Logging On to Windows Vista

Your computer might be used by only you, or it might be used by several people. If only you use your computer, it needs only one configuration, or user account. If other people use your computer, each person logs on with his or her own account. By using separate accounts, each person can set up the Windows Vista environment the way she or he wants it, without interfering with another person's computing experience. Each account is associated with a user profile that describes the way the computer environment looks and operates for that particular user. This information includes simple things such as the color scheme, desktop background, fonts, and program shortcuts, and personal information that you want to keep confidential, such as saved passwords, site-specific cookies, links to favorite sites and folders, and your Internet browsing history. Each user profile includes a personal folder not accessible by other people using the computer, in which you can store documents, pictures, media, and other files you want to keep private.

Each user account is designated as either an administrator account or a standard account. The first user account created on your computer is automatically an administrator accountevery computer must have at least oneso if you are the first person using the computer you are probably operating as an administrator.

The process of starting a computer session is called logging on. When you start the computer, Windows displays a Welcome screen containing links to each of the computer's active user accounts. (If your computer is part of a domain, you will need to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to display the Welcome screen.) You select your user account and, if your account is password protected, enter your password to log on to the computer. When logging on to a computer that is part of a domain, you will always enter your domain credentials.

Networks, Domains, and Workgroups A network is a physical group of computers that communicate with each other through a wired or wireless connection. A network can be as small as two computers connected by a cable, or as large as the Internet. For the purpose of simplifying the process of authorizing access to networked resources, computers on a network are grouped in one of two ways: A domain is a logical (rather than physical) group of resourcescomputers, servers, and other hardware deviceson a network, that are centrally administered through Microsoft Windows Server. Computers and users can connect to a domaina computer connecting to the domain and validated by a machine account is visible as a domain resource; and a person logging on to the domain with a user account can access domain resources, from whatever computer she or he is working on. With the appropriate permissions, a domain user can connect to the computer of another domain user by entering the computer's UNC (Universal Naming Convention) address. A workgroup is a logical group of computers that is not centrally administered but communicates through a network. Individual users do not log on to a workgroup. See Also For information about connecting your computer to a domain or workgroup, see Chapter 8, "Making Connections."

If you are not working on a domain and you enter your user account password incorrectly, Windows displays your password hint. If you still can't remember the password, all is not lost. If you have taken the time to create a password reset disk, you can reset the password by clicking the Reset Password link and then following the instructions given by the Password Reset wizard. If you are working on a domain and you experience password problems, you will have to seek the help of your network administrator.

After you log on, Windows Vista loads your user profile and then displays your personalized working environment. The first time you log on to a computer, Windows also prepares your desktop, which takes a few extra seconds.

In this exercise, you will log on to a computer running Windows Vista. There are no practice files for this exercise.

1.	Start your computer. Then if you see the message Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE or use the Windows Security button to log on, press to start the process of logging on to a domain. After the computer starts, the Welcome screen appears, displaying the names and pictures associated with all active user accounts. Troubleshooting Certain editions of Windows Vista might bypass the Welcome screen when only one user account is active on your computer and that account is not password protected.
2.	If multiple user accounts are available, point to each in turn. A glow effect enhances each picture as you point to it.
3.	Click your user account name or the associated picture. See Also For information about changing your account picture, see "Managing Your Windows User Account" in Chapter 10, "Managing Computer Security."
4.	If your account is password protected, type your password in the Password box, and then click the Go button or press to continue. Go Your Windows Vista desktop appears. The Welcome Center opens, and the Windows Sidebar appears at the right side of the screen. [View full size image]

The manufacturer will probably have set a brand-specific desktop on any new computers you purchase with Windows Vista already installed. When you install Windows Vista yourself, you have the choice of several photographic desktop backgrounds. The default Windows Vista desktop background for new user accounts displays a picturesque scene of a lake and mountains. You can change this to one of the many beautiful photographs or artistic renderings that comes with Windows Vista, to a blank colored background, or to one of your own photos or graphics.

Don't confuse the Welcome Center with the Welcome screenthey are similarly named, but completely different. The top section of the Welcome Center displays information specific to your computer; clicking Show More Details displays the System window and information about your computer hardware, network settings, and licensing. The middle section includes links to basic computer administration options, and the bottom section includes links to training, services, add-ins, and other offers from Microsoft. Clicking Show All in either of these two sections displays additional links. The Welcome Center opens each time you log on to a new Windows Vista session; if you would prefer not to see it, clear the Run At Startup check box in the lower-left corner of the Welcome Center.