I have a laptop running Windows XP Pro. I need to go to a trade show this weekend and will have to share my laptop with my roommate and possibly other people in the company I work for. But the lappy is my personal property and there are personal files I have no intention of sharing with my coworkers.
Is there something I can do to have them log in as a "guest account" with their own separate desktop (different from mine) and with no access to any files that are not the company's point of sale system??



TIA

goto

Start>>

Settings >>

Control Panel >>

User Accounts >>

Create A New Account >>

"type a name for the new account"

and pick the "limited" account type


I think that should be right.


I think you might also have to set a password for your account so no one can just switch users and login under your account

I did that but they can still "see" my stuff....
I don't want them even know what I have in there....

If your "stuff" is inside a few specific folders, you can set NTFS file permissions on those folders to limit access to those folders to specific user accounts (or just administrators).

If however your "stuff" is scattered all throughout your HDD, and if you truly want to keep your data secure, get your hands on a 2nd laptop HDD, install XP on it, install your company's software, the end.

During the day, when you're sharing your laptop, have the NEW HDD installed in your laptop. Later on at night, when the laptop is presumably only accessible by you, put your old HDD back inside.

I'm sure there are other software based (perhaps even OS permissions based) solutions; however other than NTFS permissions, nothing comes to mind which doesn't have somewhat of a learning curve.

Diggler

To make your folders private
1: Open My Computer
2: Double-click the drive where Windows is installed (usually drive (C:).
If the contents of the drive are hidden, under System Tasks, click Show the contents of this drive.
3: Double-click the Documents and Settings folder.
4: Double-click your user folder.
5: Right-click any folder in your user profile, and then click Properties.
6: On the Sharing tab, select the Make this folder private so that only I have access to it check box.

The following does not apply if you have XP Home.
NOTE: If you're running XP Pro and "Simple File Sharing" is not enabled you will not see the Make this folder private check box. In that case you have 2 options:
1: Enabled Simple File Sharing.
In Windows Explorer click Tools > Folder Options > View
Scroll down to the very bottom and place a check mark next to Simple File Sharing

2: Change Permissions for the folder(s)
Right click on a folder > Choose the Security tab > Uncheck Everyone/Read


EDIT: Here are some notes concerning making your files/folders private:

• This option is only available for folders included in your user profile. Folders in your user profile include My Documents and its subfolders, Desktop, Start Menu, Cookies, and Favorites. If you do not make these folders private, they are available to everyone who uses your computer.

• When you make a folder private, all of its subfolders are private as well. For example, when you make My Documents private, you also make My Music and My Pictures private. When you share a folder, you also share all of its subfolders unless you make them private.

• You cannot make your folders private if your drive is not formatted as NTFS

Here's another thought....password protect on the Administrator account. Most of the time the Administrator account is not password protected. This is a huge security risk that is often overlooked.

To set the password on the Administrator account:
Start > Run > type compmgmt.msc > press OK
Expand System Tools
Expand Local Users and Groups
Click Users
Right click Administrator and choose Set Password
Don't forget the password

My administrator account is already password protected... I will try making the files you suggested, private, Alan... Thanks as always!!
My thought was also whether I could have like a virtual desktop that they could use where they wouldn't see my other stuff....

Or just tell them to stop being so cheap and spring company dollars for a company laptop...

makes me wonder what kind of "stuff" you're hiding...