How to protect myself from cruisng grandson

[PeterM]

I love my grandson a bunch, but whenever he come to see us he goes wild on
the computer. I use XP Home, and when the computer starts, there is no log
on necessary, and I'm the administrator. How can I give him limited access,
and not let him cruise as a administrator. If I can get details as to how to
do it, please please help me with this. We are getting him today, a
emergency happen in their home and he will be with me for the summer. I have
a Netgear ProSafe Firewall FR114P installed, I use ZoneAlarm, Norton AV,
Ad-Aware SE Plus and SpyBot. 1.3 I do checks all the time, and I think I'm
clean. Our grandson usually downloads Yahoo chat and stuff like that, I hate
to deny anything like that because that is how he communicates with his
friends. Again, any help is appreciated. If there is a program I can buy, I
will buy it off course.............Opa Peter

 

[Don Burnette]

I love my grandson a bunch, but whenever he come to see us he goes
wild on the computer. I use XP Home, and when the computer starts,
there is no log on necessary, and I'm the administrator. How can I
give him limited access, and not let him cruise as a administrator.
If I can get details as to how to do it, please please help me with
this. We are getting him today, a emergency happen in their home and
he will be with me for the summer. I have a Netgear ProSafe Firewall
FR114P installed, I use ZoneAlarm, Norton AV, Ad-Aware SE Plus and
SpyBot. 1.3 I do checks all the time, and I think I'm clean. Our
grandson usually downloads Yahoo chat and stuff like that, I hate to
deny anything like that because that is how he communicates with his
friends. Again, any help is appreciated. If there is a program I can
buy, I will buy it off course.............Opa Peter

Peter,

You can start by using the user profiles in XP. Set up a password for yours,
then set your grandson up as a limited user with a password he can use.
He will be able to browse, etc, but not install programs or make changes to
your system.

Just go into user accounts in control panel, the rest should be self
explanatory...

 

[DL]

BTW ensure you use passwords that are remembered!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I love my grandson a bunch, but whenever he come to see us he goes wild
on the computer. I use XP Home, and when the computer starts, there is
no log on necessary, and I'm the administrator. How can I give him
limited access, and not let him cruise as a administrator. If I can get
details as to how to do it, please please help me with this. We are
getting him today, a emergency happen in their home and he will be with
me for the summer. I have a Netgear ProSafe Firewall FR114P installed, I
use ZoneAlarm, Norton AV, Ad-Aware SE Plus and SpyBot. 1.3 I do checks
all the time, and I think I'm clean. Our grandson usually downloads
Yahoo chat and stuff like that, I hate to deny anything like that
because that is how he communicates with his friends. Again, any help is
appreciated. If there is a program I can buy, I will buy it off
course.............Opa Peter

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783

HOW TO Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q308418

HOW TO Use the Internet Explorer 6 Content Advisor to Control Access
to Web Sites in Internet Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310401

Protect Your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp

For some requirements, you may find it easier to invest in a
3rd-party solution, such as NetNanny or CyberPatrol.

You need to be aware, however, that *NO* technical or software
solution is fool-proof, and _none_ can ever adequately take the place of
live adult supervision. If you cannot trust your grandson to
safely/properly use the computer without supervision, you may have to
consider limiting his access to it.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[R. McCarty]

You didn't mention his age, but young folks are generally very
savvy on Personal Computers. Trust me they know most all
of the side steps, tricks and things you wouldn't normally think
they are aware of.

The problem is "Restrictions", that's like a challenge & right
away they'll start breaking those things down to bypass them.

I would use an imaging program and take a System Image
before he arrives. Then if the PC gets what's likely to end up on
it, you can recover after he leaves.

The only real solution is for "Kids" to have their own PC.

 

[Alias]

You need to be aware, however, that *NO* technical or software
solution is fool-proof, and _none_ can ever adequately take the place of
live adult supervision. Bruce Chambers

Not even Deep Freeze?

