MM won't run in non-admin Windows 7 account

[Darryl_Gittins]

I can't get MM running in a limited Windows 7 account. It runs fine if I log on using an Admin account, but of course from a security perspective, this is not recommended, (and I'm trying to set up the limited account for my kids so that they can play music but not get into other mischief.

When I log on using a non-admin limited account, and then I click the MM icon, the cursor spins and spins but MM doesn't start. If open taks manager, I see several instances of MM running - typically 4 instances, then 6, then 4 again, and so on, like it's trying to start but cannot.

I can repro this on two separate Windows 7 systems.

I'm also running Windows Live Family Safety on both systems.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Rhysmonkey]

I had the same problem. I worked around it by creating a shortcuut on the desktp with this:

c:\Windows\System32\runas.exe /savecred /user:adminusersname "c:\Program Files (x86)\MediaMonkey\MediaMonkey.exe"


Change adminusersname to an admin user's actual name. You will be prompted for creds 1st time but not after (because of the
/savecred switch).

[theta_wave]

I had the same problem when doing a clean install of MM4.0.1.1461. After mediamonkey sets up the library for my admin account (nothing was there), I quit and restarted the program. After I pressed "cancel" it began to set up my library, where scripts and additional plugins are saved to x:\user\appdata\roaming\mediamonkey\. From another thread, make sure your tempdir is set to some directory that you have privileges to write to (mine: C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp\). After doing all of that, the UAC no longer prompts anymore.

[smk]

c:\Windows\System32\runas.exe /savecred /user:adminusersname "c:\Program Files (x86)\MediaMonkey\MediaMonkey.exe"

Thanks for this workaround - I'm a new MM user and was setting this up over the weekend on Win 7 for my kids to use from their accounts, and I was dismayed when I tried it from one of their accounts and got prompted for an admin password. This seems to have worked around the issue with MM needing to run as admin, and simultaneoulsy allows the non-admin users to update the libraries, which I put in C:\Users\Public\Music (so multiple kids can share the same music library).

thanks,
\steve

[Darryl_Gittins]

Thanks Rhysmonkey! Great workaround! I see other programs (such as Everything Search) that could also benefit from this!

[Darryl_Gittins]

Ugh. this used to work for me but no longer:

C:\Windows\system32>c:\Windows\System32\runas.exe /savecred /user:Darryl "C:\Program Files (x86)\MediaMonkey\MediaMonkey.exe"
Attempting to start C:\Program Files (x86)\MediaMonkey\MediaMonkey.exe as user "KITCHEN\Darryl" ...
RUNAS ERROR: Unable to run - C:\Program Files (x86)\MediaMonkey\MediaMonkey.exe
740: The requested operation requires elevation.


Does anyone know about the ``740: The requested operation requires elevation`` messageÉ

Thanks!

[Darryl_Gittins]

Just installed a new Windows 8 system and the same problem exists: when my kids try to use MM from their non-administrator accounts, they are prompted for an admin password. I'm forced to give them Windows Media Player because I can't be there to type the admin password.

Seriously, can't we get this fixed?

I can lock down their accounts thouroughly witht he family safetly controls, but I cannot unlock MM. Not good.

[nohitter151]

It works fine without admin access on my Win 7 and Win 8 PC. To be clear, are we talking about installing MM? Because yes, you do need to install the application as admin. But for me, I can run it under any user without admin access.

[Darryl_Gittins]

It works fine without admin access on my Win 7 and Win 8 PC. To be clear, are we talking about installing MM? Because yes, you do need to install the application as admin. But for me, I can run it under any user without admin access.

You must have UAC turned off because in W7, Vista and 8, by default, when you try to run Medimonkey from a standard account, you are prompted to provide admin creds. I could turn off UAC, but I don't like the idea of having to disable security measures to run one app. Other apps run fine on the kid's accounts so I wonder why MM will not.

Thanks!

[nohitter151]

I don't have the UAC turned off, right now it's at "Default" setting for both PCs.

[Darryl_Gittins]

I don't have the UAC turned off, right now it's at "Default" setting for both PCs.

That's weird. I'm definitely not making it up though. Reading through this thread I see others that see the same thing I do. I was able to make the Runas trick work, but that forces both kids to use the same MM.DB as the admin from which the runas command is run as. That's workable but not ideal.

[johnnytest]

Hi folks. My first post here. Digging the Monkey!

I am not having this problem on new install Win 7 Ult, but did also set up as a network install per: this support wiki. Maybe many of the same issues could apply to Multi-user single PC install.

EDIT-- Skip to next post if not a network install.

What worked for me:

1. Log in as an Administrator

2. Right click MediaMonkey installer and run as administrator.

3. Launch MediaMonkey. Scan for media files. Exit.

4. Copy C:\Users\<USERNAME>\AppData\Roaming\MediaMonkey\MediaMonkey.ini to C:\Program Files (x86)\MediaMonkey\MediaMonkey.ini Then rename or remove C:\Users\<USERNAME>\AppData\Roaming\MediaMonkey\MediaMonkey.ini (It will supersede the one in Program files if exists I think?)

5. Right click C:\Program Files (x86)\MediaMonkey\MediaMonkey.ini and add "Modify" and "Write" check mark for Users (YourPC\Users)

6. Copy C:\Users\<USERNAME>\AppData\Roaming\MediaMonkey\MM.DB to a new directory. IE: c:\DirectoryName\mm.db or \\server\directoryname\MM.db

7.Right click this directory and verify ALL users have READ and WRITE (Modify and Change) permissions.

8. Inside this directory, create a directory for the various temp files. IE:
c:\DirectoryName\TempFiles\Temp\
c:\DirectoryName\TempFiles\VirtualCD\
c:\DirectoryName\TempFiles\Previews\

9. Open C:\Program Files (x86)\MediaMonkey\MediaMonkey.ini with notepad.
Add a line under System that points to your new DB location and edit the three lines to reflect the path to your temp directories.

Code: Select all

[System]
DBNAME=c:\DirectoryName\MM.db  (or \\servername\DirectoryName\MM.db)
...
TempDir=C:\DirectoryName\TempFiles\Temp\
CacheDir=C:\DirectoryName\TempFiles\VirtualCD\
PreviewDir=C:\DirectoryName\TempFiles\Previews\

Make sure all users have at least READ access to your actual media files. (READ and WRITE if you want them to be able to sync/update tags.)

That seems to have worked without any "run as" or admin login required for the standard users.

JT

[johnnytest]

Scratch my last for non-network installs.
Moved on to other PC's and tested before redirecting to the network library. My last post should be unnecessary for single PC/non-network installs.

This seemed to work for just a local install:
1. Log in as an Administrator

2. Right click MediaMonkey installer and run as administrator.

3. Launch Media Monkey. Scan for media files. Exit.

4. Log in as standard user.

5. Right click MediaMonkey and "Run as administrator."

6.Click OK for any "com elevation" prompts.

7. Exit. and then launch with normal Icon click.

I wonder if those installs having problems have something to do with the initial com elevation prompts? Seems like that was the only time UAC came into play on mine.
Subsequent launches by the standard user didn't have any prompts for elevation/UAC.

[Darryl_Gittins]

Thanks John - I'll try this and report back.

[Darryl_Gittins]

Many thanks, John, this odd procedure did fix the issue!