Creating & managing a new user

[AbhishekS]

Hello everyone,

For the past 2 years or so, I've been using my laptop alone with just 1 user account ie my personal account.

Now my dad has asked me to create an account for him on my laptop as well. Here are some questions which I hope are answered here.

1. Can two accounts on the same PC have administrator privileges?
2. How do I prevent my dad from viewing my personal files (docs, excel sheets, text files, etc.)
3. I have Google Chrome as my default browser and have all my passwords saved. Whenever I go to a website like SevenForums, Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo!, Google, etc., I am logged in. I don't wish to change these settings as I am pretty used to them now. Will my dad be able to access my accounts as well unless I don't remove my passwords from Chrome?

If someone can clear these 3 doubts for me, I'll be really grateful to them.

Thanks in advance.

Regards.

 

[StalkeR]

Hello there. First you should look in User Accounts part from Tutorials.
1.Yes
2.Don't know,sorry.
3.No( I think,because it's a different user)

How to Create, Delete and Modify User Accounts in Windows 7
How to Change a User Account Type in Windows 7

I think that this will help you.
StalkeR

 

[sygnus21]

1. Can two accounts on the same PC have administrator privileges?
2. How do I prevent my dad from viewing my personal files (docs, excel sheets, text files, etc.)

2- From the security settings tab on the drive/file/folder you can add, remove, or restrict users as needed.

Or you can simply hide the files/folders by right clicking them, hitting Properties and ticking the Hide box.

However be aware that anything in your User profile is automatically protected from view without doing any of the above measures,..... unless they have full admin rights, and/or know your password. which brings me to question #1......

1- If you give admin rights to other users they can simply undo what you did, and, they have full view of all user profiles not password protected.

So you'll have to choose between security/secrecy and their right for full admin privileges.

 

[AbhishekS]

Thanks for the replies guys.

@sygnus21: When I go to the security tab, I see four options under 'Group or user names:'

1. System
2. Abhishek Sharma (my user account)
3. <My dad's user account>
4. Administrators.

Which option shall I select now and what settings should be done?

And don't worry, my dad won't undo the settings as he doesn't wants to view my files. It's just that I've to keep them safe from him as he may accidentally click on them.

 

[sygnus21]

Thanks for the replies guys.

@sygnus21: When I go to the security tab, I see four options under 'Group or user names:'

1. System
2. Abhishek Sharma (my user account)
3. <My dad's user account>
4. Administrators.

Which option shall I select now and what settings should be done?

And don't worry, my dad won't undo the settings as he doesn't wants to view my files. It's just that I've to keep them safe from him as he may accidentally click on them.

If you remove your dad's user name he won't have access.

DO NOT remove System or Administrators.

So if you remove your dad, the only ones with access is the OS (system), You (your user name), and anyone with Administrator privaledges.

BTW - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/122666-permissions-allow-deny-users-groups.html

 

[BriceH]

Another way to keep others from viewing your files is to encrypt all of your important files with encryption software such as Gpg4win.

 

[sygnus21]

That's another option.

But since you already have built in security features in the OS I'd just use them. They're designed to do exactly what he wants to do.

My two cents.

 

[AbhishekS]

Thanks for the suggestion, BriceH, but I feel that sygnus21's method is much more simpler and better. I'll try what sygnus21 suggested.

And BTW, is there an option to apply those settings as default to all the files in my account?

 

[AbhishekS]

If I simply remove my dad's user account from the security tab of 'C:/Users/Abhishek Sharma' (directory), then will all my files be hidden from him?

 

[sygnus21]

If I simply remove my dad's user account from the security tab of 'C:/Users/Abhishek Sharma' (directory), then will all my files be hidden from him?

Yes, he won't have access. However I did say.......

However be aware that anything in your User profile is automatically protected from view without doing any of the above measures,..... unless they have full admin rights, and/or know your password. which brings me to question #1......

1- If you give admin rights to other users they can simply undo what you did, and, they have full view of all user profiles not password protected.

Also be aware that if you remove your dad from "C" drive he won't have access to it, meaning he won't be able to even use his profile so DO NOT remove him from "C" drive, just from the files folders outside your user profile.

I would also urge you go read through this tutorial I posted earlier - Permissions - Allow or Deny Users and Groups

Hope that helps.