Installing software on XP is driving me nuts! Please help.

[Alister]

I simply cannot install a software that can be used by all the users on this computer with XP pro!
I installed first from the administrator's account and the software was only available for the administrator. I removed it and installed it from a non-administrator's account, but as administrator and in this way the program does not run because the account does not have administrative rights. Uninstalled again, then gave administrative previlages to the same account and installed as owner of the account. Then I removed the administrative previlages and the software works.
Next, I wanted to let other non-administrative users use this software too.
I logged in as one of these users, the software was not installed for this user of course and I attempted to install again, but the CD would not autorun!

What is the right way to install a program in XP if one or more users want to use it and whether or not they have administrative rights? :confused:

[Erik]

What are you trying to install?

In general installing software using Administrator rights, and choosing to allow all users of the computer to access it works fine. Some software however will need access to certain files that users might not have permission to access.

The first step would be to go and logon as the Administrator, and install the software. Look carefully for an option to install for this account only, or all users of the computer. Choose all users. See if it works. If it doesn't work as a limited user, what error are you getting?

Also, what exactly do you mean by it isn't installing for all users? Is it just that in icon doesn't appear on the desktop or start menu? Or that when trying to run the program you get some error?

[Alister]

I have had this problem with various softwares, In this specific case I am talking about a dictionary.
When I tried installing from administrator account, I did not get the choice to install for all the users. The first step that you propose, is also the first method I tried.
If I try to install as a user with limited rights, I get the well-known menu where you get to choose to install with other credentials (administor or a user with administrative rights). I do not get any error messages. This is the second method I tried.

When I say it isn't installing for all users, I mean that program does not appear on the start/programs menu. I tried to locate and doubble click the executable file in this case which resulted in the known pop up screen saying that an error has occured and the program has to close opting to send error log to micro$oft.

For a software to install properly on XP, does it have to be designed for XP? Maybe this is the reason?

[Paul Komski]

When I say it isn't installing for all users, I mean that program does not appear on the start/programs menu.
When any user sees icons in the start menus they are there because they are either in the specific user's menus or the all users' menus or in both of them. The shortcut icon for one program can be copied from a specific user's and pasted to the all users' menu and should then, unsurprisingly, be visible to all users.

There are a couple of ways of accessing these folders from the Start Button but it might just be easier to access them from the default position in WinXP of C:\Documents and Settings

[Alister]

I realise this and I have tried to copy these shortcut icons from one user and paste it to other or all users. This does not work becuse of file permissons or whatever reason, but on the other hand, this cannot be the right way! Windows should actually take care of this. There must be a way to install a program for a number of users who do not have administrative rights without manipulating with the shortcuts!

[Erik]

For most software that came out after Windows XP I believe that there is no problem. I can't think of any software offhand that when I install as an administrator isn't put into the Start Menu for all other users.

I have however encountered some software that won't run properly as a limited user. Checking to see which files it is trying to access, and giving the user permissions would probably take care of the problem.