Problem locating Data File in Windows 7
Robert Heller
heller at deepsoft.com
Sun Feb 21 15:02:35 EST 2010
In message <31f3be5b1002210757k369c15ecgb7132b0706ec7001 at mail.gmail.com>, Graha
m Lane writes:
>I know this is bad, at least I have read it is. I don't see how I can
>do anything on the system if I log in as a user. Would I be able to
>update virus software? Install software, edit files, change file
>types? View secret MS system files that inevitably have to be futzed
>with.
>I have no other login to use, so all my data and applications are
>based on the admin. I would basically have to create a new user make
>them admin, then convert my admin user "me" to just a user?
>Sorry this is way off topic at this point.
The *UNIX* way is to use a 'normal' (unpriviliged) used for normal
activities. Modern UNIX/Linux system use a program called sudo to
elevate one's privilidge on an as-needed basis. Only UNIX systems use
the su command to elevate one's privilidge level. One should do as
little as possible at an elevated priviledge level -- basicly a
separation of labor sort of thing.
This article talks about this (it relates to Linux):
http://www.deepsoft.com/2006/05/got-root-all-about-users-and-permissions/
MS-Windows *originally* (back in the days of Windows over MS-DOS) did
not have users or priv. levels. Same for *Classic* MacOS (pre MacOSX).
Windows NT (Win2k, WinXP, Vista Win 7 are all Win NT), MacOSX, and
Linux/UNIX support users with both priviliges and without priviliges.
The idea of different privilidge levels goes back to the original UNIX
and its predecessors. Privilidge separation is an important thing for
modern operating systems.
>
>
>>
>> Mistake #1: *never* log in as an administrator (or root or SYSTEM). Don't
>> do it. I know, MS-Windows is borked in that far too much MS-Windows
>> software needs to be run as administrator, because the of various stupid
>> legacy issues, mostly from way back when in the days of mess-dos and
>> win-over-mess-dos (Win 3.11 => Win9x => WinME). You need to migrate as
>> much as possible away from 'just logging in as administrator' as the
>> 'easy' way out. It might be painful now, but it will be worse later.
>> Microsoft seems to be *trying* to do things right (after a decade+ of
>> doing things wrong). It looks like MS-Windows 7 is trying its best to
>> wean people off the administrator tit. This is probably a good thing,
>> although it will probably be *painful* at first. Time to bite the
>> bullet, as it were.
>>
>
--
Robert Heller -- 978-544-6933
Deepwoods Software -- Linux Installation and Administration
http://www.deepsoft.com/ -- Web Hosting, with CGI and Database
heller at deepsoft.com -- Contract Programming: C/C++, Tcl/Tk
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