Power User Trouble (XP Pro SP2)

[Rebel]

<hr>After mapping the drive I opened My Computer and navigated to S:MacromediaStudioMXAutorun.exe, double-clicked it and result is the same if I would insert the CD into CD drive (Autorun.exe triggered "Install Studio MX 2004.exe" etc.)<hr>

But you are advising NOT to "autorun" a CD and yet here you say "the result is the same" ????? Maybe I'm not grasping what you are saying, but it seems to me that you are contradicting yourself. In other posts you say that "autorun" is NOT the proper procedure and in another post you say double clicking on "autorun" works. Which is it???

I'm really not trying to be argumentative, and I'm really not doubting your sincerity is trying to help others, but to date all you have given us is the fact that this is an "undocumented feature" and contradictory (at least in my understanding) statements regarding the implementation of this feature.

[Rebel]

<hr>"Run Installation Program" wizard does not see files named Start.exe, Autorun.exe and so on on the root of CD. It does not see Setup.exe also if it is not on the root of CD (but in the Setup folder, for example).<hr>

But you are also saying that the user then must "browse" to find and run the setup file. What is the difference if the autorun file points to it or the user has to browse to find and run it?

As well, if your theory is correct, once Office is installed (via autoruning the CD vs. the Control Panel method) and subsequently a new user is created on the machine, the new user will not be able to access Office. Well, that is simply not the case. In the last few weeks, I've had occasion to add a new user to my computer (after installing Office 2003 initially via the standard autorun procedure) and this user immediately had access to all of the Office programs. Your theory says that this cannot happen???

[Cah]

Thanks for the detailed explanation regarding creating a new account. Very useful. I followed your procedure and I can confirm that the trial version of Dreamweaver 8 opened in the new Power User account with no problem. There must be some problem with Dreamweaver MX as it still hung. Also I was still unable to see all my collections of Hemera clipart - their viewer will only find one collection using the Power User account. I think the problems are specific to particular programs. I did run chkdsk and no errors were supported. If I do upgrade Dreamweaver and can find a way to view all the Hemera Collections then I will probably switch to the Power User Account. But for now practically, I can't use it.

Thanks again,

Chris

[Cah]

<hr>What is the difference if the autorun file points to it or the user has to browse to find and run it?<hr>

I don't know about this particular case but I do know that such finesses can sometimes makes a difference. For example, try saving search criteria for a particular file using Windows Search. If one browses to the folder by hand then the search sticks when saved but if one browses using the browse option in the menu then the search isn't saved but defaults back to all drives on the computer.

Best wishes,

Chris

[Rebel]

What I'm saying is that whether an autorun.inf file (which can be compared to a DOS batch file) says "run setup.exe" or a user browses to and double clicks on "setup.exe", "setup.exe" (or whatever file is specified) is going to run. There is no difference.

[kaplinb]

Sorry, Rebel, just forget it.

I installed Studio MX without "Install New Program" wizard trying to recreate the problem Cah encountered.
"Install New Program" wizard doesn't see files other than Setup etc. means that the user must perform additional steps ("Browse" etc) before he clicks the "Next" button.
There is no difference between installing a new program from Autorun and from "Install a New Program" wizard except different environment. This difference very rarely, under certain circumstances, can help to avoid a specific problem with limited user accounts.

Thank you for your concern.