Windows NT and its successors have built-in security that can make it difficult to install software without administrator privileges. The older Windows NT 4.0 is the least problematic since (by default) it allows everyone to write to all directories and to a large part of the Registry. The average NT 4.0 user thus has sufficient rights to install most applications, including the Magic Analyst.

The newer Windows 2000 and Windows XP, on the other hand, have more stringent default security settings that make software installation nearly impossible without administrator privileges. By default, users only have full access to two places: the HKEY_CURRENT_USER Registry key and the "My Documents" folder. Every other part of the system is read-only.

Thus, if you lack administrator privileges, you have to install the Magic Analyst into the "My Documents" folder, rather than the more sensible default "Program Files" folder. On the other hand, if you run the install as a user with administrator privileges, intending to later run the Analyst itself as a normal user, the default registry keys will be created under the HKEY_CURRENT_USER for the administrator, rather than the intended user. The Analyst won't be able to find its Registry settings when it runs, and it won't be able to save changes like your card inventory. The Analyst may exhibit some other squirrelly behaviour, particularly when going online.

The best solution is to grant the "normal" user rights to the Program Files directory in order to install the program, then restrict those rights to the Magic Analyst sub-directory once the install is complete. Be sure to run the install as the "normal" user (NOT Admin) so the Registry entries will be created in that user's segment. If you don't have the wherewithal to make these permission changes, either install and run always as an administrator, or install as a "normal" user to your "My Programs" directory rather than the default location.

(Makes you wonder why Microsoft ever forced us to give up on those simple little INI files, doesn't it?)