User account problems - non-admins must run software as admin

I've had my E521 for about 4 months now, with Vista home premium. Right after getting it, I set my account as the admin, and I created a standard user account for my wife and another for my kids. My account works great, no problems. But, the kids account and my wife's account started having issues about two months ago, after a Windows update. I rolled back, let the update apply again, then the problem never returned. until about two weeks ago.

Here are the symptoms for the two non-administrator accounts: Some programs simply fail to run unless you right-click on their icon and choose to run as administrator. These are all programs that used to run just fine. For example, Windows Media player won't even open unless you run as administrator. Windows side bar loads, but not of the gadgets work, they just show broken images. for example, the clock shows a glossy black circle with clock markings, but no hands. If I close the sidebar, then right-click on the icon, choose run as administrator and start it, it runs fine under these accounts.

Other programs will open a window, but won't display anything in the window. I check task manager, and no sign of a hung application, either. Other programs will briefly flash up, then close down. Yet, most programs work with no issues what so ever. And, this only happens on the kids account and my wife's account, my account, set as admin, has never had a problem. And, if I change my wife's account to an admin account, the problem does NOT go away.
Does anyone have any thoughts as to what could be the problem? I don't want to disable any features of Vista, and I really don't feel comfortable rolling back, I'm hoping to find the cause to this problem and fix it.

thanks!

Message Edited by griz_fan on 08-29-2007 10:19 PM

Message Edited by griz_fan on 08-29-2007 10:19 PM