Re: allowing limited users to install software

From: Colin Nash [MVP] (x_at_x)
Date: 01/22/05 

Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 21:48:43 -0500

"Paul" <Paul@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:ED09125B-94DA-459F-9137-2A8CD9BB2E7E@microsoft.com...
>I want to have some software installed on my pc by the IT staff at work,
>but
> don;t want them to have access to my files. I am running XP Pro and have
> two
> administrator profiles that share files. My thought is to create a guest
> profile for them to install the software without giving them access to my
> files.
>
> Can limited profiles install? or is there a way to share files between
> only
> certain profiles? I know how to make folders private, but want to share
> them
> with the other admin acct.
>
> The only way I can think to do this otherwise is to temporarily move all
> folders from the other admin acct to my profile and then password restrict
> my
> account log in and let IT use the other stripped down admin account.
>
> Any ideas? Thanks ahead.

If you are really that concerned, you should either be there with them or
remove the files temporarily to a CD that you store in a locked location.
Anyone who has physical access to your system could get any unencrypted
information regardless of what level of account you give them (or even no
account at all.) Some people might call these techniques 'hacking' or
'cracking' but it is pretty easy to do.

If you are only concerned about them casually browsing your files as opposed
to actually spending time to break in, the Power Users group might help.
Unfortunately some apps are written in such as a way that the setup program
refuses to run unless the user is an Administrator. (I've even seen some
horrible ones where the app insists that you log on as the built-in
Administrator account.) 

-- 
Colin Nash
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

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