WIN XP Administrator Issues

[kkjensen]

I'm relatively new to XP so I'm sure the answer is sitting right in front of me but I give up! I set up XP as me being the administrator, I gave my wife and son the same rights. I have noticed that when I'm logged on and I install a program the icons do not always appear on their desktop. Usually it is just games and neither one of them play them but if they did it would be nice that they could also access the programs under their user ID so I could password protect mine. Today I installed my wifes new Sony Palm software under my user id. I was trying to show her how to Hot Sync and when she opened up her desktop the icons weren't there...I said no biggie so I checked the file path under my login and opened the folder and created the shortcut...the program worked fine but none of the Palm account information came along with it....so now she needs to login as me How can I ensure that when I install a program everything will populate and be available for all users....or can I?

Thanks,
Kevin

[Psychodic_Greak]

Hey Kevin,

Your correct, this is pretty much a 'no biggie'. I am an Admin for my XP, and my father is the one with restricted access, so when he goes to login, he doesn't have the same icons as me, but the errors are there, trust me! lol, the best thing to do is install every program on all 3? names. I am unsure if the file is available if you just install it on one name, but check in "All Programs" see if the prog u installed is there.

Good Luck,
Kev.

[Hpro]

you don't need to install the program - never mind if Game or Application - three times - just place it in the shared folder that's more than enough and then everyone should be able to play or use it.


As for the desktop - it's very easy to create shortcuts.. and also don't forget there is a Customizable Start menu - depends on that also what will appear and .

BTW XP Admin - doesn't show on Desktop .!You will need to press CTRL+ALT+DEL twice first before the ADMINISTRATOR account will show.!
Administrator GROUP and Account aren' the SAME.
Hpro

[mairving]

The reason they can't see the programs is because it puts the shortcut to the program on your start menu. You don't have to reinstall the program logged in as them. All you have to do is right-click on the start menu, click open (this opens the logged in person's start menu), open up Programs, right-click the new program folder, select Cut. Right-click the Start Menu again, select Open All Users and paste into the programs folder.

This will remove the shortcut from your startup menu and put it on the all users startup menu. Now if they are not an admin, this may or may not work since you will have some permissions to deal with. If that is the case, then you need to give them write access to the directory where the program installed.