Vista - Should I create a standard user account for my home pc?

I am installing Vista Home Premium on a new machine. I am a "power user". I
see that it is recommended to set up an administrator account as well as a
standard account, and use the standard for typical use. However, I also read
that if one is logged on the administrator account, you will still see
prompts for administrator access if the program attempts certain sensitive
actions. Is there then a good reason to set up a standard user account if I
am the only user of the machine, and it's a home machine?

Also, I prefer to fully boot up to the desktop, without seeing a user menu
to choose which account I want to use, or enter a password. By only having
one account on the machine, I assume that would do the trick.

Lastly, I am curious, how are OEMs like Dell setting up Windows Premium on
their machines? Do they set up an administrator and standard account on the
systems?

"zigner" <zigner@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:88A4449E-7655-4AC6-B564-E6F8026754A4@microsoft.com...
>I am installing Vista Home Premium on a new machine. I am a "power user".
>I
> see that it is recommended to set up an administrator account as well as a
> standard account, and use the standard for typical use. However, I also
> read
> that if one is logged on the administrator account, you will still see
> prompts for administrator access if the program attempts certain sensitive
> actions. Is there then a good reason to set up a standard user account
> if I
> am the only user of the machine, and it's a home machine?

Although I'm sure many people will disagree with me, I personally would just
use an admin account. The only programs that will have admin access to your
machine will have to be approved by you via a prompt.

However, there may be some security benefits to using a standard user
account ONLY for non-admin stuff, and using an admin account ONLY for
admin-stuff, and never mixing the two.

Other than that, there are differences in your experience when using the two
account types:

* Admin account:

- When doing admin stuff, prompt will ask for consent (continue or cancel)
- Everything happens inside of your account
- You may experience more UAC prompts

* Standard user account

- When doing admin stuff, the prompt will ask for username and password of
an admin
- Admin stuff happens as if the admin account did it, as opposed to your
non-admin user. (For example, if you install a program and it asks for your
admin user and password in order to install, that game may be set up for
your admin user, and not for your non-admin user).
- You may experience less UAC prompts

> Also, I prefer to fully boot up to the desktop, without seeing a user menu
> to choose which account I want to use, or enter a password. By only
> having
> one account on the machine, I assume that would do the trick.

Yes, with only one account without a password, Vista should automatically
log you in. If not, there are ways to make it do so.

> Lastly, I am curious, how are OEMs like Dell setting up Windows Premium on
> their machines? Do they set up an administrator and standard account on
> the
> systems?

I don't know about this one.


--
- JB
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User

Windows Vista Support Faq
http://www.jimmah.com/vista/