Windows Vista System Administration

Why do I have to "Run as administrator" for many tasks?

This is what is call an 'elevated command'. It is Windows latest security method to keep malware and others from running things on your system without your knowledge. So, while it seems that it is a little annoying, it really is helping keep your system and its data safe.

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How can I rename an administrator user account?

Q: I had a friend help me set up Vista Home Premium on my machine. He created an account name that I would like to change. When I attempt to rename the folder, it says that i do not have permission to do this. How can I rename this folder?

A: Vista will not allow you to rename this folder. You will need to create a new administrator account and then import all of the settings from the old one. After you have used the new account for awhile, you can safely delete the old one. Here's how to create a new administrator user account:

Create a New User Account:

Go to Start
In the Search field, type in: user accounts
Open the User Accounts Control Panel
Select the Manage another account link
Select the Create a new account link
Select the name and type for your new user account
Select the Create Account button

Copy user settings from another user account:

Go to Start
Right click Computer
Select Properties
Select Advanced System Settings from the left pane
Select Settings under User Profile
Select the profile that you would like to copy
Select "Copy to"
Browse for the folder that you would like to apply these settings to

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Should I make a second Administrators account?

Q: I just purchased a PC with Vista Premium on it. I am the only user on this computer and have set up an Administrators account, but I would like to know if I should set up a second one just for casual use?

A: By default, even Administrator accounts only have normal privileges. You can of course make chose to make certain programs automatically run with admin privileges. The advantage with using the Administrator account is that when you run in to a program needing Admin privileges, all you have to do is click accept, but if you're running as a normal user, you would have to type in the Administrators password.

To answer your question, it is a good idea to set up a second Administrators account just for emergency purposes. If you forget your password or if one account goes corrupt, you have a backup account that can save you from some time consuming repair work.