When you start your computer,
Windows 8 presents you with the Lock Screen. This is a screen that
shows a background picture and has the capability to run background
apps such as a calendar app or mail app before you log in. To advance
beyond the Lock Screen, roll the mouse wheel down, gesture down, or
press Enter. You are then shown the login screen. At this screen, the
last user logged in at that computer will display. If you have multiple
user accounts on your computer, you can select to log in using the
previous user account (if that’s you), or select a different user.
To log in, enter the password that protects that
account from unauthorized entry. If you want to log in using a
different login name, click the left arrow to see a list of all the
users who have logged into this computer. Click the user you want to
log in as and then enter that user’s login credentials to start Windows
8.
For accounts that do not have an associated password, simply click the name for that user and Windows loads to the Windows 8.
Where am I now?
To see the name of the user account you’re currently logged into, look at the top-right corner of the Windows 8. In Figure 1,
the user account name is Robert Tidrow, but it could be any username
set up on your computer. If Windows 8 came pre-installed on your
computer, it might be a generic name, such as Owner or User.
Switching accounts
You have a few different ways to switch
from the account you’re currently logged into to another account
(assuming that you have more than one user account on your computer
already).
The quickest way is to display the Start screen and then click your account name at the top of the screen. Figure 2 shows an example of a list of users. You can use the following methods to change users:
- Click Sign Out: This option logs
you out of Windows and sends you to the Windows startup screen. Press
Enter, slide the screen up, or roll the mouse button down to display
the sign on screen. Select a username by clicking the back arrow to
display all users set up on this computer.
- Click a username: When you click
your username at the Start screen, all user accounts for your computer
appear. Click the name you want to switch to. Windows suspends the
current user and displays the login screen for the selected name. Enter
the password for that username to continue.
Why Switching Users Can Be Bad
When you switch users, rather than
signing the original user out, all the programs and documents on your
desktop remain open and in memory. This leaves less working memory for
other users in their accounts.
If multiple users consistently switch
users to leave their accounts, you end up with an enormous amount of
memory tied up all the time. The likely result is that the computer
will run much slower for everyone.
Ideally, every user should save all
open files, exit all programs, and sign off from his or her account
when finished using the computer.
You also can change users by using the
Power options. Click the Settings Charm button and then click the Power
icon. Three menu options appear, as in Figure 3. The options are described in the following list:
- Sleep: This option saves the system
state to disk and powers down the computer, but the computer can be
restored more quickly than shutting down and starting up.
- Shut Down: This option closes all
open programs and shuts down the computer. Press the power button to
restart the computer and show the login screen.
- Restart: This option closes all programs, shuts down the computer, and then restarts the computer to the login screen.
If your user account isn’t
password-protected, other people aren’t really locked out of your
account. Anyone can come along, click your user account name, and be at
your desktop. Also, once someone is at your desktop, he can use the
User Settings screen to set up a password of his own. Unless he gives
you that password, you can be locked out of your own account. In most
cases, particularly when your computer is shared with another user or
has the potential to be available to others, take precautions and set
up a password for your account.
