Vista - How to install shortcuts, start menu items, etc for all user accounts ?

My System Specs · 06-06-2008

Hello all:

I apologize if I have overlooked some obvious source for this information. I
have Googled and searched newsgroups and read articles, and while I have
learned a lot about Vista I am no wiser on some basic things.

I am brand new to Vista. I am setting up a Vista Home Premium laptop for a
friend. I created a standard user account for him, but I am using the
administrator account myself while installing software and configuring
everything. I disabled User Account Control for the admin account, because I
was overwhelmed by warnings and prompts when doing all the installs and
configs.

When logged in as administrator, I installed various apps including Start
menu shortcuts and Quick Launch icons. However, when the standard user logs
in, he doesn't see any of those shortcuts. Likewise, I want to place some
folders on the desktop that will give him tips on how to use his new laptop
and shortcuts to maintenance tasks. But, when I place them on "my" desktop,
they are not available to him when he logs in as his standard user.

Is there some method that administrators use when setting up a new Vista
system, so they can place Start menu shortcuts, Quick Launch icons,
documents on desktop, etc. that will then be available in all user accounts
(or even in specified user accounts)? Is there some way to do what I want,
or am I asking the wrong questions?

Thanks for any guidance.

My System Specs · 06-06-2008

If you want a shortcut to appear on everyone's desktop, put it in the
following folder (assuming C: is your system drive):

C:\Users\Public\Desktop

You might have to first create the shortcut elsewhere (your own Documents
folder, for example) and then move it there manually. for some reason when I
right-click within the Public Desktop folder I only get the option to create
new folders, not shortcuts.

In the same way, if you replace 'Public' in the above path with a specific
username you can target anybody's desktop you want. Obviously you do need
administrator privileges to do this but as you're logged in as an
administrator and you have UAC turned off it should work fine.

It's the same as XP, except it used to be C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Desktop. Personally I think 'All Users' is a little more
self-explanatory than 'Public' but that's progress for you...

"Tuttle" <nospamhere@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23IzEE8%23xIHA.420@xxxxxx

Quote:

> Hello all:
>
> I apologize if I have overlooked some obvious source for this information.
> I
> have Googled and searched newsgroups and read articles, and while I have
> learned a lot about Vista I am no wiser on some basic things.
>
> I am brand new to Vista. I am setting up a Vista Home Premium laptop for a
> friend. I created a standard user account for him, but I am using the
> administrator account myself while installing software and configuring
> everything. I disabled User Account Control for the admin account, because
> I
> was overwhelmed by warnings and prompts when doing all the installs and
> configs.
>
> When logged in as administrator, I installed various apps including Start
> menu shortcuts and Quick Launch icons. However, when the standard user
> logs
> in, he doesn't see any of those shortcuts. Likewise, I want to place some
> folders on the desktop that will give him tips on how to use his new
> laptop
> and shortcuts to maintenance tasks. But, when I place them on "my"
> desktop,
> they are not available to him when he logs in as his standard user.
>
> Is there some method that administrators use when setting up a new Vista
> system, so they can place Start menu shortcuts, Quick Launch icons,
> documents on desktop, etc. that will then be available in all user
> accounts
> (or even in specified user accounts)? Is there some way to do what I want,
> or am I asking the wrong questions?
>
> Thanks for any guidance.
>
>

My System Specs · 06-06-2008

On Fri, 6 Jun 2008 17:24:18 +0100, "Rojo Habe" <noem@xxxxxx>
wrote:

Quote:

>It's the same as XP, except it used to be C:\Documents and Settings\All
>Users\Desktop. Personally I think 'All Users' is a little more
>self-explanatory than 'Public' but that's progress for you...

To justify all the different versions of Vista and the higher prices,
SOME changes had to be made... even if a lot of them were merely
cosmetic.

