seem to matter if it is a notebook or
desktop PC -- no internet access is available from anything but
Administrative accounts! Limited or Power Users accounts won't cut the
mustard. The NG management utility won't even load (in the SysTray) in
non-Admin profiles, even if you click on its exe icon from the Programs
menu or its own NG directory. The NG utility attempts to fire up, but
ultimately refuses (with no error message). Switch back to any ADMIN
account, and all is well again (NG icon appears as it should in
SysTray, and wireless connection works).

BTW I have a new Netgear WG311v2 (driver + utility) coupled with a NG
WGR614 [v6] router producing this idiotic behavior (on desktop PC
running XP Pro SP2). Would Windows Wireless Zero Configuration have
anything to do with this?

Netgear Support seems to point the finger at Microsoft or possibly
"user configuration" (lack of proper permissions or rights) as the most
likely culprits, yet I have never read anything that claims there is
such a limitation in XP. Hard to believe an Administrator would be
required to assign internet access rights to every limited user
account! If this should be the case, where the heck in gpedit would I
do it??

When I talked to the NG tech support earlier this week, they insisted
it must be some sort of Microsoft bug or resource limitation (once I
got them to put down their silly, pre-arranged "troubleshooting"
scripts). They refuse to acknowledge any of their NIC drivers or
utilities produce these kinds of limitations, or require ADMIN rights
to function correctly. Yet ironically, I've seen them address this
exact issue on SOME of their wireless NIC card driver updates (but not
all models!)

So I ask, is this an XP or Wireless Zero config hang-up, or is Netgear
simply blowing smoke here?

Cam

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Most times installation of the nic supporting connection software disables
WZC. Once installed, you will likely see that this service is disabled, so
it could not be causing any conflict.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[norcam]

Thanks for the latest suggestions Rick. Here is what I found on the
Netgear support site for all it's worth, at least in regards to two
other (similar) NG wireless NIC models. Unfortunately the latest
connection utility for my particular model (WG311v2, at bottom) has no
"save and switch" fix listed, and now dates back almost a year, though
they're still selling this particular model in stores new. Sure hints
of a software "bug" on the part of NG, and not in XP or my PC
configuration as they insist. Would have been nice if they would just
ante up to the issue and try to correct it, instead of running
customers like me around in circles clutching at straws. One of their
'techies' even suggested to me to replace the NIC card itself at the
store where I bought it, since it was brand new! Like a damn fool (and
at my wits end), I did. NO DIFFERENCE.

Will try just the drivers + WZC tomorrow and post results. Shame since
the NG utility seems to be functioning fine, with fairly good signal
strength. Might even suffice 'as is' if the PC in question was running
Administrator profiles only. I still find it amazing NG (one of the
biggest NW component makers out there, right?) could be so absent
minded in this regard, assuming everyone with a networked computer uses
Administrative accounts exclusively. Do they even bother to test their
various connection utilities on LIMITED ACCOUNTS before releasing
them???

Cam

------------------------------------------

Release Note for WG511T Software Release 3.9.0
Published: Nov. 19, 2004
Driver Version: 3.3.0.156
Smart Wireless Utility Version: 2.37.26.4

Features

1. Now supports non-admin user to save and switch profile between all
the user accounts on Windows XP Home & Professional (including SP2) and
Windows 2000 Professional. (Windows 2000 Server is not supported)

------------------------------------------

Release Note for WG311T Beta Software Release 3.3
Published: Feb. 4, 2005
Driver Version: 3.3.0.156
Smart Wireless Utility Version: 2.37.26.5

Features

1. Add support ability to save and switch profile between all the user
accounts (including non-administrator accounts) on Windows XP Home &
Professional (including SP2) and Windows 2000 Professional. (Windows
2000 Server is not supported)

------------------------------------------

Release Note for WG311v2 Software Version 2.0.0.7
Published Nov. 3, 2004

New Features and Bug Fixes since 1.0.1.7

1. Fixed Windows SP 2 compatibility issue.
2. Built-in WPA-PSK support was added to the utility, so no third-party
supplicants now needed.
3. WHQL certified.
4. Fixed the issue that utility starts or exits slowly in beta version
1.2.

 

[norcam]

Rick -- you and R. McCarty called it exactly right! Dump the NIC
connection utility software and go with the NIC drivers and WZC in XP.
Works like a charm. I couldn't be happier after a few days of tail
chasing and hair pulling. It was insult to injury with NG playing dumb
to it all along. Not once did they suggest simply uninstalling their
proprietary utility and going with WZC instead! By default they package
their setup to include both utility and driver. Fortunately they ARE
packaged separately in the download package (and on the original CD),
and can be discovered by browsing the packages respectively. In any
case, all seems happy finally and in perfect sync -- both in
Administrative and Limited accounts. You guys done good.

Not sure how many folks you've given smart advice to over the years
Rick, but count me in amongst your fans. Likewise to my friend R.
McCarty on this matter. I think this =IS= the definitive answer and
ultimate solution to shoddy wireless NIC utilities as released by many
of the NIC makers out there. Just as suggested, go with the native
Window WZC utility whenever possible!

says it all. Cheers boys.

PS Hope Bobby who started this thread finds his way thru this maddening
maze too. The answers DEFINITELY LAY THERE.

