Quick Question on windows 7 and user accounts

enigma27 · 6 Feb 2011 at 19:20

Hi Guys.

quick question.

Is it possible in windows 7 64 bit home and premium to have two accounts that are compleltley independant of eachother without doing a dual boot?

I noticed even if you install some programmes on one account you can see those files on the other.. I see the option on some programme installs to install it only for the active account but im unsure if they locks it out completley.

im guessing i would also need it to have seperate settings also...

or maybe an easier way to put it could i have two accounts under one install that could use different driver version for hardware etc?

theheyes · 6 Feb 2011 at 19:43

The short answer would be no. Multiple user accounts only really restrict (or allow) access to the same underlying operating system. Kernel mode drivers are going to be the same for everyone.

SiriusB · 6 Feb 2011 at 22:58

If you want to restrict access to certain software, use the in-built Parental Controls. There are also third-party tools if you want more control.

As for running separate versions of software/drivers - not going to happen. The best you can do then is to have a VM running. This lets you run an OS inside your current Windows install. Handy if you need to test things or have functionality your current OS doesn't have. The beauty being it is completely separate from the host OS.

Raumarik · 6 Feb 2011 at 23:20

What exactly are you trying to achieve, I'm guessing you simply want to install something that another user can't then open? At least my take on your post isn't that you want to dual boot but that you want to restrict access.

If the other user is a non-admin on the computer you could simply install what you like, remove the shortcuts to it from the start menu and desktop of "all users" and simply change the permissions on the relevant programs executable (.exe) file so the others non-admin users can't run it.

They'd have to go hunting for it to start with as it won't be on any menus when they log in.

Chances are there's other ways, such as parental controls and local policies you could use (never had a need to so I'm no expect for home use - shame this isn't at work on a domain, then it's easy!).