My System Specs · 06-06-2008

On Jun 6, 12:04*pm, "Tuttle" <nospamh...@xxxxxx>
wrote:

Quote:

> Hello all:
>
> I apologize if I have overlooked some obvious source for this information.I
> have Googled and searched newsgroups and read articles, and while I have
> learned a lot about Vista I am no wiser on some basic things.
>
> I am brand new to Vista. I am setting up a Vista Home Premium laptop for a
> friend. I created a standard user account for him, but I am using the
> administrator account myself while installing software and configuring
> everything. I disabled User Account Control for the admin account, becauseI
> was overwhelmed by warnings and prompts when doing all the installs and
> configs.
>
> When logged in as administrator, I installed various apps including Start
> menu shortcuts and Quick Launch icons. However, when the standard user logs
> in, he doesn't see any of those shortcuts. Likewise, I want to place some
> folders on the desktop that will give him tips on how to use his new laptop
> and shortcuts to maintenance tasks. But, when I place them on "my" desktop,
> they are not available to him when he logs in as his standard user.
>
> Is there some method that administrators use when setting up a new Vista
> system, so they can place Start menu shortcuts, Quick Launch icons,
> documents on desktop, etc. that will then be available in all user accounts
> (or even in specified user accounts)? Is there some way to do what I want,
> or am I asking the wrong questions?
>
> Thanks for any guidance.

Right click the 'Start' button and choose 'Explore all users.' Add
your start menu items there.

The all users desktop is now found in C:\Users\Public\Desktop. It is a
special folder and is hidden by default, but you should be able to
browse there nonetheless. Add your icons, shortcuts, documents there
and they will show on every user desktop.

I hope this helps.

-solon fox

My System Specs · 06-06-2008

That's good information, thanks. That covers the desktop, but what about
Start Menu, Quick Launch area on Taskbar, etc?

"Rojo Habe" <noem@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:E1D8F9DA-3095-444C-ACB8-01E66A900F48@xxxxxx

Quote:

> If you want a shortcut to appear on everyone's desktop, put it in the
> following folder (assuming C: is your system drive):
>
> C:\Users\Public\Desktop
>
> You might have to first create the shortcut elsewhere (your own Documents
> folder, for example) and then move it there manually. for some reason when

I

Quote:

> right-click within the Public Desktop folder I only get the option to

create

Quote:

> new folders, not shortcuts.
>
> In the same way, if you replace 'Public' in the above path with a specific
> username you can target anybody's desktop you want. Obviously you do need
> administrator privileges to do this but as you're logged in as an
> administrator and you have UAC turned off it should work fine.
>
> It's the same as XP, except it used to be C:\Documents and Settings\All
> Users\Desktop. Personally I think 'All Users' is a little more
> self-explanatory than 'Public' but that's progress for you...
>
>
>
> "Tuttle" <nospamhere@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:%23IzEE8%23xIHA.420@xxxxxx

Quote:

> > Hello all:
> >
> > I apologize if I have overlooked some obvious source for this

information.

Quote:

> > I
> > have Googled and searched newsgroups and read articles, and while I have
> > learned a lot about Vista I am no wiser on some basic things.
> >
> > I am brand new to Vista. I am setting up a Vista Home Premium laptop for

a

Quote:

> > friend. I created a standard user account for him, but I am using the
> > administrator account myself while installing software and configuring
> > everything. I disabled User Account Control for the admin account,

because

Quote:

> > I
> > was overwhelmed by warnings and prompts when doing all the installs and
> > configs.
> >
> > When logged in as administrator, I installed various apps including

Start

Quote:

> > menu shortcuts and Quick Launch icons. However, when the standard user
> > logs
> > in, he doesn't see any of those shortcuts. Likewise, I want to place

some

Quote:

> > folders on the desktop that will give him tips on how to use his new
> > laptop
> > and shortcuts to maintenance tasks. But, when I place them on "my"
> > desktop,
> > they are not available to him when he logs in as his standard user.
> >
> > Is there some method that administrators use when setting up a new Vista
> > system, so they can place Start menu shortcuts, Quick Launch icons,
> > documents on desktop, etc. that will then be available in all user
> > accounts
> > (or even in specified user accounts)? Is there some way to do what I

want,

Quote:

> > or am I asking the wrong questions?
> >
> > Thanks for any guidance.
> >
> >

>

My System Specs · 06-06-2008

"Tuttle" <nospamhere@xxxxxx> wrote:

Quote:

>When logged in as administrator, I installed various apps including Start
>menu shortcuts and Quick Launch icons. However, when the standard user logs
>in, he doesn't see any of those shortcuts. Likewise, I want to place some
>folders on the desktop that will give him tips on how to use his new laptop
>and shortcuts to maintenance tasks. But, when I place them on "my" desktop,
>they are not available to him when he logs in as his standard user.

Each user has his own desktop, start menu, etc. There's also one
that's used by all users, anything put there appears on everybody's
desktop. Look for a folder or subfolder called "All Users" or
something similar (I'm at an XP Pro machine right now). On Vista Home
Premium I think it will be under C:\Documents and Settings.

