How to protect a computer from children

Hi David,

This is an area where I do a lot of work (it's a large part of my daily job).

> users couldn't view the hard drive,

Do you mean you don't want people to view directories other than the ones they are permitted to view ?

> change settings or install programs.

Use the policy editor (in xp) run gpedit.msc you will get a lot of options for various aspects of the computer that can be locked down; blocked; forced to run; etc. It's a gem of a program.

> The admin password helps a bit, but only blocks the installation/ removal of some programs!

> I work in a school and we get a lot of software installed, settings changed and new screensavers!

In the policy editor, if you block access to the control panel (administrative tasks) and, also prevent the screen saver from being changed, this will help in about 80% of all cases.

I'm sending you a PM to discuss some further options to help.

Cheers
Zoltan

Thanks for all the ideas and the pm Zoltan - I'll get busy!

Also helps if you use a limited user account for pupils instead of an admin account. You may need to mess about with disk and registry permissions to get some programs to work (normally you need to write access on that program's folder in Program Files) but it means that they can't save files everywhere.

Have put teenage son as a limited user so he cant change settings, etc. Typical 14yr old, has to fiddle with everything!!!