stop Windows Installer from trying to install at each logon

  • Thread starter Thread starter potro809
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potro809

At the suggestion of users in this group, I am switching to run my
computer (XP Home) on a day-to-day basis as a limited user, rather than
as an administrator.

All is well, except for 2 things. I haven't found answers to them
online (though they are probably there, so please forgive me if this is
a repeat).

1) To make one program (YPops) run as a limited user, I think I need to
give the limited user account access to the respective folder in the
Program Files. In Windows 2000, I could do this by setting
permissions, but I can't figure this out in XP Home. Any suggestions?
Should I upgrade to XP Pro?

2) My computer's pre-loaded software (in particular, Vongo) is proving
hard to disable. I have uninstalled the program as an administrator,
uninstalled it while logged on as a limited user, and searched and
deleted all files with Vongo in them. However, I may have gotten in
over my head. At each logon of the limited user, a "Windows Installer"
dialog appears, telling me it cannot find Vongo.msi (which I deleted
early on). Is there a way to configure Windows installer not to try to
install Vongo every time I log on?

Thanks in advance,
Andrew
 
(e-mail address removed) wrote:

Comments inline:
At the suggestion of users in this group, I am switching to run my
computer (XP Home) on a day-to-day basis as a limited user, rather than
as an administrator.

All is well, except for 2 things. I haven't found answers to them
online (though they are probably there, so please forgive me if this is
a repeat).

1) To make one program (YPops) run as a limited user, I think I need to
give the limited user account access to the respective folder in the
Program Files. In Windows 2000, I could do this by setting
permissions, but I can't figure this out in XP Home. Any suggestions?
Should I upgrade to XP Pro?
Click to expand...

I certainly wouldn't upgrade to Pro for one program. In XP Home, go into
Safe Mode to see the Security Tab. You'll then be able to change the
permissions on the folder YPops needs. You can also run Sysinternals' free
filemon/regmon to see if YPops needs to write anywhere else and make your
permission changes accordingly. Or contact YPops tech support for more
information/workarounds. Or use something better written. ;-)

How Do I Get the Security tab in Folder Properties? -
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_security_tab.htm
2) My computer's pre-loaded software (in particular, Vongo) is proving
hard to disable. I have uninstalled the program as an administrator,
uninstalled it while logged on as a limited user, and searched and
deleted all files with Vongo in them. However, I may have gotten in
over my head. At each logon of the limited user, a "Windows Installer"
dialog appears, telling me it cannot find Vongo.msi (which I deleted
early on). Is there a way to configure Windows installer not to try to
install Vongo every time I log on?
Click to expand...

Yeah, that Vongo is a PITA. You can try two things:

1. Check with the System Configuration Utility to make sure there's nothing
in there for the Vongo tray app, etc.

Start>Run>msconfig [enter]

This brings up the System Configuration Utility. Look on the Startup tab and
find the probable culprit. Uncheck the box next to its name, Apply and OK
out. You don't need to restart immediately, but the next time you do you'll
get a dialog saying you've used the Utility. Just tick the box that says in
effect, "don't bother me about this again".

2. If #1 doesn't help, install the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility and
remove the Vongo entry. I had to do this on two new HP laptops.

Clean Up MSI (Windows Installer) -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301

Malke
 
Dear Malke,
Thanks for the prompt and on-target reply. Safe mode let me give YPops
(crude though it may be :) the permissions it wanted, and msconfig
(when the "Limited User" was temporarily upgraded to admin) helped me
vanquish Vongo.
Cheers!
 
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