Users unable to start game

K

Kevin

Hi,
I have administrator rights on our home pc with the rest
of the family being users.
I recently installed a game on the pc which I can play.
Unfortunately other users are asked for the licence key
each time they try to start the game and then receive the
message 'unable to access registry'. This can be solved
if they are given admin rights which I do not want to
give [users aged 4 to 40].
Can I get around this?
Thanks
Kevin.
 
C

Chris H.

That's correct, Kevin. This is a security issue in Windows XP, preventing
unauthorized users from altering files on the system. Unfortunately, the
impact on the XP Home edition is far greater than Pro where you can easily
give individual accounts permissions for various programs.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

Kevin said:
I think I found the solution in article 307091.

-----Original Message-----
Hi,
I have administrator rights on our home pc with the rest
of the family being users.
I recently installed a game on the pc which I can play.
Unfortunately other users are asked for the licence key
each time they try to start the game and then receive the
message 'unable to access registry'. This can be solved
if they are given admin rights which I do not want to
give [users aged 4 to 40].
Can I get around this?
Thanks
Kevin.


.
 
Y

yuri1

Where do you find article 307091? I have the same problem
where my limited users can not run games that I install
as the administrator. I don't like how the account
managment features in XP home. I might just switch all
users to admininsrators to get around this annoyance.
Y1
-----Original Message-----
That's correct, Kevin. This is a security issue in Windows XP, preventing
unauthorized users from altering files on the system. Unfortunately, the
impact on the XP Home edition is far greater than Pro where you can easily
give individual accounts permissions for various programs.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

I think I found the solution in article 307091.

-----Original Message-----
Hi,
I have administrator rights on our home pc with the rest
of the family being users.
I recently installed a game on the pc which I can play.
Unfortunately other users are asked for the licence key
each time they try to start the game and then receive the
message 'unable to access registry'. This can be solved
if they are given admin rights which I do not want to
give [users aged 4 to 40].
Can I get around this?
Thanks
Kevin.


.


.
 
J

Jimmy S.

Hi yuri1,

This is the URL for 307091: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307091
You might find this information helpful as well...

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:

What I do is 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.
_________________________________________________________

| Where do you find article 307091? I have the same problem
| where my limited users can not run games that I install
| as the administrator. I don't like how the account
| managment features in XP home. I might just switch all
| users to admininsrators to get around this annoyance.
| Y1
| >-----Original Message-----
| >That's correct, Kevin. This is a security issue in
| Windows XP, preventing
| >unauthorized users from altering files on the system.
| Unfortunately, the
| >impact on the XP Home edition is far greater than Pro
| where you can easily
| >give individual accounts permissions for various
| programs.
| >--
| >Chris H.
| >Microsoft Windows MVP
| >Associate Expert
| >Expert Zone -
| >
| message
| >| >> I think I found the solution in article 307091.
| >>
| >>
| >> >-----Original Message-----
| >> >Hi,
| >> >I have administrator rights on our home pc with the
| rest
| >> >of the family being users.
| >> >I recently installed a game on the pc which I can
| play.
| >> >Unfortunately other users are asked for the licence
| key
| >> >each time they try to start the game and then receive
| >> the
| >> >message 'unable to access registry'. This can be
| solved
| >> >if they are given admin rights which I do not want to
| >> >give [users aged 4 to 40].
| >> >Can I get around this?
| >> >Thanks
| >> >Kevin.
| >> >
| >> >
| >> >.
| >> >
| >
| >
| >.
| >
 

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