Admin and Standard Account Users

[bhavz]

Please read this and you will perhaps believe me when keep say that in a standard user account you CANNOT install a program or edit system settings
What is a standard user account?

I understood this, however I did want to be able to use it in the way also described -"If you're using a standard account, some programs might require you to provide an administrator password before you can perform certain tasks."

However when the admin account is hidden no option to enter the admin password as shown in a earlier message.

 

[andrew129260]

... most of the experts here say that with Windows 7 you do not need third party clean up software, that provided within Windows 7 is quite sufficient for most needs. Indeed there is a big raft of opinion that suggests that some of these third party programs especiall registry cleaners do more harm than good. It's always as well to seek expert opinion here before installing and using these programs. ...

sorry for off-topic, but this statement has me puzzled. Where can I find the Windows 7 cleanup software?

Also, I have read posts here recommending CCleaner. It even has it's own sticky in a forum on this site. Is use of this app now discouraged?

-thnx

Windows 7 itself monitors itself and does cleanup on its own.
Action center keeps an eye on your temp files and other common things that slow your pc down. It will notify you if it finds anything.
CCleaner is recommended if your PC is running very slowly and windows doesn't detect it. Your action center will flag you for anything that needs done.

See here:
Optimize Windows for better performance - Microsoft Windows Help

Please read this and you will perhaps believe me when keep say that in a standard user account you CANNOT install a program or edit system settings
What is a standard user account?

I understood this, however I did want to be able to use it in the way also described -"If you're using a standard account, some programs might require you to provide an administrator password before you can perform certain tasks."

However when the admin account is hidden no option to enter the admin password as shown in a earlier message.

If you are using a standard account, you should be prompted to input a password for the admin account in order to continue. Are you saying you are not? You are just being asked yes or no? Because that is not normal and should not be happening.
If this is indeed the case, try deleting the standard profile (user account) and recreating it.
Another way to lock things down more is to increase the UAC setting to the Highest.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/299-user-account-control-uac-change-notification-settings.html

Is this what your looking for?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/61650-log-user-name-password.html

 

[mitchell65]

Please read this and you will perhaps believe me when keep say that in a standard user account you CANNOT install a program or edit system settings
What is a standard user account?

I understood this, however I did want to be able to use it in the way also described -"If you're using a standard account, some programs might require you to provide an administrator password before you can perform certain tasks."

However when the admin account is hidden no option to enter the admin password as shown in a earlier message.

And there's me thinking that you wanted the UAC to work normally in a standard user account!

 

[bhavz]

And there's me thinking that you wanted the UAC to work normally in a standard user account!

I do very much so, but I guess what this means is that in order for this to function I need to show the admin account and be able to use the standard account with the normal UAC prompts for the admin passoword

 

[mitchell65]

sorry for off-topic, but this statement has me puzzled. Where can I find the Windows 7 cleanup software?

Also, I have read posts here recommending CCleaner. It even has it's own sticky in a forum on this site. Is use of this app now discouraged?

-thnx

Ccleaner being one of the few exceptions! Sorry should have made that clear! My Bad!

 

[MourningStar]

... most of the experts here say that with Windows 7 you do not need third party clean up software, that provided within Windows 7 is quite sufficient for most needs. Indeed there is a big raft of opinion that suggests that some of these third party programs especiall registry cleaners do more harm than good. It's always as well to seek expert opinion here before installing and using these programs. ...

sorry for off-topic, but this statement has me puzzled. Where can I find the Windows 7 cleanup software?

Also, I have read posts here recommending CCleaner. It even has it's own sticky in a forum on this site. Is use of this app now discouraged?

-thnx

Windows 7 itself monitors itself and does cleanup on its own.
Action center keeps an eye on your temp files and other common things that slow your pc down. It will notify you if it finds anything.
CCleaner is recommended if your PC is running very slowly and windows doesn't detect it. Your action center will flag you for anything that needs done.

See here:
Optimize Windows for better performance - Microsoft Windows Help

Thank you!

