how do I setup XP user so my friend can't mess up his computer?

[beatniks3]

Hi. I looked around for another post like this and I couldn't find one. I hope I got the right forum section. So basically, I set up a computer for my friend and I was over there last night and he had a TON of spyware/ internet search junk that has been installed since the time I got him the computer. I used spybot and ad-aware to blast away as many as I could, but I'm going to give him a fresh install of XP tonight. I was hoping someone could explain to me how I could restrict his user options so he couldn't install this crap even if by accident. He is not a power user rather he uses it for college: checking his internet, taking tests online, playing music, watching the occasionally movie, etc. I don't think he would ever need to install anything beyond the stuff I'll install before I do the restrictions. There is an easy way to do this within windows XP pro right?

Thanks in advance for the kind souls who help me with this.

 

[Asnrefugee]

goto tools->internet options-> content -> content advisor and then set it up what you need.

 

[beatniks3]

thanks for the reply but I guess I was thinking of restrictions beyond I.E. so that his XP user account could not install programs. I've got two partitions on the drive, one for operating system and one for data, so would it be possible to make it so he couldn't change the O.S. partition but he could add stuff to the data partition? For example, my friend install kazaa with all the crap that comes along with it. Is there a way to prevent him from being able to do so? (that way he would ask me first and I could then suggest spyware free alternatives and I could log into admin or something and install them for him, etc.)?

 

[Submit]

beatniks3, go to the control panel and change his user account type. From what you described I would make him a "guest".

 

[beatniks3]

thanks submit. I was thinking something like that. I'll give it a try.

 

[Smilin]

You should be able to get by with him in the "users" or "power users" group. Probably "users". He can't install drivers and whatnot in that group. You can also fool with the local security policy and restrict access to things like the display refresh rate or other areas he could cause serious trouble in.

 

[Smilin]

You should be able to get by with him in the "users" or "power users" group. Probably "users". He can't install drivers and whatnot in that group. You can also fool with the local security policy and restrict access to things like the display refresh rate or other areas he could cause serious trouble in.

 

[Mitzi]

I think the best solution is a non technical one...education.

Sit him down for ten minutes to explain what spyware, adware, viruses and the like are and how to avoid them. Some quickies: don't click on executables in emails, don't click yes to unexpected dialogues when surfing the web, don't respond to any offers of huge sums of money from Africans, always beware of emails which say they are from financial institutes and Microsoft asking you to run a file/enter security information etc etc.

Its like the old saying...

Fix a mans PC and it stays fixed for a day, tell a man how to fix his own PC and it stays fixed forever

 

[beatniks3]

Originally posted by: Mitzi
I think the best solution is a non technical one...education.

Sit him down for ten minutes to explain what spyware, adware, viruses and the like are and how to avoid them. Some quickies: don't click on executables in emails, don't click yes to unexpected dialogues when surfing the web, don't respond to any offers of huge sums of money from Africans, always beware of emails which say they are from financial institutes and Microsoft asking you to run a file/enter security information etc etc.

Its like the old saying...

Fix a mans PC and it stays fixed for a day, tell a man how to fix his own PC and it stays fixed forever

This is what I tried to the first time i set up the computer for him and it still eventually got a bunch of spyware and those stupid add-on internet search bars. It think it was the case that everything I told him went in one ear and out the other. That and he is in college and he lets people use his computer. They could have caused the probelms. Last night I reinstalled XP and setup the admin account and a guest account. I also explained to him switching users and logging out. Guess I'll have to see how long his 'pure' install lasts.

Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[farscape]

I set up all the computers as "restricted user" where my wife works. Everyone can do their work, but noone can install programs without admin rights. Haven't had a problem or complaint from her company - and no dead, misbehaving systems to have to fix. Prevents loose nuts between the keyboard and the chair.

