Windows 7: Software Installation Question

If I am the admin on my home network and wanted to install something so only that user will see it and no one else can how does one accomplish this? I am running Windows 7 Ultimate.

Maybe I shouldn't be an admin if I have to ask this huh?!?

Thanks for the help

There is a difference between preventing a user from seeing a start menu and desktop shortcut to an app and preventing that user(s) from being able to run that same app via the Windows (file) Explorer.

If all you want to do is hide the start menu and desktop shortcut(s) to an app(s) from user(s), then CUT the shortcuts from the "all users" start menu and the public desktop and PASTE them to the desktop and start menu for the user(s) of interest.

Show hidden folders/files - if need be:
Hidden Files and Folders - Show or Hide

CUT from:
For programs that you install:
C:\Users\All Users\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
C:\Users\Public\Desktop

PASTE to
C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
C:\Users\username\Desktop

Be careful.

edit: removed the path to the start menu in the ProgramData folder. It is a mirror of the All Users folder.

Is it possible to install an application to one user folder or am I just better off just doing whats suggested above?

Software usually does not install into a user's folder; it installs into the folder named "Program Files".

Even if you were to tell the installation program to put the files in a non-standard place...
(like c:\users\username\abnormal\),
...the installation program is probably going to make shortcuts for everyone to (try to) use. Some installation programs will offer to place the shortcuts only on one user's desktop and start menu, but most of the programs that I install don't offer such an option. Some offer not to make any shortcuts anywhere...

What program(s) are you wanting to install into a non-standard folder?

Like I use some music apps for a DJ gig that I do that I don't want other users of the PC to see or use....or someone uses Outlook and I don't....just general examples

Outlook is a good example. The shortcut is just clutter to those that don't use it. You would need to move the shortcut to the user(s) that care to have it.

As for the DJ apps, you could try installing them into the abnormal place, but any user with admin rights could still get to them. I don't think that you would want to encrypt application files to keep others out.

Well I guess I'll keep things the way I am doing it. I'll install an app and then just go into the other accounts and delete the icons....Windows 7 makes things kinda hard.

Ah Well

Don't use installers if you want to conceal programs from someone else. Always download the portable version, so you can unzip into a folder under your profile and nobody else will have even read access. Of course, other administrators will be able to see and use it.

yeah thats all well and good but there are ALOT of apps out there that dont have that....Good idea though

Many don't explicitly provide a "portable" install labeled as such, but MOST software can actually work in "portable mode". Just try it. Install normally, then move the program folder from program files to somewhere else in your profile (where the permissions cover it from prying eyes) and run from there. Granted that some of them will refuse to work or give some exotic errors, but in my experience, the vast majority really can work that way.