Running Palm Hotsync and Desktop from non-Admin User Account in XP/2000

Like many applications, Palm's Hotsync fails miserably at running in a non-admin user account. However, there is a very easy solution if you have access to an admin account on the machine (if you do not have admin access at all, there may be other workarounds).

Log out of your restricted (non-admin) account. Log into your admin account. Go to the Users manager (usually under My Computer...Control Panel...Users. Process may be slightly different for Win 2000.) Select your restricted account and temporarily give it admin rights.

Switch to your restricted account and run the Hotsync installer (or run the "repair" option if you have already installed it). Perform at least one Hotsync between your device and your new account.

Now you can go back to your Admin account, remove the admin rights for your restricted user and Hotsync will continue to function. You're set.

This solution feels wrong, but it's quick and easy and it works.