Re: Advice sought on Running XP Home SP2 as Admin or Limited User
- From: "Bill" <stanton@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 23 Nov 2006 07:26:32 GMT
GSD
Based on what you say, I would agree that there's no point in
having multiple user accounts. As long as you have a good
firewall and antivirus clients on your system in addition to
adware, you should get along just fine running your system
with a single account.
The MVP's might disagree, but you would be wise to put your
settings for Windows updates such that they are allowed to
download automatically, but that you simply be notified that
they are ready to install. THEN, look at what updates are
queued for installation and decide if you want them installed.
Make a note to yourself regarding the use of scheduled tasks,
in that your single user account MUST HAVE A PASSWORD
in order that that user account be used as the authorizing user
in running the task. Having done that, the next question is how
do you get around having to enter a password just to use your
own computer??? The answer is that you "Run"
"Control userpasswords2". That option will give you a dialog
box wherein you can specify that your primary user account
(you) is not required to enter a password. That is something
you'll want to do in the next day or so, even if you don't
expect to use scheduled tasks anytime soon.
Bill
"GSD" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uwHmq8rDHHA.3212@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Bill" <stanton@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:LH79h.2224$sf5.696@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
GSDThank you Bill I am really getting some useful information resulting from
From the sound of things you describe, it would seem that not all the
concepts of Windows multiple users has become clear to you yet.
First, don't give up!!!
Just to be clear, each user has their own desktop. So, any time you have
a multiple user machine, each user would set up their desktops to suit
themselves. You might find it easier to become accustom to XP if you
switch your desktop to "Windows Classic", (right-click the background
portion of your desktop and choose the "Desktop" tab.... you'll see what
I mean there.).
Accounts (that's what users are called) with administrator authority and
those without have equal access to programs and data. However, there
are programs that require administrator authority to be executed. For
example, Windows Installer requires administrator authority. You should
not have any trouble running application programs, such as Word,
Outlook Express or Internet Explorer. If you're having difficulties
there,
it's not due to the authority level of the user account.
Your administrator account should have a password, but there's no
reason the general user, being yourself, would require one. You must
remember that any tasks that you run as "Scheduled Tasks" would
necessarily run under the authority of the administrator account, as such
tasks MUST include the authoritative password, for example: Tasks like
automatic LiveUpdate for Norton Antivirus, backup jobs and the like.
I'll stop at this point and await a reply, lest I go on and on when what
I've already offered gave rise to more questions than I already might
have answered.
Bill
California - USA
"GSD" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ug4wK8oDHHA.992@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I am a late convert to XP after using Win 98 for the last 7 years and am
trying to come to terms with the User Account side of things
particularly from the security aspect .My new PC was set up by my
supplier with myself as the one Admin User .
However, as I have read more I have seen advice to the effect that even
as a stand alone ,single user I should use a Limited User Account for
everyday use , particularly Internet which I do use a lot.
To try this out I have now set up a new Limited User Account but I find
it very impractical for a retired person like myself who spends quite a
bit of time using the computer for a variety of things .
As I should have expected I guess ,there are a number of programs that
do not seem to work or even do not appear on the Desktop when I switch
to the Limited User . The Microsoft Works Suite and Word keep ask me
Register the Software which I already have when installed , the Quicken
finance program tells me I have a corrupted Licence so I have to switch
back to use that . I now realize too that My CA Antivirus cannot Update
from the Limited User Account .
If I were to operate from this account most of the time I also need to
set up OE again for mail and newsgroups .
my query
You are right I am still learning about the different user accounts and
their capabilities .
I think the user accounts would be fine when used for their main purpose
that is to allow different users in the house to have their own set up .
But as a single user I really want the same set up as when I am in the
Admin Account that is already set up, if I am going to make the limited
user mode my main desktop ,otherwise it is not great value to me .
You say that the limited accounts have equal access to data but as I see
it when I am in the limited mode I cannot access the current content of
My Documents . I believe there is a way round this by putting them into
shared but again this seems a lot of messing and cluttering ,when it is
just me wanting to use them.
Outlook Express works of course but has to be set up again for mail and
resubscribe to all the same newsgroups etc. as I have under Admin as I
like to monitor these things as I work on other things . All my email
message archives are in OE on the Admin set up . I get a lot of mail from
Genealogy Lists and from family overseas and I find now if I use the
Limited User account I have to send an email to myself and open it the
Admin account to store in its correct folder . Otherwise I will have
messages in 2 different places. That's as I see it anyway. I know I can
just keep swithing back and forth but not keen on that idea .
The fact that the anti Virus does not update [normally 3 times] per day if
I spend most time in Limited mode is a worry too.
In regard to the other points you raise I have not put any password on my
Admin Account ,with just myself I could see no reason but maybe there is .
I have thought about running the Classic style but resisted so I could
become familiar with the newer XP version .
I know it seems like a lot of whinging on my part but not really just
pointing out as I see it a lot shortcomings for me to use the Limited
User account in my position . As I see it using just the Admin Account as
I have started off doing places me in the same position as I was using
Win 98 all that time with which I was comfortable . However I am
listening to everyone and learning so as I can make a judgement and maybe
be convinced otherwise .
GSD
.
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