UKSupport
29th March 2005, 15:21
[reproduced from missing thread]
After a bit of digging I have discovered how to run Saitek Profiler for a non-administrative user under Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional.
Disclaimer
Anything which involves editing the registry or changing security permissions on registry keys or directories may potentially cause your computer to stop functioning correctly. These instructions are supplied as is with no implied warranty or guarantee of correctness. If you follow these instructions you do so entirely at your own risk and I will not be held responsible for any damage caused directly or indirectly.
As far as I can tell, the account used to run Saitek Profiler requires full control of the following registry keys and their respective sub-keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ MediaProperties \ PrivateProperties \ Joystick \ Winmm
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Saitek \ Configuration
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ DeviceClasses
For convenience, the account should also have control of the following directory:
%SYSTEM DRIVE% \ Program Files \ Saitek \ Software
Enabling full control of the above on my system for all users has resulted in the Saitek Profiler running correctly without users having to have administrative privileges on their accounts. If you are familiar with Windows security and the related tools in Windows Explorer and regedt32 you can go ahead and make the required changes. Otherwise you may follow the step-by-step guide below.
Before we begin, some caveats:
- I have a Windows 2000 machine and the descriptions of the dialogs given here refer to that OS only. Windows XP has "friendlier" security dialogs where some of the button presses may be slightly different. The basic procedure is still the same, however, so it should not be too difficult.
- You must have already successfully installed and configured Saitek Profiler using an administrative account. If Saitek Profiler doesn't work when you are logged on as an administrator then something other than security is the problem and these instructions will not help you.
- You must be logged into an account with administrative privileges to follow these instructions.
- I am using Saitek Profiler 2.9.1.12. These instructions *may* work for earlier or later versions but I haven't tried them so your mileage may vary !
Part 1 - Create the user group
First we will create a local user group which we will use later to adjust the registry and directory privileges. This step isn't strictly necessary if you know what you're doing but it does make it easier to undo any mistakes you make by allowing access to the wrong keys or directories because you can simply delete the user group and start again.
1. Go to Start Menu / Settings / Control Panel / Administrative Tools and double-click the Computer Management icon to display the Computer Management window.
2. In the left-hand panel, double-click Local Users and Groups, then click the yellow folder entitled Groups.
3. Right-click the yellow folder entitled Groups and select New Group from the menu which appears. The New Group dialog will appear.
4. Enter a suitable name for this group in the Group Name edit box. For this example we will use Saitek Profiler Users. You may enter a description if you wish but it is not mandatory.
5. Click the Add button towards the bottom left of the dialog. The Select Users or Groups dialog will appear.
6. In the list of user names, double-click the name of each user you wish to be able to run Profiler and then click the OK button. If you just want everyone who can log on to your PC to be able to run Profiler, simply double-click Everyone and click the OK button.
7. Click the Close button on the New Group dialog. You may now also close the Computer Management and Administrative Tools windows if they are still open.
Part 2 - Directory security
Next, we will allow members of our new user group full control of the Saitek software directory. This is because by default the Saitek software stores its profile data there and we need to make sure any users can read, modify and delete them.
8. Open Windows Explorer.
9. Find the Saitek Software directory on your machine. On my machine it is C:\Program Files\Saitek\Software.
10. Right-click on the yellow folder entitled Software and select Properties from the menu which appears. The Software Properties dialog will appear.
11. Click the Security tab.
12. Click the Add button to display the Select Users, Computers or Groups dialog.
13. Find the Saitek Profiler Users group in the list and double-click it, then click the OK button to close the dialog.
14. On the Software Properties dialog the Saitek Profiler Users group should be selected in the list entitled Name. If it isn't, click it once to select it.
15. In the list entitled Permissions find the line entitled Full Control and click the box on that line which is in the column entitled Allow so that a tick or check mark appears. All the other boxes in that column will change to ticks.
16. Click the Advanced button to display the Access Control Settings for Software dialog.
17. Find the box entitled Reset permissions on all child objects and enable propagation of inheritable permissions and click it to display a tick, then click the OK button.
18. A warning dialog will appear. Click the Yes button to continue. The warning dialog and the Access Control Settings for Software dialog will close.
