Start Up Locations (XP-PRO-SP2)

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Most of my programs when installed locate themselves into the “All Users” Folder.
How do I control this unwanted feature, and force the install into my Profile. It is a one person computer.
What I am trying to achieve is to create a second user with only one item “NTI Backup Now”. The program when run from my Normal Account conflicts with other items that are started from the “All Users” location.
Can I simply move the “Programs” and “Startup” items from their “All Users” location to my normal User Account? And thus leave nothing in the “All Users” Program Folder?
Any forum etc. that explains would be appreciated.

Ted

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Ted,

As far as installation goes into your All Users folders, I won’t swear for all programs. However, I always go thru a custom install to see what the program wants to load and where it wants to place itself. For example, I do not allow a program to install itself on the C drive. So if it gives me a choice thru the custom install, I put it in D:Program Files. Similarly, as to which users the program is made available, most of the programs I’ve installed have a question as part of the custom install that asks whether to make it available to all users. I always leave that as yes since it doesn’t matter to me on my 1-person computer. If one said no, I’m not sure what the program would ask you for since I’ve never done it but I’d expect there to be some additional selection concerning availability for some user. Perhaps someone else can help out here.

As far as moving things from one user’s startup and programs folder to another’s, I assume you’re talking about doing this through Windows Explorer or My Computer. Note that the entries here are just shortcuts pointing to the program. On my wife’s computer, we’ve done exactly that. I have an account on her computer that was set up just for experimenting (I use her account when on her computer). We were having some problems with her account and I tried trouble shooting from my account. For some reason, some programs had been installed in her account’s Program folder instead of the All Users Program folder. So I just moved them from one to the other and I now had access to those programs from my account. You’re talking about moving the shortcuts in the other direction (from All Users to an individual account that already exists). Although I’ve not done that, I don’t see a problem going in that direction. To be on the safe side, try moving one or two from All Users to the individual account before moving the rest of the shortcuts. Also, I’d leave the actual folder for Programs under All Users and just move the shortcuts.

On my wife’s computer, both her account and my account are set up as admin accounts, so either of us could install programs onto the computer. I’m assuming the accounts you’re talking about would also be admin accounts. Note that other account types are limited in terms of being able to install software.

HTH.

Fred

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Ted

The only problem that I can foresee with what you are proposing is that if you come to uninstall the program then it might not remove the shortcuts from where you have moved them, and expect to find them in “All Users”. You can probably live with this!

Why don’t you try moving (or even copying) the shortcuts? If you find problems you can either move them back to All Users, or if you copied, just delete them from your userid.

John

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My sincere thanks to your replies, my aim is to create a profile with only one option, i.e. NTI Backup Now, at present I cannot get past the first DVD due to programs like INCD, Retrospect, Vet Anti Virus and possibly others being active in the system tray. If I create a User with only the NTI program it eliminates all possibly chances of conflict. I had a recent crash, did not bother me, I had 5 backups all by different companies. Symantec’s Ghost (to CD), Acronis True Image (to External USB 2 HDD),
Powerquest’s Drive Image (to CD), Stomp’s Backup MY PC ( to CD) and NTI Backup Now (to External USB 2 HDD). despite verifying all backups none of them worked. I have now settled on a different strategy, copy my personal data to a newly acquired DVD dual layer, use the latest Acronis True Image and templates etc to NTI Backup now. Sounds complicated but after the pain of the last disaster .

I have found two useful links that answer my question in a similar vein to both your offerings, apparently it was common on Windows 2000, but I migrated to XP via Windows 98SE.

The links are:-

AskLeo http://www.ask-leo.com/why_dont_installed_…_all_users.html%5B/url%5D
and
PC MAG http://www.pcmag.com/print_article2/0,1217,a=31810,00.asp%5B/url%5D
Ted

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