DOCUMENT:Q242591 30-JUL-2001 [winnt] TITLE :PRB: Running Noncertified Applications as a Non-Administrator PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:WINDOWS:RC1,RC2 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== A non-Windows 2000 certified (legacy) application doesn't start or causes an access violation when it starts. CAUSE ===== The application was installed by a user with less than "Power Users" permission on the target machine. The application-installation program does not consider changes in the default security configuration of Windows 2000. By default, there are no members of the Power Users group on a clean installation of Microsoft Windows 2000. Therefore, non-administrator users that log in to a Windows 2000 machine on an NTFS partition are automatically subject to a secure access control policy. Although these users can run any certified Windows 2000 application, these users probably cannot successfully run noncertified legacy applications. The following rules apply to installing applications on Windows 2000: - Normal Users may be able to perform a per-user installation of an application if the application's setup program supports per-user installations. - Power Users should be able to install most applications provided that they do not modify critical system files or registry locations. RESOLUTION ========== To correctly run noncertified legacy applications, do one of the following: - Run the application as "Power Users". - Apply the "compatible" security template. - Redesign the application to adhere to Windows 2000 certification specification. For more information, refer to the "Default Access Control Settings" document at the following Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/server/Technical/security/default.asp STATUS ====== This behavior is by design because of the default security configuration changes mentioned in the "Cause" section of this article. MORE INFORMATION ================ In general, applications written to the Microsoft Windows 9x and Microsoft Windows NT family paradigm function correctly on Windows 2000 given appropriate access control. Power Users have at least the same access that Windows NT 4.0 Users have. Any application that runs as a User on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 should run as a "Power Users" on Windows 2000. REFERENCES ========== "Default Access Control Settings" White Paper at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/server/technical/security/default.asp (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/server/technical/security/default.asp) Additional query words: compatguidechange compatguidesetup ====================================================================== Keywords : Version : WINDOWS:RC1,RC2 Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.