Update Password Work Around

One of the biggest complaints/annoyances I get from users at my company is that whenever there is an update for Java or Flash or something of the like they can't update it because it requires an administrators password. Is there a way to work around this? Allow certain updates or anything like that?

Thanks!

In my opinion, you do not want to have people updating software on their PC's. It should be the IT Guy/Department's Responsibility to update software. You start to allow the users to install software you will be asking for a viral outbreak.

I understand that, we don't want to give everyone admin rights but we also don't have time for two IT guys running around to 70-80 computers whenever there is an update for Flash. I was thinking more like a registry hack or something to allow updates on pre-approved programs or anything?

Do you have a domain set up?

Do you have a domain set up?

Yes we do.

I feel your pain. I work in IT at my university, and it is always a hassle updating mundane things like Adobe, Java, Flash, Firefox, etc.

But that's what I get paid for.

As cryptodan said, if you start letting everybody do their own updating, you're opening a can-o'-worms that is nigh impossible to keep control over. How will you know who is up-to-date if you aren't doing the updates?

You can push Flash through Group Policy if you use the .msi distribution.

Run it like this:

\\serverName\share\pathToFlash\install_flash_player_10_active_x.msi ALLUSERS=1 /qb /norestart

And the same for the plugin version:

\\serverName\share\pathToFlash\install_flash_player_10_plugin.msi ALLUSERS=1 /qb /norestart

I have not tried this myself, but it should work just fine.

Edited by keyboardNinja, 17 November 2010 - 11:32 AM.