Administrator v's Users
 

Hi all

I recently set up a new user log on because I had always logged on as an administrator and I was told that was not the thing to do !

However I get a bit confused because I can only install programmes as an administrator or change setting.............do I then have to go to my new user name and re install the programmes again. Is there a way so what ever I do as an administrator is automatically reflexed in my user log on. For example programme installs / desk top icons / printer setting.

A recent example was I could only burn to my DVD when I logged on a an administrator within DVD shrink. When I logged under my user name the drive was not shown...wonder if there an easy was I stop me having to switch between the two or remember where a programme have been installed.

Many thanks

Mike

Re: Administrator v's Users
 

Can you not right click your dvd-shrink shortcut and choose "run as", you would then be able to enter the administrator name and password and run the software as if you were logged in as the administrator.
Installations may be workable the same way, try finding the setup executable on the CD and right click it. Haven't tried myself to be honest as I log in as admin when I do installs :erm:

Re: Administrator v's Users
 

Paul

Do you always log on as a admin or do you have to re install if you log on a a different user.....that is my problem

Mike

Re: Administrator v's Users
 

Shouldn't have to re-install everything just because you installed them as admin, try looking in c:/documents and settings/Administrator (or your admin name)/start menu/programs
for all the links to the software installed. Move any that you want made available to all users into the c:/documents and setrtings/All Users/Start Menu/Programs folder.
One thing to realise though is that some software gives you the option to install only for you or for all users, selecting the wrong thing can cause problems lol.
is that XP home or Pro by the way?
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You can also try start menu, run,
control userpasswords2
enter
in windows xp home and then put the account you are using now (not admin) into the power user group (bit rusty on details as haven't done that for a while, will look on my XP home PC in a min).

Re: Administrator v's Users
 

What ever you do as administrator should affect all profiles - i.e. all users. Some Windows settings, such as the Regional Settings, have the option to affect all profiles or not.

It's better to use an account with administrator rights than it is to use the administrator account. Right-click "My Computer" and choose "Manage". Look for "Users and Groups" in the left-hand pane. Click the + to expand the option and click on the "Groups" folder. On the right, double-click on "Administrators". Add your username to the group. Paul talks about adding the username to the "Power Users" group. This is like being administrator, only with fewer rights/permissions. I would avoid this purely because you may encounter problems with some programs and installing some programs. Upto you though :)

In addition to the usual profiles, you also have:

All users - anything in this profile affects all users. So if you put an icon in this profile's "Desktop" folder, the icon will appear on the desktops of all users.
Default user - this is a sort of template profile used when new profiles are created.