Admin or Standard user, which to use?

Cybermyk · 25 Sep 2006 at 18:49

I started a new job today. I have two PC's and one monitor. I have an admin account and a standard user account and I need them to stay as they are.

Which account is it best to log onto before I RDC to the other PC. The Admin or the User? I don't think that it makes a difference either way so I though I would ask you lot

I've sort of already set up the user/pc to RDC to the Admin account/PC but now I'm not sure :confused:

Ninja edit: probably should have posted this in the Windows OS forum

Energize · 25 Sep 2006 at 19:22

Why would you want to logon as a user when you can log on as the administrator?

Cybermyk · 25 Sep 2006 at 19:27

Energize said:
Why would you want to logon as a user when you can log on as the administrator?

Apart from the programs that can be effected by using them with an admin account I need a user account to use as a testbed and for general office work.

The_KiD · 25 Sep 2006 at 20:36

Always use non admin account. Admin account is simply for installing and making system changes. You can also install in normal user mode by holding shift when you install a prog and choosing run as.

You should not use your machine on a day to day basis in Admin mode, simply because should you fall fowl of a virus/spyware/malware/foistware/adware infection then it will have a harder time doing it's job if it doesnt have admin rights to do it with.

People are bound to argue with this, but if you use your machine, mainly for word processing, surfing, emails, etc then trust me when I say dont use admin mode.

hungryhungry123 · 26 Sep 2006 at 00:13

^^^

Fully agreed. I have one admin account which I use for installing stuff, and I hide the account from the logon screen using tweakui (free microsoft powertoy).

Cybermyk · 26 Sep 2006 at 00:17

The_KiD said:
Always use non admin account. Admin account is simply for installing and making system changes. You can also install in normal user mode by holding shift when you install a prog and choosing run as.

You should not use your machine on a day to day basis in Admin mode, simply because should you fall fowl of a virus/spyware/malware/foistware/adware infection then it will have a harder time doing it's job if it doesnt have admin rights to do it with.

People are bound to argue with this, but if you use your machine, mainly for word processing, surfing, emails, etc then trust me when I say dont use admin mode.

Yes thats the whole reason for the two accounts, but given the hardware and the two accounts, which way round would you do it?

aix0 · 26 Sep 2006 at 00:33

Stay logged into each machine as a standard user, if you need to do any admin stuff; use 'run as' as The_KiD said.

You can remote into the other PC as a standard user, just make sure that they're a member of the 'remote desktop users'(?) group. Easier solution would be a KVM switch, providing that the two PCs are in the same location.

bledd · 26 Sep 2006 at 01:31

The_KiD said:
Always use non admin account. Admin account is simply for installing and making system changes. You can also install in normal user mode by holding shift when you install a prog and choosing run as.

You should not use your machine on a day to day basis in Admin mode, simply because should you fall fowl of a virus/spyware/malware/foistware/adware infection then it will have a harder time doing it's job if it doesnt have admin rights to do it with.

People are bound to argue with this, but if you use your machine, mainly for word processing, surfing, emails, etc then trust me when I say dont use admin mode.

ms really should have enforced this with xp

well strongly encouraged it anyway

J.B · 26 Sep 2006 at 12:38

Have to agree with everyone else! normal accounts is a much better idea as the admin account is just leaving the door open

VeNT · 26 Sep 2006 at 13:19

Energize said:
Why would you want to logon as a user when you can log on as the administrator?

he who plays in root kills tree