How to Set Up Your Computer for Multiple Users in Mac OS 9

Mac OS 9 not only gives you a better Mac, it gives you multiple Macs - you can specify preferences and access privileges for different users. So if your spouse likes a teeny tiny monitor resolution and an "aliens" background pattern, there'll be no more fighting: you can each pick your own prefs.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mac OS 9.0

1. Open the Apple menu and select Control Panels.

2. Select the File Sharing control panel and enter an owner name and password.

3. Select Multiple Users.

4. Click the New User button, to set up another user. Enter a name and (optional) password.

5. Select the kind of user environment - Normal (open access to applications), Limited (restricts access to applications, printing, CD-ROMs) or Panels (creates buttons like the Launcher, with limited disk access) - then click Show Setup Details.

6. Under the User Info tab, set up your Mac's new log-in dialog by choosing a picture offered (scroll with the up or down triangle.

7. Click checkboxes to determine if the user can change his or her password and manage other user accounts, or if other users can access this person's documents.

8. To set up a Guest account, click Options, then click the Other tab; mark the Allow Guest User Account checkbox.

9. Save your settings by clicking the close box.

10. When you next start up the computer, you will see the log-in dialog box you chose. Enter your owner name and password to proceed. (The user you just created would enter that name and password. A guest user would enter "Guest.")

Tips & Warnings

• To create multiple users with the same settings, select the user you want to duplicate and then click the Duplicate button.
• You can turn off multiple users in the Multiple Users control panel - but only if you have logged in and provided your password as the Owner.
• A Limited user account environment designates approved applications to use and approved folders in which to save files. Usually, a Limited user cannot open files created by other users. A Normal user account user usually cannot open files created by other users, but access to applications and folders is unrestricted. The Owner account (set up in the File Sharing control panel) is the only account with unrestricted access to the hard disk, all documents and all applications.