Re: How do I give limited users accounts access to certain programs in XP Pro?

Beds wrote:
Hi there,

I am ruuning XP SP2 Pro but am unsure how I grant access to certain
programs for a user with a limited user account.

Can anyone possible explain how to do this please ?

Thanks
Karl




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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Relevant Pages

  • Re: giving privileges to limited user accounts
    ... >> with admin accounts, but not with limited accounts, you can fix it ... >> to allow limited users to access the program files folder ... >>> still as a limited user account and at the same time ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: giving privileges to limited user accounts
    ... accessing musicmatch in a limited user account ... >admin accounts, but not with limited accounts, you can ... i'm one of the computer administrators for our home ... >> still as a limited user account and at the same time ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • re: giving privileges to limited user accounts
    ... accessing musicmatch in a limited user account ... >admin accounts, but not with limited accounts, you can ... i'm one of the computer administrators for our home ... >> still as a limited user account and at the same time ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • granting limited users rights to run programs
    ... >have two children using the computer with limited user ... >When you go into the limited user accounts and try and ... >adminstrator rights to use the game. ... admin or limited at the time. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • User Accounts
    ... one administrator and one limited user. ... available to the limited user and some not to be. ... this folder private". ... the folders are private and some are available to limited ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
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