Not sharing programs among Users (W2K)

[bobberles]

Well, I got lucky with my last post (Can't setup User Accounts); hope I can do it again.

I thought that all of the programs in the Start>Programs list would be available to all Users, certainly a benign program like Open Office. But it's not so, and I don't know how to make it go. In fact, there seems to be some gender discrimination here.

In Computer Management>Local Users and Groups>Users>xxx Properties>Member of> I gave the exact same Groups to my wife as to me: Backup Operators, Power Users, Replicator, and Users.

And here's a comparison between the three accounts:
Administrator: 32 Applications in Start Programs list, 14 Icons on the desktop
My wife: 28 programs, 9 Icons
Me: 29 programs, 10 Icons.

And the worst of it is that her Open Office is among the missing in her account. I'm beginning to think that doing everything from the Administrator account is the way to go. I was lucky there for two years; how many years will it take me to get this User business going? I spent two hours searching in the two books (MS and Que) and in W2K Help, all wasted time.

Any help will surely be appreciated.

Bob

[motoflop]

When you install applications, they sometimes ask if you want to install them for all users or just for current user. Some applications don't ask and they just install either for all users or current user, which depends on each application.

You could now to copy missing shortcuts and test if those applications are working. Some might work and some won't. You have to reinstall those applications that are not working. Typically those applications work, which doesn't require administrative permissions. Those application which installs important files to profile folder "C:\Documents and Settings\userxxx" or sets registry entries under HKEY_CURRENT_USER might not work. You can sometimes make them work if you copy missing files and copy registry settings.

You can start looking those start menu shortcuts from "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start Menu\Programs" and if you also like to copy desktop icons, look for "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop". When copying them log in as Administrator if those other users doesn't belong to local administrators group. Normal users doesn't have read access to private profile folders other than their own.

If you want to make shortcuts availabe for all users, copy or rather move them to folder "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs" or "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop". You can also copy them to private folders for those new users. Ater copying or moving check that shortcut permissions are correctly set (i.e similarily than already existing ones on target folders).

[bobberles]

Many thanks again, motoflop.

I spent a good part of the day exploring the computer, rather than the books, and came pretty close to the same conclusion that you did. The first thing I did was copy the OO shortcut to my wife's account and that worked fine. So now she's happy.

Then I explored the rest and learned a lot more. For example, I've often wondered why the desktop shows three sets of alphabetically arranged icons. But I never got around to pursuing it. Now I know; the first is system stuff, the second is All Users and the third is Administrator.

So next I will be copying more shortcuts here and there, as needed. And then I will pay more attention to where the installing program wants to be placed. I suppose it would be better now to make my installs from my account rather than the Admin account (which was all I had until now), do you agree? Or should some, like anti-malware, be installed from the Admin?

[motoflop]

Use your new account for installing new programs. You could consider to use administrator if you install programs that are meant to be for only current user and you make them available for other users too. If you use your account and for some reason have to recreate it, you might loose necessary uninstall information. Then you cannot uninstall those programs.

Also if your new account is not member of local administrators, you might still have to use administrator to install some critical applications.

[bobberles]

OK, thanks again for all your help.

Bob