I want to lock my computer so that all of the three user names that are used by my family can be locked?

Question

I don't want to change their passwords but I want it so they cant access the computer at all (without taking out the power).

Answer 1

Taking out the power? What does that mean?

Being an administrator on a computer has nothing to do with locking out other accounts. They just won't be able to get onto yours. If you want to lock your computer, you need to set a BIOS password. Have you seen that quick flash when you start up your computer that says:

"Press F2 for setup"

That's where you find it. It's not always F2, and it can be set not to come up at all, but you can still get into it if you know what to press. I've never seen it not be one of the F keys though. It's within the first... 4 seconds of turning on the computer though. After that, the key won't work and you'll have to restart and try again.

So once you're in there, there should be an option to set a password to both lock the computer, and lock the BIOS.

Answer 2

Assign yourself as Administrator, put a password on that account. When you sign out anyone who does not know that password will not have access to your computer at all. I suggest changing password weekly. But write it down somewhere cause you can lock yourself out and that will be very bad news if that happens.

Answer 3

if you mean you don't want them using the computer at all period except when your there, you need what they call a dongle.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongle



http://www.sg-lock.com/en/



want to just block sites instead of a dongle?



http://aresforum.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=375#375

a easy to understand tut i wrote with an example of a hosts file with blocked sites.

this blocks all sites you enter into the hosts file. lthough after a test of trying to block a home page it didn't work, but that was probably me. it does block them myspace and the likes.



if you want to stop like messenger's and such i would sign in as admin and when editing the user's account right click the messengers icon and click run as then set up a password and stuff so they couldn't use it without you being there.

Answer 4

This is not exactly what you asked; it is what you need.



Restricting access to your computer:



Most computers allow creating a BIOS password. Without a password your DVD/CD or floppy drives can not be used to boot the computer or reinstall Windows, bypassing all your Windows passwords. It also prevents the hard drives from being used, preventing entering Windows “safe mode” which can be used to modify your passwords.

The bios password can often be easily defeated.

http://www.protectiveparenting.com/web/html/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=10

http://pcworld.about.com/magazine/2204p103id114727.htm



How to clear an BIOS password:

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000235.htm



Lockdown PC

http://pcworld.about.com/magazine/2204p103id114727.htm



Windows XP passwords:

All accounts must have passwords. Each person must have a separate username and password to sign on the computer. You must have an “Administrative” account. Everyone else should have “Restricted Access” accounts.

Do not enable automatic logon.

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-350.html

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/winxp/accounts.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/winxp/switchusers.mspx



Turn off the guest account

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/tips/soleuser.mspx



Protect your computer from access when you are temporarily away from your computer by using a screen saver password

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/display_assign_screensaver_password.mspx?mfr=true



Each person (if you allow) should have a separate email account.



A determined person can break or disable or get around all passwords.

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How to make files and folders private in Windows XP so that only you have access to them

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930987



Vista Parental Contols

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/585539d0-0862-41e4-9b39-53467648efc51033.mspx

http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/it/2007/02/20/vistas-parental-controls-part-i/



Restricting Internet Access

Your internet service provider probably provides a method to control access to the internet. I have ATT they have parental controls to limit access. Each user can have a separate account. A master password is required to change settings. Settings allow selecting for each user: Allowed times during the day; maximum hours of use; set ratings for types of content allowed to be viewed.

http://help.yahoo.com/sbc/tutorials/olp/tut_olp_index.html

http://help.yahoo.com/sbc/tutorials/ypc/pc_timer1.html



I am not recommending this software, but it pages clearly show setting up internet profiles and customizing the restrictions.

http://www.pchomesoft.com/keywords.html

http://www.pchomesoft.com/limit_kids_control_guide.html

http://www.pchomesoft.com/images/kta2.gif

http://www.pchomesoft.com/images/kta1.gif



Software downloads. Some free, some offer a limited trial.

http://www.download.com/3120-20_4-0.html?tg=dl-20&qt=parental&tag=srch



Reviews of programs that restrict net access:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1986753,00.asp

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/internet-filtering-software-605/ratings/index.htm?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=3&searchTerm=parental%20controls

http://www.filterreview.com/pages/table1.htm

http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2001feb/gee20010215004355.htm

http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/



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Monitoring Software

http://www.monitoringsoftwarereviews.org/

http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,1874,1639158,00.asp

http://familyinternet.about.com/library/weekly/aa041901a.htm

http://monitoring-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

http://ask-leo.com/parental_monitoring_software_my_child_figured_out_how_to_turn_it_off_what_can_i_do.html

http://ezinearticles.com/?Monitoring-Software---What-You-Need-To-Know&id=454291

http://www.freesearching.com/monitor.htm

http://dmoz.org/Computers/Internet/Child_Safety/

http://www.download.com/3120-20_4-0.html?tg=dl-20&qt=parental&tag=srch



How To Record All Microsoft Messenger conversations (free)

http://www.protectiveparenting.com/web/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=12

http://www.msgpluslive.net/



How can I keep my kids safe from internet garbage

http://ask-leo.com/how_can_i_keep_my_kids_safe_from_internet_garbage.html





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protectiveparenting.com

http://www.protectiveparenting.com/web/html/modules.php?name=Topics

Free Publications:



Help with IM, Chat, AIM, etc.

Publications: Chat Conversation Logging

Publications: Disabling Chat

Publications: Chat Code Words and Acronymns

Publications: Web-based IM and Chat

Publications: Blogging and Forums



Lock down your computer

Publications: BIOS Password Protection

Publications: Prevent Children from Installing Programs

Publications: Setting Up User Accounts in Windows XP



Web filtering and control

Topic: Web filtering and control

Publications: Restrict web sites on Windows XP

Publications: What is a Proxy?

Publications: Lock down Internet Explorer History

Selecting Filtering Software For Your Family

http://familyinternet.about.com/cs/filteringsoftware/a/aafiltering.htm





Parent's Guide to Children's Online Safety

http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/ceos/onlinesafety.html





There are often ways to get around content restrictions and defeat filtering programs. Numerous web pages and chat rooms give tips on this subject. Kids have all the time in the world to experiment, you don’t.

http://duggmirror.com/security/A_Top_10_guide_to_accessing_blocked_websites_from_work/

http://cexx.org/censware.htm

http://www.totse.com/en/hack/understanding_the_internet/howtobypasscen170386.html