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Resolved No Standard Accounts

Discussion in 'Windows 7' started by James Martin, 2011/09/26.

  1. 2011/09/26
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Hi all,

    I was asked to setup & customize a new Samsung laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium of late.

    I am fairly new to this OS, and I noticed that the user account I created has administrator privileges, but after using Google to do some tweaking, I see that some folks recommend setting up a standard account for everyday computing chores instead.

    I did notice, however, that there is a hidden administrator account that can be accessed in case of computer problems, but you have to use a command prompt to see it at login.

    Do any of you W7 users bypass the standard account settings in favor of full administrator privileges (like in XP), or should I create a new account, give it admin privileges, and set the original account to standard?

    Thanks.
     
    James Martin,
    #1
  2. 2011/09/26
    rsinfo

    rsinfo SuperGeek Alumni

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    Its a very common problem on Windows computers. The very first account you create becomes "Administrator" by default & you are not warned about it nor are you offered to create a new limited account. Several Linux distros refuse to proceed further until you have created a standard account.

    It would be better to create a new administrator account & set the original account to standard user as otherwise you would have to migrate everything to the new standard user.
     
    rsinfo,
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  4. 2011/09/27
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member Thread Starter

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    I had intended to do that, but now I am concerned about UAC control.

    Even with administrator privileges, UAC still prompts the user for interaction. I can imagine how frustrating it will be for a standard account user to type in a password for programs that require administrator approval.

    Why can't a person use the hidden admin account to repair OS corruption, instead?
     
    James Martin,
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  5. 2011/09/27
    rsinfo

    rsinfo SuperGeek Alumni

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    UAC is for your own safety. You can turn it off but I would strongly advise against it.
     
    rsinfo,
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  6. 2011/09/27
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member Thread Starter

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    But am I right about a standard account user having to sign-in for each and every program that demands admin access?

    I am new to all of this, but I wonder why Microsoft did not fashion UAC to act as a firewall would. Zone Alarm, for example, learns as you go.

    UAC asks the same question for the same programs. It has no learning capabilities.
     
    James Martin,
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  7. 2011/09/27
    rsinfo

    rsinfo SuperGeek Alumni

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    Well that's the way MS designed UAC. We can't do anything to make it learn.

    Perhaps Win 8 would be better.
     
    rsinfo,
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  8. 2011/09/28
    Admin.

    Admin. Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Point is that if you would allow goodfile.exe admin access, the next step will be that a virus will over-write goodfile.exe & at that point it's 'game over'...
     
    Admin.,
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  9. 2011/09/28
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    On Linux, in most desktop environments, one types a password and there's a checkbox to "remember for this session ", meaning the password need not be typed until the next logon.

    However, Linux is not really susceptible to malware attacks via Websites like Windows, thus it's wise for Windows to force the password.
     
    TonyT,
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  10. 2011/09/28
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member Thread Starter

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    In the case of accounts with admin privileges, I can't help but to wonder if the average computer user would get tired of clicking the yes button and eventually give access to a rogue program by accident.

    I'll have to contact the PC owner and see which account type they prefer.

    I'm not bashing W7; I think it is a good OS from what I can see, so far, but UAC is a learning curve for me (and others, I'm sure).
     
    James Martin,
    #9
  11. 2011/09/28
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Once you've installed your software you'll hardly get any UAC notifications... At least when running the 'standard' Admin account ;)

    You aren't running as true admin anyway, that's why for true admin privileges you get an UAC prompt. Just a step to make you think if you really want to give that (unknown) program you downloaded the right to install & change anything on your system it would want...
     
    Arie,
    #10

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