Sharing programs

[Fatblack46]

What is the deal with sharing programs with windows 7. If I load something under my account, why doesn't it populate to the other people/users on my computer (home system). It seem like I have to induvidually load each one, which is different from what I am use to. Can anyone answer this for me? As an example , I downloaed a game and I can play it but it does not show up on the other users.
Thanks ya'll

 

[johnnya]

Hi fat46. For other users to use the Game you downloaded (for example.) Have the other user log on to the system. Using Explorer, navigate to the Program Folder. Find the .exe file for the game program and right click on it. Chose from options "Send to desktop as a shortcut". This user should now be able to click on this new desktop shortcut and play the game. This should work for any program no mater what user installed it.
Cheers
Johnnya

 

[Fatblack46]

Johnnya,
thank you for the reply, however, when I went to explorer (which is the icon with the files on it) I opened it but I did not see a programs file. Any other suggestions?
Thanks

 

[Kari]

Explorer is a Windows built-in program that let's you see the contents of a drive or folder in a window. Following Johnnya's instructions above, you get what you want.

Windows 7 installs most programs in a folder called Program Files, creating a subfolder for the program. (A 64-bit Windows 7 also uses a folder called Program Files (x86), installing 32-bit programs there and only 64-bit programs to Program Files.)

You find the Program Files folder in Explorer when opening the drive C:



Opening Program Files, you'll see subfolders for your installed software:



Here I have opened the folder for Macrium Reflect, a so called imaging program, wanting to create a shortcut to desktop to start this application. Explorer shows me the content of that folder, and using details view, I can easily find the right file, the application I was looking for:



I select the file, right click it to open so called context menu, go to Send to submenu, and click Desktop. This sends (saves) a shortcut to this application to current user's desktop. Double clicking it launches the application:



Kari