Hi,

They're blowing smoke at you (resources? come on now, this is XP, not
98). The problem lies in how they've written their supporting software.
In most cases, I do not install any supporting software, just the nic
drivers (if not natively supported) and let Wireless Zero Config do it's
thing. The problem with the supporting software supplied by NG and others
is that it installs in admin-only and you have to change permissions on
the program folder to allow non-admin users the right to read and execute
the files within it. You shouldn't need to use it, WZC should be able to
handle it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

Same situation here Rick! Doesn't seem to matter if it is a notebook or
desktop PC -- no internet access is available from anything but
Administrative accounts! Limited or Power Users accounts won't cut the
mustard. The NG management utility won't even load (in the SysTray) in
non-Admin profiles, even if you click on its exe icon from the Programs
menu or its own NG directory. The NG utility attempts to fire up, but
ultimately refuses (with no error message). Switch back to any ADMIN
account, and all is well again (NG icon appears as it should in
SysTray, and wireless connection works).

BTW I have a new Netgear WG311v2 (driver + utility) coupled with a NG
WGR614 [v6] router producing this idiotic behavior (on desktop PC
running XP Pro SP2). Would Windows Wireless Zero Configuration have
anything to do with this?

Netgear Support seems to point the finger at Microsoft or possibly
"user configuration" (lack of proper permissions or rights) as the most
likely culprits, yet I have never read anything that claims there is
such a limitation in XP. Hard to believe an Administrator would be
required to assign internet access rights to every limited user
account! If this should be the case, where the heck in gpedit would I
do it??

When I talked to the NG tech support earlier this week, they insisted
it must be some sort of Microsoft bug or resource limitation (once I
got them to put down their silly, pre-arranged "troubleshooting"
scripts). They refuse to acknowledge any of their NIC drivers or
utilities produce these kinds of limitations, or require ADMIN rights
to function correctly. Yet ironically, I've seen them address this
exact issue on SOME of their wireless NIC card driver updates (but not
all models!)

So I ask, is this an XP or Wireless Zero config hang-up, or is Netgear
simply blowing smoke here?

Cam

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Glad to hear you got it sorted, I figured that out the hard way some time
back. I've given up on getting the utility writers to code their software
correctly.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

Rick -- you and R. McCarty called it exactly right! Dump the NIC
connection utility software and go with the NIC drivers and WZC in XP.
Works like a charm. I couldn't be happier after a few days of tail
chasing and hair pulling. It was insult to injury with NG playing dumb
to it all along. Not once did they suggest simply uninstalling their
proprietary utility and going with WZC instead! By default they package
their setup to include both utility and driver. Fortunately they ARE
packaged separately in the download package (and on the original CD),
and can be discovered by browsing the packages respectively. In any
case, all seems happy finally and in perfect sync -- both in
Administrative and Limited accounts. You guys done good.

Not sure how many folks you've given smart advice to over the years
Rick, but count me in amongst your fans. Likewise to my friend R.
McCarty on this matter. I think this =IS= the definitive answer and
ultimate solution to shoddy wireless NIC utilities as released by many
of the NIC makers out there. Just as suggested, go with the native
Window WZC utility whenever possible!

says it all. Cheers boys.

PS Hope Bobby who started this thread finds his way thru this maddening
maze too. The answers DEFINITELY LAY THERE.

Hi,

They're blowing smoke at you (resources? come on now, this is XP, not
98). The problem lies in how they've written their supporting
software.
In most cases, I do not install any supporting software, just the nic
drivers (if not natively supported) and let Wireless Zero Config do
it's
thing. The problem with the supporting software supplied by NG and
others
is that it installs in admin-only and you have to change permissions
on
the program folder to allow non-admin users the right to read and
execute
the files within it. You shouldn't need to use it, WZC should be able
to
handle it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

Same situation here Rick! Doesn't seem to matter if it is a notebook
or
desktop PC -- no internet access is available from anything but
Administrative accounts! Limited or Power Users accounts won't cut
the
mustard. The NG management utility won't even load (in the SysTray)
in
non-Admin profiles, even if you click on its exe icon from the
Programs
menu or its own NG directory. The NG utility attempts to fire up, but
ultimately refuses (with no error message). Switch back to any ADMIN
account, and all is well again (NG icon appears as it should in
SysTray, and wireless connection works).

BTW I have a new Netgear WG311v2 (driver + utility) coupled with a NG
WGR614 [v6] router producing this idiotic behavior (on desktop PC
running XP Pro SP2). Would Windows Wireless Zero Configuration have
anything to do with this?

Netgear Support seems to point the finger at Microsoft or possibly
"user configuration" (lack of proper permissions or rights) as the
most
likely culprits, yet I have never read anything that claims there is
such a limitation in XP. Hard to believe an Administrator would be
required to assign internet access rights to every limited user
account! If this should be the case, where the heck in gpedit would I
do it??

When I talked to the NG tech support earlier this week, they insisted
it must be some sort of Microsoft bug or resource limitation (once I
got them to put down their silly, pre-arranged "troubleshooting"
scripts). They refuse to acknowledge any of their NIC drivers or
utilities produce these kinds of limitations, or require ADMIN rights
to function correctly. Yet ironically, I've seen them address this
exact issue on SOME of their wireless NIC card driver updates (but
not
all models!)

So I ask, is this an XP or Wireless Zero config hang-up, or is
Netgear
simply blowing smoke here?

Cam

 

[norcam]

Rick if you lived closer, I'd buy you a beer (or two or three).

Thanks again mate.

Cam

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

And I'd drink 'em...trust me on that one. The thoughts are much appreciated.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org