Running Battlefield 2 in a Limited Windows XP Professional Account

[AMT]

Is there was a way to run Battlefield 2 in a limited (user) Windows XP Professional account? I have been searching countless websites and forums for the past few hours or so looking for an answer to my problem only to be stuck at a dead end.

What Works
So far I have made some progress. Here is what I've got working in the limited account.
- The game/expansion pack/mods run
- I am able to login to account server
- View stats
- Create/join LAN games
- Create dedicated servers
- Singleplayer
- Downloading demos
- View recorder files
- Edit options
- View credits
- Exit

What Doesn't Work
I have only encountered one problem. Unfortunately this is the biggest problem I could have. I'm getting kicked via PunkBuster for insufficiant OS rights.

So, basically if theres a way to setup Windows so that PunkBuster is happy this should work. I'll post a tutorial on how to setup BF2 on a limited account when everything is working properly.

- Andrew

[Heavy552 AWG]

The game requires admin level rights so it can be scanned by Punkbuster and other methods that EA probably has in place.

If you own the machine you should have no issues playing the game at the Admin level. Usually a decent firewall and antivirus coupled with anti spyware etc takes care of most security issues.

If you are trying to play the game at work on a limited rights machine then yer just out of luck.

Even if you did connect to a server on limited rights, Punkbuster would probably kick you back out for limited OS rights.

[jayhigh]

The game requires admin level rights so it can be scanned by Punkbuster and other methods that EA probably has in place.

If you own the machine you should have no issues playing the game at the Admin level. Usually a decent firewall and antivirus coupled with anti spyware etc takes care of most security issues.

If you are trying to play the game at work on a limited rights machine then yer just out of luck.

Even if you did connect to a server on limited rights, Punkbuster would probably kick you back out for limited OS rights.

YEAH...WHAT HE SAID.
HOw about reading the rquirements of battlefield..which can be found on the top side of the retail product case.

[Gunny Highway]

You can try Run As to let BF2 run with admin rights from your limited user account.

Try installing BF2 and patching the game from an admin account. The Windows account you patch from, will be the account you need to play multiplayer from, as the cd-key is encrypted using information from this account.

You can use then Run As to let BF2 run with admin rights, from a limited user account. The account you should specify in Run As must be the same admin account you patched BF2 with.

You access Run As by right-clicking BF2 shortcut, and then selecting Run As.

It might not work, but worth a try.

YEAH...WHAT HE SAID.
HOw about reading the rquirements of battlefield..which can be found on the top side of the retail product case.

It really doesn't matter what the retail box says, it is a matter of security to try and run in least privilege user account.

Several applications require just access to a special folders or files or registry, to run properly, and trying to find out which, like AMTXP tries to, can let you run it from a limited account and thus make your system more secure. For the normal user running from admin account is just easier but far less secure.

E.g. if you get a virus using an admin account, then your whole system is potentially compromised, but if you get it in a limted user, the damage is much less, as system files are not compromised to same degree.

AMTXP you can take a look at this blog by Aaron Margosis for hints and tips running in a least privileges environment:
The Non-Admin blog - running with least privilege on the desktop (http://http://blogs.msdn.com/aaron_margosis/default.aspx)

[AMT]

The game requires admin level rights so it can be scanned by Punkbuster and other methods that EA probably has in place.
If this is true then allowing the limited user account full access to the BF2 folders should have fixed this problem. I haven't done this with the Punkbuster folders yet though (if there are any).

If you own the machine you should have no issues playing the game at the Admin level. Usually a decent firewall and antivirus coupled with anti spyware etc takes care of most security issues.
Yes I do own the machine, and do run in it Admin account. However it is frustrating to have to switch back and forth between accounts since this is the ONLY game I'm having trouble with running in a limited account (out of my collection of AA, CS:S, DoD:S, HL2:DM, Halo PC/CE, RCT3).

I also have a wonderfull firewall (Agnitum Outpost) and anti-virus (AVG) but you can never be to safe.

If you are trying to play the game at work on a limited rights machine then yer just out of luck.
I don't work yet...and I'm going to have to disagree with that. As stubborn as Windows and this game is I'll figure this out eventually.

Even if you did connect to a server on limited rights, Punkbuster would probably kick you back out for limited OS rights.
Well when I get there, I'll see.

YEAH...WHAT HE SAID.
HOw about reading the rquirements of battlefield..which can be found on the top side of the retail product case.
As unconstructive as your post is, I'd like you to know I know full well the requirements of the game. I also know from past experiances not to trust what EA says because it took them a while to get the game working againt with older cards (which it was supposed to support) after 1.2 patch, and aparently it runs on Windows 2000 just fine.

Try installing BF2 and patching the game from an admin account. The Windows account you patch from, will be the account you need to play multiplayer from, as the cd-key is encrypted using information from this account.
This would explain the problem. So unless I figure out a way to modify the key with information from the user account I am stuck.

You access Run As by right-clicking BF2 shortcut, and then selecting Run As.
This works only if nothing else is running...which is really wierd.

AMTXP you can take a look at this blog by Aaron Margosis for hints and tips running in a least privileges environment:
The Non-Admin blog - running with least privilege on the desktop
Yes, that was one of the first articles that came up when I searched google. Aparently someone who post a reply to that topic was able to get BF2 running in a user account. I can't find contact information for him though.

- Andrew

[bisley]

change Administrator password back to what it was when you installed the game

[cowkilla]

if ur the owner of the machine why not make your account with administrator privledges? for example have an administrator acct and then have AMTXP with administrator rights and then have a limited priveledge guest acct for when friends or what ever are over

[AMT]

I made progress! Its now a matter of setting punkbuster up right...see first post for more info.

- Andrew

[Cigar_Man]

I made progress! Its now a matter of setting punkbuster up right...see first post for more info.

- Andrew
You cannot run PB and connect to PB enabled servers with limited user privileges cause some hacks/cheats run as services that can be hidden from limited users. So, PB must be run with full admin level privileges so it can scan for known hacks/cheats.

You can find the statement about this at the PB (http://www.punkbuster.com/index.php?page=faq-bf2.php) site. Why does PunkBuster now require players to run the game as an administrator under WinXP/2K?

Because some cheats/hacks cannot be detected otherwise.
You can play on non-PB protected servers online by deactivating PB in the game. But for PB enabled servers, you must have admin level access cause of the cheaters and hackers out there.

[signa]

Good luck Andrew, It sux PB can impose whatever standards they want without regard to other software or security. you may be interested in this site:
http://nonadmin.editme.com