user accounts

Hi,

I am the only one who uses my computer so I am not as savvy as some about users. I wanted
to know, if you have different users, are they still able to see your folders. If so, how
can you have different users, but keep your folders (or files) private.

Thanks,

KB

KB wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am the only one who uses my computer so I am not as savvy as some
> about users. I wanted to know, if you have different users, are they
> still able to see your folders. If so, how can you have different users,
> but keep your folders (or files) private.
>
> Thanks,
>
> KB


HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;279783

HOW TO Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;q308418


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

Bruce Chambers wrote:
> KB wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I am the only one who uses my computer so I am not as savvy as some
>> about users. I wanted to know, if you have different users, are they
>> still able to see your folders. If so, how can you have different
>> users, but keep your folders (or files) private.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> KB
>
>
>
> HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;279783
>
> HOW TO Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;q308418
>
>
So the answer is YES, they do have access? From the links, I was able to gather that each
user gets his own documents folder, plus settings etc. I take it from your second link you
are saying that other users could gain access to your folders unless you protect them.

KB wrote:
> Bruce Chambers wrote:
>
>> KB wrote:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I am the only one who uses my computer so I am not as savvy as some
>>> about users. I wanted to know, if you have different users, are they
>>> still able to see your folders. If so, how can you have different
>>> users, but keep your folders (or files) private.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> KB
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;279783
>>
>> HOW TO Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;q308418
>>
>>
> So the answer is YES, they do have access? From the links, I was able to
> gather that each user gets his own documents folder, plus settings etc.
> I take it from your second link you are saying that other users could
> gain access to your folders unless you protect them.
Ok, I have read the info, but guess I need it broken down to me. Here is my real-life
scenario. A friend has a computer that she lets her kids use (probably not good idea).
They all have their own usernames and login with passwords, BUT they have gotten all her
folders and files messed up (don't have the computer yet, so not sure what that means).
She wants to be able to keep their paws off her folders. Should she basically password
protect any folders she doesn't want their paws on, including subfolders? If she is
administrator and logs in, can she still see and access their folders (for checking up)?

Yes she can still check on them and yes she can keep their paws off her
folders, using the information in the provided links.
Glenda

KB wrote:
> KB wrote:
>> Bruce Chambers wrote:
>>
>>> KB wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> I am the only one who uses my computer so I am not as
>>>> savvy as some about users. I wanted to know, if you have
>>>> different users, are they still able to see your folders.
>>>> If so, how can you have different users, but keep your
>>>> folders (or files) private. Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> KB
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;279783
>>>
>>> HOW TO Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder
>>> Permissions
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;q308418
>>>
>>>
>> So the answer is YES, they do have access? From the links,
>> I was able to gather that each user gets his own documents
>> folder, plus settings etc. I take it from your second link
>> you are saying that other users could gain access to your
>> folders unless you protect them.
> Ok, I have read the info, but guess I need it broken down to
> me. Here is my real-life scenario. A friend has a computer
> that she lets her kids use (probably not good idea). They
> all have their own usernames and login with passwords, BUT
> they have gotten all her folders and files messed up (don't
> have the computer yet, so not sure what that means). She
> wants to be able to keep their paws off her folders. Should
> she basically password protect any folders she doesn't want
> their paws on, including subfolders? If she is administrator
> and logs in, can she still see and access their folders (for
> checking up)?

Here are some ideas you can pass on to your friend:

System Security
1. Set up a screen saver to come on after a short period of
time. The screen saver should be password protected. Control
Panel -> Display -> Screen Saver page -> Check "On resume, show
the Welcome Screen".
2. If the computer is set up to go into standby after a certain
amount of time, this should be password protected as well.
Control Panel -> Power Options -> Advanced page -> Check
"Prompt for password when computer resumes from standby".
3. The kids should have limited accounts. Only adults should be
computer administrators.
4. If she's using Outlook Express for email, she should create
separate identities for each email user. The identities should
have their own passwords. Other email programs offer similar
security options.

File and Folder Security

Odds are that your friend's computer will be running the Home
Edition of Windows XP. That will limit the options she has
available when trying to protect her files. As long as she
keeps her important files in her My Documents folder, the kids
won't be able to gain access.

One potential problem would be if the kids figured out how to
enable the "Make this folder private" option for their My
Documents file. If they did this, even the administrators group
would not have access. In order to access this folder she'd
need to give her account or the administrators group full
control permissions. In XP Home Edition, this can only be done
when the computer is running in Safe Mode. If you want more
info on this subject go to Start -> Help and Support and enter
"Make your folders private" in the Search box. Take a look at
the items listed under "Full-text Search Matches".

Here's a Microsoft article that you might want to take a look
at:

How to configure file sharing in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304040

Good luck

Nepatsfan

Nepatsfan wrote:
> KB wrote:
>
>>KB wrote:
>>
>>>Bruce Chambers wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>KB wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>>I am the only one who uses my computer so I am not as
>>>>>savvy as some about users. I wanted to know, if you have
>>>>>different users, are they still able to see your folders.
>>>>>If so, how can you have different users, but keep your
>>>>>folders (or files) private. Thanks,
>>>>>
>>>>>KB
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
>>>>http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;279783
>>>>
>>>>HOW TO Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder
>>>>Permissions
>>>>http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;q308418
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>So the answer is YES, they do have access? From the links,
>>>I was able to gather that each user gets his own documents
>>>folder, plus settings etc. I take it from your second link
>>>you are saying that other users could gain access to your
>>>folders unless you protect them.
>>
>>Ok, I have read the info, but guess I need it broken down to
>>me. Here is my real-life scenario. A friend has a computer
>>that she lets her kids use (probably not good idea). They
>>all have their own usernames and login with passwords, BUT
>>they have gotten all her folders and files messed up (don't
>>have the computer yet, so not sure what that means). She
>>wants to be able to keep their paws off her folders. Should
>>she basically password protect any folders she doesn't want
>>their paws on, including subfolders? If she is administrator
>>and logs in, can she still see and access their folders (for
>>checking up)?
>
>
> Here are some ideas you can pass on to your friend:
>
> System Security
> 1. Set up a screen saver to come on after a short period of
> time. The screen saver should be password protected. Control
> Panel -> Display -> Screen Saver page -> Check "On resume, show
> the Welcome Screen".
> 2. If the computer is set up to go into standby after a certain
> amount of time, this should be password protected as well.
> Control Panel -> Power Options -> Advanced page -> Check
> "Prompt for password when computer resumes from standby".
> 3. The kids should have limited accounts. Only adults should be
> computer administrators.
> 4. If she's using Outlook Express for email, she should create
> separate identities for each email user. The identities should
> have their own passwords. Other email programs offer similar
> security options.
>
> File and Folder Security
>
> Odds are that your friend's computer will be running the Home
> Edition of Windows XP. That will limit the options she has
> available when trying to protect her files. As long as she
> keeps her important files in her My Documents folder, the kids
> won't be able to gain access.
>
> One potential problem would be if the kids figured out how to
> enable the "Make this folder private" option for their My
> Documents file. If they did this, even the administrators group
> would not have access. In order to access this folder she'd
> need to give her account or the administrators group full
> control permissions. In XP Home Edition, this can only be done
> when the computer is running in Safe Mode. If you want more
> info on this subject go to Start -> Help and Support and enter
> "Make your folders private" in the Search box. Take a look at
> the items listed under "Full-text Search Matches".
>
> Here's a Microsoft article that you might want to take a look
> at:
>
> How to configure file sharing in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304040
>
> Good luck
>
> Nepatsfan
>
>
>
>
>
Thanks for the good info.