Operation system(windows)

User Accounts

What is a user account?

A collection of information that tells Windows which files and folders you can access, what changes you can make to the computer, and your personal preferences, such as your desktop background or screen saver.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/what-is-user-account#1TC=windows-7

Purpose of user account

User accounts let you share a computer with several people, while having your own files and settings. Each person accesses his or her user account with a user name and password.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/what-is-user-account#1TC=windows-7

Types of user account

1- Standard accounts

2- Administrator accounts

3- Guest accounts

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/user-accounts-faq#1TC=windows-7

Standard accounts

for everyday computing

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/user-accounts-faq#1TC=windows-7

Administrator accounts

provide the most control over a computer, and should only be used when necessary

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/user-accounts-faq#1TC=windows-7

Guest accounts

intended primarily for people who need temporary use of a computer

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/user-accounts-faq#1TC=windows-7

Create a user account

1- To open user Account , click start button , click Control Panel , click User account and Family safety, and then click User Accounts.

2- Click Manage another account. Administrator permission required If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

3- Click Create a new account.

4-Type the name you want to give the user account, click an account type, and then click Create Account.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-user-account#create-user-account=windows-7

Change a user's account type

1- Open User Accounts by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking User Accounts, clicking User Accounts again, and then clicking Manage User Accounts. Administrator permission required If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

2- On the Users tab, under Users for this computer, click the user account name, and then click Properties.

3- On the Group Membership tab, click the group you want the account to be in, click OK, and then click OK again .

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-users-account-type#1TC=windows-7

Change a user's account picture

1- Open User Accounts by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking User Accounts and Family Safety (or clicking User Accounts, if you are connected to a network domain), and then clicking User Accounts.

2-Click Change your picture.

3-Click the picture you want to use, and then click Change Picture.

Or To use your own picture, click Browse for more pictures, navigate to the picture you want to use, click the picture, and then click Open. You can use a picture of any size, but it must have one of the following file name extensions: .jpg, .png, .bmp, or .gif.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/choose-user-account-start-menu-picture#1TC=windows-7

Change a user's account password

1- Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, and then click Change a password.

2-Type your old password, type your new password, type your new password again to confirm it, and then press Enter.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-windows-password#change-windows-password=windows-vista

Delete the user account

1- Open User Accounts by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking User Accounts, clicking User Accounts again, and then clicking Manage User Accounts. Administrator permission required If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

2- On the Users tab, under Users for this computer, click the user account name, and then click Remove.

3- In the User Accounts dialog box, click Yes, and then click OK .

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/delete-a-user-account

Standard and Administrator account types

With User Account Control (UAC) fully enabled, interactive administrators normally run with least user privileges, but they can self-elevate to perform administrative tasks by giving explicit consent with the Consent UI. Such administrative tasks include installing software and drivers, changing system-wide settings, viewing or changing other user accounts, and running administrative tools.

In their least-privileged state, administrators are referred to as Protected administrators. In their elevated state, they are referred to as Elevated administrators. By contrast, Standard users can't elevate by themselves, but they can ask an administrator to elevate them using the Credential UI. The Built-in Administrator account doesn't require elevation.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/user-accounts-faq#1TC=windows-8

The danger of giving all users Administrator accounts

With User Account Control (UAC) fully enabled, interactive administrators normally run with least user privileges, but they can self-elevate to perform administrative tasks by giving explicit consent with the Consent UI. Such administrative tasks include installing software and drivers, changing system-wide settings, viewing or changing other user accounts, and running administrative tools.

In their least-privileged state, administrators are referred to as Protected administrators. In their elevated state, they are referred to as Elevated administrators. By contrast, Standard users can't elevate by themselves, but they can ask an administrator to elevate them using the Credential UI. The Built-in Administrator account doesn't require elevation.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa511445.aspx

Created by : Fadi Tommalieh

Professor name: Allen Baker

website : www.fadialmasri.com