19. Click the OK button on the Software Properties dialog to close it.
Part 3 - Registry security
Our directory security is now set up. We will now do the same for the registry keys required by the software.
20. Go to the Start Menu and click the Run item to display the Run dialog. Type regedt32 into the edit box and click the OK button. The Registry Editor window will appear.
21. We will change the security permissions on three registry keys. All three keys are part of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry. Go to the Window menu and click the menu item entitled HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on Local Machine to display the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on Local Machine window. Everything else we do in the registry editor will be through this window.
22. The first key is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Saitek \ Configuration. To find the key, double click on the yellow folders to open them in the following order: Software, Saitek.
23. Highlight the Configuration folder by clicking on it once.
24. Go to the Security menu and click the Permissions item to display the Permissions for Configuration dialog. This is very similar to the Security tab on the Software Properties dialog we have already seen and we are going to do exactly the same thing here.
25. Click the Add button to display the Select Users, Computers or Groups dialog.
26. Find the Saitek Profiler Users group in the list and double-click it, then click the OK button to close the dialog.
27. On the Permissions for Configuration dialog the Saitek Profiler Users group should be selected in the list entitled Name. If it isn't, click it once to select it.
28. In the list entitled Permissions find the line entitled Full Control and click the box on that line which is in the column entitled Allow so that a tick appears. All the other boxes in that column will change to ticks.
29. Click the Advanced button to display the Access Control Settings for Configuration dialog.
30. Find the box entitled Reset permissions on all child objects and enable propagation of inheritable permissions and click it to display a tick, then click the OK button.
31. A warning dialog will appear. Click the Yes button to continue. The warning dialog and the Access Control Settings for Configuration dialog will close.
32. Click the OK button on the Permissions for Configuration dialog to close it.
33. The next key is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ MediaProperties \ PrivateProperties \ Joystick \ Winmm. To find the key, open the yellow folders as we did in step 22 until you find the Winmm folder.
34. Highlight the Winmm folder by clicking on it once.
35. Go to the Security menu and click the Permissions item to display the Permissions for Winmm dialog.
36. Click the Add button to display the Select Users, Computers or Groups dialog.
37. Find the Saitek Profiler Users group in the list and double-click it, then click the OK button to close the dialog.
38. On the Permissions for Winmm dialog the Saitek Profiler Users group should be selected in the list entitled Name. If it isn't, click it once to select it.
39. In the list entitled Permissions find the line entitled Full Control and click the box on that line which is in the column entitled Allow so that a tick appears. All the other boxes in that column will change to ticks.
40. Click the Advanced button to display the Access Control Settings for Winmm dialog.
41. Find the box entitled Reset permissions on all child objects and enable propagation of inheritable permissions and click it to display a tick, then click the OK button.
42. A warning dialog will appear. Click the Yes button to continue. The warning dialog and the Access Control Settings for Winmm dialog will close.
43. Click the OK button on the Permissions for Winmm dialog to close it.
44. The final key is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ DeviceClasses. To find the key, open the yellow folders as we did in step 22 until you find the DeviceClasses folder.
45. Highlight the DeviceClasses folder by clicking on it once.
46. Go to the Security menu and click the Permissions item to display the Permissions for DeviceClasses dialog.
47. Click the Add button to display the Select Users, Computers or Groups dialog.
48. Find the Saitek Profiler Users group in the list and double-click it, then click the OK button to close the dialog.
49. On the Permissions for DeviceClasses dialog the Saitek Profiler Users group should be selected in the list entitled Name. If it isn't, click it once to select it.
50. In the list entitled Permissions find the line entitled Full Control and click the box on that line which is in the column entitled Allow so that a tick appears. All the other boxes in that column will change to ticks.
51. Click the Advanced button to display the Access Control Settings for DeviceClasses dialog.
52. Find the box entitled Reset permissions on all child objects and enable propagation of inheritable permissions and click it to display a tick, then click the OK button.
53. A warning dialog will appear. Click the Yes button to continue. The warning dialog and the Access Control Settings for DeviceClasses dialog will close.
54. Click the OK button on the Permissions for DeviceClasses dialog to close it.
55. Close the Registry Editor window.
That's it! You may now log on as a non-administrative user and use Saitek Profiler.
