Question on Desktop Icon Universality

[Guest]

I am running Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2, and all updates as
of three o'clock this morning installed. There are four user logins, and the
guest login is turned on. Two of the user logins are administrator, and two
are limited.

When programs are installed from my login, set to administrator, desktop
icons and start menu entries show up universally. Desktop icons I delete are
deleted universally, and changes I make to the start menu are applied
universally. Icons I create are isolated to my desktop.

When programs are installed from the other administrator login, the start
menu changes are universal, but the icons created are isolated to that
desktop. If the universal icons are removed from the desktop, this happens
system wide, and start menu changes are system wide.

From the two limited desktops, desktop icons can be created normally, and
items created on that desktop can be deleted normally, without effecting any
other desktop. But, trying to delete icons created during program installs
from my login, gives an error message (Access Denied).

Here's my issues;

I like the installed icons appearing universally. How do I set the other
administrator login to do this?

I dislike the issues with deleting desktop icons. How do I allow the
administrator login to delete icons from only their desktop, and allow
limited logins to delete unwanted universal icons?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I am running Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2, and all
updates as of three o'clock this morning installed. There are four
user logins, and the guest login is turned on. Two of the user
logins are administrator, and two are limited.

When programs are installed from my login, set to administrator,
desktop icons and start menu entries show up universally. Desktop
icons I delete are deleted universally, and changes I make to the
start menu are applied universally. Icons I create are isolated to
my desktop.

When programs are installed from the other administrator login, the
start menu changes are universal, but the icons created are
isolated to that desktop. If the universal icons are removed from
the desktop, this happens system wide, and start menu changes are
system wide.

From the two limited desktops, desktop icons can be created
normally, and items created on that desktop can be deleted
normally, without effecting any other desktop. But, trying to
delete icons created during program installs from my login, gives
an error message (Access Denied).

Here's my issues;

I like the installed icons appearing universally. How do I set the
other administrator login to do this?

You don't. You have to do this manually. That's why the "All Users"
profile (directory under C:\Documents and Settings) exists - for all users
stuff to go. However - each program and the corresponding installation was
written differently. Some ask you if you want things put in all users, some
just do it and some just put it in the current user account. In other
words - it's out of your hands when installing most of the time. Unless the
installation process asks you, it is determioned by the people who made the
application and not you.

Afterwards - you can easily move the icons from your start menu/desktop to
the All Users desktop/start menu if you desire.

I dislike the issues with deleting desktop icons. How do I allow
the administrator login to delete icons from only their desktop,
and allow limited logins to delete unwanted universal icons?

File and directory permissions.
However.....

Given your scenario - I don't think you want JUST ANYONE deleting from the
all users desktop (although - an administrator will do what they want, when
they want.) You may, instead of copying things into the "All Users"
profile - have to start putting things in each of the users profiles you
want to have these things and then letting that user delete things from
their own profile.

HOW TO: Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/279783

HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove Special Permissions for Files and
Folders in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308419

How To Create a Custom Default User Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/319974

Doug's Windows XP Security Console
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm

Windows XP is a multi-user OS, even when used by one person only, the
fundamentals don't change.

Documents and Settings is the directory that contains your user
information/documents/etc. It also contains a few extra directories used by
Windows.

One is "Default User" - This is used whenever a new account is created. It
bases the initial setup of that account off this directory.

Another is "All Users" - This is used by.. all users. If you want something
to appear on the desktop of every user of the machine, you put it on this
users desktop (in the desktop folder.) Etc.

 

[Guest]

Thank you, I should have this figured out now. Funny that which programs got
installed from where made it look like there was a difference in
administrator accounts.