CHAPTER 8
Share Your Computer
CREATE A USER ACCOUNT
If you share your computer with other people, you should create a personalized user account for each person.
Windows keeps your personal files separate from the personal files created by other users. For example, your Documents, Pictures, and Music libraries display the files you have created. Internet Explorer also keeps your lists of recently visited web pages and favorite web pages separate from the lists of other users.
CREATE A USER ACCOUNT
Should each user have a unique Microsoft account?
It’s a good idea for each user to have a separate Microsoft account. The Microsoft account also tracks the user’s system preferences, and with separate accounts, each user can have his own set of preferences and other settings. A user can sign in with a local account instead of a Microsoft account, but then he won’t be able to access many of the new Modern UI apps that appear in Windows 8.
Is a password required?
No. You don’t need a password if you are creating the user with a Local account.
A password is recommended but not required. If you don’t have a password, anyone can log on as you and have access to your personal files.
When creating separate user accounts, Windows creates separate folders to store each user’s documents, pictures, music, and videos.
Each user can also have his own personalization options.
CHANGE AN ACCOUNT TYPE
The first user created in Windows 8 is an Administrator. Each subsequent user is created as a Standard account.
You can change a Standard account to an Administrative account, and you can change an Administrative account to a Standard account.
You must, however, keep at least one Administrative account.
CHANGE AN ACCOUNT TYPE
If you are using a Standard account type, you may be prompted for an Administrative password.
What is the difference between an Administrator and a Standard user account?
As a Standard user, you can perform almost any task on the computer. However, you cannot perform tasks that affect other users or the security of the computer without first entering an Administrator password.
As an Administrator, you can perform any task on the computer.
Why does Windows sometimes prompt me for an Administrative password?
You must have Administrative rights to add, modify, or delete users. If you are logged on as a Standard user, Windows prompts you for the Administrator password.
DELETE A USER ACCOUNT
If a person no longer uses your computer, you can choose to delete the person’s user account from your computer.
When you delete a user account, Windows permanently removes the account from your computer.
DELETE A USER ACCOUNT
When I delete a user account, which personal files can Windows save?
When you delete a user account, Windows can save the user’s personal files that are displayed on the desktop and the files in the My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, and My Videos folders. Windows can also save the user’s list of favorite web pages. The files are saved on your desktop in a new folder that has the same name as the deleted account. Windows does not save the user’s email messages or computer settings.
When you delete a user, Windows gives you the option of retaining or deleting the user’s personal files.
Can I delete an Administrator account?
Yes. You can delete Administrator accounts.
However, Windows does not allow you to delete the last Administrator account on your computer.
This ensures that one Administrator account always exists on the computer.
SWITCH USERS
If another person wants to use your computer, you can allow the person to switch to his user account. Windows keeps your files and programs open while the other person logs on to Windows and uses the computer.
When you switch between users, you can quickly return to your files and programs after the other person finishes using the computer.
SWITCH USERS
SIGN OUT A USER
When you finish using your computer, you can sign out of your user account to allow another person to use the computer.
When you sign out of Windows, your user account is temporarily closed, but your computer remains on.
SIGN OUT A USER
SWITCH ACCOUNTS
If you are signed in with a local account, you might want to switch to a Microsoft account so you can access more of the Modern UI apps.
Or, perhaps you are already signed in to your Microsoft account and you want to switch to a local account.
You can easily switch between account types.
SWITCH ACCOUNTS
What are some tips for a good password?
A really good password:
Contains at least eight characters.
Contains uppercase letters (A, B, C), lowercase letters (a, b, c), numbers (0, 1, 2, 3), and symbols found on the keyboard (!, @, #, $, %), or spaces.
Does not contain your real name, company name, or username.
Does not contain a complete word.
Is easy to remember, such as:
Msb=8/Apr 94 means “My son’s birthday is April 8, 1994”
iL2e CwDp! Means “I like to eat chips with dip!”
When you switch accounts, you may be prompted for an email address, password, password hint, or even a security question.
Besides being able to access many of the Modern UI apps, what’s an advantage of using a Microsoft account versus a local account?
If you sign in with a Microsoft account, you have an option available called Sync your settings. This option saves your preferences, favorites, and other information with your Microsoft ID. That way, if something happens to your computer and you need to reload Windows 8, your preferences restore as well.
Sync your settings is located on the PC settings screen. (Press 
+ C, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.) From this screen, you can choose which settings you want to sync.
SHARE FILES WITH OTHER USERS
You can share files with other users set up on your computer by adding files to one of the Public folders. Every user on your computer can access the files stored in the Public folders.
You will find a Public folder in each of your libraries. Windows offers a Public Documents, Public Music, Public Pictures, and Public Videos folder.
SHARE FILES WITH OTHER USERS
How can I see the files shared by other users on my computer?
In each library, you can see the files shared by other users on your computer as well as your own personal files. Each library displays the contents of two folders. For example, the Documents library displays the contents of the My Documents folder, which contains your personal files, and the Public Documents folder, which contains the files shared by every user on your computer.
How do I no longer share a file on my computer?
If you no longer want to share a file with other users on your computer, you need to move the file out of the Public folder. To do so, repeat steps 4 to 6 here, except drag the file to the My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, or My Videos folder. Only you can see the files in these folders.
SET UP FAMILY SAFETY CONTROLS
You can set up family safety controls to help control how and when users use your computer.
Before setting up family safety controls, make sure your Administrator accounts are password protected to prevent other users from bypassing or turning off family safety controls.
Primarily designed for parents, you can set up time limits to control when your children can use the computer. You can also control which games your children can play and the programs they can use.
SET UP FAMILY SAFETY CONTROLS
Web filtering allows you to limit the websites the user can visit. You can restrict a website by its content type and by its rating. However, you should know that not all websites are rated.
For example, you can create a specific list of allowable websites, or you can allow only those that are designed for children.
Additionally, you can block the user from downloading any files, which can help protect your computer from viruses and malware.
You can set up time limits to control how long the user can use the computer.
For example, you might only want your child to be on the computer a maximum of one hour per day during the week.
What else can I do to help protect my children when they use the computer?
Although the Family Safety Controls feature included with Windows can help manage how your children use the computer, it should not replace family safety supervision. Constant adult supervision is the best way to protect your children. Here are some tips:
Keep the family computer in a high-traffic area in your house, such as the kitchen or family room, so you can monitor all activity.
Maintain an ongoing conversation with your children about their computer activities.
Tell your children not to provide their photo or personal information—such as their name, address, phone number, or school name—to anyone they meet on the Internet.
Tell your children not to meet in person with anyone they have met on the Internet.
The curfew option allows you to determine what hours of the day the user is allowed to access the computer.
For example, if you don’t want your child to use the computer after school and before you get home from work, you might block the hours of 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Can I block my children from playing a game that is not age appropriate?
Yes. From the User Settings window, click Windows Store and game restrictions.
Click the option The user can only use the games and Windows Store apps I allow; then click Set game and Windows Store ratings.
In the window that appears, click a game rating that is appropriate for your child. At the top of the window, click an option to allow or block games with no rating. Your child can now play only the games with the rating you selected.
You can choose to block a user from opening specific programs.
For example, you can prevent someone from opening a program that you use to keep track of your finances.
How can I help keep my children safer online?
Visit the Microsoft Safety & Security Center at www.microsoft.com/security/family-safety/childsafety-internet.aspx.
It contains a plethora of information from Microsoft about Internet safety for your children. You can also see tips for keeping your child safe using social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