After a bit of digging I have discovered how to run Saitek Profiler for a non-administrative user under Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional.
Disclaimer
Anything which involves editing the registry or changing security permissions on registry keys or directories may potentially cause your computer to stop functioning correctly. These instructions are supplied as is with no implied warranty or guarantee of correctness. If you follow these instructions you do so entirely at your own risk and I will not be held responsible for any damage caused directly or indirectly.
As far as I can tell, the account used to run Saitek Profiler requires full control of the following registry keys and their respective sub-keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ MediaProperties \ PrivateProperties \ Joystick \ Winmm
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Saitek \ Configuration
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ DeviceClasses
For convenience, the account should also have control of the following directory:
%SYSTEM DRIVE% \ Program Files \ Saitek \ Software
Enabling full control of the above on my system for all users has resulted in the Saitek Profiler running correctly without users having to have administrative privileges on their accounts. If you are familiar with Windows security and the related tools in Windows Explorer and regedt32 you can go ahead and make the required changes. Otherwise you may follow the step-by-step guide below.
Before we begin, some caveats:
- I have a Windows 2000 machine and the descriptions of the dialogs given here refer to that OS only. Windows XP has "friendlier" security dialogs where some of the button presses may be slightly different. The basic procedure is still the same, however, so it should not be too difficult.
- You must have already successfully installed and configured Saitek Profiler using an administrative account. If Saitek Profiler doesn't work when you are logged on as an administrator then something other than security is the problem and these instructions will not help you.
- You must be logged into an account with administrative privileges to follow these instructions.
- I am using Saitek Profiler 2.9.1.12. These instructions *may* work for earlier or later versions but I haven't tried them so your mileage may vary !
Part 1 - Create the user group
First we will create a local user group which we will use later to adjust the registry and directory privileges. This step isn't strictly necessary if you know what you're doing but it does make it easier to undo any mistakes you make by allowing access to the wrong keys or directories because you can simply delete the user group and start again.
1. Go to Start Menu / Settings / Control Panel / Administrative Tools and double-click the Computer Management icon to display the Computer Management window.
2. In the left-hand panel, double-click Local Users and Groups, then click the yellow folder entitled Groups.
3. Right-click the yellow folder entitled Groups and select New Group from the menu which appears. The New Group dialog will appear.
4. Enter a suitable name for this group in the Group Name edit box. For this example we will use Saitek Profiler Users. You may enter a description if you wish but it is not mandatory.
5. Click the Add button towards the bottom left of the dialog. The Select Users or Groups dialog will appear.
6. In the list of user names, double-click the name of each user you wish to be able to run Profiler and then click the OK button. If you just want everyone who can log on to your PC to be able to run Profiler, simply double-click Everyone and click the OK button.
7. Click the Close button on the New Group dialog. You may now also close the Computer Management and Administrative Tools windows if they are still open.
Part 2 - Directory security
Next, we will allow members of our new user group full control of the Saitek software directory. This is because by default the Saitek software stores its profile data there and we need to make sure any users can read, modify and delete them.
8. Open Windows Explorer.
9. Find the Saitek Software directory on your machine. On my machine it is C:\Program Files\Saitek\Software.
10. Right-click on the yellow folder entitled Software and select Properties from the menu which appears. The Software Properties dialog will appear.
11. Click the Security tab.
12. Click the Add button to display the Select Users, Computers or Groups dialog.
13. Find the Saitek Profiler Users group in the list and double-click it, then click the OK button to close the dialog.
14. On the Software Properties dialog the Saitek Profiler Users group should be selected in the list entitled Name. If it isn't, click it once to select it.
15. In the list entitled Permissions find the line entitled Full Control and click the box on that line which is in the column entitled Allow so that a tick or check mark appears. All the other boxes in that column will change to ticks.
16. Click the Advanced button to display the Access Control Settings for Software dialog.
17. Find the box entitled Reset permissions on all child objects and enable propagation of inheritable permissions and click it to display a tick, then click the OK button.
18. A warning dialog will appear. Click the Yes button to continue. The warning dialog and the Access Control Settings for Software dialog will close.
