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Windows XP: Working With User Accounts (2) Do you need to share your computer with other users? Dave Cook shows you how to set up a limited user account.
To create a limited user account on a computer that is not a member of a domain, open the Control Panel and click User Accounts. Assuming you have administrator rights on the computer (if you’re the only user then you are the administrator), you’ll notice that the User Accounts window provides three options:
We want to create a new account, so click that option. At the next screen, type a name for the new account. Then click Next to pick an account type. You’ll see that there are two options available for computers that are not connected to a domain: a computer administrator account, or a limited account. To provide the owner of a new account with the ability to install programs, make changes to the system, or create, edit, and delete accounts, select the Computer administrator account. Think very carefully before choosing this option as it will provide the new account holder with equal control over the computer as you (as the existing administrator). Usually, it makes far more sense to assign a new account holder with limited control of the computer. To do so, click the Limited option. At the very least, limited account holders will be able to work with their own files and files stored in the Shared Documents folder. Exactly how the owner of a limited account can work with files belonging to other users depends on other circumstances, including whether the computer is formatted with FAT32 or NTFS partitions. Holders of limited accounts will also be able to change their password, change their logon picture, theme, and other desktop settings. They may or may not be able to install programs as this will depend on individual applications. Having made your selection, click Create Account. The new account will appear immediately in the User Accounts window. For Their Eyes Only If the new account needs a password, double click on the new account and click Create a password. In the case of a new account, feel free at this stage to ignore the dire warning about losing practically everything bar the kitchen sink. If, however, the idea is to introduce a password to an old account (one that has never had a password), then think very carefully before proceeding further. Assuming you’re adding a password to a new account, type the required password (twice), and then, if you must, enter a word or phrase to use as a password hint. Admittedly, hints are helpful should you forget your password. Be warned, though, that the hint will be available to everyone who uses the computer. Finally, click Create password. To make all users accounts viewable from the Windows XP Welcome screen, click Change the way users log on or off and ensure the Use the Welcome screen option has been enabled. The downside to using this option is that your computer will not be quite as secure as it would be if using the classic logon prompt.
Having created at least one additional user account, you may wish to employ a new feature called Fast User Switching. With this feature enabled, you can quickly switch to another user account without having to close any of your programs. Later, when the other account holder has finished his or work, you can just as speedily switch back to your account. To enable the feature, go back to the User Accounts tool, click Change the way users log on or off, and place a checkmark in the Use Fast User Switching box (you can only do this if the Use the Welcome screen option has been enabled). Now you can bring this feature into play at any time by clicking Start, Log Off, and Switch User. You can select the new user from the Welcome screen. Next Time That’s it for now. Next in this series, we’ll show you how to boost Windows XP security by Working With Passwords.
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In
part one of Working With User Accounts, we discussed the benefits of
setting up limited (and guest) user accounts. For example, you could
create a limited user account to stop another user (such as the
nipper) from changing your personal settings and preferences. 
Fast
User Switching