"Users" on Windows XP

Let me explain how I organize my computer first... Starting with Windows95, I have always organized my programs and Start Menu Shortcuts like this: (example):

Let's say I install PhotoShop and ACDSee... I would install them in "Program Files\Graphics Apps\<program directory name.\ "

Likewise, in the Start Menu, I would have a folder called "Graphics Apps" and the shortcut to the executables of the variouis "graphics" programs would go under that "heading ".

I like to keep my computer very organized in this way... I HATE it when programs want to install software just under the "program files" folder, and when they place shortcuts on the Start Menu, it's always only under the software name... I have enough software on my system that soon my start menu would take up too much space, so I organize my system this way....

NOW -- LOL (too late to make this a short story) -- This is my question: Is there any way to get rid of the "multi-user" capability in XP? (When organizing my Start Menu, it's very difficult, because sometimes the programs place the shortcuts under "All Users ", sometimes under "Default User" and sometimes under "Owner" (me)....

I am the only one using my system, and the guest account is off.. I don't need copies of everything under these other "accounts" -- A waste of space, and certainly a pain to someone like me...

Any help would be greatly appreciated, and if you couldn't understand me, I'm sorry... My brain is out of sorts today ;-)

Thanks !!

 

Since you only seem to be talking about shortcuts, very little space involved.

I suppose you could do up a batch file that would clean any contents of the other user folders for you and run it once a week or something. Do it via Task Scheduler and you wouldn't even notice or have to remember.

You would need to create shortcuts where you wanted them but that shouldn't be too much of a chore unless you install LOTS of software.

XP is designed from the get-go to be multi-user and even if it were possible to make it behave differently, no telling what bad side-effects that might have.

 

manage

Rite clik My Computer & select manage. Now open "Local Users & Groups" then select "Users" folder. On the rite side is list of current users. Open the "guest" & check mark disable/apply/ok. This way u can re-enable later. Under Groups folder is more but tricky & I don't know if ya want to or need to get this deep for now

 

I think the easiest way around your problem is to make sure that you're using a designated Start Menu.

In TweakUI XP, click on the + sign by My Computer, then click on Special Folders, where you can designate the location of various folders used by the system.

I suggest that you designate C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu as your Start Menu folder, since you are the only user of your system. I know that doesn't sound logical but, as Newt points out, XP was designed as a multi-user OS, and using the All Users folder as much as possible actually makes life simpler for the single user.

I have my Start Menu organized much as you do. If you'd like to see how I've done it, see the illustrated tutorial I wrote for a friend (particularly sections IV and V). It was written for Win98, but most of the ideas carry over to XP, and I've refined some of my ideas since writing it. If you'd like to compare notes, feel free to email me.

Jim