Best single user XP PRO Practice

[KC_78]

I recently formatted my computer and installed Windows XP Pro. I'm the only one using it at home. It defaults to the out-of-the-box Administrator account, which is fine. However, my question is, should I be using this account? I've heard from some that it doesn't matter, or that I really should only use that account for installations etc.... and create another account (with admin rights??) and use that.

I've also read that people just change the Administrator account's name to their favorite name and continue using it. However, I have a concern....... I know how Windows links everything to everything and all the programs that I have installed have reference paths to //......administrator...... so I don't think that's a good option or maybe????

I just don't quite like how everything is in this My Documents and Settings folder, and you have to drill down so much to get stuff. So I would liike to keep it as simple as possible.

Basically, how safe is it to use the default administrator account as the everyday user account? What are the best practices? I've heard stories of people hacking into "logged-on" accounts and they can't do anything to accounts that aren't logged on, and that the administrator account should never be logged on while I'm on the inter net. I've heard it doesn't matter, because hackers have password programs, I've heard that it's not account specific at all, just getting into the computer. I just want to keep the system clean and nice because I know it is very transparent to the user where files are installed depending on which account you're logged on...... and I'm very anal. : ) I'm so confused and tired of researching and any recommendation is greatly appreciated.

[ultrasolve]

By default when installed XP creates 3 accounts.

The Administrator Account, which is a hidden account and can only be accessed by booting into safe mode, normally ( it can be brought to the welcome screen with a reg hack) this account you need to access to do some of the major adjustments to your system. It is also important to keep a note of the password you gave this account, as without it you lose control of your installation of XP.

An administrator account which is the account that appears on the welcome screen and has administrator permissions and can manage most actions on the system. This account usually is given a username by you at installation.

And the third the Guest account which has limited permissions and is usually disabled by default.

It is always good practise to rename the root administrator account as anyone trying to get into your box will use the username "Administrator" first as a username.

Hope this has cleared up how Windows XP creates default accounts at installation .