Administrative privileges allow you to install software, access another member's documents, add/remove users, change the time on the clock, disable a firewall, etc. Basically anything that affects users on the computer aside from yourself.
The general recommendation is to have two accounts, one administrative and the other 'standard' (previously known as 'limited user'). The 'standard' account should be used for day-to-day activities such as browsing the internet and typing documents because it's much harder to accidentally screw something up or for malware to be installed/take control of the computer. Then switch to the administrative account when you need to install software or another admin task.
Your first user account is, by default, administrative, but you can create additional accounts by going Control Panel->User Accounts. That will also show you a list of all users and if they are administrators or not.
As to the other two questions:
-> No, administrator status does not directly relate to the password, though the password can be changed/removed through User Accounts. A password is recommended, though, in case someone else tries to use your computer without permission.
-> Yes, it''s the same, with the exception of Vista calling it a 'standard' account while XP used the terminology 'limited user,' which some felt was too strong.
Hope this helps,
John
What are administrative privileges? How do they relate to security?
If I have a laptop with Vista which I use at home (and cafes and while travelling) for ocassional freelance work,job hunting (which I seem to do once a year)and for hobbies, do I set administrative priveleges? Or do I have them automatically?
If I'm supposed to have them, for what should I have them?
If I already have them, how would I know?
Does this relate to the fact that my laptop is password-protected and requires my password after booting up?
Are the answers the same for Vista as XP? We have both OSs in our household.
Thanks for answering newbie-ish questions!
Alex

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