Comp question - XP user accounts

[jussi]

I'd like to use a limited account on my comp as I understand it's a safer practice because limited accounts aren't allowed to install programs. Therefore if I download virus it won't be able to install any malware. But when I install programs using an admin account I can't see them on the limited account. Any suggestions?

[LCHIEN]

ah you can see them, you just don't have a icon on that user's desktop.
If you go to c:\documents and settings
you should see folders for an adminstrator account and the user account you created.
There will also be a "all users" account
If the administrator installed the application and it created a desktop shortcut, the shortcut will be in the folder c:\documents and settings\adminstrator\desktop
copy it from there to c:\documents and settings\all users\desktop and all users of that machine will have an icon on their desktop and can click on the icon to launch the program, or if you only want some users to have it, then only copy it to the desktop folder for those users.

[Ed62]

if I download virus it won't be able to install any malware.

Is that actually true? If so, I need to make another account.

Ed

[jussi]

Thanks Loring. I had a feeling it wasn't there but couldn't figure out how to transfer all the shortcuts. I'll give it a try.

Ed,

I haven't actually tried this myself yet since I've been too lazy to keep switching accounts. I got a virus recently and after doing a reformat I decided it was worth a try. As I understand it, limited accounts are limited to what they can download and install so computer attacks from the outside are also limited. The disadvantage is that some programs need to run on an admin account. I think it will be mostly advantageous for surfing. Which is was what I do 60% of the time when I'm on the comp anyways.

[crokett]

Here is an article that says Limited User works, but does limit what you can do with the PC:

http://ask-leo.com/are_limited_user_...effective.html

I'd rather just keep my anti-virus, etc updated, be careful where I go on the 'net and run an account with full privileges.

[LCHIEN]

well, theoretically the limited user thing is more secure, but in my experience its a pain in the butt. Say you're surfing and you find a link to a video or a document, you need a new plug in or a updated Adobe reader or whatever. You have to close everything (browser included), log off, change users, go back to the site where the link to the new driver is, load it, then log off again, log back on as the user, open the browser again (breathe heavily now) enter the site for the third time and then finally view the file you wanted to see 10 minutes ago.

[crokett]

Loring, that pretty much describes my experience trying to run a limited user mode. Linux (or at least Ubuntu) does it better. You could temporarily switch to root privileges to do whatever you needed to do then switch back without logging out.

[LinuxRandal]

well, theoretically the limited user thing is more secure, but in my experience its a pain in the butt. Say you're surfing and you find a link to a video or a document, you need a new plug in or a updated Adobe reader or whatever. You have to close everything (browser included), log off, change users, go back to the site where the link to the new driver is, load it, then log off again, log back on as the user, open the browser again (breathe heavily now) enter the site for the third time and then finally view the file you wanted to see 10 minutes ago.

Loring, that pretty much describes my experience trying to run a limited user mode. Linux (or at least Ubuntu) does it better. You could temporarily switch to root privileges to do whatever you needed to do then switch back without logging out.

You can also run a program with an argument (:H off the top of my head) that will allow the program to continue running, when you have logged out.
Or you can just open another session (ctrl F#).

I have used the former, to randomly play mp3's while logged out of the pc (pc output to stereo).

[Ed62]

Hmmmm, good info. Thanks.

Ed