Delivering software via Software Management does not install the software to all users

Products

• Software Management Solution

Issue/Introduction

A task or policy to deploy software shows as running successfully, but logged on users cannot find the software in the start menu or add remove programs.

Cause

By default we run under the local system account. Depending on the configuration and the installer package, the install may only install to the user who runs the install.

Resolution

Below are three possible solutions:

1. Add user-stack to the execution - This will require a Managed Delivery Policy.
   1. Create a Managed Software Policy and add the software you are deploying.
   2. Under the Advanced options, under the Run tab, change the option Task can run: to "Only when user is logged on".
   3. Check the option "Allow user to interact with installing software" - this option will load the logged-on user's stack to the execution.
   4. Check the option "Repeat this task for each logged on user.
2. MSI based installs
   1. In your command-line, add the ALLUSERS=2 switch so Windows knows to install the software to all user profiles. For example:
      msiexec /i myinstaller.msi ALLUSERS=2 /qn
3. Installer doesn't support automatically installing to all users (This option is when the MSI doesn't support the ALLUSERS switch, or the EXE doesn't support adding installation items to other users than the logged in one. Most software does not fall into this category)
   1. If the ALLUSERS=2 switch isn't supported by the installer, or the EXE installer doesn't support any arguments to install to all the users, a Managed Software Policy is required.
   2. Create a Managed Software Policy and add the software you are deploying.
   3. Under the Advanced options, under the Run tab, select the option for Current logged-on user. (If users do not have rights to install, they will need a different way to get the software since it is required to run under their user profile)
   4. Check the option to Repeat this task for each logged on user, and click OK to save the changes.

Using the above options will help resolve user-based issues with software installs.