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Windows User Accounts in Windows XP/
Vista
By
Scott Sekinger
7/5/2007
A user account defines the kinds of things that a user can do to the system. There are two kinds of user accounts in Windows XP / Vista. Each type of account is describe below. This article is attend for Home Users.
|
Account Type |
Things Each User Can Do |
|
Administrator |
• Can create and delete user
accounts on the computer. • Can create account passwords for
other user accounts on the computer. • Can change other people's account
names, pictures, passwords, and account types. • Cannot change his or her own
account type to a limited account type unless there is at least one other
user with a computer administrator account type on the computer. This ensures
that there is always at least one user with a computer administrator account
on the computer. |
|
Limited User In XP Standard User in Vista |
Can only use the computer to do everyday task A Limited / Standard User can not do any of the following: • Cannot install software or
hardware, but can access programs that have already been installed on the
computer. • Can change his or her account
picture and can also create, change, or delete his or her password. • Cannot change his or her account
name or account type. A user with a computer administrator account must make
these kinds of changes. |
When using a computer you should have an Administrator account that you to make changes to the system, and a Limited / Standard User account that you use on a daily bases. This will cut down on the damage bad programs or users can do to the system. I would suggest setting another Administrator account that only gets used in case the first administrator accounts gets messed up.
Checkout A Windows XP Accounts Overview for more information on how to manage user accounts in Windows XP.
Checkout Getting the Most Out of Windows Vista User Accounts and User Account Control Overview for more on how to manage user accounts in Vista.
Check out my Useful Articles section for this and other printable verions of other articles I have written.