What kind of account to use every day?

Dwarf · 04 Nov 2009

When an OS is first installed, there is only one account available, and that is an administrative one (although, by default, it doesn't have administrative privileges and needs elevating in order to have them). Whilst in that account, I install my AV and the latest drivers (where required) for my hardware. I then create a standard account and from then on, unless there is a specific need to log into the administrative account, I log in to the new standard account. I can always provide administrative credentials for a program to install/run if necessary.

pparks1 · 04 Nov 2009

Hmmm....after looking around....on my Vista workstation at the office my account is in the local admins group, and it's the same way on my Windows 7 box at the office (although it's not on the domain) and it's the same way on my home computer.

So, I run with an account that has admin capabilities. I do leave the UAC system turned on, and I've left it at the 3rd tick mark...having it only inform me when programs want to get elevated rights.

One of these days, I'll have to create a standard account for home use and see how things go using it.

logicearth · 04 Nov 2009

Until you elevate with a UAC prompt or run an application with "Run as Admin" the account you created at installation which is part of the administrators group is not an administrator until elevated. Until that time it is treated like a standard user but with more transparent permission grants.

If you want to be absolutely sure, push the UAC slider to the very max. Tis what I do anyways.