diff --git a/client_details.py b/client_details.py
index 2a5f170..026b10e 100644
--- a/client_details.py
+++ b/client_details.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import customtkinter
 import imagetools
 import os
 import statekeeper
+import localaction
 
 def show_large_picture(app, path):
     '''Show a full-window version of the clicked picture'''
@@ -159,7 +160,8 @@ def create_details_page(app, software, backswitch_function, infowidget_window):
     # install button #
     print(software.run_exe)
     print(os.path.join(software.backend.install_dir, software.run_exe or ""))
-    if not software.run_exe or not (os.path.isfile(software.run_exe) 
+    if not software.run_exe or not (os.path.isfile(software.run_exe)
+            or localaction.check_substitute_path_exists(software.run_exe)
             or os.path.isfile(os.path.join(software.backend.install_dir, software.title, software.run_exe))):
         run_button.configure(state=tkinter.DISABLED)
         run_button.configure(fg_color="gray")
diff --git a/localaction.py b/localaction.py
index ed51e5c..0358b5b 100644
--- a/localaction.py
+++ b/localaction.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ import subprocess
 import sys
 import os
 import json
+import win32com.client
+import pythoncom
 
 # windows imports #
 if os.name == "nt":
@@ -43,6 +45,19 @@ def resolve_lnk(lnk_file_path):
     else:
         return lnk_file_path # not required on linux
 
+def substitute_win_paths(path):
+
+    pythoncom.CoInitialize()  
+    shell = win32com.client.Dispatch("WScript.Shell")
+    common_programs = shell.SpecialFolders("AllUsersPrograms")
+    path = path.replace("%ProgramData%", common_programs)
+    return path
+
+def check_substitute_path_exists(path):
+
+    if "%" in path:
+        return os.path.isfile(substitute_win_paths(path))
+
 def run_exe(path, synchronous=False):
     '''Launches a given software'''
 
@@ -65,13 +80,23 @@ def run_exe(path, synchronous=False):
     if synchronous:
         raise NotImplementedError("SYNC not yet implemented")
 
+    print("Raw paths:", paths)
+
+    # substitute program data #
+    paths = [ substitute_win_paths(p) for p in paths ]
+
+    # substituted paths #
+    print("Subs paths:", paths)
+
+    # resolve links #
     paths = [resolve_lnk(p) if p.endswith(".lnk") else p for p in paths]
 
-    print("Executing:", paths)
+    print("Executing prepared:", paths)
 
     try:
         if paths[0].endswith(".reg"):
             raise OSError("WinError 740")
+        path = paths[0].replace("\\\\", "\\")
         subprocess.Popen(path, cwd=os.path.dirname(paths[0])) # TODO fix this BS
     except OSError as e:
         if "WinError 740" in str(e):
diff --git a/software.py b/software.py
index 71ee9e9..1606f4b 100644
--- a/software.py
+++ b/software.py
@@ -184,8 +184,10 @@ class Software:
                     s.install()
 
         # run installer if set #
+        print("self.installer", self.installer)
         if self.installer:
             installer_path = os.path.join(self.backend.install_dir,  self.title, self.installer)
+            print("installer path in if", installer_path)
             if os.name != "nt" and not os.path.isabs(installer_path):
                 # need abs path for wine #
                 installer_path = os.path.join(os.getcwd(), installer_path)
@@ -228,6 +230,9 @@ class Software:
 
         if self.run_exe:
             if os.name == "nt" or not ".lnk" in self.run_exe:
-                localaction.run_exe(os.path.join(self.backend.install_dir, self.title, self.run_exe))
+                if self.run_exe.startswith("%") or self.run_exe[1] == ":":
+                    localaction.run_exe(self.run_exe)
+                else:
+                    localaction.run_exe(os.path.join(self.backend.install_dir, self.title, self.run_exe))
             else:
                 localaction.run_exe(self.run_exe)