Using Tarma ExpertInstall

Dealing with access rights

Access privileges differ among the various Windows versions. The following table assumes an out-of-the-box configuration; hardened systems might be more restrictive. Restricted or access denied items are shown in italics.

Notes

  1. Windows 95/98/Me do have All Users shortcuts for the Start and Programs menus, but the All Users Desktop folder is not functional. Desktop shortcuts must always be installed as Current User. In practice, this doesn't make much difference because most 9x systems are configured for a single user anyway.
  2. Windows Me, 2000, XP, and 2003 may apply Windows File Protection restrictions to files in these folders.
  3. HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Help does not exist by default on NT4, but will be created on demand and then inherit its parent key's access settings.
  4. File access is read-only, but new folders can be created.
Item Account type 95 98 Me NT4 2000 XP 2003
Version9X n/a 400 410 490 0 0 0 0
VersionNT n/a 0 0 0 400 500 501 502
WindowsBuild n/a 950, 1111 1998, 2222 3000 1381 2195 2600 3790
C:\ Administrator Full Full Full Full Full Full Full
Power User Full Full Read-only4 Read-only4
User Full Full Read-only4 Read-only4
ProgramFilesFolder Administrator Full Full Full Full Full Full Full
Power User Full Full Full Full
User Full Read-only Read-only Read-only
CommonFilesFolder Administrator Full Full Full Full Full Full Full
Power User Full Full Full Full
User Full Read-only Read-only Read-only
WindowsFolder Administrator Full Full Full2 Full Full2 Full2 Full2
Power User Full Full2 Full2 Full2
User Full Read-only Read-only Read-only
SystemFolder Administrator Full Full Full2 Full Full2 Full2 Full2
Power User Full Full2 Full2 Full2
User Full Read-only Read-only Read-only
ProfileFolder and subfolders Administrator Full Full Full Full Full Full Full
Power User Full Full Full Full
User Full Full Full Full
CommonProfileFolder and subfolders Administrator Full Full Full Full Full Full Full
Power User Read-only Full Full Full
User Read-only Read-only Read-only Read-only
Shortcut installation Administrator Mixed1 Mixed1 Mixed1 All Users All Users All Users All Users
Power User Current User All Users All Users All Users
User Current User Current User Current User Current User
DLL self-registration (HKLM or HKCU) Administrator All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users
Power User All Users All Users All Users All Users
User All Users Current User Current User Current User
Font registration (always HKLM) Administrator All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users
Power User Fails All Users All Users All Users
User Fails Fails Fails Fails
WinHelp registration (always HKLM) Administrator All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users
Power User All Users All Users All Users All Users
User Fails3 Fails Fails Fails
Environment variables Administrator All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users
Power User Current User Current User Current User Current User
User Current User Current User Current User Current User
Uninstaller registration Administrator All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users
Power User All Users All Users All Users All Users
User Current User Current User Current User Current User
RunOnce registration Administrator All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users All Users
Power User Current User Current User Current User Current User
User Current User Current User Current User Current User
SharedDLLs reference counting Administrator OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
Power User OK OK OK OK
User Fails Fails Fails Fails
App Paths registration Administrator OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
Power User Fails OK OK OK
User Fails Fails Fails Fails
Service Control Manager Administrator n/a n/a n/a OK OK OK OK
Power User Fails Fails Fails Fails
User Fails Fails Fails Fails
Running processes check Administrator OK OK OK n/a OK OK OK
Power User n/a OK OK OK
User n/a OK OK OK
Delayed file copying and removal Administrator OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
Power User Fails Fails Fails Fails
User Fails Fails Fails Fails
Reboot Windows Administrator OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
Power User OK OK OK OK
User OK OK OK Fails
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Tarma ExpertInstall User's Manual - Topic last modified on 21/01/08 11:02
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