How to limit computer access

[Guest]

I am multi-booting XP Pro International Language, XP Pro Chinese Local
Language, and Win. ME. There are three users set up with passwords but they
are not required until after the boot drive is selected.

Problem is: Children turn on the computer, when the boot selection screen
appears they press the F8 option and create problems for me.

With my old OS, when you turned on the computer, it first presented a screen
that listed the names of all users and required a password before any one
could access the boot selection. I would like to set up XP Pro that way but
don’t find any information on how to do that.

I would appreciate it if some one could help me or direct me to some
instructions on how to properly set this up.

 

[Guest]

Download this software:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Boot-Manager-Disk/Extended-Operating-System-Loader.shtml

or

http://www.ranish.com/part/xosl.htm

This software is called Extended Operating System Loader. I used this
software a few years ago. Very nice utility but install and use it carefully.

Hope this help, let us know!

 

[NewScience]

Check to see if you have a BIOS Security feature where you must supply a
password just to boot the system up prior to Windows.

This prompt occurs when you power the system up.

 

[Guest]

Thank you Rajkohli and New Science, I don’t find any BIOS Security feature
on XP Pro that will prevent people from using the F8 access option when the
multiboot option screen appears. It looks like you give up all those options
when you choose to multiboot.

There are some companies that offer locks with keys that you can install on
the case to lock out the power supply, but that’s a little dated and It seems
like there should be a better way.

The URL Rajkohli gave me for Softpedia looks like exactly what I need, but
their program is pretty old, last updated in 2002. They state that their
program is for Win 98 and ME. No indication as to it’s compatibility with
Windows XP.

Softpedia lists a newer program “Boot It, Next Generation†for sale at
$34.95, which is OK price wise, but they don’t describe what, (if any)
security functions you get with that package.

I would appreciate comments from anybody who is using either one of those
Softpedia programs with a multiboot on Windows XP. Or from any one who has
found a recent solution to this problem.

 

[Malke]

Thank you Rajkohli and New Science, I don’t find any BIOS Security
feature on XP Pro that will prevent people from using the F8 access
option when the multiboot option screen appears. It looks like you
give up all those options when you choose to multiboot.

There are some companies that offer locks with keys that you can
install on the case to lock out the power supply, but that’s a little
dated and It seems like there should be a better way.

The URL Rajkohli gave me for Softpedia looks like exactly what I
need, but their program is pretty old, last updated in 2002. They
state that their program is for Win 98 and ME. No indication as to
it’s compatibility with Windows XP.

Softpedia lists a newer program “Boot It, Next Generation†for sale at
$34.95, which is OK price wise, but they don’t describe what, (if any)
security functions you get with that package.

I would appreciate comments from anybody who is using either one of
those Softpedia programs with a multiboot on Windows XP. Or from any
one who has found a recent solution to this problem.

You don't need to go through Softpedia to get BootIT NG. Go to BootIT
NG's maker instead:

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/

What you need is some third-party boot manager, most of which will give
you the option to require a password before booting the various
operating systems they manage.

BootITNG is one, but it is quite geeky to use. Acronis Disk Director
includes OS Selector. I like Acronis products quite a bit.
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/diskdirector/multibooting.html

Malke

 

[Guest]

Thank you Malke, and I thank every one who replied, I will try the Acronis
Disk Director, it includes a lot of things I don't need but offers some
things I didn't even know were available. (Now that I know, I want)

If product comments are permitted here, I will make a post of my experience
with it.

Linusverl

 

[Malke]

Thank you Malke, and I thank every one who replied, I will try the
Acronis Disk Director, it includes a lot of things I don't need but
offers some things I didn't even know were available. (Now that I
know, I want)

If product comments are permitted here, I will make a post of my
experience with it.

Well, it's always nice to know how a poster gets on with something. We
don't need a full-bore product review, but certainly if you are happy
with it and it does what you want that would be good to know.

Cheers,

Malke