I cant seem to locate the thread or link that I saw awhile back on the forum regarding setting up the first account as an Admin, then setting up a user account for daily use.
This will be my first Mac (should be arriving on Thursday) and I want to make sure I setup my user accounts correctly.
Once you get your Mac, you simply need to go to the System Preferences panel, click on Accounts.
Once in that pref pane, you will need to click on the lock icon at the bottom to enable changes.
Then you click on the + sign right above the lock icon and then you can add more user accounts. And you can modify your own user account via that same pref pane.
You can't downgrade an admin account to a user account from there (you must use NetInfoStatus IIRC), but you can upgrade a user account to an admin account from there. You can do either from root though.
Here is an article regarding what I was referring to. Basically, they say its best to create the first account as your "admin" account, then create a new account for daily use.
Mac Specs: Macbook: 2GHZ Intel C2D, 2 Gig Ram, 80 GB HD. Mac Mini: Intel C2D 2GHZ, 2 gig ram, 120gb HD
What I did was create my first account as admin, then make a new account called admin and change my first account to a standard account, is this ok as well?
Mac Specs: Macbook: 2GHZ Intel C2D, 2 Gig Ram, 80 GB HD. Mac Mini: Intel C2D 2GHZ, 2 gig ram, 120gb HD
Quote:
Originally Posted by baggss
Yes, but you have to do it from NetInfoManager, unless you know how to do it from the terminal.
But I done it from System Preferences, all you have to do is make another admin account first (i called this account admin) and then you can change your first account to a standard one.
Here are some more links I found regarding NOT using an Admin account for daily use. Checkout the 3rd link. It explains how to hide an account from the login screen.
But I done it from System Preferences, all you have to do is make another admin account first (i called this account admin) and then you can change your first account to a standard one.
The few times that I have tried it it didn't work, maybe it's just me...
Honestly, I don't really think that all the fuss about user multiple user accounts is worth it. It seems to me that all this does it lock you out of parts of your own machine. If you're keeping with the practice of backing up your stuff, then really there's no problem just using the default user account. Since your stuff is backed up, you can easily reinstall the OS if anything goes seriously wrong, which is not too likely to begin with.
Honestly, I don't really think that all the fuss about user multiple user accounts is worth it. It seems to me that all this does it lock you out of parts of your own machine. If you're keeping with the practice of backing up your stuff, then really there's no problem just using the default user account. Since your stuff is backed up, you can easily reinstall the OS if anything goes seriously wrong, which is not too likely to begin with.
Since I am new to Mac, what parts would it lock you out of on a daily basis? You should still be able to access everything, just not with your daily account.
Honestly, I don't really think that all the fuss about user multiple user accounts is worth it. It seems to me that all this does it lock you out of parts of your own machine. If you're keeping with the practice of backing up your stuff, then really there's no problem just using the default user account. Since your stuff is backed up, you can easily reinstall the OS if anything goes seriously wrong, which is not too likely to begin with.
The point is to avoid having to reinstall your OS. I don't know about you, but I don't enjoy spending a half hour swapping disks, followed by another hour or two of downloading updates and resetting preferences. It's just something I'd rather not do.
Running as a non-admin user basically means you have to authenticate (enter the admin username and password) before you can
1. Install software
or
2. Change system settings (for example, network settings.)
Thanks technologist, thats good to know. Id much rather be bugged for a admin user/pass then have a security issue. I wish WinXP had this feature (I think Vista has this now).
Thanks technologist, thats good to know. Id much rather be bugged for a admin user/pass then have a security issue. I wish WinXP had this feature (I think Vista has this now).
To be honest, this is not really a security issue with a Mac unless you expect someone to steal your machine. Even WITH an Admin account you are often asked to enter you password to install Apps and make changes. Remember, Admin is NOT root.
