Limited User v Admin (WXP-Pro)

[chris3005]

I have new PC with XP-pro, installed as SP2 from the original installation disk. It is not part of a domain. I have set up one account with Admin rights and one with Limited User rights. My expectation was do all installations on the Admin account, and run as Limited User, to give better security.

I've found a number of problems:
- most software won't run properly as limited user. Some crashes with cryptic errors, some runs but won't save any settings.
- file associations can't be set up as limited user, but those which are set up by Admin don't carry across.
- even when running as Admin, I can't get some changes to file associations to stick.

I've noted that a class of users exists called Power Users, which might solve some of these problems, but the account types I can allocate (as Admin) don't include Power User.

Do other people have these problems? Do most non-domain users just acept the default and run as Admin? Or is this something to do with SP2? I can't remove SP2 - my installation disk is post SP2 and it's automatic.

Thanks

Chris

[Brf]

Power User isnt an account "Type", but an account "Group".

Setup the user first, then go into "Advanced" "Advanced" and add the user to the Power Users Group.

It is true that alot of applications, especially games, will only run under a local Administrator account... I have had about 50/50 luck with the Power Users group.

[chris3005]

Thanks Brf, I knew I was missing something on the Power Users. I've put myself in Power Users now.

That may be all I need, but I'd be interested if anyone else has similar problems.

Thanks

Chris

[PastaBoy4]

well power users arnt that much different than Administrators so if you were looking for more security what you might whant to do is set up an account seperete as a limited user and play with the polocies for that user:
set up an account, as an administrator go to start/contol panel/administrative tools/local security policies. ( this sets what all the users and groups can and cannot do if you don't have much experience with this I sujjest you make changes to only the new user you have and none other) not sure if you know how to set up an additional group but this might be a good idea to do aswell and put the new user in a group of it's own ( remember this is playing with all the security settings in your computer so be carfull what you play with)

[terri_m363]

yes I have that problem as well. Error messages pop up upon log on. I've tried the "Guest" too. Read my post.