Please explain accounts in XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jim
  • Start date Start date
J

Jim

Someone once tried to explain to me how many accounts get set up with a
fresh install, but considering it's only me who uses the PC do I need all
these accounts (admin etc) can I just not set pc up with me and no need for
password so I just go into desktop, I know some people will say it's not
safe but it's my home PC so nobody else uses it.
 
Jim said:
Someone once tried to explain to me how many accounts get set up with
a fresh install, but considering it's only me who uses the PC do I
need all these accounts (admin etc) can I just not set pc up with me
and no need for password so I just go into desktop, I know some
people will say it's not safe but it's my home PC so nobody else uses
it.
Click to expand...

Hi, Jim;

Check out http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=282866 for how to remove your
password and enable XP to log you in automatically.

As for the other accounts, I'm guessing you mean the ~4 others listed in the
Computer Management, Local Users screen. Probably best to leave those as
they are (be sure to leave Guest disabled).
 
You need at least two accounts, three might be better.

The installation will always make THE ADMINISTRATOR account.
You should make a working account that will have
administrator privileges. When you make this account the
ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT will be hidden.
You should also make an account to use for routine
operations that has limited function.

You can set the computer to logon and you don't need to have
a password for a limited account but administrator accounts
certainly should have a password. Remember the password.

The reason for this are simple. The ADMINISTRATOR account
is your emergency tool, you don't use it or install a lot of
junk to it. If the computer won't boot to the account you
usually use, you can often boot the ADMIN account and fix
the problem.
You may want or need an account with admin priv. because
some tasks may require the power of an administrator, such
as updates, virus scans or creating a connection. This
account will be used and may become corrupt which is why you
keep a "clean" Adin acct.
Many experts suggest that you do as much work on the
computer using a limited user account because that prevents
many unwanted things from happening. If you are hacked or
infected in a limited account, you only have to worry about
the damage that can be done by a limited user (so they say).


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.



message | Someone once tried to explain to me how many accounts get
set up with a
| fresh install, but considering it's only me who uses the
PC do I need all
| these accounts (admin etc) can I just not set pc up with
me and no need for
| password so I just go into desktop, I know some people
will say it's not
| safe but it's my home PC so nobody else uses it.
|
|
 
Good question.

Windows XP is used in many different settings, so it needs to accomodate as
many of them as possible. XP was setup with user accounts so that, for
example, different family members could each use the computer with their own
settings, and businesses could manage computers on their networks. You can
ignore the various user accounts - they do not affect your computer's speed
or performance in any way and will not cause errors.

For example, the so-called Default User is not really a user account, but a
collection of the default settings that will be present for all users. This
gives all users a functional operating system right out of the box, without
the need to spend hours configuring the computer.

The All Users account is also not really a user account, but a collection of
Start menu and desktop selections that will appear on every user's desktop.
This makes it easy to include the same Start menu and desktop icons on every
user's computer.

The Administrator account has unrestricted access to the operating system.
This is needed if, for example, you want to install software, defragment
your computer, or perform other system level operations. You should not be
using an Administrator account for your day-to-day computing. If a virus or
spyware infects your Administrator account, it too will have unrestricted
access to your computer. You don't want that. For everyday computing, you
want to use an account that has restricted access to the computer.

So you see, the account structure of XP is designed to make the computer
more convenient and safer. You don't have to pay attention to any account
other than your own.
 
Jim Macklin said:
You need at least two accounts, three might be better.
Click to expand...
Jesus 3, I'm having trouble getting my head round 2 (user: that's me, and
Admin) let alone 3.

The installation will always make THE ADMINISTRATOR account.
You should make a working account that will have
administrator privileges. When you make this account the
ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT will be hidden.
You should also make an account to use for routine
operations that has limited function.

You can set the computer to logon and you don't need to have
a password for a limited account but administrator accounts
certainly should have a password. Remember the password.

