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Overrun with Icons
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Overrun with Icons
3:05 PM EDT 4/8/08
Hello:

Today I downloaded Firefox to one of our Gates computers so a patron could use it. More and more of our patrons are asking to use firefox. But if the experience I had today is any indication, I do not think I want to install it on the Gates computers.

I logged in as exec, removed computer access profile restrictions, went to "All" profile and downloaded the program.

When the insallation was ocmplete, there were a lot of icons on my desktop that I never had there before. I am assuming that they all have to do with Firefox.

I have tried to remove the program. Unfortunately, in the all profile, I am unable to even click on "Add/remove programs". Nothing happens when I click.

I am able to remove it from the Exec profile. But this does not help in the All profile.

I have tried to Unistall it. But the icons are still there.

And I also tried doing a system restore, but that does not work either.

I have done all of this with the profile restrictions removed.

Any other suggestions?

I have even thought of reinstalling the XP discs, but have forgotten which ones I would reinstall.

I hope someone out there can help me.
Re: Overrun with Icons
5:08 PM EDT 4/8/08 as a reply to Jo Ann Gustavson.
Yes, can definitely help with this.

First, as a general tip, you should never actually install software from the public profile. You should install from exec, and then unlock the profiles and log in to them to run the program at least once and put any icons on the desktop that you actually want.

One thing that will happen when you unlock the profiles, is that any icons that are in the "All Users" profile (you can see them in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\) will suddenly appear on the desktop. These should go away once you replace the restrictions. But if you don't manually create another Firefox icon - that too will disappear once you lock the profiles back up.

So start with that - manually create a second Firefox icon on the desktop and then replace the profile restrictions (and system restrictions if you removed those).

If your profile is still messed up, the easiest way to get them reset is:

- In exec, go to Add/Remove Programs
- Remove the Public Profile Restrictions and then the Public Profiles themselves.
- Run the Public Access Computer Installer and install first just the Profiles. This will install fresh copies of the public profiles.
- If you want to make any changes to the profiles (like add a Firefox icon) do that now.
- Once changes are made, run the Installer again and install the Profile restrictions.

DAle
Re: Overrun with Icons
11:57 AM EDT 4/9/08 as a reply to Jo Ann Gustavson.
Dale:

Thanks.

I got two of the computers to load firefox ok.

The one I was having problems with and one other one work good.

But the other two still have issues.

Here is what I did:
1. Unlocked Centurion Guard
2. Logeed in as Exec
3. Removed Public Computer profile restrictions
4. Downloaded Firefox
5. Did firefox set up wizard
6. Logged into all
7. Looked for Firebox Icon or progrma in program lists
8. did not see icon on desktop, nor was the program listed in the programs list
9. Logged in as exec
10. Reinstalled public access computer profile restrictions
11. Logged out of exec
12. Shut down computer

What can I do to make firefox show up in program list in the all profile?

It shows up in the Exec profile.
Re: Overrun with Icons
2:07 PM EDT 4/9/08 as a reply to Jo Ann Gustavson.
Actually, I think the easiest thing to do at this point is probably just copy the icon from exec to a floppy or flash drive and then go into the unlocked all profile and place it on the desktop. And then of course run it once, etc.

It is in the nature of how the profiles are set up to restrict Start menu access to most applications. As with many of the security strategies, this tends to protect against access both to things you don't want them to see as well as some that you do, so you have do these manual workarounds.

Dale
Re: Overrun with Icons
3:13 PM EDT 4/9/08 as a reply to Jo Ann Gustavson.
Dale:

Would I just right click on the icon for firefox in the Exec profile, and click on "copy"?

Wouldn't that just get me the short cut?
Re: Overrun with Icons
3:56 PM EDT 4/9/08 as a reply to Jo Ann Gustavson.
Yep, the shortcut should be all you need. Just make sure when you paste, you choose "Paste" and not "Paste Shortcut".

When you run it the first time in all, it should create the profile files and folders, as well as registry settings unique to the user. But the actual executable that the shortcut is linking to to start the program is exactly the same whether you are in exec or all.
Re: Overrun with Icons
12:29 PM EDT 4/10/08 as a reply to Jo Ann Gustavson.
Dale:

Thanks for all your help. I hav enow gotten Firefox installed on all four of our Gates computers. It only took me a total of 4 hours.

I was able to locate the Firefox program in the program list on one of the computers I was working on this morning. So that wasn't too bad. I just manually created an icon on the desktop in the "all" profile.

Then I started Firefox, clicked "Don't inport from IE" and "No" to the question about making it the default browser, and unchecked the box that said to always ask this question. And it works fine.

The second computer is the one that was giving me problems previously. I had to remove the profiles and then reinstall them, and change the settings for which drives could be accessed so it would recognize the flash drives that patrons bring in.

Well, I ended up removing the profiles again and reinstalling them, before it would let me have access to my flash drive where I had the Firefox Icon.

I am not sure why that particular computer is giving me so much trouble. But I guess we will use it untl it decides to totally quit working.

Thanks again for your help.