8

The Local Users and Groups Manager doesn't like running on the Home versions of Windows...

Is there an alternative program which can provide the same amount of flexibility for editing users/groups?

(Control UserPasswords2 doesn't have nearly as much flexibility, so that doesn't count.)

2
  • Why does your Windows 7 look like Windows XP MCE? O_o
    – nhinkle
    Nov 25, 2011 at 8:57
  • @nhinkle: I'm just cool like that. :P
    – user541686
    Nov 25, 2011 at 9:04

2 Answers 2

13

You can make a lot of these changes using the net command line tool. It's annoying an inelegant, but it works.

net user can be used to set things like password expiration, add a comment to the user, change display name, modify when the user can log in, whether they can change their password, if the account ever expires, and whether it is enabled.

net localgroup can modify groups and their members.

For full documentation, see net user documentation and net localgroup documentation.

7
  • 1
    Wow, I knew about net group (which doesn't work!) but not about net localgroup... that's indeed very useful. +1 thanks... it's not the easiest tool but yeah, it seems like it works.
    – user541686
    Nov 25, 2011 at 9:11
  • You might look around for a third-party GUI front-end to the net tools. One probably exists. As far as I know, it's the only built in way on Home editions of Windows.
    – nhinkle
    Nov 25, 2011 at 9:15
  • Yeah, that's what I'm hoping for... it's not critical but if I find it it would make things a lot easier.
    – user541686
    Nov 25, 2011 at 9:18
  • I'd prefer a hack/crack of a sort that'd eliminate the limitation. There is a working solution for enabling the group policy editor. I wish there were an alike way to enable the local users and groups thing.
    – Ivan
    Jul 24, 2013 at 23:00
  • 1
    @Ivan this is the best crack I know of for enabling these features.
    – nhinkle
    Jul 24, 2013 at 23:19
-3

The Homes editions do not have this feature. They only support two types of users. You'll need the professional edition or above.

Because you can't modify objects' security permissions in the home editions, user groups won't be useful anyways.

9
  • 1
    -1 for several reasons: (1) home editions do support the same features as professional; they just don't have the tools for editing them; (2) you certainly can modify objects' security permissions in home editions (I do that very often); (3) home editions have more than 2 types of users -- in fact, they have as many types as professional, including Users, Administrators, Guests, Backup Operators, etc.
    – user541686
    Nov 25, 2011 at 8:45
  • Those types are equivalent to non-exist if you can't access them, aren't they? They may use the same os kernel (so the same features are all built-in), but you don't actually have the license to use them!
    – billc.cn
    Nov 25, 2011 at 8:50
  • 1
    No one says you don't have the license to use them -- they're perfectly well-accessible while programming with the Windows API. It just so happens that they've removed the GUI. Have you ever typed control userpasswords2 in the command prompt? It's the perfect counterexample to your speculation.
    – user541686
    Nov 25, 2011 at 9:00
  • 1
    The GUI clearly says "This snapin may not be used", not "This feature may not be used". Please stop speculating and actually back up your claims.
    – user541686
    Nov 25, 2011 at 9:10
  • 1
    (1) How is Windows XP Home related to Windows 7 Home? I haven't tried XP Home, but on Windows 7 Home Premium there are at least like a dozen groups. (2) There is a clear difference between "breaching the terms" and "if you really need them, use net". Is it illegal or is it just difficult? Pick one and stick with it.
    – user541686
    Nov 25, 2011 at 9:37

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .