Hey guys,

This is a story more about using technology to thwart my bothersome older brother!

I finally found and built up a computer for my mom after acquiring a parted out computer from a friend. for the time being, my mom is living w/ my brother (who has two kids). according to my mom, the computer my brother built up for her is noisy, jacked up, and my bro's kids are always messing around w/ the icons. also, my brother his this thing about installing free software which usually causes it to act weird.

so my mom is fed up. she said she needed her own computer that "worked". what i think she's saying though is that she needs a computer of her own that my brother and his kids won't screw up.

but knowing my brother, he'll make dumb excuses to use (and abuse) this computer that i've built up. i want to prevent that from happening as much as possible

(and yes, he doesnt listen to a single thing i say)

what i've done so far is installed a password (windows 2000) on the computer. this should prevent the kids and my brother from accessing it. but just in case, i want a 2nd layer of defense to prevent the inevitable.

so i'd like to find some software that will prevent any users from installing, moving, etc items from the desktop. i want this computer to load up like i set it up every day so my ma has it easy.

any of you guys know of a software package that would prevent him and the kiddies from screwing things up?

recommendations, please!

bob

 

Bob, don't quote me, but I think XP can do this.
You set your mom up as the admin account, then create one guest account which the other users will have to use.

I believe you can set it so they can not modify anything.
Not totally sure on this, but I do read a lot of mags, and I think I have read this.

I only run one account on my PC.

 

Win XP (Home and Pro) does this no problem!

I just set up multiple users in the account manager (look in control panel) and just make your mom admin and the rest just users as Corey says. That way each will log on to their own desktop and they can mess with the icons and use the computer all they want but only in their own desktop and not everyone elses. I suggest setting your mom's account with a password or they can log into hers and get admin privelages again. I have this exact same setup at my inlaws so no one messes with the computer (because of course I have to fix it!).

 

thanks guys! the only prob though, is i only have originals of win 98SE and Win 2000 professional.

bob

 

ah i forgot to add that one of my mom's requests for a computer of her own was that she wants her privacy. my brother for selfish reasons, put the "shared" computer in her room. thus, i built up this computer so it can't be "shared" and can only be used by her.

can xp lock out any attempts by others from creating guest accounts?

bob

 

Most computers when they first boot up will allow you to go into the CMOS setup (F1 or F4) or whatever it is called and put on a boot up password, even b4 windows is even thought of. You might try that as an alternative to having to get XP.

Also I would add a screen saver with a password that can be activated by hot keys (I use webshots) so if you mom has to get up and go do something she can just hit the hot keys and safeguard her computer from them pesky little boogers doing something to it or changing somethign while she is away.

Sounds like your brother needs a good brotherly talk with a

 

Yes but she needs to be the only admin and password protect that sucker.
I think all versions of windows have the ability to password protect the screensaver if you want.

 

Brian,

Older bros never listen to younger bros, esp mine!

Bob

 

waskilly gave me a good tip: make myself the admin and my mom a guest w/ restricted access. that way, it wont allow her or anyone else to add software, change settings, etc to the computer

thanks, brian!

bob

 

Let us know how the "older" brother takes the news!

 

Greetings,
You should make yourself the Admin (Don't name it Admin use another name), set up an account for your mom and one for the kids. REMOVE the guest account and change the local security settings settings so that only the Admin can change the PC.
This can be acomplished on Any PC running Win NT, Win 2000 or Win XP. You have the ability to change things in the "Start, Programs,Administrative tools, local security policies.
Be careful not to turn off services that you need.

MV

 

in 2000, you can remove the default admin and the guest account.

you can make your mom's account a LIMITED account also.

then make a super secret admin account that your mom only knows. then make a super DUPER secret account that YOU only know.

then rename the default "administrator" account to your setting.

then show your mom how to make limited accounts that others can use.

 

But even with XP - if you download something bad on another account - it will still affect the primary accounts, won't it?

 

no. not if the account where the bad thing was run on, was a limited account.

by default, limited account CANNOT write to system areas and other sensitive places.

at most, they infect their account area.

 

That makes sense - but wouldn't it still cause other problems like programs taking longer and longer to load?

 

Greetings,
If you download bad stuff on any account on any PC it effects the entire PC. The trick here is to restrict all accounts excluding the admin account from downloading and INSTALLING software. Then when they try to download or install they will get a message that they don't have sufficient right to do that, contact the admin.

MV

 

Guys,

Yeah, I just set myself up as the administrator and I won't be giving that password up to anyone including mom. She won't know what to do with it anyways.

She'll be a guest under her own screenname and password with restricted access AND with explicit instructions not to give up the password to my brother. Heh heh.

Bob

 

trust me... that will not last long.

my cousin's machine, i cleaned up with over 700 items that ad-aware found removed.

i setup his machine with accounts for his kids running limited access and his being the only admin.

a few months later, i'm in their computer room and sure enough, the kids had the password for his account.

i didnt even say anything...

 

she needs to tell them not to mess with her computer and if your bro doesnt like that then he can find a new place to live.....i come from a very selfish family heheheh j/k

 

consider cleaning out spyware and ad-ware programs, sweep for viruses and worms then backup the "my documents" files and directory's. Also, backup the registry.

You can use Microsoft backup and restore program under accessories and execute "regedit" in the 'run' window. Then export the registry to a floppy disk or cd writer.

It works for me, or my Sister (her friends) and Mom.