Most people who install Windows 2K or XP are asked to set up a User Account. This account is generally granted full Administrator privileges. This makes your system vulnerable to trojan attack and other risks.

There is a way to increase your protection while still having full Administration rights at your fingertips. The user group is called "Power Users". When you log on as a power user you avoid the risks and get all the functionality needed by a typical user. Switching back to an Admin account is explained later.

How to change your user account from a full Administrator's account to a Power User.

Click Start then Run. Type in lusrmgr.msc then click Run.
In the Dialog box Click Groups in the left pane and double click Administrators in the right pane. Make sure you have one existing account with full administrator privileges that will remain untouched, (normally this will be called Administrator). Highlight the User account you want to change and click Delete then OK (note: this action does not delete your desktop or it's settings, it just removes it from this group). Now double click Power Users and choose Add. Type in the name you just deleted then click OK twice. Your desktop remains the same.

Being a Part Time Administrator.

Power Users do not need to log off and on to gain full Administrator privileges. To run an Administrators program simply right click on the program's .exe file or shortcut, choose Run As and Select either "Run the program as the following user" (in 2000) or "The Following User" (in XP), enter the name and password (and domain if necessary) of an Administrator account. Click OK

The added security makes the process worthwhile.