--
Tim Slattery
MS MVP(Shell/User)
Slattery_T@xxxxxx
http://members.cox.net/slatteryt

My System Specs · 06-06-2008

To add stuff to the Start menu for all users - Right click the 'Start'
button and choose 'Explore all users.' Add
your start menu shortcut items there.

By design Vista does not provide a method for all users to share the
same Quick Launch shortcuts; however, you can still kludge it.

Copy the shortcuts that you want for all users to C:\Users\Default
\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

The next time the user logs in, their profile will be built with the
new shortcuts included. It isn't elegant.

-solon fox

On Jun 6, 12:37*pm, "Tuttle" <nospamh...@xxxxxx>
wrote:

Quote:

> That's good information, thanks. That covers the desktop, but what about
> Start Menu, Quick Launch area on Taskbar, etc?
>
> "Rojo Habe" <n...@xxxxxx> wrote in message
>
> news:E1D8F9DA-3095-444C-ACB8-01E66A900F48@xxxxxx
>
>
>

Quote:

> > If you want a shortcut to appear on everyone's desktop, put it in the
> > following folder (assuming C: is your system drive):

>

Quote:

> > C:\Users\Public\Desktop

>

Quote:

> > You might have to first create the shortcut elsewhere (your own Documents
> > folder, for example) and then move it there manually. for some reason when

> I

Quote:

> > right-click within the Public Desktop folder I only get the option to

> create

Quote:

> > new folders, not shortcuts.

>

Quote:

> > In the same way, if you replace 'Public' in the above path with a specific
> > username you can target anybody's desktop you want. *Obviously you do need
> > administrator privileges to do this but as you're logged in as an
> > administrator and you have UAC turned off it should work fine.

>

Quote:

> > It's the same as XP, except it used to be C:\Documents and Settings\All
> > Users\Desktop. *Personally I think 'All Users' is a little more
> > self-explanatory than 'Public' but that's progress for you...

>

Quote:

> > "Tuttle" <nospamh...@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> >news:%23IzEE8%23xIHA.420@xxxxxx

Quote:

> > > Hello all:

>

Quote:

> > > I apologize if I have overlooked some obvious source for this

> information.

Quote:

> > > I
> > > have Googled and searched newsgroups and read articles, and while I have
> > > learned a lot about Vista I am no wiser on some basic things.

>

Quote:

> > > I am brand new to Vista. I am setting up a Vista Home Premium laptop for

> a

Quote:

> > > friend. I created a standard user account for him, but I am using the
> > > administrator account myself while installing software and configuring
> > > everything. I disabled User Account Control for the admin account,

> because

Quote:

> > > I
> > > was overwhelmed by warnings and prompts when doing all the installs and
> > > configs.

>

Quote:

> > > When logged in as administrator, I installed various apps including

> Start

Quote:

> > > menu shortcuts and Quick Launch icons. However, when the standard user
> > > logs
> > > in, he doesn't see any of those shortcuts. Likewise, I want to place

> some

Quote:

> > > folders on the desktop that will give him tips on how to use his new
> > > laptop
> > > and shortcuts to maintenance tasks. But, when I place them on "my"
> > > desktop,
> > > they are not available to him when he logs in as his standard user.

>

Quote:

> > > Is there some method that administrators use when setting up a new Vista
> > > system, so they can place Start menu shortcuts, Quick Launch icons,
> > > documents on desktop, etc. that will then be available in all user
> > > accounts
> > > (or even in specified user accounts)? Is there some way to do what I

> want,

Quote:

> > > or am I asking the wrong questions?

>

Quote:

> > > Thanks for any guidance.- Hide quoted text -

>
> - Show quoted text -

My System Specs · 06-09-2008

Thank you all for your help. That is really useful information!

