Windows 7: How do i control a user account?

Hi,

I have many people using my computer and I want to stop them from being on my account. What I mean by this is,that I want to set up an account for everyone else to use with the following control:

1. I (as an administrator) get to control password creation, account pictures and all personal settings. THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER BEING ABLE TO CHANGE WHAT I HAVE SET.

2. My library, computer and data files are unseen by the other account. This means they can not edit my documents, open my music. THEY BASICALLY WILL OPEN THE USER ACCOUNT AND SEE NON OF MY FILES.

3. I (as an administrator) control what they surf on the net. e.g. adult content.

I know some of this seems like 'mission impossible' but please can you help me. I am sick of feeling like I don't control my own computer any more.

As for point 2, I would like to elaborate. My biggest concern is that my documents keeps on appearing in the documents section of the user account that I tried to create. Even though I have tried everything to stop this, nothing has seemed to work.

PRINT 2 -- I could not get this print screen to upload so I will describe it. In the print screen it is the same as the PRINT 1 but there is a 'Public Documents' file and the file includes all my personal files.

Thank You,

m.gendi

What you are wanting to do is very simple. Type in the Windows search box " user " and then choose User Accounts, from here you can create a new account for the other users and choose standard user account for them. I would make just 1 user account and let all the others use that unless you want that everyone has their own account.

To secure your files from others you can either edit the user accounts permissions but if you are not familar with that then I recommand either first reading up on it or you can simply make a folder private by right clicking on it and chosing to not share the folder.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...ccount-control

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/5261/...-in-windows-7/

Hi,

Thank you for your quick reply. Due to your help I have finally managed to block other users from seeing my personal documents, so thank you for that. I have done as you have said by making an account as 'standard user'. However, the 'standard user' still has the power to create an account password. How do I stop them from doing this?

Also, is there away to stop the 'standard user' form being able to make personal changes to the computer, such as, changing the desktop background, windows colour and any other changes?

Please refer to the attachment for extra guidance on my second inquiry.

"print 2" -- I want them to not be able to make those changes and other changes like deleting desktop icons and so on.

Thanks for your help,

m.gendi

Depending on what version of Windows 7 you are using, you may be able to lock down some of what you want using the Group Policy Editor. You haven't filled in any of your system specs and have London entered for your OS. Another option is to use the Parental Controls feature.

Parental Controls - Setup and Use

Group Policy - Apply to a Specific User or Group

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. To answer your points, I am using Windows 7 (Home Premium) and my operating system (OS) is "64-bit operating system". Can I still preform the requests I am asking for now that you are aware of my operating system and windows version?

Many Thanks,

m.gendi

To be honest, my main and last issue is that I don't know how to stop the standard user from creating/changing the password for their account. All I want to know at this point is how to stop them from doing this.

If you want to lock it down so all the other users can do is surf the internet then you could enable the Guest account and let the others use the Guest account. The Guest account is the most restrictive but you can change what the standard user can do be editing the permissions or you could set up Parental Controls which allow you to block certain websites by content, run programs and so on.

Hi,

Thank you very much for your helpful reply.

To answer your reply, I want the account to be normal but the user has no huge control over personalization or the account password. You mentioned 'editing the permissions'. How do I get to this? Can you give me a step by step in take. e.g. 1. go to ...., etc.

Just elaborate, when I say 'normal' I mean, the user can use applications/programs things such as media player,
internet, Adobe and other pre-installed applications/programs.
Thank You Very Much,

m.gendi

No Group Policy Editor on Home Premium so its either parental controls or use the guest account.

Guest account has even more stringent controls.