Alias

 

[PeterM]

Many many thanks for the super answers. Just some more details, my grandson
is 15, and a AA student, and real savvy with computers. He is not going to
do anything against my wishes really. I just worry sometimes, when his
friends, that he has not seen since last year come over and close the door
and get on the computer. They are all smart and good kids though. It is not
that I mistrust them, but during the time that he is here, I get more
spyware and spam mail enough to choke a horse. I bought him his own super
nice computer, but that is in Tenn. now. I think I will take the advice of
R.McCarty and make an image of the computer. Interesting enough, I just
purchased Acronis True Image, because Norton Ghost didn't work because I
have System works Premier installed on my computer. (which doesn't work
either) Anyway, I will take all the advise I got and apply it. You guys are
so wonderful, bless you all.......Opa Peter

 

[Don MI]

In addition to the other advice, your grandson does not need a "super nice
computer" to do what you described when he visits you. You may want to check
your local Freecycle {to find go to: http://www.freecycle.org/ }. Where I
live, it is not unusual for someone to upgrade and then offer to give their
old computer to anyone you needs one. Some are only a few years old.

Don

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Doug's Windows XP Security Console
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Doug Knox]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I love my grandson a bunch, but whenever he come to see us he goes wild on
| the computer. I use XP Home, and when the computer starts, there is no log
| on necessary, and I'm the administrator. How can I give him limited access,
| and not let him cruise as a administrator. If I can get details as to how to
| do it, please please help me with this. We are getting him today, a
| emergency happen in their home and he will be with me for the summer. I have
| a Netgear ProSafe Firewall FR114P installed, I use ZoneAlarm, Norton AV,
| Ad-Aware SE Plus and SpyBot. 1.3 I do checks all the time, and I think I'm
| clean. Our grandson usually downloads Yahoo chat and stuff like that, I hate
| to deny anything like that because that is how he communicates with his
| friends. Again, any help is appreciated. If there is a program I can buy, I
| will buy it off course.............Opa Peter

 

[BigJim]

15 years old I know what I would be looking at, Hooters and more Hooters,
lol.

 

[Plato]

that I mistrust them, but during the time that he is here, I get more
spyware and spam mail enough to choke a horse. I bought him his own super

True, most kids are quite good, but even the brightest ones still dont
understand the spam/spyware issue.

 

[johnsuth]

I love my grandson a bunch, but whenever he come to see us he goes wild on
the computer. I use XP Home, and when the computer starts, there is no log
on necessary, and I'm the administrator. How can I give him limited access,
and not let him cruise as a administrator. If I can get details as to how to
do it, please please help me with this. We are getting him today, a
emergency happen in their home and he will be with me for the summer. I have
a Netgear ProSafe Firewall FR114P installed, I use ZoneAlarm, Norton AV,
Ad-Aware SE Plus and SpyBot. 1.3 I do checks all the time, and I think I'm
clean. Our grandson usually downloads Yahoo chat and stuff like that, I hate
to deny anything like that because that is how he communicates with his
friends. Again, any help is appreciated. If there is a program I can buy, I
will buy it off course.............Opa Peter

I work with other peoples' uncontrollable children; I see lots of grandsons like yours.

1) Stop believing that you must give him everything you never had as a kid.
2) Lock him out of your computer.
3) Help him find new friends near you.
4) Buy him a letter writing kit and show him how to use it.
5) Show him how to buy postage stamps out of his pocket money.
6) When he is demonstrating age appropriate behaviour, show him how you use YOUR computer.

Hope this helps.

 

[PeterM]

I love what you said, but I am totally spoiling all my grandkids, and I
can't help myself...............Peter

 

[What's in a Name?]

I love what you said, but I am totally spoiling all my grandkids, and I
can't help myself...............Peter

here ya go......How to create and configure user accounts in XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783&sd=tech
-max

 

[Paul Knudsen]

I love what you said, but I am totally spoiling all my grandkids, and I
can't help myself...............Peter

Heheh. Used computers are cheap. Get him his own to mess up.