The reason for this are simple. The ADMINISTRATOR account
is your emergency tool, you don't use it or install a lot of
junk to it. If the computer won't boot to the account you
usually use, you can often boot the ADMIN account and fix
the problem.
You may want or need an account with admin priv. because
some tasks may require the power of an administrator, such
as updates, virus scans or creating a connection. This
account will be used and may become corrupt which is why you
keep a "clean" Adin acct.
Many experts suggest that you do as much work on the
computer using a limited user account because that prevents
many unwanted things from happening. If you are hacked or
infected in a limited account, you only have to worry about
the damage that can be done by a limited user (so they say).
Click to expand...
Mmmm food for thought, now you have put things that way i guess i can see a
point to admin account (god i hate being wrong) but if i set up machine with
just admin (set up on it's own as you say) and my user account, will my user
account be able to do everything i need, for example instal new software
remove and mod things as i wish, so in effect just keeping Admin account for
if pc dies on me i can try to get in using admin.
Have i got it right or am i still missing the point?
 
In XP, each user account is independent. If you have a
three home businesses, five children, a wife and want
security, you get XP Pro and use NTFS. Then each user's
files are private from the others. The IRS would like that
since each business files are not co-mingled with the
others. You children's email and chat (and homework) are
separate and one child can't delete the others.
Of course, in a good world, you would spend a few hundred
dollars to buy everyone their own PC. But your three
businesses would still be sharing with your personal stuff.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


message |
in message
| | > You need at least two accounts, three might be better.
| >
| Jesus 3, I'm having trouble getting my head round 2 (user:
that's me, and
| Admin) let alone 3.
|
|
| > The installation will always make THE ADMINISTRATOR
account.
| > You should make a working account that will have
| > administrator privileges. When you make this account
the
| > ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT will be hidden.
| > You should also make an account to use for routine
| > operations that has limited function.
| >
| > You can set the computer to logon and you don't need to
have
| > a password for a limited account but administrator
accounts
| > certainly should have a password. Remember the
password.
| >
| > The reason for this are simple. The ADMINISTRATOR
account
| > is your emergency tool, you don't use it or install a
lot of
| > junk to it. If the computer won't boot to the account
you
| > usually use, you can often boot the ADMIN account and
fix
| > the problem.
| > You may want or need an account with admin priv. because
| > some tasks may require the power of an administrator,
such
| > as updates, virus scans or creating a connection. This
| > account will be used and may become corrupt which is why
you
| > keep a "clean" Adin acct.
| > Many experts suggest that you do as much work on the
| > computer using a limited user account because that
prevents
| > many unwanted things from happening. If you are hacked
or
| > infected in a limited account, you only have to worry
about
| > the damage that can be done by a limited user (so they
say).
| >
| >
| Mmmm food for thought, now you have put things that way i
guess i can see a
| point to admin account (god i hate being wrong) but if i
set up machine with
| just admin (set up on it's own as you say) and my user
account, will my user
| account be able to do everything i need, for example
instal new software
| remove and mod things as i wish, so in effect just keeping
Admin account for
| if pc dies on me i can try to get in using admin.
| Have i got it right or am i still missing the point?
|
|
 
Thanks, Ted,

That makes a lot of sense, and helps me. However, I have apps which appear
on my Admin desktop, and on the taskbar when logged in as Admin, which are
not there when logged in as "User", even tho I did not intentionally install
differently. Is there a good online refrence to explain this?

TIA,
Craig
 
Well, that's where it gets interesting.

Some programs install themselves only to the administrator account, and some
install to all user accounts. Some programs give you the choice.

Each user has a section of the registry just for them. 'Installing to an
account' means that the program installs itself into that user's portion of
the registry.

I'm sure there are plenty of good references to the whole thing on the
Internet, particularly at Microsoft's web site, but I haven't looked for one
myself.

Ted Zieglar

Craig said:
Thanks, Ted,

That makes a lot of sense, and helps me. However, I have apps which appear
on my Admin desktop, and on the taskbar when logged in as Admin, which are
not there when logged in as "User", even tho I did not intentionally
install differently. Is there a good online refrence to explain this?

TIA,
Craig
Click to expand...
 
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