Administrator Privileges for Install

[sajendra]

Hi,

I'm trying to install Paint.NET on a Windows XP machine. If I want to install it to a location other than Program Files, I'm wondering what part of the install requires Admin privileges? Right now I can't even start the intsaller to find out

-SN

[Rick Brewster]

The entire installation process requires administrator privileges. If you don't have these account privileges, you will not be able to install Paint.NET.

[sajendra]

The entire installation process requires administrator privileges. If you don't have these account privileges, you will not be able to install Paint.NET.

The question remains, why can't the program be installed without administrator privilieges??

[Rick Brewster]

why can't the program be installed without administrator privilieges??

Because it requires administrator privileges to install... this is standard for ALL installation or setup programs. I don't know why there is confusion here.

[sajendra]

Because it requires administrator privileges to install... this is standard for ALL installation or setup programs. I don't know why there is confusion here.

Sorry if I wasn't clear. I meant to ask what specifically is done during the install process that actually REQUIRES administrator privileges e.g changing system files, adding registry entries to a restricted location? As someone not familiar with the program or it's installer I don't know, so that is why I am asking. My understanding is that it is desirable for a program to run with as low a level of privileges as possible, so IF it is possible, I would think it would be a nice feature for future versions of the Paint.NET installer to not require administrator privileges.

If the installer only does the equivalent of extracting files to a certain location and creating shortcuts, it wouldn't need administrator privileges correct? I have in fact run other setup programs without an administrator account (keeping in mind I wasn't installing to the Program Files directory) so it is in fact not standard for ALL installation or setup programs. I have installed other raster graphics editors (viz. the GIMP and Paint Shop Pro) without requiring an administrator account. Naively I wouldn't think a graphics editor would be that complicated that the setup is more complicated then the equivalent of extracting files, but being ignorant of the Paint.NET architecture and install process, I wouldn't know without asking. Thank you.

[Rick Brewster]

Yes it's desirable for a program to run with least privilege. However, an installer usually needs to make modifications that affect all users. It is of course possible to architect things to work in non-admin but it would add more branching logic and would significantly increase the amount of testing work required to make sure that the installer works in many more situations. You would also lose out on certain functionality that does in fact require the registration of certain things at a system-wide level.

If you really want to install Paint.NET on a system where you do not have administrator privilege, then you will need to first install on a system where you do have administrator privilege, and then copy the Program Files/Paint.NET directory to the first system. Like I said though, you will miss out on some functionality and performance, and we cannot provide you with any support for this as it is a completely untested scenario.