How to verify admin status?

[Tom Orle]

Hi all,
Is there a way to check my admin status on XP Pro?
It's installed for a single user, 'TOM'.

But sometimes when I find published tweaks or go to the MS knowledge
base some of the links are not present.

As an example: I want the automatic search for network printers
disabled. (the darn window keeps popping up when the printer is
switched off - which I have 90% of the time). Anyway, this is
described in:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q320138

where it asks to go to Control Panel > Appearance and Themes ...
Well, I don't have an 'Appearance and Themes' icon!!!

But under most tabs I have a 'Folder' option with a 'View' tab. But
again, under 'Advanced settings' I do not show the 'Automatically
Search for Network Folders and Printers' entry.

So, my question is whether this is an admin function and how do I make
sure I'm logged on as admin since I have only one usery and as I
understand it - it should be by default admin.

Puzzled .....

-=tom=-

[Shiva]

Even if you are not an admin, you can make yourself as admin: Go to Start -
Run and type compmgmt.msc. On the resulting window, double click Local Users
and Groups item on the left. Click Groups under 'Local Users and Groups'. On
the right side you should find 'Administrators' as one of the entries. Just
double-click it and add yourself. If you find your user id listed there
already, that means are you are already an admin.

Another way to go to the automatic printer searching option: Open Windows
Explorer and select menu Tools | Folder Options. On the View tab, the first
option inthe advanced settings will be 'Automatically search for Network
Folders and Printers'.

HTH.

"Tom Orle" > wrote in message
...
Hi all,
Is there a way to check my admin status on XP Pro?
It's installed for a single user, 'TOM'.

But sometimes when I find published tweaks or go to the MS knowledge
base some of the links are not present.

As an example: I want the automatic search for network printers
disabled. (the darn window keeps popping up when the printer is
switched off - which I have 90% of the time). Anyway, this is
described in:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q320138

where it asks to go to Control Panel > Appearance and Themes ...
Well, I don't have an 'Appearance and Themes' icon!!!

But under most tabs I have a 'Folder' option with a 'View' tab. But
again, under 'Advanced settings' I do not show the 'Automatically
Search for Network Folders and Printers' entry.

So, my question is whether this is an admin function and how do I make
sure I'm logged on as admin since I have only one usery and as I
understand it - it should be by default admin.

Puzzled .....

-=tom=-

[Tom Orle]

"Jermaine" > wrote:

>This appear at Help & Support.
>
>Why you should not run your computer as an administrator:

Excuse me - but I didn't ask why I shouldn't be admin!
It's my personal PC and I want full access to it - regardless what MS
says.

I've been in IT since the days of IBM 360 mainframes and know, at
least most of the time, what I'm doing :-))

Thanks, but no thanks ...

-=tom=-

[Pyromite78]

Yeah so lets all just do whatever MS tells us to do because god knows we
wouldn't want to run our PC's they way we want! Resistance is futile!!!!

"Jermaine" > wrote in message
...
This appear at Help & Support.

Why you should not run your computer as an administrator:

When you run Microsoft© Windows© using the Computer
administrator account, your computer is more vulnerable
to viruses and other security risks than when you use the
Limited account. For example, if you are using the
Limited account and you visit an unfamiliar Internet site
that contains a virus, your computer is less likely to be
infected by it. If you are using the Computer
administrator account, however, a Trojan horse could do
things like reformat your hard drive, delete all your
files, create a new user account with administrative
access, and so on.

The Limited account is the safest account type because it
does not allow users to download or install programs
(activities that make a computer vulnerable if not done
correctly). You can perform routine tasks, such as
running programs and visiting Internet sites, without
exposing your computer to unnecessary risk.

The Limited account can restrict you from running certain
programs and prohibit you from installing programs or
adding printers. If you need to install a program, add a
printer, change system settings, or run a specific
program that won't work under the Limited account, you
can log off and then log back on using the Computer
administrator account.

If you frequently need to log on as an administrator, you
can use the runas command to start programs as an
administrator. For more information about using the runas
command, click Related Topics.

>-----Original Message-----
>Hi all,
>Is there a way to check my admin status on XP Pro?
>It's installed for a single user, 'TOM'.
>
>But sometimes when I find published tweaks or go to the
MS knowledge
>base some of the links are not present.
>
>As an example: I want the automatic search for network
printers
>disabled. (the darn window keeps popping up when the
printer is
>switched off - which I have 90% of the time). Anyway,
this is
>described in:
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-
US;Q320138
>
>where it asks to go to Control Panel > Appearance and
Themes ...
>Well, I don't have an 'Appearance and Themes' icon!!!
>
>But under most tabs I have a 'Folder' option with
a 'View' tab. But
>again, under 'Advanced settings' I do not show
the 'Automatically
>Search for Network Folders and Printers' entry.
>
>So, my question is whether this is an admin function and
how do I make
>sure I'm logged on as admin since I have only one usery
and as I
>understand it - it should be by default admin.
>
>Puzzled .....
>
>-=tom=-
>.
>

[Tom Orle]

"Shiva" > wrote:


>Another way to go to the automatic printer searching option: Open Windows
>Explorer and select menu Tools | Folder Options. On the View tab, the first
>option inthe advanced settings will be 'Automatically search for Network
>Folders and Printers'.

