If the game is in a folder that a normal user has no write rights (for example a subfolder of c:/program files or c:/program files (x86)) then you would need admin rights. Avoid such a scenario.

Yea that's the way. If the games are from GOG.com just install them in another folder / drive.

Ah yes, forgot that gog installs to program files...

Their new installers don't do that anymore. So this problem should cease to exist 😀

Yes the best option is to install into a different folder or drive.

For me personally I completely disable UAC on all my machines and create a couple of user accounts that are local machine admins.

I think if you use the Run As Admin when you first install a game then it should also work but it's possible running as a local power or general user account may still fail if installed into the Program Files (x86) folder.

discovered somehow a 'corrupt' file entered the install.
after I delete ALL config files and folders - especially under c:\users\(name)\App folders\Roaming - for dosbox AND dosshell (I use it as my launcher) - then all cleared up.
Guess every now and then I just need to start fresh

and thanks for the notes about not into Program Files... my game isn't there.
dosbox and dosshell are... is that an issue?

dosbox is no problem being in program files.
Dosshell I have no idea what that actually is 🙁

dosshell is a windows gui frontend c/o loonies
http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s … qHXptDVPVydYAUg
useful for avoiding command line
... especially useful for those of us who hate to type
~8-)

if the program is up to modern Windows standards it should be fine, too