Windows XP / Beginners

The Local Users And Groups Snap-In

The most powerful of the Windows XP tools for working with users is the Local Users And Groups snap-in. To load this snap-in, open Computer Management and select System Tools, Local Users And Groups. Alternatively, either click the Advanced button on the Advanced tab of the User Accounts dialog box (see the previous section), or use the Run dialog box to launch lusrmgr.msc. Select the Users branch to see a list of the users on your system.

From here, you can perform the following tasks:

  • Add a new user Make sure no user is selected and then select Action, New User. In the New User dialog box, specify the user name and password (we discuss the password-related check boxes later in this tutorial), and click Create.
  • Change the user's name Right-click the user and then select Rename.
  • Change the user's group Right-click the user and then select Properties. On the Member Of tab, click Add, use the Enter The Object Names To Select box to enter the group name, and then click OK.
  • Change the user's profile Right-click the user and then select Properties. Use the Profile tab to change the profile path, logon script, and home folder (select the Local Path option to specify a local folder, or select Connect to specify a shared network folder).
  • Disable an account Right-click the user and then select Properties. On the General tab, select the Account Is Disabled check box.
  • Delete a user Right-click the user's name and then select Delete.
  • Change the user's password Right-click the user's name and then select Set Password.

Note Another way to change a user's group is to select the Groups branch, right-click the group you want to work with, and then select Add To Group. Now click Add, type the user name in the Enter The Object Names To Select box, and then click OK.

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