Windows Vista & 7 Tip – User Accounts

This tip also applies to Windows 8 and 8.1
A user account is a collection of information that tells Windows what files and folders you can access, what changes you can make to the computer, and your personal preferences, such as your desktop background or color theme.  User accounts make it so that you can share a computer with several people, but still have your own files and settings.  Each person accesses their own account with a user name and password.

There are three different kinds of accounts:

• Standard
• Administrator
• Guest

Each account type gives the user a different level of control over the computer.  The standard account is the account to use for everyday computing.  The administrator account provides the most control over the computer, and should only be used when necessary.  The guest account is primarily for people who need temporary access to the computer.

What Is An Administrator Account?

An administrator account is a user account that lets you make changes that will affect other users.  Administrators can change security settings, install software and hardware, and access all files on the computer.  Administrators can also make changes to other accounts.

When you set up Windows, you’ll be required to create a user account. This account is an administrator account that allows you to set up your computer and install any programs that you would like to use. Once you have finished setting up your computer, we recommend that you use a standard user account for your day-to-day computing. It’s more secure to use a standard user account instead of an administrator account.

Why Use A Standard User Account Instead of an Administrator Account?

The standard account can help protect your computer by preventing users from making changes that affect everyone who uses the computer. We recommend creating a standard account for each user.

When you are logged on to Windows with a standard account, you can do anything that you can do with an administrator account, but if you want to do something that affects other users of the computer, such as installing software or changing security settings, Windows might ask you to provide a password for an administrator account.

How do I create a “Standard User” Account?

• Click your Start button
• Choose Control Panel
• Choose User Accounts
• Click the link that says “Manage Another Account”
• Click the link that says “Create a New Account”
• Type in a User Name
• Select the Standard User option

QuickBooks, 3rd party applications and User Accounts

QuickBooks and any 3rd party applications that you use, should be installed and run under the Standard User Account.  They do NOT need to be run as Administrator.

Since Windows Vista was released, we have handled numerous support calls which resulted in an 80040408 – Could not start QuickBooks error.  In all cases QuickBooks and our 3rd party applications had been installed under the Administrator account.