06-06-2008	#1
Tuttle n/a posts	How to install shortcuts, start menu items, etc for all user accounts ? Hello all: I apologize if I have overlooked some obvious source for this information. I have Googled and searched newsgroups and read articles, and while I have learned a lot about Vista I am no wiser on some basic things. I am brand new to Vista. I am setting up a Vista Home Premium laptop for a friend. I created a standard user account for him, but I am using the administrator account myself while installing software and configuring everything. I disabled User Account Control for the admin account, because I was overwhelmed by warnings and prompts when doing all the installs and configs. When logged in as administrator, I installed various apps including Start menu shortcuts and Quick Launch icons. However, when the standard user logs in, he doesn't see any of those shortcuts. Likewise, I want to place some folders on the desktop that will give him tips on how to use his new laptop and shortcuts to maintenance tasks. But, when I place them on "my" desktop, they are not available to him when he logs in as his standard user. Is there some method that administrators use when setting up a new Vista system, so they can place Start menu shortcuts, Quick Launch icons, documents on desktop, etc. that will then be available in all user accounts (or even in specified user accounts)? Is there some way to do what I want, or am I asking the wrong questions? Thanks for any guidance.
My System Specs

06-06-2008	#2
Rojo Habe n/a posts	Re: How to install shortcuts, start menu items, etc for all user accounts ? If you want a shortcut to appear on everyone's desktop, put it in the following folder (assuming C: is your system drive): C:\Users\Public\Desktop You might have to first create the shortcut elsewhere (your own Documents folder, for example) and then move it there manually. for some reason when I right-click within the Public Desktop folder I only get the option to create new folders, not shortcuts. In the same way, if you replace 'Public' in the above path with a specific username you can target anybody's desktop you want. Obviously you do need administrator privileges to do this but as you're logged in as an administrator and you have UAC turned off it should work fine. It's the same as XP, except it used to be C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop. Personally I think 'All Users' is a little more self-explanatory than 'Public' but that's progress for you... "Tuttle" <nospamhere@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:%23IzEE8%23xIHA.420@xxxxxx Quote: > Hello all: > > I apologize if I have overlooked some obvious source for this information. > I > have Googled and searched newsgroups and read articles, and while I have > learned a lot about Vista I am no wiser on some basic things. > > I am brand new to Vista. I am setting up a Vista Home Premium laptop for a > friend. I created a standard user account for him, but I am using the > administrator account myself while installing software and configuring > everything. I disabled User Account Control for the admin account, because > I > was overwhelmed by warnings and prompts when doing all the installs and > configs. > > When logged in as administrator, I installed various apps including Start > menu shortcuts and Quick Launch icons. However, when the standard user > logs > in, he doesn't see any of those shortcuts. Likewise, I want to place some > folders on the desktop that will give him tips on how to use his new > laptop > and shortcuts to maintenance tasks. But, when I place them on "my" > desktop, > they are not available to him when he logs in as his standard user. > > Is there some method that administrators use when setting up a new Vista > system, so they can place Start menu shortcuts, Quick Launch icons, > documents on desktop, etc. that will then be available in all user > accounts > (or even in specified user accounts)? Is there some way to do what I want, > or am I asking the wrong questions? > > Thanks for any guidance. > >
My System Specs

06-06-2008	#3
Nonny n/a posts	Re: How to install shortcuts, start menu items, etc for all user accounts ? On Fri, 6 Jun 2008 17:24:18 +0100, "Rojo Habe" <noem@xxxxxx> wrote: Quote: >It's the same as XP, except it used to be C:\Documents and Settings\All >Users\Desktop. Personally I think 'All Users' is a little more >self-explanatory than 'Public' but that's progress for you... To justify all the different versions of Vista and the higher prices, SOME changes had to be made... even if a lot of them were merely cosmetic.
My System Specs

06-06-2008	#4
solon fox n/a posts	Re: How to install shortcuts, start menu items, etc for all useraccounts ? On Jun 6, 12:04*pm, "Tuttle" <nospamh...@xxxxxx> wrote: Quote: > Hello all: > > I apologize if I have overlooked some obvious source for this information.I > have Googled and searched newsgroups and read articles, and while I have > learned a lot about Vista I am no wiser on some basic things. > > I am brand new to Vista. I am setting up a Vista Home Premium laptop for a > friend. I created a standard user account for him, but I am using the > administrator account myself while installing software and configuring > everything. I disabled User Account Control for the admin account, becauseI > was overwhelmed by warnings and prompts when doing all the installs and > configs. > > When logged in as administrator, I installed various apps including Start > menu shortcuts and Quick Launch icons. However, when the standard user logs > in, he doesn't see any of those shortcuts. Likewise, I want to place some > folders on the desktop that will give him tips on how to use his new laptop > and shortcuts to maintenance tasks. But, when I place them on "my" desktop, > they are not available to him when he logs in as his standard user. > > Is there some method that administrators use when setting up a new Vista > system, so they can place Start menu shortcuts, Quick Launch icons, > documents on desktop, etc. that will then be available in all user accounts > (or even in specified user accounts)? Is there some way to do what I want, > or am I asking the wrong questions? > > Thanks for any guidance. Right click the 'Start' button and choose 'Explore all users.' Add your start menu items there. The all users desktop is now found in C:\Users\Public\Desktop. It is a special folder and is hidden by default, but you should be able to browse there nonetheless. Add your icons, shortcuts, documents there and they will show on every user desktop. I hope this helps. -solon fox
My System Specs

