I'm familiar with computers in general, and Windows through XP, so I
get to be the family helper... latest is my sister-in-law who has an
entry level (Inspiron 530) Dell with Vista Home on the way to replace
an old HP that died, and I get to do the initial startup/setup (she
is almost 80 and has sticky notes everywhere to help her remember,
so there is ZERO chance she could set first setup on her own)

First question has to do with the "why" of user account setup

In XP I would simply create a default user, with no password, and
startup would go directly to the desktop, and she did not have to
do or enter anything at all to have XP up and running

I've read past messages here so know that it is "advised" to go ahead
and allow Vista to setup the default Administrator account (using her
standard password so she won't forget) and then create an individual
administrator/user account with her name for all of her files and
program installs... I'm not clear on WHY to have a "master" Admin
account and then a user/admin account, but I'll bow to the superior
wisdom of the experts on that one (am I correct in my understanding?)

I also **think** I've read that even with a user/admin account, it
is possible to tell Visata to start directly to that account, with
no stop along the way to ask her to select or enter anything... is
that true, or will she have to enter a password each time? (she only
uses her computer an hour or two a day, and shuts down when done, so
I would like to keep her "confusion/stress factor" as low as I can
by having startup go directly to the desktop so she may work)

Any comments on doing the initial startup/setup phase?

My next question is about Vista's compatibility mode, since I need
to install (if possible) an old card game program, plus an old card
program for her business cards (she's an artist)

I'm not even sure how old these programs are (she's trying to find
her box of discs to give me a list) but just what compatibility is
possible with Visata... XP only, or as far back as Win98?

Thanks, John

"John" wrote in message ...
I'm familiar with computers in general, and Windows through XP, so I
get to be the family helper... latest is my sister-in-law who has an
entry level (Inspiron 530) Dell with Vista Home on the way to replace
an old HP that died, and I get to do the initial startup/setup (she
is almost 80 and has sticky notes everywhere to help her remember,
so there is ZERO chance she could set first setup on her own)

First question has to do with the "why" of user account setup

The administrator is inactive by default in Vista. The User account you set
up will be in the administrator group. You can still go directly to the
desktop.

In XP I would simply create a default user, with no password, and
startup would go directly to the desktop, and she did not have to
do or enter anything at all to have XP up and running

I've read past messages here so know that it is "advised" to go ahead
and allow Vista to setup the default Administrator account (using her
standard password so she won't forget) and then create an individual
administrator/user account with her name for all of her files and
program installs... I'm not clear on WHY to have a "master" Admin
account and then a user/admin account, but I'll bow to the superior
wisdom of the experts on that one (am I correct in my understanding?)

I don't know where you got that idea, but you should use the User account
you set up for virtually anything she would do. If UAC is left on, which I
advise, you will get popups initially asking for administrative priviledges
but just approve anything you are initiating.

I also **think** I've read that even with a user/admin account, it
is possible to tell Visata to start directly to that account, with
no stop along the way to ask her to select or enter anything... is
that true, or will she have to enter a password each time? (she only
uses her computer an hour or two a day, and shuts down when done, so
I would like to keep her "confusion/stress factor" as low as I can
by having startup go directly to the desktop so she may work)

Any comments on doing the initial startup/setup phase?

Vista installs very cleanly with no real user interface except to set up the
user and select a few defaults.

My next question is about Vista's compatibility mode, since I need
to install (if possible) an old card game program, plus an old card
program for her business cards (she's an artist)

Search for the compatibility wizard which will help install older programs.
Most will install, then uninstall and tell you they need to reinstall in
compatibility mode which it selects for you.

I'm not even sure how old these programs are (she's trying to find
her box of discs to give me a list) but just what compatibility is
possible with Visata... XP only, or as far back as Win98?

both

Thanks, John

On Mon, 17 Nov 2008, "John Barnes" wrote:
lotsa snippage

"John" wrote in message ...
an old HP that died, and I get to do the initial startup/setup (she

The administrator is inactive by default in Vista. User account you set up
will be in the administrator group. You can still go directly to the desktop.

Thanks... searching for Vista drivers, so just now getting back

I am going to let Vista create the Administrator account, with her
usual login so she'll be able to get in if needed, and will then
create her name account in Admin group, with no login password just
like I did on her XP computer that died

use the User account you set up for virtually anything she would do.

Yep

If UAC is left on, which I advise, you will get popups initially asking
for administrative priviledges but just approve anything you are initiating.

UAC = User Account Control ???

Anyway, other than finding the (I hope it is there!) option to make
Vista "look" like XP so she won't be completely lost, I plan to keep
everything set to default... at least until I have time to read up
on Vista settings to figure out what I might want to change to make
everything easier for her to use

My next question is about Vista's compatibility mode, since I need

Search for the compatibility wizard which will help install older programs.
Most will install, then uninstall and tell you they need to reinstall in
compatibility mode which it selects for you.

Thansk, I would not have known to look for that... John