Guest Access to Internet

Windows XP Home Edition gives me the ability to set up a Guest account. While the help function tells me how to give that guest a customized desktop picture, but it does not tell me how to allow that guest access to the internet. How do I do this, while protecting the privacy of my own files/links? Thanks!

 

Guest account is normally not such a pretty good idea. Better to set up specific user accounts for folks that will be using the PC.

They should then be able to use IE (or whatever) to connect to the internet but w/o any access to your stuff.

 

Thanks for your reply. You've said that setting up a Guest Account is not such a good idea, but you haven't said why. What disadvantages does it have? Also, if I take your advice to set up specific user accounts instead, how do I actually do that? I'm looking for a link to step-by-step instructions....
Thanks!

 

Having a guest account is sorta like leaving your front door open when you are gone. Fine if everyone around is honest but ......

To set up a new account on XP (pro anyway and I assume home is pretty much the same).

1. Right-click on "My Computer" and select the manage option.
2. Open the "Local Users and Groups" then open "users ".
3. Click on Action and then on New User.
4. Set up the user account by filling in the blocks.

The account will be created and will be made a member of the "users" group which has some access to the PC but is restricted from many activities like installing programs.

If you want a user to have more control, simply add the user to the appropriate group. All the standard groups are already in place and have a good description of what each is allowed to do.

Then remove the other group(s) from the user profile since XP is set up to use the MOST RESTRICTIVE permissions given to the user so if you had it a member of users and power users and administrators, it would have only what users allowed.

 

Thanks Newt I'll give it a try!