Limited accounts in XP

[the_zoor]

I was just wondering. Are there only 2 different options regarding
accounts
in windows? I'm used tp the UNIX/Linux choices where you can have a
trillion
choices over this matter but in windows I have only 2?? My problem
concists
of this...

2 children are using this computer as a game computer but I also use
this
for my personal needs such as email and documents from work etc. The
real
problem is when the kids are going to play stuff thats not webbased
because
then they have to log on to my account which gets me kind off itchy
since I
have alot of personal stuff that I dont want to loose on this computer.
Its
fine by me that only I can install applications but I'd prefer if the
kids
could play in their own "limited account". Whit this I mean CD-Rom
games and so on.

So how do I do?

I run XP Pro edition SP2.

Really greatful for your help.

 

[Bob I]

start at Windows Help and Support and accounts.

 

[Ron Sommer]

I don't understand why the kids can't play their games under a limited
account.
Do they have shortcuts to the games?
--
Ronald Sommer

I was just wondering. Are there only 2 different options regarding accounts
in windows? I'm used tp the UNIX/Linux choices where you can have a trillion
choices over this matter but in windows I have only 2?? My problem concists
of this...

2 children are using this computer as a game computer but I also use this
for my personal needs such as email and documents from work etc. The real
problem is when the kids are going to play stuff thats not webbased because
then they have to log on to my account which gets me kind off itchy since I
have alot of personal stuff that I dont want to loose on this computer.

Its fine by me that only I can install applications but I'd prefer if the
kids could play in their own "limited account". Whit this I mean CD-Rom
games and so on.

So how do I do?

I run XP Pro edition SP2.

Really greatful for your help.

 

[Rock]

I was just wondering. Are there only 2 different options regarding accounts
in windows? I'm used tp the UNIX/Linux choices where you can have a
trillion
choices over this matter but in windows I have only 2?? My problem
concists of this...

2 children are using this computer as a game computer but I also use this
for my personal needs such as email and documents from work etc. The
real problem is when the kids are going to play stuff thats not webbased
because then they have to log on to my account which gets me kind off
itchy
since I have alot of personal stuff that I dont want to loose on this
computer.
Its fine by me that only I can install applications but I'd prefer if the
kids could play in their own "limited account". Whit this I mean CD-Rom
games and so on.

So how do I do?

I run XP Pro edition SP2.

Really greatful for your help.

Create limited accounts for them? In help and support search on accounts or
see these links:

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=279783

Installing and running software in Windows XP
http://www.rickrogers.org/xpsware.htm

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I was just wondering. Are there only 2 different options regarding
accounts
in windows? I'm used tp the UNIX/Linux choices where you can have a
trillion
choices over this matter but in windows I have only 2?? My problem
concists
of this...

2 children are using this computer as a game computer but I also use
this
for my personal needs such as email and documents from work etc. The
real
problem is when the kids are going to play stuff thats not webbased
because
then they have to log on to my account which gets me kind off itchy
since I
have alot of personal stuff that I dont want to loose on this computer.
Its
fine by me that only I can install applications but I'd prefer if the
kids
could play in their own "limited account". Whit this I mean CD-Rom
games and so on.

So how do I do?

I run XP Pro edition SP2.

Really greatful for your help.

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

And there should be absolutely no need to grant your children any sort
of elevated privileges, just so they can play games.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Martin C]

Wrong!
You can only play games using XP in a limited account if they are games that
are specifically written for XP. If you want to play anything older (that is
supposed to work on XP as well) there is a very good chance that you will
get access problems. This is often down to the fact that the game is 'badly'
written or the game does such things like updating the registry or updating
files in either Windows or in Program Files (both of which are mostly
outside the limits of a limited account user. As a result, the game does not
work properly - or even play - in some occassions. It is for this reason
that the poster has had to allow the kids to play in his account. I had the
same problem. In the end, I got so fed up with it that I gave them all
administrator priviliges, but I have my personal data in a private file that
is locked as far as they are concerned (being private). That way, my own
files are more or less safe.
It is not an ideal solution, I know, but the best I can use.

Have a read at this site:

Some Programs Do Not Work If You Log On from Limited Account
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307091

Additionally, here are a couple of tips suggested, in a reply to a
different post, by MS-MVP Kent W. England:

"If your game or application works with admin accounts, but not with
limited accounts, you can fix it to allow limited users to access the
program files folder with "change" capability rather than "read" which
is the default.

C:\>cacls "Program Files\appfolder" /e /t /p users:c

where "appfolder" is the folder where the application is installed.

