Windows 7: How to manage different users
A guide to installing Microsoft's latest release
By Michael Scalisi | PC World | Published 14:55, 21 October 09
Turn on parental controls by selecting On, enforce current settings, and then modify each setting as appropriate.
- Time limits: If you want Windows to boot your child off the computer after, say, 10pm, this is where you can explicitly permit or deny computer usage by time and by the day of the week.
- Games: Here you can define whether the account is permitted to play games, which game ratings are acceptable, and whether unrated games are allowed. You may also allow or block particular games.
- Allow and block specific programs: If you want to limit your child's computer use to certain applications, this is where you choose them.
Windows 7's parental controls can work in conjunction with the downloadable Windows Live Family Safety, which allows you to set parental controls on web content.
Changing Your Password
The simplest way to change your password when you are logged in is to press Ctrl-Alt-Del and click Change a Password. In this window, you simply type in your old password and your new one, and then confirm it. Administrators may also overwrite the user name and change the password for another user.
Changing Your Picture
Windows 7 allows you to choose a picture to associate with your account. This is the image you click to log on to the computer. To change it, open Control Panel and choose Users Accounts. Under Users, click Change your Account Picture. You can select from a number of built-in images, or you can browse to one of your own images.
Creating a Password-Reset Disk
A password-reset disk is useful if you forget your password, but the catch is that you have to create it while you are logged in--if you have already forgotten your password, it's too late. You probably don't have a floppy drive on your PC, but a USB drive will work just fine.
To create a password-reset disk, open Control Panel and select User Accounts and Family Safety, User Accounts. Click on Create a password reset disk in the left pane. A wizard will guide you through the procedure, asking you on which drive to place the password key as well as what your current password is. Be careful where you store the disk or USB drive--anyone who can access it can use it to gain entry to your account.
Resetting Your Password Using the Password-Reset Disk
If you enter your password incorrectly when you attempt to log on to your computer, Windows will display a Reset password link under the password box. Click it to launch the Password Reset Wizard. When prompted, select the drive that contains the password key, and then type in a new password and password hint.
Using the 'Local Users and Groups' Tool
Though the Windows 7 wizard-based user-management tools are great and easy to use, some people will prefer the legacy tool, called 'Local Users and Groups'. This tool has changed little since its introduction in Windows 2000. To access it, right-click Computer on the Start menu, and select Manage. This will open Computer Management. From there, expand Local Users and Groups.
