Restricting User Access Hours

[Zakhary]

I'm not sure where to post this, so am posting it in "general"

As a parent, I would like my children to not be able to use the computers
during certain hours of the night. There are two computers: one operates on
XP; the other on Vista

I was looking through the User Account and Computer Management console to
see if there was a way to establish user or group policies that restricted
particular users or groups from having the ability to log on during certain
hours of the day. However, I had no success finding anything. Is there any
way to do this that I was not able to find? Or, would I need a separate
program to be able to make these restrictions happen?

Thanks,
Zakhary

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

See this discussion for some ideas:
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30095

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I'm not sure where to post this, so am posting it in "general"

As a parent, I would like my children to not be able to use the computers
during certain hours of the night. There are two computers: one operates
on
XP; the other on Vista

I was looking through the User Account and Computer Management console to
see if there was a way to establish user or group policies that restricted
particular users or groups from having the ability to log on during
certain
hours of the day. However, I had no success finding anything. Is there
any
way to do this that I was not able to find? Or, would I need a separate
program to be able to make these restrictions happen?

Google. Your kids will on how to get around your restrictions.

http://www.petri.co.il/set_local_user_logon_hours_in_windows_xp.htm

http://tech-buzz.net/2007/03/06/how-to-restrict-logon-hours-in-windows-xp/

http://www.pcmech.com/article/restrict-a-users-logon-hours-on-windows-xp/

http://video.google.com/videosearch...on+Hours+in+Windows+XP&oi=video_result_group#

http://www.google.com/searchq=How+to+Restrict+User+logon+Hours+in+Windows+Vista

 

[Nil]

I was looking through the User Account and Computer Management
console to see if there was a way to establish user or group
policies that restricted particular users or groups from having
the ability to log on during certain hours of the day. However, I
had no success finding anything. Is there any way to do this that
I was not able to find? Or, would I need a separate program to be
able to make these restrictions happen?

If your goal is to restrict internet access, rather than the use of the
computer itself, most routers can be programmed to allow access
according to a schedule.

 

[Zakhary]

So far, all replies have referred either to internet-specific hour
restrictions via making changes on the router or links and suggestions on
searching through a search engine or forum.

1) I am interested in restricting full computer access on a per user or per
group basis; not just internet and not on a per computer or house-wide basis.
2) Searching the internet was tried before coming here and gave a few hits
that will be attempted. One site gave a way to use command prompt to
establish access hours for particular users, which may be tried. However, my
reason for coming here was not to be re-directed elsewhere, but because my
experience on these forums is that they afford me input from individuals who
have personal expertise and know-how on whatever given Microsoft subject.

Conclusion:
Please only respond if you personally have the know-how on restricting
log-in hours **for particular users or user groups** within the operating
system. Alternatively, if you know of no way, but have a program to offer,
that could work too.

Thanks,
Zakhary

 

[Zakhary]

I forgot to mention...
I am seeking someone with this know-how because I know there will be
follow-up questions that will transpire and I hope to have an easy source to
ask them and get an answer. Those other sites do not answer some questions
that I already think may come about (I'll wait to "test" it out, though).

-Zakhary

 

[Jim]

Turn off at the mains .



#On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:06:01 -0800, Zakhary

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

I'm not sure where to post this, so am posting it in "general"

As a parent, I would like my children to not be able to use the computers
during certain hours of the night. There are two computers: one operates
on
XP; the other on Vista

I was looking through the User Account and Computer Management console to
see if there was a way to establish user or group policies that restricted
particular users or groups from having the ability to log on during
certain
hours of the day. However, I had no success finding anything. Is there
any
way to do this that I was not able to find? Or, would I need a separate
program to be able to make these restrictions happen?

Thanks,
Zakhary

You could create a scheduled task that runs under the System account once
every minute during the restricted hours. It would invoke the following
batch file (which you must store in a restricted location):

@echo off
"c:\RestrictedFolder\psloggedon.exe" | find /i "xxx" || goto :eof
shutdown.exe /s /f /t 3

You can get psloggedon.exe from www.sysinternals.com.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

<snipped>
<You also changed it to cross-posted this time, I see>

So far, all replies have referred either to internet-specific hour
restrictions via making changes on the router or links and suggestions on
searching through a search engine or forum.

1) I am interested in restricting full computer access on a per user or
per
group basis; not just internet and not on a per computer or house-wide
basis.
2) Searching the internet was tried before coming here and gave a few
hits
that will be attempted. One site gave a way to use command prompt to
establish access hours for particular users, which may be tried. However,
my
reason for coming here was not to be re-directed elsewhere, but because my
experience on these forums is that they afford me input from individuals
who
have personal expertise and know-how on whatever given Microsoft subject.

Conclusion:
Please only respond if you personally have the know-how on restricting
log-in hours **for particular users or user groups** within the operating
system. Alternatively, if you know of no way, but have a program to
offer,
that could work too.

Actually - I gave you direct links to direct answers and suggested you
Google based off those. Some of the links I gave you were even VIDEOS of
people restricting the logon times.

No one knows what you have/have not tried unless you tell them and if you
have these 'tough questions' - ask them.. Don't bother 'warning' about them.

In the end - technology will not substitute for social interaction (in this
case, parenting.) Whatever you do - if they have unrestricted physical
access for some period of time - they can undo.

 

[Zakhary]

I'm not sure if I understand the steps entirely with this option...

1) Install PsTools (which includes PsLoggedon) from
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896649.aspx

2) In cmd, key in all that that you entered...
@echo off "c:\RestrictedFolder\psloggedon.exe" | find /i "xxx" || goto :eof
shutdown.exe /s /f /t 3

Where "xxx" is?

???

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

Sorry, I forgot to say that you need to replace xxx with the logon account
name used by your children.

The code I gave you is a batch file. You must put it into a location that is
inaccessible to your children. The following command will create such a
batch file, which I will call "close.bat":

notepad "c:\documents and settings\yakhary\my documents\close.bat{Enter}

After allowing the file to be created, you can copy & paste the code I gave
you into the notepad session, then save and close the file.

Remember to create a scheduled task to execute close.bat under the System
account once every five minutes.

Note also that many children of the current generation are very resourceful.
It would take me about five minutes to crack any restriction you might place
on your PC. It might take your children five days. As others have mentioned,
there are better was to assert your parental authority than putting padlocks
on your PC.