19. Click the OK button on the Software Properties dialog to close it.
Part 3 - Registry security
Our directory security is now set up. We will now do the same for the registry keys required by the software.
20. Go to the Start Menu and click the Run item to display the Run dialog. Type regedt32 into the edit box and click the OK button. The Registry Editor window will appear.
21. We will change the security permissions on three registry keys. All three keys are part of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry. Go to the Window menu and click the menu item entitled HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on Local Machine to display the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on Local Machine window. Everything else we do in the registry editor will be through this window.
22. The first key is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Saitek \ Configuration. To find the key, double click on the yellow folders to open them in the following order: Software, Saitek.
23. Highlight the Configuration folder by clicking on it once.
24. Go to the Security menu and click the Permissions item to display the Permissions for Configuration dialog. This is very similar to the Security tab on the Software Properties dialog we have already seen and we are going to do exactly the same thing here.
25. Click the Add button to display the Select Users, Computers or Groups dialog.
26. Find the Saitek Profiler Users group in the list and double-click it, then click the OK button to close the dialog.
27. On the Permissions for Configuration dialog the Saitek Profiler Users group should be selected in the list entitled Name. If it isn't, click it once to select it.
28. In the list entitled Permissions find the line entitled Full Control and click the box on that line which is in the column entitled Allow so that a tick appears. All the other boxes in that column will change to ticks.
29. Click the Advanced button to display the Access Control Settings for Configuration dialog.
30. Find the box entitled Reset permissions on all child objects and enable propagation of inheritable permissions and click it to display a tick, then click the OK button.
31. A warning dialog will appear. Click the Yes button to continue. The warning dialog and the Access Control Settings for Configuration dialog will close.
32. Click the OK button on the Permissions for Configuration dialog to close it.
33. The next key is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ MediaProperties \ PrivateProperties \ Joystick \ Winmm. To find the key, open the yellow folders as we did in step 22 until you find the Winmm folder.
34. Highlight the Winmm folder by clicking on it once.
35. Go to the Security menu and click the Permissions item to display the Permissions for Winmm dialog.
36. Click the Add button to display the Select Users, Computers or Groups dialog.
37. Find the Saitek Profiler Users group in the list and double-click it, then click the OK button to close the dialog.
38. On the Permissions for Winmm dialog the Saitek Profiler Users group should be selected in the list entitled Name. If it isn't, click it once to select it.
39. In the list entitled Permissions find the line entitled Full Control and click the box on that line which is in the column entitled Allow so that a tick appears. All the other boxes in that column will change to ticks.
40. Click the Advanced button to display the Access Control Settings for Winmm dialog.
41. Find the box entitled Reset permissions on all child objects and enable propagation of inheritable permissions and click it to display a tick, then click the OK button.
42. A warning dialog will appear. Click the Yes button to continue. The warning dialog and the Access Control Settings for Winmm dialog will close.
43. Click the OK button on the Permissions for Winmm dialog to close it.
44. The final key is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ DeviceClasses. To find the key, open the yellow folders as we did in step 22 until you find the DeviceClasses folder.
45. Highlight the DeviceClasses folder by clicking on it once.
46. Go to the Security menu and click the Permissions item to display the Permissions for DeviceClasses dialog.
47. Click the Add button to display the Select Users, Computers or Groups dialog.
48. Find the Saitek Profiler Users group in the list and double-click it, then click the OK button to close the dialog.
49. On the Permissions for DeviceClasses dialog the Saitek Profiler Users group should be selected in the list entitled Name. If it isn't, click it once to select it.
50. In the list entitled Permissions find the line entitled Full Control and click the box on that line which is in the column entitled Allow so that a tick appears. All the other boxes in that column will change to ticks.
51. Click the Advanced button to display the Access Control Settings for DeviceClasses dialog.
52. Find the box entitled Reset permissions on all child objects and enable propagation of inheritable permissions and click it to display a tick, then click the OK button.
53. A warning dialog will appear. Click the Yes button to continue. The warning dialog and the Access Control Settings for DeviceClasses dialog will close.
54. Click the OK button on the Permissions for DeviceClasses dialog to close it.
55. Close the Registry Editor window.
That's it! You may now log on as a non-administrative user and use Saitek Profiler.