Problems setting up limited user

  • Thread starter Thread starter AlisonB
  • Start date Start date
A

AlisonB

This message may at first seem like an internet problem but please
read on!

My husband and I share one PC running WinXP (Home). So we could each
have our own Outlook 2000 accounts, I followed the MS Knowledge Base
instructions and set up my self as the Administrator and my husband as
a limited user. We can both use Outlook now (although he gets a "not
default mail client message") but we have some other problems I need
help with –

1. We have a cable broadband internet connection – I can access the
internet without any problems but he gets the Dial up Connection Pop
up box and I can't work out how to get him on to the cable broadband
internet connection. I have tried various options in the Control
Panel without success.

2. Our original shared desktop is now "my" desktop. How can I get
his files and his shortcuts (especially these) on his new desktop?

3. I use far more programmes that he does, some of which are starting
up automatically (as I require them to). How can I (a). Stop these
programmes starting up automatically for him and (b) limit the number
of programmes available/visible for him?

I hope someone can help so that I don't regret starting all this!

Thanks

Alison
 
Many of your problems are a result of your husband's account
being limited. Files and shortcuts will have to be manually moved
from your profile into his equivalent folders under Documents and
Settings. Startups and other items are Global in nature and can't
be removed from a single user account. Program icons are normally
in the "All Users" category. To restrict access, you would have to
move the program groups/icons to your specific Start Menu and
Programs folders.If your account needs are that much different, it
might be easier to buy a 2nd PC for him to use.
 
The following is what I do (this might be wrong but it works for me). There
maybe shorter ways to do some of the following this but this is the way I do
it...

I'm sure an MVP will tell us if it's all wrong.

1. We have a cable broadband internet connection - I can access the
internet without any problems but he gets the Dial up Connection Pop
up box and I can't work out how to get him on to the cable broadband
internet connection. I have tried various options in the Control
Panel without success.
Click to expand...

In his copy of Outlook select Tools -> Email Accounts -> "view or change
existing e-mail accounts" -> next button.

Select the account and then click the "change" button. You should see the
"Internet e-mail Settings (POP3)" window.

Click "More settings" then the "Connection" tab.

Under connection it should say "Connect using my local area network".

There is a similar setting for Internet Explorer.
2. Our original shared desktop is now "my" desktop. How can I get
his files and his shortcuts (especially these) on his new desktop?
Click to expand...

Delete any shortcuts on the desktop that point to folders in your account
and re-create them so they point to his folders. (eg go to My Computer,
drill down to the folder you want to set up a shortcut to, right click it,
select "create a shortcut" and then OK or Next. It might tell you that it
"Can't create a shortcut here" and "would you like to create one on the
desktop instead". If it does create a shortcut in the wrong place just drag
it to the desktop.

For shortcuts to programs... Click start -> All Programs and navigate to the
program you want to create a shortcut for. Right click and select "create a
shortcut". It should create another entry on the programs menu with a number
after it eg "Notepad (2)". Then drag this to the desktop. Then right click
the shortcut on the desktop and select "Rename" then delete the number "(2)"
etc.
3. I use far more programmes that he does, some of which are starting
up automatically (as I require them to). How can I (a). Stop these
programmes starting up automatically for him and (b) limit the number
of programmes available/visible for him?
Click to expand...

What I do (and this might be wrong) is to...

Always install applications as Admin user. After installing Right click
Start and select Explore All users.
Navigate to <admin user>\Start menu\Programs to find the shortcut to the
program you just installed. Right click it and select "copy". Then depending
on who you want to have a copy...

Navigate to the folder...

a) <user name>\Start menu\Programs.
If you copy a shortcut to here it appears on the start menu -> All programs
list for <user name>.

or

b) All Users\start menu\Programs
If you copy a shortcut to here it appears on the start menu for all users
(eg both of you).

I wish Microsoft had released a standard "Installer program" that asked you
which users should get a copy of an application. As it is some programs just
install a copy for the current user (eg admin) and others give it to "All
users". Perhaps they did release such an installer and developers aren't
using it?

Like I say, this may or may not be the "correct" way to do things but it
has worked for me and I'm sure an MVP will tell me if it's wrong.
 
-----Original Message-----
This message may at first seem like an internet problem but please
read on!

My husband and I share one PC running WinXP (Home). So we could each
have our own Outlook 2000 accounts, I followed the MS Knowledge Base
instructions and set up my self as the Administrator and my husband as
a limited user. We can both use Outlook now (although he gets a "not
default mail client message") but we have some other problems I need
help with -

1. We have a cable broadband internet connection - I can access the
internet without any problems but he gets the Dial up Connection Pop
up box and I can't work out how to get him on to the cable broadband
internet connection. I have tried various options in the Control
Panel without success.

2. Our original shared desktop is now "my" desktop. How can I get
his files and his shortcuts (especially these) on his new desktop?

3. I use far more programmes that he does, some of which are starting
up automatically (as I require them to). How can I (a). Stop these
programmes starting up automatically for him and (b) limit the number
of programmes available/visible for him?

I hope someone can help so that I don't regret starting all this!

Thanks

Alison
.
when windows starts up click on a name to change your
Click to expand...
settings it is on the screens if you can see the words.
then a thing opens up and you click on what you want to
use . click change users.
 
I would try temporarily changing his account from limited to
administrator, login as him, make all the necessary changes and settings
to his account, then set him back to limited.

Steve
 
Hi,

Thank you all for your suggestions - we are sorted and working fine
now.

Making my husband an administrator enabled me to get him set up the
way we wanted. I have to own up and admit I had already tried thsi
before I posted my message but at that point I hadn't fully understaod
the difference bewteen "swithcing users" and "logging off" and this
was the real problem

Hi,

Thank you all for your suggestions - we are sorted and working fine
now.

Making my husband an administrator enabled me to get him set up the
way we wanted. I have to own up and admit I had already tried this
before I posted my message but at that point I hadn't fully understood
the difference between "switching users" and "logging off" and this
was the real problem. Once the light bulb went on about this I could
work my way through everything else.

Google Groups to the rescue again!

Thanks,

Alison
 
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