Vista - Problem running old program on non-admin account

Hi. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

I have an "old" program that a user wants to run. This is a direct exe with no install. I can get it to run fine on an admin account, but not on the user's standard account. I have tried:

placing the exe in a common folder (program files), and creating a common shortcut to it using the admin account. This works fine from the admin account, but from a standard account, clicking on the shortcut makes a brief "wait" cursor followed by nothing -- no error splash, just nothing.

I changed the shortcut to "run as administrator" and "run in spearate memory" (again from the admin account). Still nothing from standard account.

I added the program to data execution prevention exceptions -- still nothing.

That's the extent of what I know to try. My workaround was to upgrade the user's account to admin, which is (obviously) a horrible solution just to allow one program to run successfully. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

May or may not work, but have you tried placing the program in the Public folder, and then creating a shortcut to it on the standard user's account?

Sorry -- yes. Tried that first before I got the idea to move it to the program directory. PLaced both EXE and shortcut in c:\users\public\documents folder, shortcut created from admin account, worked fine from admin, but nothing on standard.

I should also add that the standard account (called "linda") could run the program fine once upgraded to admin using the same shortcut. So changing nothing but admin or standard privileges makes all the difference here.

Thanks!

Instead of giving the user admin rights, try changing the permissions on just the program (while it is in the Public folder) so that the user has admin rights for just the program.