Program installation on Multi User Setups

[thegreencantina]

I have my computer set up with separate accounts for my wife and me, as well
as my two children.

My Question: Is there anyway that when I install a new program, it will
install for all users? I installed Warcraft III on my user for my son. When
he logs in, however... it's not there. I dragged the folder to the "Shared
Documents" folder, but then he has to go there to get it.

How do I make it appear in his start menu or programs or on his desktop?

Thanks in advance!

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

A lot of programs use installation routines that are not "multi-user aware".
Therein lies the problem. Try placing a shortcut to the program in the All Users
account (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs). This
should make the programs available to all users.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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

"thegreencantina" wrote:

| I have my computer set up with separate accounts for my wife and me, as well
| as my two children.
|
| My Question: Is there anyway that when I install a new program, it will
| install for all users? I installed Warcraft III on my user for my son. When
| he logs in, however... it's not there. I dragged the folder to the "Shared
| Documents" folder, but then he has to go there to get it.
|
| How do I make it appear in his start menu or programs or on his desktop?
|
| Thanks in advance!

[thegreencantina]

Thanks for the fast reply, Carey!!! Worked perfectly.

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:

> A lot of programs use installation routines that are not "multi-user aware".
> Therein lies the problem. Try placing a shortcut to the program in the All Users
> account (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs). This
> should make the programs available to all users.
>
> --
> Carey Frisch
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows - Shell/User
> Microsoft Community Newsgroups
> news://msnews.microsoft.com/
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> "thegreencantina" wrote:
>
> | I have my computer set up with separate accounts for my wife and me, as well
> | as my two children.
> |
> | My Question: Is there anyway that when I install a new program, it will
> | install for all users? I installed Warcraft III on my user for my son. When
> | he logs in, however... it's not there. I dragged the folder to the "Shared
> | Documents" folder, but then he has to go there to get it.
> |
> | How do I make it appear in his start menu or programs or on his desktop?
> |
> | Thanks in advance!
>

[Bruce Chambers]

thegreencantina wrote:
> I have my computer set up with separate accounts for my wife and me, as well
> as my two children.
>
> My Question: Is there anyway that when I install a new program, it will
> install for all users? I installed Warcraft III on my user for my son. When
> he logs in, however... it's not there. I dragged the folder to the "Shared
> Documents" folder, but then he has to go there to get it.
>
> How do I make it appear in his start menu or programs or on his desktop?
>
> Thanks in advance!



You may experience some problems if the software was designed for
Win9x/Me, or if it was intended for WinNT/2K/XP, but was improperly
designed. Quite simply, the application doesn't "know" how to handle
individual user profiles with differing security permissions levels, or
the application is designed to make to make changes to "off-limits"
sections of the Windows registry or protected Windows system folders.

For example, saved data are often stored in a sub-folder under the
application's folder within C:\Program Files - a place where no
inexperienced or limited user should ever have write permissions.

It may even be that the software requires "write" access to parts
of the registry or protected systems folders/files that are not normally
accessible to regular users. (This *won't* occur if the application is
properly written.) If this does prove to be the case, however, you're
often left with three options: Either grant the necessary users
appropriate higher access privileges (either as Power Users or local
administrators), explicitly grant normal users elevated privileges to
the affected folders and/or part(s) or the registry, or replace the
application with one that was properly designed specifically for
WinNT/2K/XP.

Some Programs Do Not Work If You Log On from Limited Account
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307091

Additionally, here are a couple of tips suggested, in a reply to a
different post, by MS-MVP Kent W. England:

"If your game or application works with admin accounts, but not with
limited accounts, you can fix it to allow limited users to access the
program files folder with "change" capability rather than "read" which
is the default.

C:\>cacls "Program Files\appfolder" /e /t /p users:c

where "appfolder" is the folder where the application is installed.

If you wish to undo these changes, then run

C:\>cacls "Program Files\appfolder" /e /t /p users:r

If you still have a problem with running the program or saving
settings on limited accounts, you may need to change permissions on
the registry keys. Run regedit.exe and go to HKLM\Software\vendor\app,
where "vendor\app" is the key that the software vendor used for your
specific program. Change the permissions on this key to allow Users
full control."


--

Bruce Chambers

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