32 bit and 64 bit browsers

[typo]

Because I was having problems viewing some web videos and downloading some softwares using my Standard type user account (but NO such problems with my Administrator user account), I did some blind instinctive investigations.

I found out that my Administrator account default IE browser is 32 bit and with two other options: 64 bit and NO ADD-ON.

Contrastingly, my Standard user account default browser is 64 bit and only one option: NO ADD-ON. 32 bit browser is absent.

So... I made a copy of my Administrator account's IE default 32 bit icon and transferred it to my Standard account desktop. Using this transferred icon, I am now browsing with 32 bit IE in my Standard account which I prefer. (I have always felt surfing with Standard Account carries less risk in the event of nasty virus/malware infestation).

Question: Does this 32 bit browser transferred from Administrator account carry the same privileges as Administrator's? (in which case it defeats the purpose of having two user's accounts).

Put another way: Is this 32-bit IE browser transferred from Administrator User account safe to use in my Standard User account

 

[richc46]

Welcome
The broswer will have no effect on the account. If you have a standard account, it will remain standard, regardless of the broswer used.

 

[townsbg]

...I have always felt surfing with Standard Account carries less risk in the event of nasty virus/malware infestation...

I feel the same way about using a standard account.

 

[Yard Dog]

I found out that my Administrator account default IE browser is 32 bit and with two other options: 64 bit and NO ADD-ON.

Contrastingly, my Standard user account default browser is 64 bit and only one option: NO ADD-ON. 32 bit browser is absent.

I was trying to figure out this myself, as your specs show you as having a 64 bit OS, I did notice on the IE download page, you can select different OS , but, i why would you select a 32 bit IE when you have a 64 bit OS ? My thinking is that you need to just reinstall the IE 64 bit for both accounts. I have to admit , this is about the strangest thing i have seen , as i find it hard to believe that you were even able to download a 32 bit version of IE at one time to begin with, or maybe someone used your computer and was goofing around ?
But, as has been mentioned, browser does not change the User account privileges , that would depend on the UAC and DEP settings , to the best of my knowledge.

 

[townsbg]

On 64-bit versions of Vista/7 there is a shortcut for running IE in 64-bit mode. More that likely that is what he is referring to. He was probably missing the 32 bit shortcut for his standard profile.

 

[Yard Dog]

Oh, wonder why ? Well, that is good to know, thanks for that info townsbg.

 

[Yard Dog]

You meant running in 32 bit , right, which is what i meant by , " wonder why ? "

 

[typo]

For the longest, I always thought the IE icon that is not specifically specified as 64 bit was a 32 bit browser and that it was my default browser in my standard account... until I ran into problem downloading softwares not downloadable using 64 bit IE browser (and the long standing problem with web vid viewing not problematic with Administrator account. I simply switched to Administrator account to view what I could not view with Standard account).

Per HELP instruction from software sources, I found out that my default IE browser in Standard account has always been a 64 bit version and that by contrast my default browser in Administrator account has always been a 32 bit version.

At first, I thought this might be due to improper downloading of IE 9. So I deleted it which automatically sent me back to IE 8. Guess what...IE 8 has the same discrepancy in default browsing bits. Namely: Administrator account has 32 bit version as default browser with two additional versions(64 and NO ADD-ON) while Standard account has only two versions: 64 bit and NO ADD-ON...64 bit version being the default browser and 32 bit version is missing.

For those who do not know which default browser is being used, open ABOUT INTERNET EXPLORER (last item under HELP) and see for yourself. If 64 bit version is printed, browser is 64 bit version. 32 bit browser will not show any version.

 

[typo]

Hi TOWNSBG...speaking of shortcut(aka, icon) both my Administrator and Standard accounts were provided by IE 8 and IE 9 with three shortcuts each: one with no specification, one specified as 64 bit and one specified as NO ADD-ON.

In Administrator account, the shortcut with no specification is the 32 bit version and is the default browser. By contrast, in Standard account the shortcut with no specificaion is the 64 bit version and is the default browser. In other words, Standard account has two shortcuts for 64 bit version(one specified as 64 and the other, not specified). Standard account has no shortcut for 32 bit version.

Could it mean that Microsoft does NOT intend 32 bit version to be used in Non-Administrator accounts? If so, why?

Now I have to find out what browser version is available and is the defaut in GUEST account.

 

[richc46]

You can use 32 and 64 in any account.

 

[typo]

Hmmm...interestingly, GUEST account has identical set up as Administrator account as far as shortcuts and default browser versions are concerned.

Anybody knows why my Standard account browser versions(and shortcuts) are set up differently from Administrator's and Guest's accounts?