How to Create Windows Guest Accounts for Visiting Relatives

The holidays are right upon us and there’s a good chance some of your relatives will want to use your computer while visiting. If you want to give them access but don’t want them viewing your personal files, then you’ll need to set up a guest account.

A guest account gives them access to your programs, but not your personal files.  Here’s how to do it in Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7:

1. Click Start (Windows XP) or the Start button.
2. Open the Control Panel and select User Accounts (WinXP and Win7). In Vista, select User Accounts and Family Safety.
3. Click Change an Account (WinXP), Add or Remove User Accounts (Vista), or User Accounts (Win7).
4. Select Guest.
5. If any warnings appear, click Continue (Vista) or Yes (Win7).
6. Click Turn on the Guest Account (WinXP) or Turn On (Vista and Win7).

Windows 7 Guest Mode also further protects your computer by preventing your relatives from installing any software, prohibiting them from making any system setting changes, and deleting their data after the session is over or the computer reboots.

Tagged as: security