In: Categories » Computers and technology » Windows » Using Windows Vista in Workgroups and Domains
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You can use Windows Vista in workgroup configurations and domain configurations. Workgroups are loose associations of computers in which each computer is managed separately. Domains are collections of computers that you can manage collectively by means of domain controllers, which are servers running Windows that manage access to the network, to the directory database, and to shared resources. Typically, home users will use Windows Vista in workgroup configurations and businesses will use Windows Vista in domain configurations. Although all versions can be used in workgroup configurations, you cannot use the home versions in domain configurations. Understanding Log On, User Switching, Locking, and Log Off in Windows VistaIn a workgroup configuration, Windows Vista displays the Log On screen at startup. All standard user and administrator accounts that you’ve created on the computer are listed on the Log On screen. To log on, you click the account name. If the account is password protected, you must click the account name, type the account password, and then click the arrow button. In a domain configuration, Windows Vista displays a blank startup screen after initializing the operating system. You must press Ctrl+Alt+Del to display the Log On screen. By default, the last account to log on to the computer is listed in computer\username or domain\username format. To log on to this account, you type the account password and then click the arrow button. To log on to a different account, click the Switch User button, and then click Log On As Another User. Type the user name and password, and then click the arrow button. Keep the following in mind:
Both the workgroup and the domain configurations of Windows Vista allow fast user switching. You can easily change passwords, lock a computer, and log off as well. Switching UsersYou can switch users by following these steps:
Changing PasswordsYou can change passwords by following these steps:
Locking and Unlocking a ComputerYou can lock and unlock the computer by following these steps:
Logging Off a ComputerYou can log off by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del and then clicking the Log Off option. If there is a problem logging off, the Log Off dialog box appears. This dialog box shows the programs currently running on the computer. If one of the currently running programs is causing a problem with logoff, an explanation of the problem is displayed below the program name. You can then cancel the logoff or continue:
Understanding Windows Vista User Accounts and Windows Security PermissionsWindows Vista has two primary types of local user accounts:
In Windows Vista, all applications run using either standard user or administrator permissions. This change has far-reaching effects on the operating system as well as how you work with user accounts and manage applications. Because of User Account Control, whether a user logs on as an administrator or a standard user, the user sees a User Account Control dialog box containing a warning prompt stating, “Windows needs your permission to continue.” The way the prompt works depends on whether the user is logged on with an administrator account or a standard user account. Users with administrator permissions are asked for confirmation. The user can click Allow to allow the task to be performed or Cancel to stop the task from being performed. Clicking Details shows the full path to the program being executed. Users with standard accounts are asked to provide a password for an administrator account. In a workgroup configuration, each local computer administrator account is listed by name. To allow the task to be performed, you must click an account, type the account’s password, and then click Submit. In a domain configuration, administrator accounts for users who have logged on to the computer are listed. These accounts can be both domain administrator accounts and local computer administrator accounts. You also have the option of choosing a different account. To run the task using a different user’s permissions, click Use Another Account, type the user account, and then type the account’s password. If the account is in the default domain, you don’t have to specify the domain name. If the account is in another domain, you can specify the domain and the account name using the format domain\username, such as cpandl\williams.
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