XP User Privilidges

[Bailz]

Can someone describe to me how I would setup Windows XP to have more of a system administrator and low level user setup?

I find that, although there are only three users setup, the other users install programs and this leads to everything loading up at startup and the system being incredibly sluggish and unstable.

I'm running Windows XP Pro.

[pam123]

You've got everyone as an administrator now.
So go into Control Panel>User Accounts and set everything up with one administrator and 3 user accounts (1 of the user accounts will be yours).
Everyone gets a password, and one for the administrator.
What this means is that the users will have full use of the computer but won't be able to make any big changes to it ( like downloading and installing wonky programs ) without clearing it with you.
XP also gives you the option of sharing data/documents so you may want to talk that over as well.
As an example : If you all hate each others taste in music then each users My Music folder is full and the Shared Music folder is empty.

[fredwest]

Hi guys,
There is always the long winded approach a-la Windows 2000. With this method you can give the said user 'user' or 'power user' rights. For example neither of these type of users can install the majority of software packages due to rights but 'power users' can install local printers. Naturally there are exceptions.

In order to get to these options however the following must be done as an Administrator.


1/ Right click 'My Computer' & select 'Manage'. Computer Management will open.

2/ In the left hand pane locate & double click on 'Local Users and Groups'. Then single click on 'Users'. In the right hand pane all the users appear. Locate the one you want to restrict rights & right click on it & select 'Properties'.

3/ A new window opens. Click the tab 'Member Of' & you will see what group they are currently a member of. Click the 'Add' button.

4/ Again a new window opens over the previous one. Click 'Advanced'. Yet another much bigger window pops up. In this window locate & click the button 'Find Now'. You will see all the various user types appear at the bottom of this window.

5/ Select the access level you want the given user to have. The most basic is 'User' followed by 'Power User'. If you want them to just use the PC with the minimum of rights then click 'User'. If you want them to be able to install local printers etc then click 'Power User'. This group also has some ability to install programs but generally a major application install will need the Administrator to do it.

6/ Make your selection of user access level & click 'OK' on all three windows, each one closing as you do, until you arrive back at the Computer Management screen on its' own.

7/ Exit this window & log in as the user you have just tweaked if you want but you don't need to.

8/ Sit back & 'relax' knowing that only you have a God like control over your PC

[EDB]

This doesn't seem to work with my version of XP home... Computer management doesn't bring up users. I seem to recall reading somewhere that XP Home doesn't have the same user account features/priveleges as XP Pro... is that right?

[macko72]

Originally Posted by EDB This doesn't seem to work with my version of XP home... Computer management doesn't bring up users. I seem to recall reading somewhere that XP Home doesn't have the same user account features/priveleges as XP Pro... is that right?

That's right XP Home is restricted in menagement of accaunts!!!