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Chapter 22. Setting Up Windows XP for Multiple Users

IN THIS CHAPTER

Setting Up a New User Account
Logging In and Out
Modifying a User Account

If more than one person uses your PC, you might want to personalize certain Windows settings for each person. For example, you can customize the desktop, Start menu, Favorites folder, My Documents folder, and more. Each person can create a user account and then set up Windows the way he or she wants. Each time that person logs on, all of those settings are used. Accounts also provide some small measure of security because you can assign a password to each account. To log on (and access the computer), the user must type a password.

This chapter covers the basics of setting up accounts, logging on and off, and modifying accounts.

Setting Up a New User Account

When you first install and use Windows, you are prompted to set up the accounts for your PC. You can add names for each person using the computer (and then later go back and modify the accounts), or you can add the accounts later, as described here.

The purpose of accounts is to let each person customize how Windows works. The user accounts also save favorite Web sites, create My Documents folders, and more. You can customize Windows and then create a new account. In this case, the new account will use these settings. Otherwise, you can create a new account, and any changes you make to certain settings (the Favorites List, display, mouse, and so on) are saved with that particular account.

Follow these steps to set up a new account:

1.	Click Start and then click Control Panel.
2.	Click User Accounts in the Control Panel window. Any accounts you have created are listed (see Figure 22.1). Figure 22.1. You can use this Control Panel option to modify existing accounts and to set up new accounts.
3.	Click the Create a new account link. You are first prompted to type a name. As the prompt explains, "This name will appear on the Welcome screen and on the Start menu" (see Figure 22.2). Figure 22.2. The name identifies the account and is displayed when you start Windows XP.
4.	Type a name for the account and click the Next button. You are then prompted to select an account type.
5.	Select what type of account you want to create: Computer administrator or Limited. When you select an account type, you see a description of what that account can and cannot do. For instance, Figure 22.3 shows what you can do with a computer administrator account. Figure 22.3. You can limit the types of changes a user can make to your PC using the account type.
6.	Click the Create Account button. The new account is added.

Logging In and Out

If you have set up accounts, you see the different account names when you turn on your computer. You can click your account to log on. Any personalized settings, such as a customized desktop, wallpaper, Favorites list, and others, are loaded, and you see Windows XP just the way you left it. You can get to work.

tip

Consider having one person as the computer administrator. This person can create new accounts and modify and delete existing accounts. Use limited accounts for those you don't want to have complete access to the computer. These users can perform all the basic computing tasks, but cannot perform system tasks such as installing programs.

You can also switch from one user account to another. For instance, if you are finished working, you can log off so that your child or spouse can log on. If you are going to be away from the computer for a short time, you can stay logged on, but simply switch users.

Logging Off

To log off, follow these steps:

Click the Start button and click Log Off.

tip

You can change the way users log on or off. To do so, click Change the way users log on or off from the list of tasks in the first User Accounts window. You can use the Welcome screen (the default), or if you want to keep programs running and return to them as they are, you can also enable the Fast User Switching option. Make your choice and click Apply Options.

When asked whether you're sure that you want to log off, click the Log Off button. You are then logged off. Windows XP also saves any settings you changed, and you'll see the Welcome screen.

Switching Users

If you simply want to switch to another user account, you can do so without logging off. (However, it's best to log off to conserve system resources.) For instance, you may switch users if someone needs to check his or her email or use the computer for a short time. To switch users, follow these steps:

1.	Click Start and then Log Off.
2.	Click the Switch User button. You'll see the Welcome screen.
3.	Click the account you want to switch to. (You'll also need to type the password if the account is password protected.) That account then becomes active.

Logging On

When you log off or when you first start Windows, you see the Welcome screen that lists all user accounts. To log on to one of these accounts, click the account name . If a password has been assigned to the account, type the password and press Enter. Once you are logged on, all personalized settings are loaded, and you can use your own personalized setup for Windows.