Windows XP Limited User problems

[DrZoidberg]

I created a limited user account for my parents in Windows XP, for security reasons.

Anyway when i was using the limited account, about 50% time i start outlook, or double click my computer, a popup dialog box will appear. The dialog box says configuring either 'MS Office' or Adobe Acrobat 7. I have full version of Acrobat 7 installed. This dialog box is annoying as it keeps trying to 'configure' like the completion status almost reaches 100% then it stops and starts over again, stops starts over again. I could cancel but next time i click outlook it happens again.

I have no problems with Acrobat 7 or Office in my admin account. My computer is 100% stable when im logged in as admin, but in limited user i get this annoying dialog boxes that try to configure and never completes probably cause it doesnt have permissions and keeps trying. I tried giving acrobat.exe full control to all users but that doesnt help.

Its really annoying when using limited account, please help.

 

[nsafreak]

Your best bet may be to use the RunAs feature and run the programs that cause those popups to be run under an admin account. Unfortunately because of the way some programs are written they simply need to have admin rights on the OS in order to function properly. I've even seen it in software requirements for various pieces of software that they need access to the admin account. Not great in terms of programming but short of rewriting them yourself there may not be a lot you can do.

 

[RebateMonger]

Try logging in as local Administrator and re-installing the troublesome applications. After fully installing and patching them, try using the Limited Account again. I run Office 2003 and Adobe READER 7.x successfully as a Limited Local/Limited Domain User. It SHOULD work.

However, I haven't been able to get Outlook's Business Contact Manager V2 to work properly as a limited user.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: nsafreak
Your best bet may be to use the RunAs feature and run the programs that cause those popups to be run under an admin account. Unfortunately because of the way some programs are written they simply need to have admin rights on the OS in order to function properly. I've even seen it in software requirements for various pieces of software that they need access to the admin account. Not great in terms of programming but short of rewriting them yourself there may not be a lot you can do.

I'd try this once to let it do its thing, then try it as a regular user again afterwards.

 

[Churnd]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: nsafreak
Your best bet may be to use the RunAs feature and run the programs that cause those popups to be run under an admin account. Unfortunately because of the way some programs are written they simply need to have admin rights on the OS in order to function properly. I've even seen it in software requirements for various pieces of software that they need access to the admin account. Not great in terms of programming but short of rewriting them yourself there may not be a lot you can do.

I'd try this once to let it do its thing, then try it as a regular user again afterwards.

I've done something similar to this. Read up on the /savecred switch for runas. You can create a simple batch file to run the program with the following command:

runas /user:Administrator /env /savecred "path to the program's executable"

Run it once yourself and it'll prompt you to type in the password for Admin, do so, and it'll save it (where it saves, I have no idea). I haven't had any probs with it in the past 6 months I've implemented it in a small lab on campus.

Put a link to the batch file on the limited users desktop, give it a nicer icon, and you're gravy. 🙂

 

[mechBgon]

Or simply elevate the Limited account to an Admin status, run the programs once, then revert it to Limited.