When one does not have an actual user account on a computer, he or she can only use the guest account to log on to the computer. The guest account will also come in handy when you need to access a system temporarily and don’t want to start going to the administrator for a password. However when using a guest account, there are some things that come into play, here they are:

  • A guest account do not need a password to login users
  • A user logged on a guest account cannot install software or hardware.
  • A user logged on a guest user account cannot change the account type.
  • A user logged on a guest user account cannot create account passwords or set access passwords for the computer
  • A user logged on a guest user account cannot change the picture on the guest account.
  • A user logged on a guest user account
  • Shared Documents folder files will be out of reach to the guest account users
  • A user logged on a guest user account have no access to guest profile files

Note

Windows 7 Starter do not have capacity for guest accounts

For you to be able to turn the guest account on or off, you will have to follow some steps. These steps will vary, depending on whether your computer is on a domain or a workgroup. To find out if your computer is in a work group or a domain, what you will have to do is to click on your start button, right-click Computer, and then click on Properties. When you get here look under the Computer name tab, domain, and workgroup settings, you will see either the word Workgroup or Domain, followed by the name of the computer. This should tell you if your computer is in a work group or  a domain. If your computer is on a Domain, this is what you will do to turn the guest account on or off:

1. First click Start button Picture to open User Accounts, then click Control Panel, and then User Accounts, and finally User Accounts once more

2.  Click on Manage User Accounts. If confirmation or an administrator password is asked for, provide confirmation or type the password

3.      Click on Advanced tab, then click Advanced, and click Users.

4.      Double-click on Guest.

5.      Clear or select the check box for Account is disabled in the dialog box of Guest Properties

6.      Click OK.

If your computer is in a Work group, this is what you have to do:

1.      First click Start button Picture to open User Accounts, then click Control Panel, and then User Accounts/Family safety.

2.      Click on Manage another account. If confirmation or an administrator password is asked for, provide confirmation or type the password

3.      Do any of these steps

o      click on Guest account, and then Turn On if it was set for off

o        Click on guest and then Turn Off if the account was set for On

That is pretty much all you have to do when it comes to turning your guest account on or off.