How to tell which user installed software

[Guest Kryten]

Hi,

 

Is there a proven way of telling which user account was used to

install software on Windows 2003 Server?

 

My problem is that there are a dozen or so user accounts on the box

which different ppl use. Sometimes they install updates which then

cannot be uninstalled without knowing which account was used. It's

trial and error to keep logging in and checking add/remove programs to

see which account gets it to show up there.

 

There must be a better way? Perhaps querying the registry?

 

Here's hoping!

 

Stuart

[Guest Geoff Schaller]

Re: How to tell which user installed software

 

Stuart.

 

I think it would be better to prevent local logons to the server and

create one domain account with that capability. Perhaps in your case the

horse has bolted but I suspect that a single account for the

administrator PC might be better.

 

Geoff

 

 

"Kryten" <Kryten68@googlemail.com> wrote in message

news:48560c15-aa48-4300-a92d-72b4c27369f1@r66g2000hsg.googlegroups.com:

> Hi,

>

> Is there a proven way of telling which user account was used to

> install software on Windows 2003 Server?

>

> My problem is that there are a dozen or so user accounts on the box

> which different ppl use. Sometimes they install updates which then

> cannot be uninstalled without knowing which account was used. It's

> trial and error to keep logging in and checking add/remove programs to

> see which account gets it to show up there.

>

> There must be a better way? Perhaps querying the registry?

>

> Here's hoping!

>

> Stuart

[Guest Kryten]

Re: How to tell which user installed software

 

Thanks Geoff,

Your right that would be best..however in this case I am merely the

application vendor support engineer

and the metal and os belong to the 'customer' who reserves the right

to maintain and exercise access

to the box. Sometimes installing updates themselves before we get a

chance and thus leading to this

problem.

 

I was hoping that such info might be available in the registry

somewhere?

 

Thanks

Stuart

[Guest Meinolf Weber]

Re: How to tell which user installed software

 

Hello Kryten,

 

Don't know if you can find the account in the registry, ofcourse the best

solution is that users are restricted to install software.

 

But check out Windows Installer CleanUp Utility for removing:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

 

After install it lists all software and can also uninstall it.

 

Best regards

 

Meinolf Weber

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> Hi,

>

> Is there a proven way of telling which user account was used to

> install software on Windows 2003 Server?

>

> My problem is that there are a dozen or so user accounts on the box

> which different ppl use. Sometimes they install updates which then

> cannot be uninstalled without knowing which account was used. It's

> trial and error to keep logging in and checking add/remove programs to

> see which account gets it to show up there.

>

> There must be a better way? Perhaps querying the registry?

>

> Here's hoping!

>

> Stuart

>

[Guest Herb Martin]

Re: How to tell which user installed software

 

 

"Kryten" <Kryten68@googlemail.com> wrote in message

news:9ffc853d-db01-4e24-8c66-88c58966deef@j22g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...

> Thanks Geoff,

> Your right that would be best..however in this case I am merely the

> application vendor support engineer

> and the metal and os belong to the 'customer' who reserves the right

> to maintain and exercise access

> to the box. Sometimes installing updates themselves before we get a

> chance and thus leading to this

> problem.

>

> I was hoping that such info might be available in the registry

> somewhere?

 

Look to see who owns the files or registry entries...

 

The OWNER user account is almost certainly the installer.

[Guest Kryten]

Re: How to tell which user installed software

 

Hi Meinolf.

 

Thats a good idea - thanks for the tip.

My plan had actually been to write my own utility in Powershell, I'll

check this tool out and

see if it does what I need.

 

Thanks,

Stuart

[Guest Kryten]

Re: How to tell which user installed software

 

Hi Herb,

 

Now that DOES make sense!! I'll check it out. My plan had been to

write a little utility to do this in Powershell, it will be easy to

extract this

info from the source you suggest.

 

Thanks,

Stuart