Windows XP for Home Users, Service Pack 2 Edition

Nothing is set in stone. If you don't like the way a user account is set up, you can change it.

NOTE

The Change a Password option only appears if this user has already created a password. If no password has yet been created, this option is changed to Create a Password.

Changing Another User's Settings

As the computer administrator, you can change anything you want about any limited user's account. You can change the account name or picture, or even the password and account type. You can even delete the account, if you want. (That'll show 'em!)

To change another user's settings, follow these steps:

1.

From the Control Panel, click the User Accounts icon.

2.

When the User Accounts utility opens, select Change an Account.

3.

When the Pick an Account to Change screen appears, select the account you want to edit.

4.

When the What Do You Want to Change screen appears (shown in Figure 18.2, next page), select one of the following options: Change the Name, Change the Password, Create a Password (if one doesn't exist, otherwise this option is not visible), Change the Picture, Change the Account Type, or Delete the Account.

Figure 18.2. The computer administrator can change anything about any other user's account.

5.

Follow the onscreen instructions to change the setting that you selected.

Changing Your Own Settings

If you're not the computer administrator, you can still change certain of your own user settings. You can change the picture associated with your username, you can create or change your password, and you can create a Microsoft Passport account.

You make the changes from the User Accounts utility, which looks differ ent if you're a limited user than if you're a computer administrator. (See Figure 18.3 to see how the limited user utility looks.)

Figure 18.3. Even limited user accounts can change their basic settings.

To change a setting, all you have to do is select an item on this main screen, and then follow the onscreen instructions.

CHANGE YOUR PICTURE

If you don't like the picture Windows assigned to your username, it's easy to change it. In fact, you can even choose to have your own personal photograph appear next to your name.

Here's how you do it:

1.

From the User Accounts utility, select Change My Picture.

2.

When the next screen appears, as shown in Figure 18.4, select one of the pictures listed and click the Change Picture button, or…

Figure 18.4. Don't like your user account picture? Then change it!

3.

Click the Browse for More Pictures button. The Open dialog box now displays the contents of your My Pictures folder. Select any picture you want (even a picture of yourself!), then click the Open button. When you return to the previous screen, be sure this new picture is selected, then click the Change Picture button.

CREATE OR CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD

If you have multiple users accessing the same PC, it's a good idea for each user to have his or her own password. This way other users can't access another user's personal data or settings. Because users have to enter a pass word to log into their account, if you don't know a password, you can't log in.

NOTE

You have to be connected to the Internet to create your Microsoft Passport.

To create a new password for your account, follow these steps:

1.

From the User Accounts utility, select the Create a Password option.

2.

When the Create a Password for Your Account screen appears, as shown in Figure 18.5, enter your new password in the first box, then again in the second box.

Figure 18.5. Create a password to keep other users out of your account

3.

In the third box, enter a hint to remind you of your password.

4.

Click the Create Password button.

To change your password, select the Change My Password option, enter your old password, then enter your new password information. Click the Change Password button to register the change.

CREATE A PASSPORT ACCOUNT

Microsoft is really pushing the notion of having a Passport account. This account assigns you a single username and password that is then used across a range of Microsoft services. For example, your Password account is used to access your Hotmail account, your Windows Messenger account, and just about any other account you have on any MSN-related Web site.

If you want to create a Passport account and you have to, if you want to access any of Microsoft's services all you have to do is open the User Accounts utility and click the Create a Passport option. This launches the Passport Wizard. Follow the wizard's instructions to enter the appropriate personal information and create your account.

NOTE

When you have Fast User Switching activated, programs do not automatically shut down when users log off the computer. For example, if you're working in a Word document and one of your kids wants to check her e-mail, you can switch users for a few minutes, then switch back to your account. When you switch back, your Word document will still be open on your desktop.

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