Windows XP Ultimate Control

He has: 1,758 posts

Joined: Jul 2002

Hey guys,

I'm currently in the process of formatting and reinstalling my mums Windows XP machine that she shares with my two sisters (for like the 10th time!). The problem is that despite me trying to eductate them they keep downloading and installing all manner of rubbish from p2p networks n stuff. Within months their computer crawls to a stop because it's fulll of spyware and viruses.

I'm getting fed up of doing this and dont want to do it again so I need to find a way to prevent them from installing rubbish.

I've taken a couple of steps by installing antivirus and the new microsoft antispyware program both with active guards monitoring everything 24/7. I've also hidden Internet Exploder away and installed firefox (and gone through and deleted all the IE shortcuts!).

I was hoping there was a program available for XP that would prevent any non admin users from installing ANY software without the specific authorisation of the admin username and password.

Does anyone know of anything that will achieve this? I know it's horrible to lock the computer down so much but I'm at the end of my tether.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Andy

teammatt3's picture

He has: 2,102 posts

Joined: Sep 2003

Make them use Linux, that would be mean, though;)

Abhishek Reddy's picture

He has: 3,348 posts

Joined: Jul 2001

It's not horrible to lock down the computer that much. Unix and similar OSes do it all the time ("root" user). Cornerstone of security. Smiling

Win XP does have some sort of user management. Look in Control Panel > Users or something. I think you'll want Administrator to be at admin level and the rest at User or Guest or whatever it is. Poke around. Smiling

I don't know any additional programs to do it, but I'd guess there is software out there for it...

Good luck. Smiling

He has: 1,758 posts

Joined: Jul 2002

I had thought about installing linux but one of my sisters is only in her early teens and I don't think she should cope with it.

XP does have users and I have set them all up with a none-admin account. The only problem is they can still install software which is what I desperatly want to prevent.

Andy

Renegade's picture

He has: 3,022 posts

Joined: Oct 2002

I don't actually think its possible on XP. Everyone and anyone can install programs. The problem is, even if there was a way, it would be something like stopping the registry from being edited. But, by doing that, a lot of programs won't work.

Think your stuck between a rock and a hard piece of code Sticking out tongue

openmind's picture

He has: 945 posts

Joined: Aug 2001

Is it XP home or Pro?

What I did on my sons machine was set him up with a user account and then adjusted the permissions on all the folders so he could only read and execute not write/modify...

He still has access to certain folders but it was worth the effort...

He has: 1,758 posts

Joined: Jul 2002

it's XP pro. I can't seem to see the permissions options. Do you know where I can find em?

openmind's picture

He has: 945 posts

Joined: Aug 2001

Well first create a user by going to Adminstration Option > Computer Management > User and Groups and set the permission for that user

Then on any folder simply right click and select security and the user. That user will then have permission for that folder. To secure everything just take the user off the root folder.

Your disk does need to be formatted as NTFS though for this to work...

Ashish's picture

They have: 85 posts

Joined: Jul 2004

make em log in as guests..... that should solve the problem beautifully Smiling

He has: 1,758 posts

Joined: Jul 2002

heh heh heh... good thinking! Wink

dojo's picture

She has: 87 posts

Joined: Dec 2004

We use a program, deep freeze I guess it's called. At my work place we've got some very stupid people who make all sorts of mistakes and the admin just got enough with installing Windows every other day. so he put this soft on the system partition (c) and we've got no probs ever since. I understand it just "freezes" the configuration and if you want to install with it on, you can install, but on restart everything is lost. We haven't got any viruses since then Smiling

He has: 1,758 posts

Joined: Jul 2002

That sounds like what I'm looking for... I just found the website @ deepfreezeusa.com

I'll have a play tonight. Thanks dojo!

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