Changes in Start > Programs are reflected in all user profiles

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

I have three user profiles established on my Windows XP (SP2) machine. I am
experiencing a frustrating problem; when I drag a program icon from the
Program List to the desktop, in any of the profiles, that change is reflected
in the Desktop profiles of all other users by the deletion of that prgram
icon from their Desktop or Program List. How do I prevent this behavior, so
changes to one user desktop are restricted to the user solely?
 
Hi,

Much depends on where the icon was originally located. What you are doing is
dragging it from a shared location (the All Users programs folder) to your
local profile's desktop. This is why it disappears. Right click the start
button and choose the option to explore all users. If you look here, you
will see a branch with settings that are common to all user profiles,
namely:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu

Within there are folders for the desktop and program menu with icons that
are common to every user. These are shared icons that will show on every
user profile. If you look further, you will see that each user in addition
has their own desktop and program menu sub-folders under their user profile.
These are for icons available only to that particular user.

C:\Documents and Settings\<user>
C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Desktop
C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Start Menu

In a case such as your own, rather than dragging it from the program menu,
instead do a copy/paste onto your desktop. This way it will remain on the
programs menu for all users, and you can still have the icon on just your
desktop.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
My question is somewhat similar. I wish to know how I can restrict other
users access in:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu

When I rt. click on any of them or their subfolders and choose Sharing &
Security, the sharing tab is grayed out. Is this an admin issue? I bought
this PC used and have changed Registered Owner etc in the registry.

Also, is it possible to install programs only to one user account, such as
Admin?
 
Hi,

By design those folders are shared among all user profiles. As to installing
the program, if it does install for all users, you can always change
permissions on the installation folder so only the one account can access
it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
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