HTH,

That is exactly what I don't have. My first entry is 'Allow upper
case names'. There is no entry starting with 'Automatically ...'
anytwhere on the list :-((

Does anyone know of a registry tweak to turn off that search?

-=tom=-

[Shiva]

Just to make sure you are looking at the right place: On the options window,
are you seeing these four tabs? General, View, File Types & Offline Files

"Tom Orle" > wrote in message
...
"Shiva" > wrote:


>Another way to go to the automatic printer searching option: Open Windows
>Explorer and select menu Tools | Folder Options. On the View tab, the
first
>option inthe advanced settings will be 'Automatically search for Network
>Folders and Printers'.

HTH,

That is exactly what I don't have. My first entry is 'Allow upper
case names'. There is no entry starting with 'Automatically ...'
anytwhere on the list :-((

Does anyone know of a registry tweak to turn off that search?

-=tom=-

[Mike Thoma]

The advice to not run generally in admistrator mode is sound, and not
limited to Windows. Linux installations also have a built in
administrator accounts, but they advise you to build a user account and
use that for most sessions, even if you are the only user on the computer.




Pyromite78 wrote:
> Yeah so lets all just do whatever MS tells us to do because god knows we
> wouldn't want to run our PC's they way we want! Resistance is futile!!!!
>
> "Jermaine" > wrote in message
> ...
> This appear at Help & Support.
>
> Why you should not run your computer as an administrator:
>
> When you run Microsoft© Windows© using the Computer
> administrator account, your computer is more vulnerable
> to viruses and other security risks than when you use the
> Limited account. For example, if you are using the
> Limited account and you visit an unfamiliar Internet site
> that contains a virus, your computer is less likely to be
> infected by it. If you are using the Computer
> administrator account, however, a Trojan horse could do
> things like reformat your hard drive, delete all your
> files, create a new user account with administrative
> access, and so on.
>
> The Limited account is the safest account type because it
> does not allow users to download or install programs
> (activities that make a computer vulnerable if not done
> correctly). You can perform routine tasks, such as
> running programs and visiting Internet sites, without
> exposing your computer to unnecessary risk.
>
> The Limited account can restrict you from running certain
> programs and prohibit you from installing programs or
> adding printers. If you need to install a program, add a
> printer, change system settings, or run a specific
> program that won't work under the Limited account, you
> can log off and then log back on using the Computer
> administrator account.
>
> If you frequently need to log on as an administrator, you
> can use the runas command to start programs as an
> administrator. For more information about using the runas
> command, click Related Topics.
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>Hi all,
>>Is there a way to check my admin status on XP Pro?
>>It's installed for a single user, 'TOM'.
>>
>>But sometimes when I find published tweaks or go to the
>
> MS knowledge
>
>>base some of the links are not present.
>>
>>As an example: I want the automatic search for network
>
> printers
>
>>disabled. (the darn window keeps popping up when the
>
> printer is
>
>>switched off - which I have 90% of the time). Anyway,
>
> this is
>
>>described in:
>>
>>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-
>
> US;Q320138
>
>>where it asks to go to Control Panel > Appearance and
>
> Themes ...
>
>>Well, I don't have an 'Appearance and Themes' icon!!!
>>
>>But under most tabs I have a 'Folder' option with
>
> a 'View' tab. But
>
>>again, under 'Advanced settings' I do not show
>
> the 'Automatically
>
>>Search for Network Folders and Printers' entry.
>>
>>So, my question is whether this is an admin function and
>
> how do I make
>
>>sure I'm logged on as admin since I have only one usery
>
> and as I
>
>>understand it - it should be by default admin.
>>
>>Puzzled .....
>>
>>-=tom=-
>>.
>>
>
>
>

[Mike Thoma]

To check your admin status, go to Control Panel and open User Accounts.
On the right side near the bottom the accounts and their descriptions
should be listed. If your account has admin privileges, you will see
"computer adminstrator". If you don't see this, I'd have to guess you
don't have this status.

Tom Orle wrote:
> Hi all,
> Is there a way to check my admin status on XP Pro?
> It's installed for a single user, 'TOM'.
>
> But sometimes when I find published tweaks or go to the MS knowledge
> base some of the links are not present.
>
> As an example: I want the automatic search for network printers
> disabled. (the darn window keeps popping up when the printer is
> switched off - which I have 90% of the time). Anyway, this is
> described in:
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q320138
>
> where it asks to go to Control Panel > Appearance and Themes ...
> Well, I don't have an 'Appearance and Themes' icon!!!
>
> But under most tabs I have a 'Folder' option with a 'View' tab. But
> again, under 'Advanced settings' I do not show the 'Automatically
> Search for Network Folders and Printers' entry.
>
> So, my question is whether this is an admin function and how do I make
> sure I'm logged on as admin since I have only one usery and as I
> understand it - it should be by default admin.
>
> Puzzled .....
>
> -=tom=-

[Mike Thoma]

Sorry, that got attached to the wrong post. It should have been a reply
to Pyromite78.