06-06-2008	#5
Tuttle n/a posts	Re: How to install shortcuts, start menu items, etc for all user accounts ? That's good information, thanks. That covers the desktop, but what about Start Menu, Quick Launch area on Taskbar, etc? "Rojo Habe" <noem@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:E1D8F9DA-3095-444C-ACB8-01E66A900F48@xxxxxx Quote: > If you want a shortcut to appear on everyone's desktop, put it in the > following folder (assuming C: is your system drive): > > C:\Users\Public\Desktop > > You might have to first create the shortcut elsewhere (your own Documents > folder, for example) and then move it there manually. for some reason when I Quote: > right-click within the Public Desktop folder I only get the option to create Quote: > new folders, not shortcuts. > > In the same way, if you replace 'Public' in the above path with a specific > username you can target anybody's desktop you want. Obviously you do need > administrator privileges to do this but as you're logged in as an > administrator and you have UAC turned off it should work fine. > > It's the same as XP, except it used to be C:\Documents and Settings\All > Users\Desktop. Personally I think 'All Users' is a little more > self-explanatory than 'Public' but that's progress for you... > > > > "Tuttle" <nospamhere@xxxxxx> wrote in message > news:%23IzEE8%23xIHA.420@xxxxxx Quote: > > Hello all: > > > > I apologize if I have overlooked some obvious source for this information. Quote: Quote: > > I > > have Googled and searched newsgroups and read articles, and while I have > > learned a lot about Vista I am no wiser on some basic things. > > > > I am brand new to Vista. I am setting up a Vista Home Premium laptop for a Quote: Quote: > > friend. I created a standard user account for him, but I am using the > > administrator account myself while installing software and configuring > > everything. I disabled User Account Control for the admin account, because Quote: Quote: > > I > > was overwhelmed by warnings and prompts when doing all the installs and > > configs. > > > > When logged in as administrator, I installed various apps including Start Quote: Quote: > > menu shortcuts and Quick Launch icons. However, when the standard user > > logs > > in, he doesn't see any of those shortcuts. Likewise, I want to place some Quote: Quote: > > folders on the desktop that will give him tips on how to use his new > > laptop > > and shortcuts to maintenance tasks. But, when I place them on "my" > > desktop, > > they are not available to him when he logs in as his standard user. > > > > Is there some method that administrators use when setting up a new Vista > > system, so they can place Start menu shortcuts, Quick Launch icons, > > documents on desktop, etc. that will then be available in all user > > accounts > > (or even in specified user accounts)? Is there some way to do what I want, Quote: Quote: > > or am I asking the wrong questions? > > > > Thanks for any guidance. > > > > >
My System Specs

06-06-2008	#6
Tim Slattery n/a posts	Re: How to install shortcuts, start menu items, etc for all user accounts ? "Tuttle" <nospamhere@xxxxxx> wrote: Quote: >When logged in as administrator, I installed various apps including Start >menu shortcuts and Quick Launch icons. However, when the standard user logs >in, he doesn't see any of those shortcuts. Likewise, I want to place some >folders on the desktop that will give him tips on how to use his new laptop >and shortcuts to maintenance tasks. But, when I place them on "my" desktop, >they are not available to him when he logs in as his standard user. Each user has his own desktop, start menu, etc. There's also one that's used by all users, anything put there appears on everybody's desktop. Look for a folder or subfolder called "All Users" or something similar (I'm at an XP Pro machine right now). On Vista Home Premium I think it will be under C:\Documents and Settings. -- Tim Slattery MS MVP(Shell/User) Slattery_T@xxxxxx http://members.cox.net/slatteryt
My System Specs

06-09-2008	#8
Tuttle n/a posts	Re: How to install shortcuts, start menu items, etc for all user accounts ? Thank you all for your help. That is really useful information!
My System Specs

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