Windows XP for Home Users, Service Pack 2 Edition

Windows XP lets you create multiple user accounts. Each user gets to choose his or her own account name, picture, and password. In addition, whatever interface and file personalization one user makes sticks with that user. Each user even gets his or her own My Documents folder, separate from other users' My Documents.

Each user account can be protected with a password. Anyone trying to access that user's account and files without the password is denied access. Unless, that is, the user has marked his or her files and folders as shared. Anyone can access shared folders, no password required.

NOTE

There can be more than one computer administrator account per computer.

There are three different types of user accounts you can establish on your computer:

• Computer administrator account. This is the main account on your PC. The computer administrator is the one account that can make system wide changes to the computer, install software, and access all the files on the system even files created by another account. The computer administrator can also create, delete, and edit other users' accounts.

• Limited account. A limited account is for someone who uses a computer but doesn't manage it. A user with a limited account cannot install software or hardware, but can access programs that are already on the computer. A limited user can edit his or her account settings, but can't change the password.

• Guest account. A guest account is intended for use by people who have no formal user account on your computer. Guests don't get passwords, can't install software or hardware, and don't get their own My Documents folder. They can, of course, access software already installed on the computer. Guest accounts are great for guests (of course!) who just want to check their e-mail or do a little Web surfing while they're visiting.

When you're setting up Windows XP for home use, the first thing you want to do is set yourself up with a computer administrator account. Then, after you've set up your own account, you can set up the accounts for everybody else in your household.

To avoid undue marital stress, you should probably set up your spouse with a computer administrator account, as well. Then you can set up your kids with limited accounts. (This will keep them from installing new software without your permission.) If you're one of several housemates sharing a computer, it's probably a good idea to configure each user as a computer administrator.

In either situation, any household visitors can access your PC via the guest account. They won't be able to mess around with any of Windows' settings, of course, but they can use what's there your software, and your Internet connection.