When to create user accounts?

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Guest

I am in the process of reinstalling XP Home (with integrated SP2) and want t
know when is the best time to create additional user accounts?

XP Home normally asks you for the account name just after it has installed,
but no other software has been installed. Iwonder if there are any
advantages/disadvantages to waiting until you have the machine configured in
exactly the way you want it, and then setting up the accounts.

It is a home PC and I will create one admin account for me, and 4 limited
accounts for the rest of the family. The kids were always getting
spyware/adware/popups/unwanted BHO's etc. and clogging up the PC, this time I
want it locked down pretty hard.

For example: if there is software or hardware that I need available across
all the users, for example; printers drivers and print utilities, digicams
and associated software, antivirus, etc. is it better to install these first
and then create the limited user accounts?

Are there any guidlines as to what should be installed when?
 
sixty40 said:
I am in the process of reinstalling XP Home (with integrated SP2) and
want t know when is the best time to create additional user accounts?

XP Home normally asks you for the account name just after it has
installed, but no other software has been installed. Iwonder if there
are any advantages/disadvantages to waiting until you have the
machine configured in exactly the way you want it, and then setting
up the accounts.

It is a home PC and I will create one admin account for me, and 4
limited accounts for the rest of the family. The kids were always
getting spyware/adware/popups/unwanted BHO's etc. and clogging up the
PC, this time I want it locked down pretty hard.

For example: if there is software or hardware that I need available
across all the users, for example; printers drivers and print
utilities, digicams and associated software, antivirus, etc. is it
better to install these first and then create the limited user
accounts?

Are there any guidlines as to what should be installed when?
Click to expand...

Depends..

If you want to make it as easy on yourself as possible, then you should
install everything you know all your users will want to use normally, create
a "Default User" profile, then start creating users. In this way, however
you had your profile (look/feel/icons on desktop/icons in the start
menu/screensaver/way you have your system in general/tweaks, etc..) will be
created initially in each new user when they log on.. Then they can
customize as they feel the need to.

How To Create a Custom Default User Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=319974
 
Orangemike said:
Along this same line is it possible to re-configure WinXp from
multi-user to a single-user without re-installing WinXp?
Click to expand...


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.

In Other Words:

There is no way to truly configure Windows XP as a Single User PC.
It will still be working like it was a multi-user computer even if you are
using it
as a single user PC.

You need to learn to use the All Users sub directory in Documents and
Settings. It is a manual process for some applications because they were
not designed with a multi-user winodws in mind. You just have to copy/move
icons/shortcuts you want for everyone into the All Users Start Menu or All
Users Desktop. This way... All Users see it.

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.
 
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