Installing OpenOffice 4.0 without admin privileges

Have you tried to install programs on your external drive and encountered an error saying that "...you are logged in as a user without sufficient administrator rights for this system"? I was using Windows 7 enterprise edition, and I recently encountered this error when trying to install OpenOffice 4.0 on my external drive.

A little search on the net I found that it is easy to overcome this issue by simply creating a batch file that directs the program to install without admin privileges. After trying it, I realized that it wasn't as simple as suggested, so here is my attempt to simplify it for you. So, if you are interested in installing OpenOffice 4.0 without admin privileges, here are the steps:

  • Download Openoffice 4.0 installer from here. Once you have downloaded the installer, run the installer as usual. It will ask you where you want to install the files, and decompress them in the folder of your choice. However, instead of going ahead and installing the files, it will bring up the above mentioned error box. 
  • Simply close out the box, and abort the installation. The folder with the decompressed files will still be there in the location where you put it. Now, in that folder, download this file and unzip it. 
  • Once it is unzipped, simply double click on the file and it will bring up the OpenOffice installer, which will ask you where you would like to install the software. Select your external drive, with the appropriate folder name, and proceed with installation. 
  • The only issue now is, where are the shortcuts to open the program?
    Since you didn't run the set up program, there are no shortcuts in the Start menu. To create a shortcut in the startup menu, navigate into OpenOffice folder > Program folder and create a shortcut of the soffice.exe application file. Rename the shortcut to OpenOffice and drag it to the start menu and "pin" it there. Now when you need to open the openoffice, simply go to start menu and click on openoffice icon. Of course, you will have to have the external drive attached to the computer for it to work! 
If you successfully used this technique, write a comment below and let me know. Enjoy Openoffice 4.0.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Devesh Batra, you will be missed!!

Demise of An American Shoe Manufacturer - Odabo

Celebrating Friendship in Style