Mike Thoma wrote:
> The advice to not run generally in admistrator mode is sound, and not
> limited to Windows. Linux installations also have a built in
> administrator accounts, but they advise you to build a user account and
> use that for most sessions, even if you are the only user on the computer.
>
>
>
>
> Pyromite78 wrote:
>
>> Yeah so lets all just do whatever MS tells us to do because god knows we
>> wouldn't want to run our PC's they way we want! Resistance is futile!!!!
>>
>> "Jermaine" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> This appear at Help & Support.
>>
>> Why you should not run your computer as an administrator:
>>
>> When you run Microsoft© Windows© using the Computer
>> administrator account, your computer is more vulnerable
>> to viruses and other security risks than when you use the
>> Limited account. For example, if you are using the
>> Limited account and you visit an unfamiliar Internet site
>> that contains a virus, your computer is less likely to be
>> infected by it. If you are using the Computer
>> administrator account, however, a Trojan horse could do
>> things like reformat your hard drive, delete all your
>> files, create a new user account with administrative
>> access, and so on.
>>
>> The Limited account is the safest account type because it
>> does not allow users to download or install programs
>> (activities that make a computer vulnerable if not done
>> correctly). You can perform routine tasks, such as
>> running programs and visiting Internet sites, without
>> exposing your computer to unnecessary risk.
>>
>> The Limited account can restrict you from running certain
>> programs and prohibit you from installing programs or
>> adding printers. If you need to install a program, add a
>> printer, change system settings, or run a specific
>> program that won't work under the Limited account, you
>> can log off and then log back on using the Computer
>> administrator account.
>>
>> If you frequently need to log on as an administrator, you
>> can use the runas command to start programs as an
>> administrator. For more information about using the runas
>> command, click Related Topics.
>>
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> Hi all,
>>> Is there a way to check my admin status on XP Pro?
>>> It's installed for a single user, 'TOM'.
>>>
>>> But sometimes when I find published tweaks or go to the
>>
>>
>> MS knowledge
>>
>>> base some of the links are not present.
>>>
>>> As an example: I want the automatic search for network
>>
>>
>> printers
>>
>>> disabled. (the darn window keeps popping up when the
>>
>>
>> printer is
>>
>>> switched off - which I have 90% of the time). Anyway,
>>
>>
>> this is
>>
>>> described in:
>>>
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-
>>
>>
>> US;Q320138
>>
>>> where it asks to go to Control Panel > Appearance and
>>
>>
>> Themes ...
>>
>>> Well, I don't have an 'Appearance and Themes' icon!!!
>>>
>>> But under most tabs I have a 'Folder' option with
>>
>>
>> a 'View' tab. But
>>
>>> again, under 'Advanced settings' I do not show
>>
>>
>> the 'Automatically
>>
>>> Search for Network Folders and Printers' entry.
>>>
>>> So, my question is whether this is an admin function and
>>
>>
>> how do I make
>>
>>> sure I'm logged on as admin since I have only one usery
>>
>>
>> and as I
>>
>>> understand it - it should be by default admin.
>>>
>>> Puzzled .....
>>>
>>> -=tom=-
>>> .
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>

[Tom Orle]

Mike Thoma > wrote:

>The advice to not run generally in admistrator mode is sound, and not
>limited to Windows. Linux installations also have a built in
>administrator accounts, but they advise you to build a user account and
>use that for most sessions, even if you are the only user on the computer.
>
Mike,

As an ex corporate netwk admin, there was no way I would give any
normal user admin access.

But my home PC is used only by me and I want full access.
I mess in the registry all the time and I can do more damage there
than I can with an admin privledge!
Your Linux argument is rather flat - if the Linux folks want to jump
off the Golden Gate bridge doesn't mean I have to follow! (I do like
Linux and UNIX).

What's next - GM telling you, you need special permission to work
under the hood??!? :-)

-=tom=-

[Alex Nichol]

Tom Orle wrote:

>Hi all,
>Is there a way to check my admin status on XP Pro?
>It's installed for a single user, 'TOM'.
>
>But sometimes when I find published tweaks or go to the MS knowledge
>base some of the links are not present.

Go to Control Panel - User Accounts.

You will see the icon there for your account - if it is as an
administrator it will say 'Tom (Computer Administrator)'

If it does not, you need to use the reserve "Administrator" account to
log on, after a boot to Safe mode (hit F8 as BIOS info goes to black to
get the menu). In that, in the User accounts, select yours, click, and
use 'change account type' to make it an Admin one


--
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows - File Systems)
Bournemouth, U.K.