SIMS 2 + User Accounts + Windows XP Prof SP2

P

Phil

I have four accounts on my PC one Computer Administrator and three Limited
Accounts. I find that SIMS 2 can be accessed from the Computer Admin's
account but not the Limited Accounts. As the game is suitable for 7+'s it
appears that Limited Accounts should be able to access.

In Windows XP, can Limited Accounts be given additional rights to access
programmes such as SIMS 2?
 
J

Jimmy S.

Hi Phil,

|I have four accounts on my PC one Computer Administrator and three Limited
| Accounts. I find that SIMS 2 can be accessed from the Computer Admin's
| account but not the Limited Accounts. As the game is suitable for 7+'s it
| appears that Limited Accounts should be able to access.
|
| In Windows XP, can Limited Accounts be given additional rights to access
| programmes such as SIMS 2?

Some games will work with limited accounts after they have been installed and
run once either using an administrator account, or by temporarily changing the
limited user account(s) to an admin account in Control Panel / User Accounts,
just for the purpose of running the game the first time in order to be able to
install the necessary files and create the keys in the registry that it needs to
function, but may not be able to due to the restrictive nature of limited accounts.

If that mouthful doesn't resolve the issue, use the "Run As.." command instead:

1. Click Start / Control Panel / User Accounts / Create a New Account /
Name the Account: "able2play" (without quotes) / Next Pick: "Computer-
Administrator" & Click "Create Account";

2. Click on your new able2play account and Create a Password for it;

3. When your limited user wants to play a game that requires Administrator
privileges they can Right-Click the shortcut to that game / Click Run As... /
"The Following User": able2play and enter the password. Simple as that!

I know what you're thinking: That defeats the purpose of the limited user account.
To secure the "able2play" account so that it can't be used to logon to the computer:

First you can hide the account so that it won't show up on the Welcome Screen:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_hide_users.htm (thanks Doug!)

Next add a shortcut to the windows logoff routine into the RUN key of the
able2play registry. I made a reg patch to simplify this process if you wish to use it:

4. Logon to the "able2play" account,

5. <ONLY RUN THIS PATCH USING THE "ABLE2PLAY" ACCOUNT>
Save this patch to your drive and then doubleclick it to install it to your registry.
http://www3.sympatico.ca/nibblesnbits/OnlyRunUsingAble2PlayAccount.reg

or

*Instead of using the reg patch, click Start / Run / regedt32 / browse to:
[HKCU\SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] and
Click Edit / New / String value / ValueName: logoff / Value data: logoff

From now on, if anyone logs on with the "able2play" account, the computer will log
them off immediately. They will not gain access to an administrators desktop! :)

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=sz;en-us;top
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________
 
P

Phil

Thanks I will try this

Phil
Jimmy S. said:
Hi Phil,

|I have four accounts on my PC one Computer Administrator and three
Limited
| Accounts. I find that SIMS 2 can be accessed from the Computer Admin's
| account but not the Limited Accounts. As the game is suitable for 7+'s
it
| appears that Limited Accounts should be able to access.
|
| In Windows XP, can Limited Accounts be given additional rights to access
| programmes such as SIMS 2?

Some games will work with limited accounts after they have been installed
and
run once either using an administrator account, or by temporarily changing
the
limited user account(s) to an admin account in Control Panel / User
Accounts,
just for the purpose of running the game the first time in order to be
able to
install the necessary files and create the keys in the registry that it
needs to
function, but may not be able to due to the restrictive nature of limited
accounts.

If that mouthful doesn't resolve the issue, use the "Run As.." command
instead:

1. Click Start / Control Panel / User Accounts / Create a New Account /
Name the Account: "able2play" (without quotes) / Next Pick: "Computer-
Administrator" & Click "Create Account";

2. Click on your new able2play account and Create a Password for it;

3. When your limited user wants to play a game that requires
Administrator
privileges they can Right-Click the shortcut to that game / Click Run
As... /
"The Following User": able2play and enter the password. Simple as
that!

I know what you're thinking: That defeats the purpose of the limited user
account.
To secure the "able2play" account so that it can't be used to logon to the
computer:

First you can hide the account so that it won't show up on the Welcome
Screen:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_hide_users.htm (thanks Doug!)