 

[bhavz]

... most of the experts here say that with Windows 7 you do not need third party clean up software, that provided within Windows 7 is quite sufficient for most needs. Indeed there is a big raft of opinion that suggests that some of these third party programs especiall registry cleaners do more harm than good. It's always as well to seek expert opinion here before installing and using these programs. ...

sorry for off-topic, but this statement has me puzzled. Where can I find the Windows 7 cleanup software?

Also, I have read posts here recommending CCleaner. It even has it's own sticky in a forum on this site. Is use of this app now discouraged?

-thnx

Windows 7 itself monitors itself and does cleanup on its own.
Action center keeps an eye on your temp files and other common things that slow your pc down. It will notify you if it finds anything.
CCleaner is recommended if your PC is running very slowly and windows doesn't detect it. Your action center will flag you for anything that needs done.

See here:
Optimize Windows for better performance - Microsoft Windows Help

Please read this and you will perhaps believe me when keep say that in a standard user account you CANNOT install a program or edit system settings
What is a standard user account?

I understood this, however I did want to be able to use it in the way also described -"If you're using a standard account, some programs might require you to provide an administrator password before you can perform certain tasks."

However when the admin account is hidden no option to enter the admin password as shown in a earlier message.

If you are using a standard account, you should be prompted to input a password for the admin account in order to continue. Are you saying you are not? You are just being asked yes or no? Because that is not normal and should not be happening.
If this is indeed the case, try deleting the standard profile (user account) and recreating it.
Another way to lock things down more is to increase the UAC setting to the Highest.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/299-user-account-control-uac-change-notification-settings.html


Is this what your looking for?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/61650-log-user-name-password.html

I was hoping for the name of the standard account to be displayed without having to enter it each time but I guess this will have to work for now............

 

[andrew129260]

@MourningStar

Wanted to add, the reason ccleaner is such an exception is the coding for the program is very well done. Also, the guy who made it did a lot of testing with Microsoft employees as well. Main point: It doesn't break things.
Also, the registry cleaner that comes with it only looks for complete registry proven keys that are NOT tied to anything at all. Just taking up room. This way it does not accidentally delete important keys that are needed or used. It is still wise to allow CCleaner to do a backup though just in case.
By the way, I use CCleaner all the time. I love it for cleaning friends PCs who have had their PCs for years and it gets a little slow. Although again, this happened more often on XP and Vista compared to 7.


@bhavz

Sorry about that. But yes unfortunately that is the way things have to be. The only other option is to use a completely custom log in screen, but that has some risks of mucking stuff up. So I will not go into that.

Windows Rule: A Pc must have an admin account. No way around this.

Still not sure why you need to hide the admin account from the login screen in the first place. If the account has a strong password, it is relatively safe from trying to break in. Unless they run a special boot tool to get into the registry and change the password. But this is more advanced. So if you do not mind me asking, why would you need to do this?

The standard account like I said should prompt a UAC window asking for the admin password on a standard account when installing programs, changing critical settings by default. The highest UAC setting will not allow them to change any windows settings for any reason without a UAC box prompting for the admin password.
Enabling the built in admin account is not recommended, and is unnecessary in 99% of circumstances.
(Their are extremely rare circumstances)
A regular admin account should be more than suffice. Then the standard accounts will follow.
I recommend if you do have the built in special admin account turned on, to turn that off and just use a standard admin account. And then the standard users. The built in admin account can be very dangerous leaving that turned on. (Coming from a security standpoint)
Hence, this is why it is disabled by default.

 

[bhavz]

@andrew129260
Thanks for your reply, the reason I wanted to hide the admin user was to avoid the two login's at the login screen, also since using the interactive login I have found that it takes twice as long to show the desktop for any user.

Unfortunately the UAC prompts do not allow for a admin password when the admin account is hidden, hence the start of this thread and request to see if anyone had overcome this.

 

[andrew129260]

Hmmm...

@andrew129260
Thanks for your reply, the reason I wanted to hide the admin user was to avoid the two login's at the login screen, also since using the interactive login I have found that it takes twice as long to show the desktop for any user.

