How to install software to all users on a Vista PC

I would like to install a software program to all users on a PC such that
the program is on the start menu and on desktop for every user. I have tried
"Run as administrator". It didn't work. Only the start menu of the current
user is updated. By the way, the current user has administrator right.

I remember I can install under the user id "administrator" on Windows XP to
have the start menu updated for all users. How to do that in Vista? Thanks
for your help.

Jason Chen;552474 Wrote:
> I would like to install a software program to all users on a PC suc
> that the program is on the start menu and on desktop for every user.
> have tried "Run as administrator". It didn't work. Only the start men
> of the current user is updated. By the way, the current user ha
> administrator right
>
> I remember I can install under the user id "administrator" on Window
> XP to have the start menu updated for all users. How to do that i
> Vista? Thanks for your help

Usually when a program installs, you will get to a screen that ask
whether you want to install for the current user, or for all users. Yo
ned to select all users

Note that this is not always the case. You then have to install th
program and manually copy shortcuts for each user

--
dzomlij

___________________________________
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Right click the Orb (start button) and select open all users. You can then
copy a shortcut once and it will show up on all users menu.

"Jason Chen" <> wrote in message
news:. ..
> I would like to install a software program to all users on a PC such that
> the program is on the start menu and on desktop for every user. I have
> tried "Run as administrator". It didn't work. Only the start menu of the
> current user is updated. By the way, the current user has administrator
> right.
>
> I remember I can install under the user id "administrator" on Windows XP
> to have the start menu updated for all users. How to do that in Vista?
> Thanks for your help.
>
>

Hi Jason,

The program's installer has to be written such that it will install to all
users. Otherwise you'll have to install it under each account. Typically,
older software is not going to follow the design parameters and will require
that you install it under each user. Vista compliant software *should* offer
the ability to install for all users and not just the loaded account. Use of
"run as administrator" gives elevated privileges so that the program can
write to and create system folders, but it doesn't have anything to do with
whether or not it installs for all users.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"Jason Chen" <> wrote in message
news:. ..
>I would like to install a software program to all users on a PC such that
>the program is on the start menu and on desktop for every user. I have
>tried "Run as administrator". It didn't work. Only the start menu of the
>current user is updated. By the way, the current user has administrator
>right.
>
> I remember I can install under the user id "administrator" on Windows XP
> to have the start menu updated for all users. How to do that in Vista?
> Thanks for your help.
>
>

Thanks for th response from all. I have two questions:

1. What is the difference between "Open All Users" and "Explore All Users"?
It seems to me that they all open to the same location in Windows Explorer.

2. "Open All Users" goes to the common start menu. Where is the desktop
shared by all users?


"Gary Mount" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Right click the Orb (start button) and select open all users. You can then
> copy a shortcut once and it will show up on all users menu.
>
> "Jason Chen" <> wrote in message
> news:. ..
>> I would like to install a software program to all users on a PC such that
>> the program is on the start menu and on desktop for every user. I have
>> tried "Run as administrator". It didn't work. Only the start menu of the
>> current user is updated. By the way, the current user has administrator
>> right.
>>
>> I remember I can install under the user id "administrator" on Windows XP
>> to have the start menu updated for all users. How to do that in Vista?
>> Thanks for your help.
>>
>>

Hi,

1. There is no difference.

2. C:\Users\Public\Desktop

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"Jason Chen" <> wrote in message
news:. ..
> Thanks for th response from all. I have two questions:
>
> 1. What is the difference between "Open All Users" and "Explore All
> Users"? It seems to me that they all open to the same location in Windows
> Explorer.
>
> 2. "Open All Users" goes to the common start menu. Where is the desktop
> shared by all users?
>
>
> "Gary Mount" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Right click the Orb (start button) and select open all users. You can
>> then copy a shortcut once and it will show up on all users menu.
>>
>> "Jason Chen" <> wrote in message
>> news:. ..
>>> I would like to install a software program to all users on a PC such
>>> that the program is on the start menu and on desktop for every user. I
>>> have tried "Run as administrator". It didn't work. Only the start menu
>>> of the current user is updated. By the way, the current user has
>>> administrator right.
>>>
>>> I remember I can install under the user id "administrator" on Windows XP
>>> to have the start menu updated for all users. How to do that in Vista?
>>> Thanks for your help.
>>>
>>>
>
>

On Mon, 24 Dec 2007 01:47:28 -0800, "Jason Chen" <>
wrote:

>I would like to install a software program to all users on a PC such that
>the program is on the start menu and on desktop for every user. I have tried
>"Run as administrator". It didn't work. Only the start menu of the current
>user is updated. By the way, the current user has administrator right.
>
>I remember I can install under the user id "administrator" on Windows XP to
>have the start menu updated for all users. How to do that in Vista? Thanks
>for your help.
>
Give every user their own machine. Saves a lot of headaches. Comps
are so cheap now, and you probably have spare monitors already.

Rarely Jason will you ever find anyone on these type of forums that
could explain their way out of a wet paper sack.I myself don't know, but
lucky for you I might (Yes,might) be able to put it in language they
might be able to understand.

H e ...w a n t s ....t o.. k n o w, ...H O W ...t o.... d o ....i t .

W h a t .... a r e.... t h e ....s t e p s ... o n e... w o u l d ...t
a k e ....o n ....a .....c o m p u t e r .....w i t h .....W i n d o w s
.......V i s t a t o ...m a k e ....a.... p r o g r a m ....o c c u p
y...... (b e o n t h e s c r e e n ) o f ... ALL ...(o h s o r r y )
.....A L L..... o f...... t h e .....u s e r s .....t h a t .....u s e
......t h e..... c o m p u t e r.


--
drethe

drethe;656075 Wrote:
> Rarely Jason will you ever find anyone on these type of forums that
> could explain their way out of a wet paper sack.I myself don't know, but
> lucky for you I might (Yes,might) be able to put it in language they
> might be able to understand.
>
> H e ...w a n t s ....t o.. k n o w, ...H O W ...t o.... d o ....i t .
>
> W h a t .... a r e.... t h e ....s t e p s ... o n e... w o u l d ...t
> a k e ....o n ....a .....c o m p u t e r .....w i t h .....W i n d o w s
> ......V i s t a t o ...m a k e ....a.... p r o g r a m ....o c c u p
> y...... (b e o n t h e s c r e e n ) o f ... ALL ...(o h s o r r y )
> ....A L L..... o f...... t h e .....u s e r s .....t h a t .....u s e
> .....t h e..... c o m p u t e r.


And the answer was given by Rick Rogers:

Rick Rogers Wrote:
> The program's installer has to be written such that it will install to
> all users. Otherwise you'll have to install it under each account.
> Typically, older software is not going to follow the design parameters
> and will require that you install it under each user. Vista compliant
> software *should* offer the ability to install for all users and not
> just the loaded account. Use of "run as administrator" gives elevated
> privileges so that the program can write to and create system folders,
> but it doesn't have anything to do with whether or not it installs for
> all users.

The ability for a program installer to install for "All Users" or just
the current user is determined by the installer software written by the
authors - NOT by Windows.


--
Dzomlija

Peter Alexander Dzomlija
-Do you hear, huh? The Alpha and The Omega? Death and Rebirth? And as
you die, so shall I be Reborn...-

_*Prometheus*_
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