Programs requiring admin authority

[davexnet]

HI all,
I've got XP on my PC, with Sound Forge 8 installed.
I've given my son a limited account, but he'd like to use
Sound Forge. Problem is it refuses to run in his account
(it asks for the serial number. I temporarily made his account Admin authority
and it ran fine).

I tried right clicking the icon and using Run as, and gave it my Admin account authority.
This works also, but is not a permanent solution since there is no way of storing the
password in the shortcut.

Are there any tricks in Xp that I'm not aware of that will accomplish what I'm trying to do?
TIA for any info.

Dave

 

[Emulex]

win7 works better but did you install the app only for his user in his user context? or for all?

 

[Nothinman]

You can use create a batch file to run it via runas and store the credentials. Or you can use filemon to see what files/registry keys it needs access to and fix them.

 

[jamesmcuk]

what version of XP

 

[Modelworks]

When you say refuses to run , what is the error ?
If it is a licensing error look in the registry under.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Sony Creative Software\Sound Forge Pro

 

[davexnet]

HI, there is no error exactly. A box from the software opens up and
asks for the serial number. When a bad number is put in it's rejected,
when the real number is put in, there is no error message, but it is not accepted -
I cannot get any further.

As I mentioned. temporary enabling Admin authority for this user, and the program
starts without any further ado.

I suspect it is trying to update something in the system (HKLM registry ?) that the system
will not allow for a limited user.

I'd like to find a way to convey admin authority to Sound Forge similar to the runas,
but in a way that is automated and doesn't leave my admin password in clear text.

 

[jamesmcuk]

Is it Pro?

 

[Nothinman]

HI, there is no error exactly. A box from the software opens up and
asks for the serial number. When a bad number is put in it's rejected,
when the real number is put in, there is no error message, but it is not accepted -
I cannot get any further.

As I mentioned. temporary enabling Admin authority for this user, and the program
starts without any further ado.

I suspect it is trying to update something in the system (HKLM registry ?) that the system
will not allow for a limited user.

I'd like to find a way to convey admin authority to Sound Forge similar to the runas,
but in a way that is automated and doesn't leave my admin password in clear text.

By letting him run that app as Admin you're essentially giving him full admin rights anyway. He can most likely do any file operations as admin just by hitting File->Open and then working with files via the right-click menu, etc.

Your best bet is to use something like filemon to see what files/registry entries to which it needs access and grant his account (or better, a local group) appropriate access to them.

 

[jamesmcuk]

well ok seeing as you are not checking this board very often (see earlier unanswered questions) what I will say is that if you create a new shortcut to the program (I think only XP Pro does this) on the limited account and select the run as administrator type option which I think is under advanced or similar (you may have to find this option after you have created the shortcut by right click and properties on the shortcut) then when you first run it - it "should from my memory" only ask for the password the first time. But its a while since I did this so not totally sure and I have no XP to test on.

Like I say its been a while and I may be talkign kak but I am sure it was something similar.

Anyway if that don't work use Autoit to create a exe that will launch the prog and enter the password but due to it being an .exe it will be difficult to extract the password.

 

[davexnet]

He's my 14 year old son. He's not going to do anything malicious.
So Nothinman's concerns earlier are noted, and while technically accurate,
are not something I'm worried about. The main reason I've given him a limited account
is that he does things on the net that cover a much wider range of things than I
would typically do and I'm just trying to minimize the chances of a drive-by virus
or malware of some type.

Before I forget, the system is XP Pro.

My initial testing with right clicking the shortcut and running as administrator
is that it asks you for the password each time.

PS if all else fails I could always put up Audacity for him, that audio editor seems to work
OK on the limited account.

 

[Modelworks]

The problem you are having is due to the licensing system in sound forge 8. sound forge 8 came out around 2006 before sony started supporting UAC so it isn't designed to handle the user needing admin rights. For version 8 to authorize it has to access the registry and some of the core windows system directories which UAC will not allow for standard users. It runs a licensing system service using dll files to check for people trying to circumvent the protection. It isn't just a simple look in the registry and check the serial number.

There isn't a real solution other than running it as admin or upgrading to a newer version of sound forge. Version 10 doesn't have this issue.

 

[davexnet]

Thanks for the info ModelWorks - does your explanation apply to XP?
I thought UAC was a Vista / 7 thing.

Regardless of whether it applies or not, it certainly is not working.
I really don't want to spend the $$$ for SF10, although I may download the trial and look
at it.
I'm really surprised XP didn't offer a way to get around this. You know what I mean,
a way to run it under the Admins credentials but without having to enter the Admin
password every time.