Be careful using multiple accounts

Submitted by Adam on February 27, 2006 - 8:10pm.

Windows XP has a unique ability to act like multiple computers on a single machine. This feature was created so that the computer could be used in a business environment allowing each user to have his or her own programs, desktop, passwords and My Documents.

Although setting up multiple user accounts allows for a lot of customization, it has some pretty screwy side effects.

If you have more than one user account set up in Windows XP, many programs allow you to install programs into only one account. This is a nice feature if you only want to install a program into one account, but it can be a real pain when it comes to spyware and viruses.

Often when viruses and spyware attack they will only attack a single account or certain types of accounts. If passwords must be entered to get into an account.

Based on what I have seen a number of times, parents should think twice before letting their teenager set up personal accounts, especially with passwords. Passwords are meant to prevent others from seeing stuff on that particular account. Nuff said.

You can setup and remove multiple accounts in the Control Panel/User Accounts.

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