 

[boshuter]

I have to agree with Mitzi...... he is never going to learn if you keep him "protected". Explain it to him, if he won't listen and screws it up, let him live without it for a while. That's like keeping your kids locked in the house so they won't get hurt.

 

[Intelman07]

There is a "limited" user option when creating the user from the control pannel.

 

[AnMig]

I would do what compaq used to do.

Make a disk image, then when he messes up. Format and re-install image.

Tell him to insert boot disk disk (ghost or drive image) re-istall image to original position.
advice him to save documents pictures on a different partition.

less work for you.

 

[kursplat]

Make a disk image, then when he messes up. Format and re-install image.

zactly' , if he's forced to reinstall his image a couple times he might learn something.

 

[beatniks3]

Originally posted by: AnMig
I would do what compaq used to do.

Make a disk image, then when he messes up. Format and re-install image.

Tell him to insert boot disk disk (ghost or drive image) re-istall image to original position.
advice him to save documents pictures on a different partition.

less work for you.

I'll probably end up doing this too. I think some of you guys take for granted how much you know about computers. There would be no easy 10 minute explaination for this buddy of mine. He is right in the middle of college classes and doesn't care how a computer works, he just wants it to work. I was at his place over the weekend and he already managed to install those silly search bars in I.E. He doesn't even remember doing it! Thanks everyone for the posts.

 

[DavLucMac]

yeah, I run into this kind of person all the time being a college user and having a ton of friends who aren't geeks. A lot of people just don't give a rats a$$ how their computer works. As long as someone will come over and bail them out, they don't care if they do waste their computer with that crap.

Plenty of people have this problem in the retail environment. I've had people come into the store I used to work at, walk out with a computer and all me two hours later asking why the "foot pedal" (mouse) work, or that the "cup holder" (cd rom drive tray) snapped off when they placed their cup on it.

Those are two different groups of people. College users, and West Virginia/Valley folk. I had thought for a while that users should have to take an IQ test before they buy a computer... but that's just not the answer. This kind of user trying to use a computer is seriously what east up so much of retail manufacturer's resources dealing with.

We think of "user friendly" as something ENTIRELY different than most other people. I agree there should be a middle ground between education and protection... but I've learned that it really all boils down to the callbacks you'll get. Sometimes you've got to restrict them somewhat, and teach them at the same time.

I'd say make them a guest user... my whole family is. Even though I've explained stuff like this to them a few times... they just think I'm brilliant for understanding it. There's no effort to learn it for themselves.

Oh well
dav

 

[lowtech1]

Create a user account & tell him to use it as the main account. And, tell him the administrator account is use only when he need to install something.

 

[beatniks3]

Originally posted by: DavLucMac
yeah, I run into this kind of person all the time being a college user and having a ton of friends who aren't geeks. A lot of people just don't give a rats a$$ how their computer works. As long as someone will come over and bail them out, they don't care if they do waste their computer with that crap.

Plenty of people have this problem in the retail environment. I've had people come into the store I used to work at, walk out with a computer and all me two hours later asking why the "foot pedal" (mouse) work, or that the "cup holder" (cd rom drive tray) snapped off when they placed their cup on it.

Those are two different groups of people. College users, and West Virginia/Valley folk. I had thought for a while that users should have to take an IQ test before they buy a computer... but that's just not the answer. This kind of user trying to use a computer is seriously what east up so much of retail manufacturer's resources dealing with.

We think of "user friendly" as something ENTIRELY different than most other people. I agree there should be a middle ground between education and protection... but I've learned that it really all boils down to the callbacks you'll get. Sometimes you've got to restrict them somewhat, and teach them at the same time.

I'd say make them a guest user... my whole family is. Even though I've explained stuff like this to them a few times... they just think I'm brilliant for understanding it. There's no effort to learn it for themselves.

Oh well
dav

lol, great post. my friends and family have the same claims of brillance when they see how quickly i can get stuff done on a computer. but like everything else, there are degrees of brilliance right?