renaming guest account?

[Guest]

How do I go about it? I'm running Win XP Home(as administrator) and the only
options available for the Guest acct that I can see is 'Change the picture'
or 'Turn off the Guest account'.

Help is appreciated, thanks.

 

[Malke]

How do I go about it? I'm running Win XP Home(as administrator) and the only
options available for the Guest acct that I can see is 'Change the picture'
or 'Turn off the Guest account'.

Help is appreciated, thanks.

Why do you want to do this? The Guest account should be Disabled. It is
not there for when you are feeling hospitable. It allows someone without
a user account on the local system to log on and do some work. It runs
with elevated privileges which is why it is a security hole and normally
disabled.

Create a new user account and call it something like "Visitor". Make it
a Limited account. If you have XP Home, you don't have the built-in
ability to create fine-grained limitations. Use either MVP Doug Knox's
Security Console or the MS Shared Computer Toolkit to set the
restrictions the way you want.

http://www.dougknox.com
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sharedaccess/default.mspx

If you have Pro, you can set group policies to do this.
Start>Run>gpedit.msc. Be very careful using the Group Policy editor; it
is completely possible to lock yourself out. Questions about group
policy should be posted here:

microsoft.public.windows.group_policy

Malke

 

[Guest]

The reason I don't want to create another account is because it allows that
user to create a password and block me out. Of course, I could create the
password for him but I would prefer that the user just log on to Windows
straight away. I thought enabling the Guest account bypasses the password
thing. If you have an alternate solution to this, do sound off.

Thanks.

 

[Malke]

The reason I don't want to create another account is because it allows that
user to create a password and block me out. Of course, I could create the
password for him but I would prefer that the user just log on to Windows
straight away. I thought enabling the Guest account bypasses the password
thing. If you have an alternate solution to this, do sound off.

Thanks.

Make the other user a Limited user and they won't be able to change
passwords. You didn't say whether you have XP Home or XP Pro and that
makes a difference in how fine-grained you can be natively with
permissions and restrictions. You also didn't say whether this is a home
or business machine, which also makes a difference in how you handle
things. In any case, using the Guest account is not the answer. Here is
my standard "security" blurb. Although not everything in it may be
applicable to you, it may give you some ideas. After you take a look at
it, if you'd like further input please give more description of which
operating system you're running and your situation.

*****
Any computer running any operating system can be accessed by someone
with 1) physical access; 2) time; 3) skill; 4) tools. There are a few
things you can do to make it a bit harder though:

1. Set a password in the BIOS that must be entered before booting the
operating system. Also set the Supervisor password in the BIOS so BIOS
Setup can't be entered without it.

2. From the BIOS, change the boot order to hard drive first.

3. Set strong passwords on all accounts, including the built-in
Administrator account.

4. If you leave your own account logged in, use the Windows Key + L to
lock the computer (and/or set the screensaver/power saving) when you
step away from the computer and require a password to resume.

5. Make other users Limited accounts in XP Home, regular user accounts
in XP Pro.

6. Set user permissions/restrictions:

a. If you have XP Pro, you can set user permissions/restrictions with
Group Policy (Start>Run>gpedit.msc [enter]) but be careful. Using the
Policy Editor can be tricksy. Questions about Group Policy should be
posted in its newsgroup: microsoft.public.windows.group_policy.

b. If you have XP Home, you can use MVP Doug Knox's Security Console or
the MS Shared Computer Toolkit. The Toolkit can also be used in XP Pro
and may be easier for a newbie than using Group Policies.

http://www.dougknox.com
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sharedaccess/default.mspx
microsoft.public.windows.sharedaccess - Toolkit newsgroup

Please understand that these are technical responses to what is
basically a non-technical problem and there are ways around all of these
precautions. This is a family/interpersonal issue that can't be solved
by technical means.
*****

Malke

 

[Guest]

Malke, if you would read my first post correctly you would realize that I did
mention what my OS is. And from there, you would be able to make the obvious
assumption for the answer to your second question. Perhaps if you would stop
jumping the gun and speaking/writing in a condescending tone to people who
come here for help, you would actually be able to give proper advice instead
of meddling whether this is a interpersonal problem or not and giving advice
I wouldn't be able to use.
You seem to be having some personal problems as well, I would return your
good favour by advising you to look into that before advising others.
P.S: Don't bother replying if you're going to be snarky again.

Thanks.

Make the other user a Limited user and they won't be able to change
passwords. You didn't say whether you have XP Home or XP Pro and that
makes a difference in how fine-grained you can be natively with
permissions and restrictions. You also didn't say whether this is a home
or business machine, which also makes a difference in how you handle
things. In any case, using the Guest account is not the answer. Here is
my standard "security" blurb. Although not everything in it may be
applicable to you, it may give you some ideas. After you take a look at
it, if you'd like further input please give more description of which
operating system you're running and your situation.

*****
Any computer running any operating system can be accessed by someone
with 1) physical access; 2) time; 3) skill; 4) tools. There are a few
things you can do to make it a bit harder though:

1. Set a password in the BIOS that must be entered before booting the
operating system. Also set the Supervisor password in the BIOS so BIOS
Setup can't be entered without it.

2. From the BIOS, change the boot order to hard drive first.

3. Set strong passwords on all accounts, including the built-in
Administrator account.

4. If you leave your own account logged in, use the Windows Key + L to
lock the computer (and/or set the screensaver/power saving) when you
step away from the computer and require a password to resume.

5. Make other users Limited accounts in XP Home, regular user accounts
in XP Pro.

6. Set user permissions/restrictions:

a. If you have XP Pro, you can set user permissions/restrictions with
Group Policy (Start>Run>gpedit.msc [enter]) but be careful. Using the
Policy Editor can be tricksy. Questions about Group Policy should be
posted in its newsgroup: microsoft.public.windows.group_policy.

b. If you have XP Home, you can use MVP Doug Knox's Security Console or
the MS Shared Computer Toolkit. The Toolkit can also be used in XP Pro
and may be easier for a newbie than using Group Policies.

http://www.dougknox.com
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sharedaccess/default.mspx
microsoft.public.windows.sharedaccess - Toolkit newsgroup

Please understand that these are technical responses to what is
basically a non-technical problem and there are ways around all of these
precautions. This is a family/interpersonal issue that can't be solved
by technical means.
*****

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

 

[Rock]

Malke, if you would read my first post correctly you would realize that I
did
mention what my OS is. And from there, you would be able to make the
obvious
assumption for the answer to your second question. Perhaps if you would
stop
jumping the gun and speaking/writing in a condescending tone to people who
come here for help, you would actually be able to give proper advice
instead
of meddling whether this is a interpersonal problem or not and giving
advice
I wouldn't be able to use.
You seem to be having some personal problems as well, I would return your
good favour by advising you to look into that before advising others.
P.S: Don't bother replying if you're going to be snarky again.

Thanks.

Make the other user a Limited user and they won't be able to change
passwords. You didn't say whether you have XP Home or XP Pro and that
makes a difference in how fine-grained you can be natively with
permissions and restrictions. You also didn't say whether this is a home
or business machine, which also makes a difference in how you handle
things. In any case, using the Guest account is not the answer. Here is
my standard "security" blurb. Although not everything in it may be
applicable to you, it may give you some ideas. After you take a look at
it, if you'd like further input please give more description of which
operating system you're running and your situation.

*****
Any computer running any operating system can be accessed by someone
with 1) physical access; 2) time; 3) skill; 4) tools. There are a few
things you can do to make it a bit harder though:

1. Set a password in the BIOS that must be entered before booting the
operating system. Also set the Supervisor password in the BIOS so BIOS
Setup can't be entered without it.

2. From the BIOS, change the boot order to hard drive first.

3. Set strong passwords on all accounts, including the built-in
Administrator account.

4. If you leave your own account logged in, use the Windows Key + L to
lock the computer (and/or set the screensaver/power saving) when you
step away from the computer and require a password to resume.

5. Make other users Limited accounts in XP Home, regular user accounts
in XP Pro.

6. Set user permissions/restrictions:

a. If you have XP Pro, you can set user permissions/restrictions with
Group Policy (Start>Run>gpedit.msc [enter]) but be careful. Using the
Policy Editor can be tricksy. Questions about Group Policy should be
posted in its newsgroup: microsoft.public.windows.group_policy.

b. If you have XP Home, you can use MVP Doug Knox's Security Console or
the MS Shared Computer Toolkit. The Toolkit can also be used in XP Pro
and may be easier for a newbie than using Group Policies.

http://www.dougknox.com
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sharedaccess/default.mspx
microsoft.public.windows.sharedaccess - Toolkit newsgroup

Please understand that these are technical responses to what is
basically a non-technical problem and there are ways around all of these
precautions. This is a family/interpersonal issue that can't be solved
by technical means.

Hmm..I don't see how you got "snarky" from Malke's reply or condescending
for that matter. The only thing she did was miss the fact that you said it
was XP Home. So everyone misreads a post. But even knowing that does not
logically imply this system is used in a home environment. XP Home can and
is used in a business environment too, so one does not dictate the other.

In any event her advice for your issue was correct. Don't use the Guest
account. Good security practices are to put a strong password on it and
disable it. It is used in a network environment. In a stand alone system
there are security risks with it because it gives the user elevated
privileges. Create another, limited user account for casual visitors. As a
limited user they cannot change the password on your account.

The interpersonal part, you are somehow extrapolating from the last
paragraph in her reply. As she stated, " Here is my standard "security"
blurb." You are reading too much into its intent.

I suggest you relax a bit and use the excellent advice she provided.