If you wish to undo these changes, then run

C:\>cacls "Program Files\appfolder" /e /t /p users:r

If you still have a problem with running the program or saving
settings on limited accounts, you may need to change permissions on
the registry keys. Run regedit.exe and go to HKLM\Software\vendor\app,
where "vendor\app" is the key that the software vendor used for your
specific program. Change the permissions on this key to allow Users
full control."

As I said, it is a lot of aggro!!!

Hope this helps
Martin

 

[Rock]

Wrong!
You can only play games using XP in a limited account if they are games
that are specifically written for XP. If you want to play anything older
(that is supposed to work on XP as well) there is a very good chance that
you will get access problems. This is often down to the fact that the game
is 'badly' written or the game does such things like updating the registry
or updating files in either Windows or in Program Files (both of which are
mostly outside the limits of a limited account user. As a result, the game
does not work properly - or even play - in some occassions. It is for this
reason that the poster has had to allow the kids to play in his account. I
had the same problem. In the end, I got so fed up with it that I gave them
all administrator priviliges, but I have my personal data in a private
file that is locked as far as they are concerned (being private). That
way, my own files are more or less safe.
It is not an ideal solution, I know, but the best I can use.

Have a read at this site:

Some Programs Do Not Work If You Log On from Limited Account
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307091

Additionally, here are a couple of tips suggested, in a reply to a
different post, by MS-MVP Kent W. England:

"If your game or application works with admin accounts, but not with
limited accounts, you can fix it to allow limited users to access the
program files folder with "change" capability rather than "read" which
is the default.

C:\>cacls "Program Files\appfolder" /e /t /p users:c

where "appfolder" is the folder where the application is installed.

If you wish to undo these changes, then run

C:\>cacls "Program Files\appfolder" /e /t /p users:r

If you still have a problem with running the program or saving
settings on limited accounts, you may need to change permissions on
the registry keys. Run regedit.exe and go to HKLM\Software\vendor\app,
where "vendor\app" is the key that the software vendor used for your
specific program. Change the permissions on this key to allow Users
full control."

As I said, it is a lot of aggro!!!

Hope this helps
Martin

I sure would figure out some other way than allowing the kids to have admin
privileges - different computer, different games, etc.

 

[Martin C]

I sure would figure out some other way than allowing the kids to have
admin privileges - different computer, different games, etc.

I totally agree! Fortunately my kids are of the age that they are reasonably
responsible on the machine but are still a bit too young to know how to get
round things and do damage. I keep track of what they do to the machine and
take regular ghost backups just in case. Win XP Home is crap for allowing
Restricted accounts to be used the way I would like. I wish now that I had
gone for XP Pro as it gives a bit more control. There is no easy way to
upgrade from Home to Pro without buying another license in full. Sod that!

Martin

Martin.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Wrong!

Not at all. There is *NEVER* a need to grant foolishly grant children
administrative privileges, unless one's actual goal is to see the
computer compromised.

You can only play games using XP in a limited account if they are games that
are specifically written for XP. If you want to play anything older (that is
supposed to work on XP as well) there is a very good chance that you will
get access problems. This is often down to the fact that the game is 'badly'
written or the game does such things like updating the registry or updating
files in either Windows or in Program Files (both of which are mostly
outside the limits of a limited account user. As a result, the game does not
work properly - or even play - in some occassions. It is for this reason
that the poster has had to allow the kids to play in his account. I had the
same problem.

There are always ways to make such poorly designed and/or obsolete
programs work without having to granted full-blown administrative
privileges to the children. You may experience some problems if the
software was designed for Win9x/Me, or if it was intended for
WinNT/2K/XP, but was improperly designed. Quite simply, the application
doesn't "know" how to handle individual user profiles with differing
security permissions levels, or the application is designed to make to
make changes to "off-limits" sections of the Windows registry or
protected Windows system folders.

For example, saved data are often stored in a sub-folder under the
application's folder within C:\Program Files - a place where no
inexperienced or limited user should ever have write permissions. (Games
are particularly likely to follow this horrible practice.)

It may even be that the software requires "write" access to parts
of the registry or protected systems folders/files that are not normally
accessible to regular users. (This *won't* occur if the application is
properly written.) If this does prove to be the case, however, you're
often left with three options: Either grant the necessary users
appropriate higher access privileges (either as Power Users or local
administrators), explicitly grant normal users elevated privileges to
the affected folders and/or part(s) or the registry, or replace the
application with one that was properly designed specifically for
WinNT/2K/XP.

In the end, I got so fed up with it that I gave them all
administrator priviliges, ...

That's certainly the easiest, if most unsafe, way to stop the
children's whining.

... but I have my personal data in a private file that
is locked as far as they are concerned (being private). That way, my own
files are more or less safe.

*NOT* if you've granted the children administrative accounts; you've
given them free access to *EVERYTHING* on the computer, should they get
curious and decide to make the effort.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell