User Account Setup

[Tom Crooze]

Any advice is appreciated.

I don't have Vista , but an elderly neighbour is about to get a new machine
with Vista as her current H/D is dying. I'll be setting it up for her.

I've done some quick reading on UAC and would like to know the preferred
set-up.

From what I understand so far ( in a nutshell) even the Admin account is
somewhat locked down , requiring authorisation for some tasks. If this is
the case , should I stay with the Admin account for daily computing or
create limited user account. Once the initial set-up is completed , we're
basically talking email , web surfing and letters to the grandkids. Nothing
spectacular .
TIA

Tom.

PS Will a limited account still permit the installation of Windows
Updates / Internet Security package updates etc ? Sorry to be so basic ,
but it's not my machine and I can't experiment !

 

[Tom Crooze]

Hi Tom,

I would leave UAC enabled. Yes, it can be a pain at setup, but User
Account Control can help prevent unauthorized changes to your computer
by prompting you for permission to perform tasks. You can read more
here to:

'Search Results'
(http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/search.aspx?=&qu=UAC)

You can still do everything that you use to do in XP, but now you have
to give the program permision when it tries to run with Administrator
privileges first before it will be allowed to run. Vista also will not
let you modify system files without taking ownership of them first.
This helps prevents a accident with them. You can see about taking
ownership here.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67717-take-ownership-file.html?ltr=T


The safest way to run your system would be to create a "Standard" user
account and run in it, and only use the "default" Administrator account
when you are doing a lot of installing or making system changes. Make
sure both accounts are password protected. As a Standard user, you
would have to enter the Administrator's password to give UAC permission
to a program. If a program tried to take control of your computer, it
would not get far at all in a Standard account.

Hope this helps,
Shawn


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Hi Shawn,
Thanks for the reply. That's enough to get me started in the right
direction.....I hope ??
Wish me luck !

Tom