Admin vs User Config

Puddin Man said:

<This is edited. I lost it there for a bit.>

OK, I've copied/renamed. Logged onto each to do the other (Admin and User) to avoid creating new account.

It worked, but it's wierd. Some desktop shortcuts (i.e. Admin Cmd Prompt, Computer Mngt) didn't make it. And some taskbar icons are blank (no graphic).

Any idea?

Thanks,
P

I'm just getting back to this thread. If I understand correctly, you now have two user accounts, 1 standard and 1 administrator, is that correct? Further, I'm understanding that you want both accounts to have exactly the same user settings, desktop, programs, etc., is that correct?
IME, copying and renaming user folders is somewhat complicated. As you've seen, they just don't turn out like you expect.
IMO, and on my own system, my administrator account uses the default settings. I don't need, or want, my administrator account to act and look like my standard user account. My standard user account is the only one I customize. Why? because I keep my administrator account logged off at all times and I almost never use it. The administrator account is designed for administrative purposes only and should not be used for daily operations. I can do almost anything from my standard user account through password protected UAC. I had to log on to my administrator account once, to change a local policy. I was logged on for maybe 5 minutes, and for that reason, I do not need to see a custom theme, desktop shortcuts, custom start menu, etc.

mborner said:

Puddin Man said:

...
OK, I've copied/renamed. Logged onto each to do the other (Admin and User) to avoid creating new account.

It worked, but it's wierd. Some desktop shortcuts (i.e. Admin Cmd Prompt, Computer Mngt) didn't make it. And some taskbar icons are blank (no graphic).

Any idea?

Thanks,
P

I'm just getting back to this thread. If I understand correctly, you now have two user accounts, 1 standard and 1 administrator, is that correct?

Correct.

mborner said:

Further, I'm understanding that you want both accounts to have exactly the same user settings, desktop, programs, etc., is that correct?

To the extent practical, yes.

mborner said:

IME, copying and renaming user folders is somewhat complicated. As you've seen, they just don't turn out like you expect.

So it goes with many things Win7.

mborner said:

IMO, and on my own system, my administrator account uses the default settings. I don't need, or want, my administrator account to act and look like my standard user account. My standard user account is the only one I customize. Why? because I keep my administrator account logged off at all times and I almost never use it. The administrator account is designed for administrative purposes only and should not be used for daily operations. I can do almost anything from my standard user account through password protected UAC. I had to log on to my administrator account once, to change a local policy. I was logged on for maybe 5 minutes, and for that reason, I do not need to see a custom theme, desktop shortcuts, custom start menu, etc.

No need? Remains to be seen so far as I know.

The fact that creation of an Admin account is required must mean something. I gather the general drift is that the Admin account should be used (almost) only in emergency situations or similar. Fine. Should such an emergency arise, I would need the facilities (pro editor, organization of desktop, etc etc) that I regularly use. I would be much less effective with the standard MS Admin setup.

My intent is not to run Admin regularly.

If you are happy (or think you are) with the standard MS Admin setup, more power to you.

Now it is plain that you dropped in to tell me how happy you are with such, and not to address my query. Seems silly to me.

P

mborner said:

...
. What you don't need, is to have your standard user account's custom desktop, user settings, custom start menu, themes, and customizations transferred over to your administrator account.

In a true emergency, none of us know exactly what we will need. Suffice to say I'm not impressed with the defaults on the Admin logon.

mborner said:

If that is truly what you want, I will try to help you.

1. Go to folder options, click on the view tab and check the dot that says "show hidden files and folders." Also, UNcheck "Hide protected operating system files"

This was done quite some time ago.

mborner said:

2. Go to C:\users\std (std being the name of your standard user account). Copy all of the contents of this folder. (not the folder, itself, just its contents)

3. Navigate to C:\users\admin (admin being the name of your administrator account) Move the contents of this folder to a new folder on your desktop,(Just in case you need to put it back.) leaving the admin. account folder empty.

Copy/move -only- the files and not the sub-directories. Eh?

mborner said:

4. Paste the contents of your standard user account into the now empty admin folder.

5. Log off and then back on both accounts.
*You may not be able to move the contents from the admin account if the account is logged on.
Hope this helps.

Looks helpful.

Thanks,
P

Puddin Man, I think you're missing the point of the administrator account. Logging on interactively as the administrator would not be used as a replacement for your standard user account should you have a problem with that account, it would be used to repair the other account or recover from some other issue. After the repair/recovery, you would then log off the admin account and log in as your normal account to continue your normal work.

With that said, I log in to my PCs as an "administrator" account (not named that) but UAC still prompts me for most actions that make changes to applications or system files.

mborner said:

Puddin Man said:

Copy/move -only- the files and not the sub-directories. Eh?

You want to copy the entire contents of the username folder, including all folders, sub-folders, and files. With the folder open, go to "organize" and then "select all". Copy all selected items to your clipboard. Paste these items into the empty administrator folder.

EDIT:

What might be even easier is to go to C:\users, copy your standard user account folder and paste it to your desktop. Rename this folder to the exact same name as your administrator folder. Go back to C:\users and back up your administrator folder, then remove it from the users window. Now drag your new, renamed administrator folder back into the users folder. You should now have two user folders that, aside from the name, are exactly the same.

Keep in mind, every change you make to one, you'll have to make to the other, separately, including any themes, desktop icons, gadgets, IE/Firefox favorites, pinned start menu items, fonts, screen magnifications, mouse adjustments, documents, etc.

Make sure that you make the adjustment in user accounts, also. IOW, make sure your standard user account is in fact marked as such and the same thing with your administrator account.

Good luck.

Thanks, but I don't feel comfortable trying that at this time.

I decided to back up both user folders and ran into a hideous permissions, etc issue.
Query is now in "General": Win7 dysfunctional wrt folder creation/use

P