How to create Vista accounts
- If your PC is used by more than one person, it's a good idea to create different accounts
- Follow our step-by-step guide to set them up
- How to change your password, picture and set up parental control
Create multiple Vista accounts
Windows Vista lets you set up multiple accounts. This is useful if you've got more than one person sharing the same computer or if you want to restrict other users access to the computer in some way.
1Create a new user account
Click the Windows icon in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen > Control Panel > User Accounts and family safety > Add or remove user accounts.
Click 'Create a new account'. You'll be asked to name the account and choose an account type.
Type in a name for your account and select 'Standard user' > Create Account.
Your new account has now been created.
2Change your password
Make your account more secure with a password.
From the ‘Choose the account you would like to change’ screen, click on your new account > Create a password.
Type your password in the ‘New password’ box and again in the ‘Confirm new password’ box.
Next, add a password hint to serve as a reminder should you forget your password > Create password.
3Change the picture
Windows Vista allocates a picture icon to each user account.
You can change this if you like.
From the ‘Choose the account you would like to change’ screen, click on your new account.
From the list select 'Change the picture'.
Click on the picture that you want to appear next to your account name > Change Picture.
4Set up parental controls
Window Vista's Parental Controls let you more limit how your children use the family computer.
To activate them, select the new account from the ‘Choose the document you would like to change’ screen.
Click ‘Set up Parental Controls' and select the account you want to restrict.
Under Windows Settings, select the things you'd like to control.
When you've made your choices click the circle beside 'On, enforce current settings'. Click OK.
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