Please help with windows xp question?

Question

I have 4 sub accounts on my computer and 1 master acct. When I install a program it gets installed into all of the accounts. How can I install a program into just 1 account and not the other 4. Thank you for your help

Answer 1

Basically you can't. When you install programs in XP they typically go into Program Files which is available to all users. What you can do is remove the links or shortcuts from their accounts and they won't be able to see the programs outright. They can still find and access them if they know about them and know what they're doing.

They way you delete the links from their account is:
right click on start and open explore
in the left pane select the user you wish to delete from
now under that user select desktop and delete the shortcut
now under that user select start menu, then programs
delete the link there

Now repeat the above steps for All Users and for the other users you don't want it showing up. After deleting it from All Users you may not have it showing up in your account anymore but you can add a shortcut to your desktop for it.

Answer 2

Install software while in your primary account. When asked if you wish to share the installation, choose yes or check out the check box.
Most installers (MSI for e.g) offer such option.

In case there is no option, just create a shortcut of the software on the desktop of the users or in a place accessible by other users like C: or D: - for e.g

Have fun.

Answer 3

You should be logged in that a/c. you can authenticate the install with right click the install program and selecting Run as.

You could also modify the menu for the particular users by going in c:\Document and Settings\[user a/c]\Start Menu\Programs.