Marilyne wrote:

We have recently installed a Windows 2003 domain server. Our
workstations
are running Windows XP Professional. The individual users do not have
rights
to install programs but have access to common areas on the server.
All documents are saved to the server; however, because we are running
various software the workstations may have various software packages
installed.

Some of the software will not work unless the user has administrative
rights
to the server. I have tried several ways to install in the software.
Most
recently, I resorted to the following steps. Sometimes it works but
not always:

1. Set the user to Administrator privileges
2. Install software under his/her username with the Administrator
permissions
3. I test the software and is working properly at this phase. I
cannot install the software using their username unless they have
administrative
access to the machine. I've this test was after I realized when I
install the software as an administrator, the software will not work
for them with their user rights.
4. After all is checked and running properly, I reset their user
rights to the company user profile.

The result is the software will not work. I have two software
packages that will not work and one Vinyl cutter (printer) that will
not work unless the
workstation is logged on with administrative access. We have 14
workstations
and three laptops running off this server. We cannot keep giving the
users
administrative access because the software doesn't work. Can you
please advise what I can do to fix the problem and still maintain
network security.

Thankyou,

There very first thing you need to do is complain long and loud to the
software mftr. If there are any competitive products and one program
understands security and the other doesn't, consider changing.
Unfortunately, this isn't really practical in most cases since the
niche software usually fills such a narrow need. Your situation is
extremely common with this sort of niche industry-specific software. I
have several clients in the same boat - different industries, but same
concept. If runas won't even work for you, then you really don't have a
choice; if you have to run this software then you have to make the
users admins. Maybe someone else has a better idea - although it
certainly sounds like you've tried everything.

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"