Magus said:
My OS is WINXP Pro
Under my Documents and Settings folder I seem to have many" users"
(numbered for convenience)i.e.
1. All Users
2. All Users.WINDOWS
3. Default User
4. Default User.WINDOWS
5. USER1'I-HOS
6. userl.HOSPITAL-5E7C5A ***
The only one I can recognize is the one marked *** which has all my
relevant files, favorites etc.
I am the only one using this computer. I am confused as to why so many
"unauthorized" users exist on the system.
Is it possible to:
-Delete 1-5 leaving only 6, my active folder
-rename 6 to something more recognizably mine ?
(I chose the name "user" when installing Windows as I was told it
prevents
hacking.Now I would just like to use my name.)
-Prevent this happening again?Increased security level?
No! Except for #2, #4, and #5 (possibly), all those accounts need to be
there. If your computer is a member of a domain, then #2, #4, and #5 are
domain accounts. If your computer is not a member of a domain, then those
accounts may have been created if user account corruption occurred.
Without
actually being able to see the machine, I would not want to give the
advice
to delete them. They are not hurting anything by remaining there and they
do not have anything to do with "increased security level" nor are they
"unauthorized".
If you wish to have an account with your name instead of "user", then you
will need to create the account with the desired name, log into it once,
and then copy the old "user" account data and settings per these
instructions:
Copy a User Account -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=811151
HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783
Here is a general explanation of the different user accounts and some of
the
folders in XP:
XP is a multi-user operating system, no matter if only one person is using
it. In all multi-user operating systems - NT, Win2k, XP, Unix, Linux, Mac
OSX - there is the one built-in account that is "god" on the system. In
Windows terminology, that is "Administrator". In the *nix world, it is
"root". This is a necessary account and is not normally
used in everyday work. You cannot delete the built-in Administrator
account
nor would you ever want to.
Document and Settings - The "container" for all user settings. Each user
will have [username] Documents, Music, Videos, My Pictures.
Administrator - Built-in account - Leave alone! Do not use! Do not worry
about it!
All Users - Section where items common to all users go. In a multi-user
operating system, users have separate accounts. This is the place where if
you want to share files with all the other users on the system you would
put those files. You don't ever have to use those folders but they need to
be there. This is where programs you install that are meant to be
installed
for all users put settings. All the "Shared Documents" type of folders you
see at the root of C:\ are shortcuts to the shared folders in here. Leave
them alone!
Default Users - This is the template from which new user accounts are
made.
You will never put anything in any of those folders but they are needed to
create new users. In Linux we use "skel" ("skeleton" - get it?). In
Windows, the less-colorful term "Default User" is used. Leave it alone!
Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
