Limiting programs to specific users

OK...deep breath...

• Can I keep specific programs from running for specific users on a PC with XP Pro? What about XP Home? Examples would include a sync app for Palm, FolderShare, Etc. I am thinking this would speed up log in times for some users and also keep my wife from being annoyed by some of my gadgets when she logs in. (We have a laptop with XP Home and a desktop with XP Pro.)
• Also, can rules for security/utility programs like AVG Anti-virus, PC Tools Firewall and iObit Smart Defrag be different for individual user accounts? On XP Pro? XP Home?
• Also, On the XP Pro machine, the PC Tools firewall does not execute for all users. Specifically, I noticed the Guest account has no firewall protection when logged in. In the past, I used it for safer surfing, but not since I noticed the firewall does not open.
• And another, Windows Defender does not run as scheduled on the XP Pro machine. I have to manually start it when I want it to run. Scheduling works great on XP Home machine.
• And last, AVG Antivirus does not complete the definitions update on the XP Home laptop. The laptop has to be manually rebooted after each update.

Thanks in advance. I would have spread these question out into separate posts as they arose, but my wife and I have been busy trying to sell a home and buy another.

Jason


P.S. I am beginning to not like PC Tools firewall. Any thought?

 

- Question 1: You can set up different accounts with different software and different permissions, but it may be easier to simply password protect certain programs and folders so that only those 'in the know' can run or access them. There's millions of paid apps for this, but only a few free ones. WinGuard is free for the Basic version, and $19.95 for the Full version (Link: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download1707.html).
- Question 2: I don't think so. But I could be wrong. Some programs, when you install them, ask if you want to install for that user only, or for all user accounts. Maybe if you select 'this user only' and configure it for that particular user, then log out, and log in undcer a different user, and install it again selecting 'this user only' and do that for each user. The key word here is MAYBE. I'm no expert in the usage of multiple user accounts and the associated privileges and usage rights....
- Question 3: Maybe it needs to be installed on a 'per user' basis (see above). Have you tried to uninstall and re-install? For help: http://www.pctools.com/forum/ I'm pretty sure you need to register to post.
- Question 4: How do other scheduled tasks run? If it's only Defender, then maybe a re-install would help. Defender has it's own scheduler built-in and it may be conflicting with the Windows scheduler. Look here for more info: http://support.microsoft.com/search...&query=windows+defender&adv=&mode=s&cat=False and here for scheduling info: http://support.microsoft.com/search...y=Windows+XP+scheduling&adv=&mode=s&cat=False
- Question 5: I looked around at the AVG home page (GriSoft) but didn't really have the time to go in depth. Check it out: http://www.grisoft.com/doc/51/us/crp/0/num/436#faq_436 Again, uninstalling and re-installing the application may fix the problem. I know it's a generic answer, but it often fixes the problem....

GOOD LUCK!

 

I think I need to further clarify on some of this.

#1 I meant for this to be for applications that load at startup. Many startup when you log in.

#2 Most (the ones I use anyway) do not give you an opportunity to select specific user accounts for installation.

#3 The firewall works properly for multiple accounts. On 2 of 4 accounts, it does not open at startup and will not allow me to start the application manually. I get a message that says the firewall does not exist.

Thanks for the help so far. I'll try some of the suggestions later this evening.

Jason