Install programs while logged in as Admin or not?

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I have always installed programs while logged in as an administrator user rather than using “Run as admin” on the installer.  What are you thoughts on that practice?  I have always done because of some failures of programs for function properly for all of the PC users when installed that way.  That practice goes back a lot of years so I’m wondering about continuing it on my new Win11 laptop.

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I prefer using run as admin instead and find it generally works for me.  But as long as you are not browsing while logged in as admin and do as few things as possible other than software installs as admin you will probably be fine.

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Peobody

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Peobody wrote:

I have always installed programs while logged in as an administrator user rather than using “Run as admin” on the installer. What are you thoughts on that practice?

I run routinely as a Standard user.  There are maybe a handful of programs I have come across over the years that won’t install unless logged in as a member of the Administrators group, and those have always popped up a dialog box saying as much.

I use Run as administrator.  Other than those I mentioned above, the programs installed using Run as administrator have always worked just fine.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Peobody

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</cough> QuickBooks </cough>

I see mainly Accounting software that still wants admin rights and then you have to go back and log in with standard rights after it’s been installed.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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As a matter of good practice, I never login in with an admin account unless it is absolutely necessary, and it rarely is. If installing a program from a GUI, the UAC prompt to elevate will almost always appear. I’ve seen software titles where the full admin login is required, but IMHO that is bad coding.

However, if I am installing from a batch file, I launch an elevated command prompt and run the .cmd file or files. Many of those would trigger a UAC prompt, but if installing multiple programs it’s convenient to elevate once.

I worked at one company where the “official” method of installing one item was to make the end user an admin, install, then revert the account to standard. That’s a red flag. Sure enough, the vendor’s publicly available KB featured installation instructions that did not need such IT malpractice.

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windbg

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driftless wrote:

make the end user an admin, install, then revert the account to standard.

I have found this to be the only way to get Garmin software to install properly.  It acts like it only fully installs for the user running the installer yet it requires admin privileges to install. This on Win10 Home.  I have had problems when installing or upgrading using “Run as admin” and while logged in as “Admin”.  I must first elevate my privileges, do the install or upgrade, then change back to a standard user.  The software will not run when logged in as the “Admin” user.  Garmin software is what was on my mind when I started this thread.  I will soon want to install it on a new Win11 Pro laptop.  I acknowledge that an anomaly in the original installation may have led to the privilege elevation issue so your feedback will help me to decide whether to attempt the install using “Run as admin” or just elevate privilege like I’ve been doing.

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Garmin’s site is not particularly helpful. However, ManageEngine (a reputable product suite) often shows methods for silent installations for use with their software distribution feature. ME mentions the following for silent installation:

GarminExpress.exe /install /quiet /norestart

Out of curiosity, I installed this (version 7.22) on Win11 Pro, using an elevated prompt. A dialog appeared prompting to install .NET 2.0/3.0 (suspicious, and I dismissed that without installing). Once the install concluded, I was able to launch the application as a standard user, with what appears to be a normal window offering to add a Garmin device. Since I have none of those I can’t test further but this may well work for you.

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Peobody

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Awesome!  I have noted your response and added it to other notes I’ll be working through as I setup my new laptop.  Thank you for your effort.

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driftless

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