Patent ID: 7120785

Claim:
A method for configuring a multi-user computer system for use by a registered user, the multi-user computer system including at least a processor, an operating system, a display device and a local data store, said method comprising: retrieving available user accounts pertaining to registered users, at least one of the available user accounts being from the local data store that is within the multi-user computer system and at least another of the available user accounts being from an external data store that is external to the multi-user computer system; presenting a representation of the retrieved available user accounts on the display device of the multi-user computer system; receiving a selection of one of the retrieved available user accounts by the registered user; authenticating the registered user as authorized for use of the selected one of the retrieved available user accounts; and configuring the multi-user computer system in accordance with the selected one of the retrieved available user accounts for use by the registered user.