Limiting user account to certain programs

jay-me

Hi I have created two accounts on my computer one is an admin account for installing stuff another is a limited account for playing games both are password protected to stop the kids playing games when they like but I want to have a third account with no password for educational purposes. My question is how do I prevent them from running games on this one (including pinball and solitare etc) and just educational programmes like encarta or maevis beacon etc.
Any help much appreciated thanx

Asok

You could change the file permissions on the games .exe's and only allow the two passoworded accounts access.

jay-me

How would I do that?
The machine is xp home btw
cheers

zilog_jones

jay-me wrote:

How would I do that?
The machine is xp home btw
cheers

Right click on the executable (go to "Find Target" on the shortcut properties if you dunno where it is), Properties, Security, remove Users off the list and add just the accounts that you want to be able to access the programs (if they're not already on the list). Alternately, add the kids' user account to the list and check "Deny" for "Full Control".

jay-me

This doesn't work on XP Home there is no security tab.

jay-me

I have found a possible solution to my problem but I'm not sure how it works I have created a share on one of the folders in program files denied access to all but admins yet limited accounts still can access said folder and execute everything within.

This is the possible solution
1. Click on the start button
2. Then run
3. Type shrpubw
4. Chose the folder whose permissions you want to change and give the share a name
5. Click next, now you can chose custom if you want to have full options.

swingking

I have a similar problem except I was wondering if there is a way to assign a password to certain programs rather than have to create several users.

I have a laptop that everyone in my house uses. That's fine.
Except I have personal emails and files on microsoft outlook

Can I assign a password to Microsoft Outlook

I am using Microsoft XP Pro

mick.fr

Upgrade to Vista and use the parental control. It is brilliant.
I have seen it on Ultimate but it is not available on Enterprise and Business Editions, so I guess the only other Vista with this feature is Home Premium.

Otherwise you have a lot of "parental control" softwares available for XP, just google it.

jay-me

I have seen in colleges and schools, not to mention internet cafe's in the past that administrators have the ability to prevent users using programs. So it is possible to do. Does anyone else have an idea how to do it?
Thanx

jay-me

Bump

mick.fr

jay-me wrote:

I have seen in colleges and schools, not to mention internet cafe's in the past that administrators have the ability to prevent users using programs. So it is possible to do. Does anyone else have an idea how to do it?
Thanx

Yes they use 3rd party program like already mentionned.

Cyber Cafe softwares are sometimes really powerful with a lot of lock down features.
On a Windows Home Edition you do not have the possibility to use all the lock down features you could use from an XP Pro within a Windows Domain for example.

I cant help you out in the choice of a proper software, but google might help you.
This is what I found for example on Google.
http://kids-computer.qarchive.org/

Good luck

Capt'n Midnight

jay-me wrote:

I have seen in colleges and schools, not to mention internet cafe's in the past that administrators have the ability to prevent users using programs. So it is possible to do. Does anyone else have an idea how to do it?
Thanx

CACLS is a command line utility to assign permissions
It's been around since NT 3.5

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/cacls.mspx?mfr=true
use quotes if the username/groupname or file/folder has a space in it.

use /E to edit the permissions rather than change them

jay-me

Thank you both for replys much appreciated.