creating shortcuts for single vs. multiple users

There are two users of this computer of mine: me (who loves fiddling around on the computer) and Gary (who just uses the machine for email and internet browsing).
There are a number of programs that I use often enough to warrant shortcuts on my desktop (for example, Nero SmartStart, EditPad Lite, Irfanview, Open Office Writer), but it seems that whenever I create a shortcut for them under my account, the shortcuts also show up on Gary's desktop. I know it sounds trivial, but he hates having "all this clutter" showing up on his desktop - he just wants the icons that he has use for. If I move the shortcuts (icons) to his "unused desktop shortcuts" folder, the shortcuts disappear from my own desktop - and taking them out of that folder on his desktop afterwards does not restore the shortcut icons on mine.
Flip side of the coin - I have some security programs whose icons I wish would show up on Gary's desktop (for example, Spybot S&D, ewido) as well as on my own, but they don't.
What I'd like to know is if there's a way to designate on whose desktop a shortcut is created.
Thanks!

 

Shortcuts that appear on the desktop are the result of combining the All User profile Desktop with the Desktop folder of your profile.

In other words, it is a merge of the contents of:

\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
\Documents and Settings \Rebecca\Desktop

Without someone fiddling, there should be no reason your Desktop shortcuts should appear on "Gary "'s desktop.

Without someone fiddling, there should be no reason your Desktop shortcuts for security and other objects to not appear on your Desktop much less Gary's given your earlier issue.

Check what is going on with your Shell Folder paths, and as Gary, his Shell Folder paths.

MS-MVP Ramesh Srinivasan explains how: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/usershellfolders.htm

.

 

Thanks, Bill - I'll have to wait till I have a chunk of free time to delve into the Shell Folder paths on my computer. Just seems odd to me that upon installation some programs default to the All User profile desktop, and some just to mine (I typically choose the "standard installation" option any time it's offered) - but at least now I know where to start looking for a solution!
One other question, on the chance that it's related. When I'm installing a program, sometimes I'm given the option of adding it to the start menu. Would my answer to that question have anything to do with where the program's shortcut could ultimately end up, or does the start menu issue go back to the Shell Folder path issue again?
Thanks again!

 

A truely Windows "aware" program, subject to its EULA, should offer you the choice of installing for all users or just yourself.

To see what is what:

. right-click the Start button itself. At the bottom should be the choice to Explore All users. This will open an Explorer View of the All Users Start Menu. Open the Programs folder there to see the contribution from the All Users profile.

. In explorer, go to your profile under Documents and Settings. Expand:
C:\Documents and Settings\Rebecca\Start Menu\Programs

Those are the installed programs from your profile alone that are added to the mix.

The sum of these two are your Start Menu, All Programs. (Do we have a guess as to why it is called "All Programs "?)

Best wishes.

 

Yes, but... it's been my experience that often times choosing the standard installation (as Rebecca says she does) results in the program shortcuts being installed to the all users folder. Some programs will prompt you for this in the standard install but some times, to get the option to not do that requires the custom install.

Rebecca, you seem to know windows well enough. Choose the custom install. There may be something there you might want to change. If not, just click through things and you'll end up with the standard anyway.

 

I do not understand the comment above. The Windows SDK specification is for Typical" and "Custom" installation options. I have never seen a "standard" installation option, and if it exists it is decidedly not to Windows standards.

Nor is the defined purpose of a "Custom" installation to make transparent in the GUI the option to install for all users or install for the user running the installation. It is to offer options such as to change the installation folder, and to modify which components are installed.

A truely "Windows Aware" program will offer to install for the user running the installation or for all users whether the installation is typical or custom.

 

Well, perhaps standard isn't the best way of putting it. How about default?

 

I'm sorry but that does not clarify matters either.

To assume that the All Users folder is the default for Windows programs is just not true.

Take Rebecca's example above of security programs. They installed only for her profile.

I have never heard of a survey done that determined whether the majority of programs in a typical installation installed to the All Users profile or not. I would certainly fear to generalize. What is clear is that if there is an All Users vs. single user option to be made, it should be made whether choose Typical or Custom installation options. The notion that Typical = All Users and Custom = single user is just not right; nor that a choice is offered only if a Custom installation is chosen.