HP Media Center PC - Manual (Page 11)

Before Getting Started
7
Setting Up Accounts on Your New PC
User accounts allow you to set the privileges for
each user of your PC. For example, you can set the
software programs that each user is allowed to
access. Follow the simple steps in this section when
setting up your PC to create user accounts.
Creating user accounts
The information below describes the different
account types in Windows XP and explains how to
change account types.
Creating multiple user accounts on the same PC has
certain advantages as well as some drawbacks.
■ Advantages to multiple user accounts:
■ Ability to create individual user settings
■ Ability to limit access to software for
certain users
■ Drawbacks to multiple user accounts:
■ More memory (RAM) usage
■ Multiple Temporary Internet Files folders to
remove during disk cleanup
■ More data to back up
■ Longer time to complete virus scan
Windows XP provides three types of user accounts:
■ Administrative
Allowed to change account types for other
users, change passwords, change system-
wide settings, and install Windows
XP-compatible software and drivers.
■ Limited
Not allowed to change other user settings, or
passwords. Limited account may not be able
to install or run some software.
Allowed to change the limited account picture,
and create, edit, or delete the account
password.
■ Guest
Not allowed to change other user settings or
passwords.
Users who log on to the PC using the guest
account do not have access to
password-protected files, folders, and settings.