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Administrator rights

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8 replies

by peter

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
Perhaps a dumb question ? Since I am the only user of my laptop at home ( Windows XP Professional v 2600), to enhance security is there any reason what I should not disable all users ( user, Power User, etc etc) and just allow myself as Administrator? This surely enhances security. I understand I will need to keep ASPNET ( or do I ?). Seems logical to me, but nobody has ever suggested it? Any comments please ?

8 replies

by faradhi

That you A) rename the built-in administrator to something else, B) Apply a password to the built-in administrator, and C) Create another restricted user, with a password, that you use for normal everyday operations. Then login as administrator only when you need to.

I hope this helps.

by peter

Very much appreciated and understood.

by cmiller5400

You could disable all extra accounts (don't quote me on the asp.net account, I have not researched that one yet), but the User & Power User are groups, not users and can not be disabled. If I were you, disable the guest account, create an account for you to use, then use that account to login to the laptop with. Always have a backup administrator account just in case the other one gets corrupted/password changed/can't remember. Best practices suggest that you use a standard account for most of your work and then only use the admin account when you need to do administrative functions.

by peter

From the replies I can see its best to remain as I am as I will knock something out which negates all this. Just so wary of identity theft these days it seemed a reasonable way to lock out everone but me, especially as I am then the administrator. Anyway. Thank you.

by older mycroft

No matter how 'stable' ANY computer system may be, there is always the possibility of a file becoming corrupted through no-one's fault other than purely chance.

As such, if you delete EVERY other profile except your own, you run the risk of being locked out of your own system.

by peter

very tactfully put ! And I unwary! Much appreciate the response- and this site.

by nodisalsi

... and apply settings so the laptop asks for password everytime it's woken up from standby and hibernation.

Then I would reckon it's safe to set yourself up this way.

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