problems

[Damian Waics]

Hello. I am writing because I have 2 doubts/problems I need help with.

1st) I'm the only user of the computer, and I'm an administrator. If I start
the computer in safe mode, I have 2 acccount to select: Administrator
account, and FaKu (which is my account). Why? Isn't it the same?

2nd) I'm think I'm clear enough with this, but if I'm not, please let me now
I need help with the setting up of my network.
I think I did it right but there's something I don't like. Whenever the
other computer is turned on, that local connection is active and the
interface 192.168.0.2 is active, which is good because I need it active in
order for Wingate to work.
But when the another computer is turned off, that interface is off.
Yesterday I went to a friend's house and she has a network installed too.
The difference is that when one of the other computers is turned on or off
she doesn't get that message and the icon in the taskbar. Why? It is like
that interface was always turned on. And she does not have in her Network
connections folder a LAN connection icon for every computer in the network.
Could it be that alll of her comps run WinXP and mine is XP and the another
one is Win98SE?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Answers INLINE:

Hello. I am writing because I have 2 doubts/problems I need help with.

1st) I'm the only user of the computer, and I'm an administrator. If
I start the computer in safe mode, I have 2 acccount to select:
Administrator account, and FaKu (which is my account). Why? Isn't it
the same?

No. They are not.

Windows XP is and will remain a MultiUser OS. If you delete some of the
users in the Documents and Settings directory, you will affect your user and
possibly other things. It could cause things you had set to go missing and
the directories, in most cases, will recreate themselves.

HOW TO: Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783&Product=winxp

HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove Special Permissions for Files and
Folders in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308419&Product=winxp

Doug's Windows XP Security Console
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm

Windows XP is a multi-user OS, even when used by one person only, the
fundamentals don't change.

Documents and Settings is the directory that contains your user
information/documents/etc. It also contains a few extra directories used by
Windows.

One is "Default User" - This is used whenever a new account is created. It
bases the initial setup of that account off this directory.

Another is "All Users" - This is used by.. all users. If you want something
to appear on the desktop of every user of the machine, you put it on this
users desktop (in the desktop folder.) Etc.

You may also see "Administrator" - depending on your setup, this is the
original administrator user and if you know that account's password, you
should leave him alone and use him only in an emergency.

You could also (if you have it where you can see ALL files) see
"LocalService" and "NetworkService" folders. These are service accounts,
normally unused by the standard user.

Should you erase any of the above? No. No reason to. The only ones that a
single user will really ever use is the one under their username (ie:
whatever username you log in with) and the "All Users" account. If
something goes wrong(or you add a new user), the default user will be used
(recreated if not there) to create the new account needed. The
Administrator account will hopefully never be used and would just be
recreated if you logged in as administrator (assuming you even have the
user - which you do.) Sometimes your account may be listed as "owner" or
"administrator" under the documents and settings folder.. This all depends
on how things were setup. The name you use and the name of the folder do
NOT have to correspond if the name was changed manually after the account
was created initially.

2nd) I'm think I'm clear enough with this, but if I'm not, please let
me now I need help with the setting up of my network.
I think I did it right but there's something I don't like. Whenever
the other computer is turned on, that local connection is active and
the interface 192.168.0.2 is active, which is good because I need it
active in order for Wingate to work.
But when the another computer is turned off, that interface is off.
Yesterday I went to a friend's house and she has a network installed
too. The difference is that when one of the other computers is turned
on or off she doesn't get that message and the icon in the taskbar.
Why? It is like that interface was always turned on. And she does not
have in her Network connections folder a LAN connection icon for
every computer in the network. Could it be that alll of her comps run
WinXP and mine is XP and the another one is Win98SE?

Do you have a DSL/Cable Modem router? It sounds like it.

If you do, why are you running WinGate at all? Your Router should handle
the DHCP server for you. If you do not have a hardware router.. Save up the
$40 to $90 and get one - makes life easier.