How to tell which user installed software

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Kryten

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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
 
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
 
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
 
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
>
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
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