How do i create users on a network

Vinnyirl · 02-06-2007, 03:53 PM

I have eight computers (10 by the end of the month) they are all connected using a switch and they all have Windows XP Pro installed.
These computers are used by the computer society which I run in my college, and because I don't want people who are not in the society the use the computers I need to be able to give everyone a separate user name and password, so how do I do this?

Do I need to make one computer a server, do I need to change loads of setting on the network to get it to work.

I know i could create users on each computer individually but creating 40 users on 8 computers would take too long.

Also is there any way when these accounts are set up to restrict access to clicks on the desktop? So people can't go poking around, they would only be able to select short cuts on the desktop and use the LAN.

If you can help thanks a million if you can't ill cry

shlammed · 02-06-2007, 06:01 PM

i believe that unless you have a 2000/2003 domain with active directory running you will have to create an account on each computer because there is no central database with their account information that they can be authenticated from.

shlammed · 02-06-2007, 06:02 PM

oops missed a question

there are local policy's that you can set as the administrator that will lock other non-admin users out of options

administrative tools > local policy

Vinnyirl · 02-07-2007, 08:23 AM

Are use name's and password's saved to a certain file and if so could i just copy this file across to every computer?

shlammed · 02-07-2007, 08:40 AM

I'm not 100% about that question but I do not believe that's possible.

Vinnyirl · 02-07-2007, 09:37 AM

Do you know where i would find out how to do it?

shlammed · 02-07-2007, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinnyirl

Do you know where i would find out how to do it?

You may be able to do it using this:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...fe1033.mspx#EX

**Done_Fishin** · 02-07-2007, 10:01 AM

I seem to remember somthing about allowing log-in using a user name & password, both of which are set up when someone logs in on a PC. The password that will give certain permissions is the log on password .. coupled with the user name. I think if you try doing it by PC you will find that users might be swapping PC's and thereby get "locked out" Also it would mean that anyone who manages to log in on a specific PC will gain "rights" irrespective of whether he/she should have them or not. Individual usernames and passwords should create a more secure environment too, since you will have access to data about who did what & when in the logs.

**johnwill** · 02-07-2007, 06:13 PM

If you setup one of the machine as a server, you can have up to 10 simultaneous connections to it (assuming XP-Pro). If you create a user account for each of the people connecting to it, turn off the guest account and Simple Sharing, you'll keep anyone that doesn't have an account out of the machine.

Note that you can have more than 10 users created on the machine, only 10 can connect at any one time. If you need more than that, I'd be looking at a server.

shlammed · 02-07-2007, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnwill

If you setup one of the machine as a server, you can have up to 10 simultaneous connections to it (assuming XP-Pro). If you create a user account for each of the people connecting to it, turn off the guest account and Simple Sharing, you'll keep anyone that doesn't have an account out of the machine.

Note that you can have more than 10 users created on the machine, only 10 can connect at any one time. If you need more than that, I'd be looking at a server.

i think he means that he wants to find a way (without being part of a domain) to have all the user accounts work on all 10 PC's without having to manually create all user accounts on each pc one by one

**johnwill** · 02-09-2007, 06:48 PM

Log into all the machines with the same user name.

**bilbus** · 02-10-2007, 09:54 AM

not unless you are using a server os and active directory. You will need to install a server or make a username/password on each pc and make sure they match.

Using gpedit.msc is a good wa of locking down a computer, but it is not easy to do in a non domain situation. You will lock everyone down, including the admin.

02-06-2007, 03:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Vinnyirl Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ireland, Kildare Posts: 36 OS: XP Pro	How do i create users on a network I have eight computers (10 by the end of the month) they are all connected using a switch and they all have Windows XP Pro installed. These computers are used by the computer society which I run in my college, and because I don't want people who are not in the society the use the computers I need to be able to give everyone a separate user name and password, so how do I do this? Do I need to make one computer a server, do I need to change loads of setting on the network to get it to work. I know i could create users on each computer individually but creating 40 users on 8 computers would take too long. Also is there any way when these accounts are set up to restrict access to clicks on the desktop? So people can't go poking around, they would only be able to select short cuts on the desktop and use the LAN. If you can help thanks a million if you can't ill cry

02-07-2007, 10:01 AM	#8 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 7,490 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7 Beta, Ubuntu 9.04 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Mepis 6.5, Fedora 10 My System	I seem to remember somthing about allowing log-in using a user name & password, both of which are set up when someone logs in on a PC. The password that will give certain permissions is the log on password .. coupled with the user name. I think if you try doing it by PC you will find that users might be swapping PC's and thereby get "locked out" Also it would mean that anyone who manages to log in on a specific PC will gain "rights" irrespective of whether he/she should have them or not. Individual usernames and passwords should create a more secure environment too, since you will have access to data about who did what & when in the logs. __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner

02-07-2007, 06:13 PM	#9 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,685 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	If you setup one of the machine as a server, you can have up to 10 simultaneous connections to it (assuming XP-Pro). If you create a user account for each of the people connecting to it, turn off the guest account and Simple Sharing, you'll keep anyone that doesn't have an account out of the machine. Note that you can have more than 10 users created on the machine, only 10 can connect at any one time. If you need more than that, I'd be looking at a server. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

02-09-2007, 06:48 PM	#11 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,685 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Log into all the machines with the same user name. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

02-06-2007, 06:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
shlammed Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 115 OS: Windows XP	i believe that unless you have a 2000/2003 domain with active directory running you will have to create an account on each computer because there is no central database with their account information that they can be authenticated from.

02-06-2007, 06:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
shlammed Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 115 OS: Windows XP	oops missed a question there are local policy's that you can set as the administrator that will lock other non-admin users out of options administrative tools > local policy

02-07-2007, 08:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
Vinnyirl Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ireland, Kildare Posts: 36 OS: XP Pro	Are use name's and password's saved to a certain file and if so could i just copy this file across to every computer?

02-07-2007, 08:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
shlammed Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 115 OS: Windows XP	I'm not 100% about that question but I do not believe that's possible.

02-07-2007, 09:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
Vinnyirl Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ireland, Kildare Posts: 36 OS: XP Pro	Do you know where i would find out how to do it?

02-10-2007, 09:54 AM	#12 (permalink)
bilbus TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 949 OS: OS2 Warp	not unless you are using a server os and active directory. You will need to install a server or make a username/password on each pc and make sure they match. Using gpedit.msc is a good wa of locking down a computer, but it is not easy to do in a non domain situation. You will lock everyone down, including the admin.