Is it possible you have too many programs running at start up that could cause this?
Could you maybe post a screenshot of msconfig startup tab?
Start-run-msconfig

Also from your screenshot I see its asking for you to type the password but does not have a place to type it. I know what you saying below, but lets try the following below for giggles.

Have you tried running sfc /scannow?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Unfortunately the UAC prompts do not allow for a admin password when the admin account is hidden, hence the start of this thread and request to see if anyone had overcome this.

Ok, gotcha.

 

[bhavz]

@andrew129260
Thanks for your reply, the reason I wanted to hide the admin user was to avoid the two login's at the login screen, also since using the interactive login I have found that it takes twice as long to show the desktop for any user.

Is it possible you have too many programs running at start up that could cause this?
Could you maybe post a screenshot of msconfig startup tab?
Start-run-msconfig


Also from your screenshot I see its asking for you to type the password but does not have a place to type it. I know what you saying below, but lets try the following below for giggles.

Have you tried running sfc /scannow?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html


No errors found

Unfortunately the UAC prompts do not allow for a admin password when the admin account is hidden, hence the start of this thread and request to see if anyone had overcome this.

Ok, gotcha.

This could be a possible reason......however it was definitely much faster without the interactive login, I am guessing that the there is a behind the scene script it has to run for the interaction?

 

[andrew129260]

Under an administrator account in Windows 7 go into msconfig and uncheck the following from the startup tab:

1.) Ok, uncheck the following:

-Dell system detect <-----I would actually recommend uninstalling this. No reason for it.
-Advanced system care 6. <-----I would actually recommend uninstalling this. No reason for it.

I notice you are using IOBIT software.

From a cnet review:
"One minor issue we had with Malware Fighter was that it classifies the absence of Advanced SystemCare and Smart Defrag as "problems." There's no option to clear out these warnings, and choosing to fix them results in an automatic download and installation of IObit's other product offerings"

Just like cnet stated, these are not problems. Uninstall advanced system care. <----Guide on how to uninstall programs just in case you need it.
​

Replace with CCleaner if you must have a cleaner. Better utility, and best of all, does not take system resources unless you run it. It does not keep itself running.
Windows 7 does not need a cleaner. It handles a lot of things just fine by itself.
CCleaner is only recommended occasionally unless your system is really crawling.

-Adobe reader and acrobat manager. <-----It already runs as a service that helps auto update the program. This is not needed.
-Apple push
-Itunes (Anything with apple, uncheck. Or better yet, uninstall it. It is a known massive resource hog on windows. You do not need itunes on your pc to update or sync your apple products anymore, so this is basically completely pointless. Unless you like the media player built in, but I would just use windows media player or other software.)

Apple stuff to uninstall:
Bonjour
Apple software update
Safari
Quicktime
Itunes


Click ok, and then hit restart. After it boots up, msconfig will prompt again. Check the box and say ok so that msconfig does not run on startup every time.

You should notice a huge improvement in start up time on the second or third restart.
If not, some programs see themselves removed from startup and re-add themselves.
If boot up is still slow, check msconfig and see if they reactivated themselves. If they do, I don't trust the software. If I block them from start, they should stay blocked. To me this is risky behavior.
(Exception of course would be threat removal/antimalware programs. Antivirus etc.)

2.) Also could you check something else for me?
Go to rb:-type performance in the search box. Click performance information and tools. Click advanced tools on the left hand side. Under performance issues does it list anything there?
If it says no issues found that's great, if things are listed there show me a screenshot of what it found, or tell me what was listed.

3.) Also, please take a look here for suggestions on maintaining windows.


Have you done a defrag in awhile? Windows does it automatically at 3am, but if your computer is not on at this time it will not be done. You can configure that in disk defrag.
Do not defrag if you have a solid state drive. (SSD)

If you need any more help, please ask. Let me know how it goes!

 

[logicearth]

Just to make this clear. You CANNOT hide an account (Admin) and expect it to work with UAC. It will not. There is no way around it. The UAC prompt gets the same list as the login screen gets, hiding an account from the login screen hides it from UAC.

 

[bhavz]

Just to make this clear. You CANNOT hide an account (Admin) and expect it to work with UAC. It will not. There is no way around it. The UAC prompt gets the same list as the login screen gets, hiding an account from the login screen hides it from UAC.

This appears to be incorrect, as you can use the interactive login feature which means that user can not see the last person who has logged in, and each time will ask for user name and password to allow access to their account.
Although this means that it's not actually hiding the account it does mean that users will not see not be able to see the admin account or access it without the correct credentials.

 

[bhavz]

Under an administrator account in Windows 7 go into msconfig and uncheck the following from the startup tab:

1.) Ok, uncheck the following:

-Dell system detect <-----I would actually recommend uninstalling this. No reason for it.
-Advanced system care 6. <-----I would actually recommend uninstalling this. No reason for it.

I notice you are using IOBIT software.

From a cnet review:
"One minor issue we had with Malware Fighter was that it classifies the absence of Advanced SystemCare and Smart Defrag as "problems." There's no option to clear out these warnings, and choosing to fix them results in an automatic download and installation of IObit's other product offerings"

Just like cnet stated, these are not problems. Uninstall advanced system care. <----Guide on how to uninstall programs just in case you need it.
​

Replace with CCleaner if you must have a cleaner. Better utility, and best of all, does not take system resources unless you run it. It does not keep itself running.
Windows 7 does not need a cleaner. It handles a lot of things just fine by itself.
CCleaner is only recommended occasionally unless your system is really crawling.

-Adobe reader and acrobat manager. <-----It already runs as a service that helps auto update the program. This is not needed.
-Apple push
-Itunes (Anything with apple, uncheck. Or better yet, uninstall it. It is a known massive resource hog on windows. You do not need itunes on your pc to update or sync your apple products anymore, so this is basically completely pointless. Unless you like the media player built in, but I would just use windows media player or other software.)

Apple stuff to uninstall:
Bonjour
Apple software update
Safari
Quicktime
Itunes


Click ok, and then hit restart. After it boots up, msconfig will prompt again. Check the box and say ok so that msconfig does not run on startup every time.

You should notice a huge improvement in start up time on the second or third restart.
If not, some programs see themselves removed from startup and re-add themselves.
If boot up is still slow, check msconfig and see if they reactivated themselves. If they do, I don't trust the software. If I block them from start, they should stay blocked. To me this is risky behavior.
(Exception of course would be threat removal/antimalware programs. Antivirus etc.)

2.) Also could you check something else for me?
Go to rb:-type performance in the search box. Click performance information and tools. Click advanced tools on the left hand side. Under performance issues does it list anything there?
If it says no issues found that's great, if things are listed there show me a screenshot of what it found, or tell me what was listed.

3.) Also, please take a look here for suggestions on maintaining windows.


Have you done a defrag in awhile? Windows does it automatically at 3am, but if your computer is not on at this time it will not be done. You can configure that in disk defrag.
Do not defrag if you have a solid state drive. (SSD)

If you need any more help, please ask. Let me know how it goes!

Unfortunately the the laptop is out of commission due to it catching fire, it has been sent back to the manufacturer for an investigation as it was only 2 years old and I had bought a 3 year service agreement when I purchased it and had a new fan assembly installed on Monday morning.

So now am in the process of waiting for a replacement but thanks for all your helpful suggestions

 

[andrew129260]

It caught on fire?! Holy crap! What brand/model?

Well glad you are okay. Hope you had your data backed up.....

We will be here should you need further help with the new one

 

[bhavz]

It caught on fire?! Holy crap! What brand/model?

Well glad you are okay. Hope you had your data backed up.....

We will be here should you need further help with the new one

I had a Dell XPS L502X, I was able to remove the hard drive and connect directly to my custom built PC and copy all my data across before sending it back to them.

Knowing my luck they will send me a refurb one :sarc:

 

[Layback Bear]

Has IOBit every program been removed completely. I believe you will find until all IOBit is removed you will have nothing but problems. Hopefully the damage caused can be repaired without a clean install.

From post #7

 

[logicearth]

This appears to be incorrect...

What is incorrect? Nothing I said was incorrect. What you just described is something completely different than what I was talking about.