Add User to Same Desktop?

Hello all... setup a W7 computer for 93yr old Mom to pay bills. I have never had to setup multiple users before so I forgot that when you add a user and switch to that user, you have no desktop or software or anything from the original setup.

What I want is to add a user (her as "Mom") to the existing desktop, but without admin priv's. Can't two users share a desktop if they choose to? (It's all her computer and files but I need to admin/maintain it for her, but when she's using it I want UAC enabled, standard user to keep the system safe for her.) And I also want her to be able to auto login for ease, so that's another reason her acct has to be standard.

Tried the Enabler program. Didn't work. Tried manually copying the admin profile (while not logged into it) and got 'you have to have permission ...' even though I was using an acct with admin p's.

What if I:

1. rename the Default user folder to Default.backup
2. boot from a Live Linux USB stick and copy my user profile folder... then rename the copy to Default.
3. Boot back into Windows and create a new user "Mom" (standard user) then log into her account....

... or will I have to create the user "Mom" w/ admin p's initially since the default user will have them... login once... log back into my acct and change the "Mom" account to standard user??

Anyone know? Thanks so much.

I am no expert. I'm trying increase my knowledge, so I'm going to chime in with a couple of questions.

If you literally are referring to her "desktop" then could you make use of the "Public Desktop" hidden folder (C - Users - Public - show hidden folders) - for instance, if there are shortcuts you want her to be able to see and use that are already on your desktop? (You could of course customize what her desktop looks like in terms of background, icon sizes and so forth when you are logged in as her but that's pretty quick). I would think you would want her Start menu to be much simpler than yours - but again that might be quick to set up.

If I am not understanding or am being too simplistic, then I apologize in advance. I used the above to set up multiple user accounts (1 Admin per box, the rest Standard) on three of my laptops but your needs may be more complex than mine.

I'll stay tuned.

@Laurie - Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. What I am saying is I setup the entire computer for her alone... all the installed sftw is tweaked/config'd for her, including the custom desktop theme, wallpaper, etc... Now I want her to use it with auto login and no admin p's + UAC disabled so she doesn't accidentally do something I'll have to fix.

So I want her to use the main profile I setup, but w/o admin priv's, and I don't want to have to recreate it all for her in a separate acct. I hope that's clearer?

RolandJS said:

What I've done is create my usual two accounts. I use Windows Classic theme 'cause it easiest on the eyes. I simply copy my geek folder and my project folder from one account to another. From desktop direct over to users [user] desktop. And, I set Windows Classic theme to mirror both accounts as much as possible. I find it best not to meddle with Windows internal operations too much :)

Thanks Roland but I don't quite follow... copying the 'geek' and 'project' folder over. ??

Let's call the user profile I made to set it all up, "Me." This profile has admin p's.

Now I want "Mom" (a second user) to have standard permissions, but to be able to use the "Me" profile/desktop/programs/everything.

Maybe I am asking something Windows doesn't do. Again, been using Windows since 3.11 but never had to set up multiple users cause they were just all my computers. I had Mom's computer setup with Ubuntu to pay bills, but the life of the OS ran out, and now her bank no longer supports the older version of the FF browser. So rather than completely wipe old Ubuntu for a new Ubuntu that will also expire eventually, I thought I would just install W7 on her machine.... but it's turned into a royal PITA.

No good deed goes unpunished. :)

remm said:

@Laurie - Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. What I am saying is I setup the entire computer for her alone... all the installed sftw is tweaked/config'd for her, including the custom desktop theme, wallpaper, etc... Now I want her to use it with auto login and no admin p's + UAC disabled so she doesn't accidentally do something I'll have to fix.

So I want her to use the main profile I setup, but w/o admin priv's, and I don't want to have to recreate it all for her in a separate acct. I hope that's clearer?



No good deed goes unpunished. :)

Okay, I think I follow. You've set up Mom's account the way you want it, but you don't want it to have admin privileges or UAC, and you'd like it to be auto logon.

- It looks like you could just set up a second Admin account for yourself, and then change Mom's account type from Administrative to Standard while leaving everything else you've set up for her intact. (see screen shot)

-You can also disable UAC on her account.

CBlunt listed what you have to do in his post in a thread called "can I convert my administrators account standard user" (link below - you can search with that phrase if the link fails)

https://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/311660-can-i-convert-my-administrators-account-standard-user.html

Start > Control Panel > User Accounts > Change User Account Control Settings > Set the toggle to the bottom one.

-The account management page in the screen shot below also offers an option where you can remove the password requirement for her account.

As a final thought, there may be some options in Parental Controls that would help you manage her user experience to be the most comfortable for her - and, yes, I guess you could say "pun intended" (but in a kind way) :)

HTH

PS I couldn't figure out how to completely "auto log" her into her account (where it boots directly into her desktop) while preserving an admin account for you but I know I saw a thread about it somewhere.

The steps above would let her click on her account name and icon on the screen that shows the available accounts, and the account would then open to the desktop without her having to use a password.

@Roland, thanks but I think my setup and what I need is a little different from what you're explaining....

@Laurie, that looks like it might have worked, though I am confused by creating a second admin acct... wouldn't the same thing happen only it would be the new admin acct with a separate profile with none of the original desktop/sftw/etc ??? I wanted to leave my admin acct as is for the purpose of updating/maintaining her computer for her.

I was at this over 24 hrs and had to give up for lack of time.... I got an Ubuntu install going and came back here to say 'nevermind' but was too late. (I did check back several times but must have been just before these got posted. ) I did give you both rep for helping, and thanks.

I am bookmarking this thread in case I need this info later for some reason! And I'm sure it will help others, too.... I'm sorry I could not follow it through, though.

Or you put it in the Public Desktop folder, in which case I believe it will show up on the desktop of any new user account you create - at least that's what it did for the accounts I created on my laptop.

remm said:

@Roland, thanks but I think my setup and what I need is a little different from what you're explaining....

@Laurie, that looks like it might have worked, though I am confused by creating a second admin acct... wouldn't the same thing happen only it would be the new admin acct with a separate profile with none of the original desktop/sftw/etc ??? I wanted to leave my admin acct as is for the purpose of updating/maintaining her computer for her.

I was at this over 24 hrs and had to give up for lack of time.... I got an Ubuntu install going and came back here to say 'nevermind' but was too late. (I did check back several times but must have been just before these got posted. ) I did give you both rep for helping, and thanks.

I am bookmarking this thread in case I need this info later for some reason! And I'm sure it will help others, too.... I'm sorry I could not follow it through, though.

If Ubuntu will work for you that's great!

-In Windows, I think you'd need to wind up with 2 log ins - one with admin privileges and one with standard.
-I think you could share Shortcuts by putting them in the Public Desktop folder, since on my laptop, those shortcuts show up on the desktops of each account I create
- There are also Public Documents folders and other Public folders that allow all users to see the same photos, access music files, and so forth
-.There may be advanced techniques to get you the rest of the way. Sorry I don't know them.

You're welcome - sorry it wasn't in time to be of more help.

You were a great help and timely. I backed up the W7 install and might just revert back to it tomorrow. I was just configuring Ubuntu and that's no joy either. (Have done it before and hate it... don't know Unix so it's always a huge PITA to tweak/config.) I need to get some rest... start in again tomorrow. Who know which way the wind will blow when I can feel wind again. :) Thanks again and if I revert I will certainly follow up to say if I got it working... Hope you all have a pleasant evening.