Changing my main account to NOT be admin

[xuratoth]

Hi,

Like I guess many people new to OSX, I created my main account as an admin account.

Now, after nearly 2 years I have decided that really I ought to listen to the advice of people who know better and change my main account to a standard user.

I suppose the steps are:
1. Using my existing admin account, create a new admin account
2. From within this new admin account, change my existing account to be a standard user

Firstly - is this possible? Is there anything that I should be aware of? Will some things need reconfiguring? Will my standard user account still have access to all the apps, as before (assuming I tick all apps when setting the account)?

Secondly - when I install new s/w, should I do it via my new admin account or via my standard user account?

Thanks.

 

[ElDiabloConCaca]

Howabout just use your existing admin account to create a non-admin account, then log in under the newly-created non-admin account? No need to create an admin account then demote it -- just create the account as non-admin in the first place.

I would recommend installing new software under the admin account -- in fact, I would recommend doing all system maintenance (repairs, installs, upgrades, software updates, etc.) with the admin account when needed, and simply use the non-admin account for daily activities (email, web, etc.).

 

[fryke]

I _would_ go with the option you suggest, xurathoth. (Since you don't want to create your preferences all over again...) So: Yes, you simply create a new admin user and logged into that new account make your first account a "normal" user account. Everything should basically work as before for the first account. However: Things that need admin access will require you to give OS X the new admin's user name and pw.

Like that, installing software can easily be done from within the non-admin account. When it asks you for admin-permissions, simply enter the admin's short login name and password.

 

[xuratoth]

Thanks for the advice guys. Yes, I'd rather not have to go through the process of setting up all my preferences again, hence the approach I suggested.