What does unsupported mode mean?

Can someone explain to me what Workgroup, domain and standalone mode mean? (computer terms)?

• I go to school for the medical field and so far I'm learning how to do basically everything on a computer and in Microsft. Right now I'm reading about everything that is in the Control Panel but I got stuck when I came across a part of my book that says " When you click the User Accounts option, you open the User account settings and passwords to suit your own needs. The options in this dialog box depend on wether you are in Workgroup, Domain, or Standalone mode." What does this mean? I have no idea how to tell what "mode" my computer is in or how to change the mode. Can anyone that know help please

• Answer:

  Workgroup is a Windows-based option: Basically, it's a connection of all the computers on a network (like an internet connection) all banded together into one big group; or a Workgroup. It's efficient for its file-sharing capabilities between the computers and those sorts of things. Domain is pretty much like an address for a website, or a computer. It's not quite an IP Address, but it's similar. www.facebook.com or www.yahoo.com <-- those are domains. Standalone mode is when you don't put your computer into a workgroup or a domain and you're not sharing any files across the network. Sort of like hogging all the popcorn for yourself at a movie when you're with 5 other people. Hope this helps.