In Windows xp, we can create new user account using Local users and Groups console. We can also specify password for the new user account and also can configure other settings like whether the user needs to change his/her password in first login (or) user can change the password or not (or) the password never expires.
How to add new user account:
- Open Run window from Start -> Run or using the keyboard shortcut Win+R
- Execute the command nusrmgr.msc
- Now you can see ‘Local users and Groups‘ window.
- In the left side pane expand the node Local Users and Groups
- Right click on users and then click on New user… Then you can see the following window
- Now add users login name,full name and other details. You can also set the password for the new user in this window
In this window you can see check buttons for the following settings.
- User must change password at next logon
- User can not change password
- Password never expires
- Account is disabled
You need to select appropriate ones from the above list based on your need. Note that if you select the first one(User must change password at next logon) then the next two(User can not change password and password never expires) will be disabled. Since this is a new account, you obviously do not want to enable the last one(Account is disabled).
How to delete user accounts
- Open the Local users and Groups window by executing nusrmgr.cpl from Run command.
- Click on the Users node, then you can see the list of users in the right side pane
- Then right click on the user which you would like to delete and then you can delete that user account by selecting the delete option. Just selecting the user account and then pressing the delete key will also work.
Now the user account no longer exists in the system.
How to disable user accounts
- Open the Local users and Groups window by executing nusrmgr.cpl from Run command.
- Click on the Users node and then select the user account which you would like to disable in the right side pane.
- Then right click on that user account and select properties option which leads to the window as below
- Then select the check button Account is disabled.
How to rename a user account?
- Open the Local users and Groups window by executing nusrmgr.cpl from Run command.
- Right click on the user account which you want to rename.
- Select ‘Rename‘ from the context menu. Enter the new name for the account.
These steps to create or delete or disable the user accounts, can also be followed in Windows 7 and Windows Vista.