XP Accounts Setup for a Single User?

[NoNamesLeft]

I am the sole user of a computer with Windows XP Pro. By default, I setup the system so I am the Administrator and a User. Since I am the only user, do I need both accounts? Can I simply delete the User account and log in as the Administrator? Is there any advantage to having a User account as well?

 

[Marcs41]

Not really, if your alone, it does not matter.
The only thing that would help logging in as a 'user' is to restrict you from accindently messing up critical settings.
But by default, the administrator is hidden from the Welcome screen, so just make a user with admin rights to keep it simple.
Otherwise you have to tweak your system or log on with the 2000 Ctrl-Alt-Del style. The solution is out there.

 

[linney]

When you use Windows XP, you belong to one of two groups: Administrators or Users. Administrators are all-powerful: if you have a so-called Admin account, you can make systemwide changes and change other users' accounts. While this power is a boon to the ego, it's also dangerous. If, for example, you encounter a virus, a Trojan horse, or a worm while you're logged on as Administrator, you could wreck all the accounts on your entire system. Log in as User, on the other hand, and any damage you cause will be less extensive, because ordinary users are prevented from making systemwide changes. A word to the wise: Do your everyday computing as a regular user and log on as Administrator only when it's absolutely necessary, such as when adding a new user or changing security settings or installing software.

Even as an ordinary user you have access to the Run As command should you need to run a program as the Administrator.

http://www.cnet.com/software/0-6688749-8-7248268-4.html

 

[smah]

In addition to the above, if your regular user profile gets corrupted or is damaged in some way that prevents you from logging in, you will have the Administrator account to fall back on to fix things.