Understanding Vista Standard User Privileges

written by: Peter Y. Moss; article published: year 2007, month 04;

In: Root » Computers and technology » Windows

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In Windows Vista, standard user accounts can be used to perform some tasks that previously required administrator privileges. New permissions for standard user accounts in Windows Vista include:

  • Viewing the system clock and calendar and changing the time zone.

  • Changing the display settings and installing fonts.

  • Changing power management settings.

  • Adding printers and other devices (where the required drivers are installed on the computer or are provided by an IT administrator).

  • Downloading and installing updates using User Account Control–compatible installers.

  • Creating and configuring virtual private network (VPN) connections. A VPN connection helps you establish a secure connection to a private network over the public Internet.

  • Installing Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) to connect to secure wireless networks. WEP is a security protocol that provides a wireless network with the same level of security as a wired local area network (LAN).

Additionally, some maintenance tasks are now automatically scheduled processes, so users will not have to initiate these processes manually. Processes that are scheduled to run automatically include:

  • CareTaker Performs automated maintenance of the computer.

  • Consolidator Performs automated consolidation of the computer’s event logs.

  • AutomaticDefrag Performs automatic defragmentation of the computer’s hard disks.

  • AutomaticBackup Performs automatic backup of the computer (once configured).

In earlier versions of Windows, nonadministrators couldn’t easily tell whether they were allowed to perform an action. To make it easier for users to determine whether they can perform a task, Windows Vista uses a shield icon to identify tasks that require administrator privileges.

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