Installation of software on Windoiws XP

Hi,I have been trying to install a software on a machine with windows xp, I have got full administrative rights and it seems to install fine. When I log back in as part of the network, the program is nowhere to be seen, except in the folder but it is not in the startup menu and there is not a shortcut to this software on the desktop. And another thing, when i save any work on this machine, it seems to have saved fine, but when u logout and log back in, there is no sign of the saved work. Can someone tell me how to solve this.
Kind Regards