Hello,
There is no password for the built-in "administrator" account.
I know for sure that the system will let you log in with this account (in
its default disabled and unpassworded state) in safe mode under the
conditions I listed previously.
I'm not sure what other scenarios it would work with given that it has a
blank password, even if you manually enabled this account.
I would recommend not using it at all and not relying on it being there.
Otherwise, enable it and put a strong password on it and only use it in case
of a dire emergency.
As far as privilege changes and the document you referenced, an easy way to
think about it is this:
Administrator accounts:
At an abstract level, The administrative user (referring here to the actual
physical person) HAS administrator privileges (should be able to perform
admin actions without authorization from anyone else), but must choose WHICH
programs can use these privileges that he possesses, using the prompt.
Programs he runs that either do not prompt ("Windows needs your permission
to continue") or he does not allow to run with admin privileges cannot use
his administrator privileges.
So technically, the administrative user is really a standard user, and is
only an administrator in the context of a program that he runs that prompts
for his permission.
It is important to note here that an administrator ONLY has ONE actual
account on the computer, even though some programs that he runs have admin
privs and some don't.
When he accepts a prompt, he is allowing that program to use the full
privileges assigned to his user account (AS OPPOSED TO the privielges
assigned to some other account on the computer); programs that do not prompt
receive a subset of the privileges assigned to his account).
Standard user:
At an abstract level, DOES NOT have admin privileges, and so cannot use such
privilege without the permission of an administrator.
If the standard user attempts to perform an admin action, by default the
system will prompt for an admin user/password. This is to allow an
administrator to allow the user to perform that action by physically walking
to the user's computer and entering their credentials.
This behavior can be turned off, so that standard users are not prompted for
admin user/password and are simply denied access.
So, an admin is still an admin and a standard user is still a standard user.
The difference now is that admin users only have admin power when they need
it, and standard users can get permission to do admin tasks much easier.
As far as networking goes, yes, there have been many, many changes in this
regard. Lots of new features with identifying networks, remembering the
properties of each, and being able to roam between different networks
without (much) user interaction.
The UI focus has shifted up an abstraction level - from the hardware used to
connect to the network to what network you are connected to (regardless of
the hardware being used) and the proprties of said network.
You can get back to the familiar hardware-based networking UI by clicking
"Manage network connections" from the network and sharing center.
--
- JB
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User
Windows Vista Support Faq
http://www.jimmah.com/vista/
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