Next add a shortcut to the windows logoff routine into the RUN key of the
able2play registry. I made a reg patch to simplify this process if you
wish to use it:

4. Logon to the "able2play" account,

5. <ONLY RUN THIS PATCH USING THE "ABLE2PLAY" ACCOUNT>
Save this patch to your drive and then doubleclick it to install it to
your registry.
http://www3.sympatico.ca/nibblesnbits/OnlyRunUsingAble2PlayAccount.reg

or

*Instead of using the reg patch, click Start / Run / regedt32 / browse
to:
[HKCU\SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] and
Click Edit / New / String value / ValueName: logoff / Value data:
logoff

From now on, if anyone logs on with the "able2play" account, the computer
will log
them off immediately. They will not gain access to an administrators
desktop! :)

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call /
Contact
MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=sz;en-us;top
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any
rights.
_________________________________________________________
Click to expand...
 
J

Jimmy S.

You're welcome Phil, I hope it helps. :)

Cheers,
Jimmy.

| Thanks I will try this
|
| Phil
| "Jimmy S." <Private> wrote in message
| | > Hi Phil,
| >
| > | > |I have four accounts on my PC one Computer Administrator and three
| > Limited
| > | Accounts. I find that SIMS 2 can be accessed from the Computer Admin's
| > | account but not the Limited Accounts. As the game is suitable for 7+'s
| > it
| > | appears that Limited Accounts should be able to access.
| > |
| > | In Windows XP, can Limited Accounts be given additional rights to access
| > | programmes such as SIMS 2?
| >
| > Some games will work with limited accounts after they have been installed
| > and
| > run once either using an administrator account, or by temporarily changing
| > the
| > limited user account(s) to an admin account in Control Panel / User
| > Accounts,
| > just for the purpose of running the game the first time in order to be
| > able to
| > install the necessary files and create the keys in the registry that it
| > needs to
| > function, but may not be able to due to the restrictive nature of limited
| > accounts.
| >
| > If that mouthful doesn't resolve the issue, use the "Run As.." command
| > instead:
| >
| > 1. Click Start / Control Panel / User Accounts / Create a New Account /
| > Name the Account: "able2play" (without quotes) / Next Pick: "Computer-
| > Administrator" & Click "Create Account";
| >
| > 2. Click on your new able2play account and Create a Password for it;
| >
| > 3. When your limited user wants to play a game that requires
| > Administrator
| > privileges they can Right-Click the shortcut to that game / Click Run
| > As... /
| > "The Following User": able2play and enter the password. Simple as
| > that!
| >
| > I know what you're thinking: That defeats the purpose of the limited user
| > account.
| > To secure the "able2play" account so that it can't be used to logon to the
| > computer:
| >
| > First you can hide the account so that it won't show up on the Welcome
| > Screen:
| > http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_hide_users.htm (thanks Doug!)
| >
| > Next add a shortcut to the windows logoff routine into the RUN key of the
| > able2play registry. I made a reg patch to simplify this process if you
| > wish to use it:
| >
| > 4. Logon to the "able2play" account,
| >
| > 5. <ONLY RUN THIS PATCH USING THE "ABLE2PLAY" ACCOUNT>
| > Save this patch to your drive and then doubleclick it to install it to
| > your registry.
| > http://www3.sympatico.ca/nibblesnbits/OnlyRunUsingAble2PlayAccount.reg
| >
| > or
| >
| > *Instead of using the reg patch, click Start / Run / regedt32 / browse
| > to:
| > [HKCU\SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] and
| > Click Edit / New / String value / ValueName: logoff / Value data:
| > logoff
| >
| > From now on, if anyone logs on with the "able2play" account, the computer
| > will log
| > them off immediately. They will not gain access to an administrators
| > desktop! :)
| >
| > --
| > Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
| > Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
| >
| > Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
| > Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call /
| > Contact
| > MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=sz;en-us;top
| > My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any
| > rights.
| > _________________________________________________________
| >
| >
| >
|
|
 
J

John

I, too, thank you for this solution. I was aggravated to read after the fact
that my older kids needed admin accounts to play.
John
 
J

Jimmy S.

Glad to be of service sir. ;-)

Cheers,
Jimmy.

| I, too, thank you for this solution. I was aggravated to read after the fact
| that my older kids needed admin accounts to play.
| John
| | >I have four accounts on my PC one Computer Administrator and three Limited
| >Accounts. I find that SIMS 2 can be accessed from the Computer Admin's
| >account but not the Limited Accounts. As the game is suitable for 7+'s it
| >appears that Limited Accounts should be able to access.
| >
| > In Windows XP, can Limited Accounts be given additional rights to access
| > programmes such as SIMS 2?
| >
|
|
 

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