How do i deterr roomates from using my computer?

[Giscardo]

Hi I want to keep my roomates from using my computer when I'm not at home. They come on here and use AIM, close programs i have open, browse the web, download songs into folders with *THEIR OWN NAME* like it's their freakin computer. I have password protected windows logon but one roomate pestered me until i gave him the password. I don't think he will ever understand how it is with geeks (at least with me, i can't stand other people using my computer when i'm not there).

So is there anything i can do to make it really hard for him to use my comp when i'm not there, or make him unable to use it? But without making it obvious that I did it on purpose? I know it's a weird request but please help

 

[gopunk]

man you should just tell him how you feel, and put a bootup password on.

or you can start using a dvorak keyboard.

 

[Heisenberg]

What OS? Set up a guest account and change your account's password.

 

[CraigRT]

I CANNOT stand ppl using my machine.. unless I am there.... cause if I am not. they may create files or folders that I do not want there... my god it's so annoying. agh!

you know what i'd do? it goes a lil' somethin' like this...:

"STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM MY DAMN COMPUTER!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[N8Magic]

<< What OS? Set up a guest account and change your account's password. >>



Agreed.

Even though my roommates all have their own computer, they use mine to burn CDs occasionally. I have my admin account, and they have an account to burn CDs. Saves lots of arguements.

 

[Giscardo]

Windows XP is the OS. He doesn't have his own computer. He is otherwise a good friend but wouldn't understand if i told him not to use my computer. His personality is the type that would stop being friends with me if i said that, and that's not something I want to happen, esp. since we live together and are good friends.

 

[fatbaby]

Make sign that says: This computer is insured by smith & wesson. If anyone other than the designated user is caught operating this computer...(glue shotgun shell on sign)

 

[Masas]

just take the power supply cable where ever you go.

 

[weezergirl]

unplug the computer when you're not home. maybe they'll be stupid and think it's broken or something.

install linux on your comp if they are not very computer literate maybe the new OS will scare them off hehe.

my roommates use my comp when i'm not home as well but they try to do it so it looks like they didn't. sometimes they even erase my internet history as if i didn' tknow they did it! heheh. it's ok tho, i don't really mind

 

[jimmyhaha]

BIOS password ? anyone ...

unless he take out the battery of the motherboard...

ask him to buy one himself or ask him to go to lab..

 

[CaptainGoodnight]

Get a keylogger and start taking their passwords

 

[ElFenix]

superglue on the keyboard.

 

[Ameesh]

install xp and give them their own user accounts and enable fast user switching give them guest access and you'll be fine.

 

[Instagib]

<< install xp and give them their own user accounts and enable fast user switching give them guest access and you'll be fine. >>

 

[frankqfrank]

swift kick to the head

 

[toant103]

don't give him the pw............

 

[CrazyDe1]

I had a roommate freshman year who used to do all sorts of gay sh1t to my computer. First of all he ditched aw eek straight to play the sims. Then he got on aim all the time when I wanted to use my computer...so I bet him that he couldn't stay off aim for a month...10 bucks...and I kept givin him crap that he couldn't do it. Well, he stayed off aim. Just to list a few things he'd do to my computer:

1. Got the mousepad all sweaty to the point where u could see dark sweat stains.
2. Installed a damn critter on my desktop..so whenever you'd do stuff there'd be some gay critter walkin around.
3. Opened a vbs file and installed a virus...I had to reformat and reinstall win98 instead of win95 cuase my network wouldn't work again.
4. Download the gayest yanni songs ever...and play them nonstop.
5. Start playing mp3s at 8 in the morning and I'd hear the same song at 1 in the afternoon when I woke up.
6. Install everythign he found on the network because he wanted to see what it did.
7. Eat, and get my keyboard all greasy.
8. Download all sorts of gay games and play them all day...when I didn't want him installing stuff.

SO anyways, I told him 3 warnings..if he f*cked it up 3 times I'd ban him. So he screwed up 3 times and I started chargin him by the 10 minute increment to use my computer...dollar every 10 minutes...well needless to say...he didn't use it anymore

 

[toant103]

oh yeah,


that's why i have 2 machine in my room. One for me, the fast one of course, and a 450MHz for my guest.

 

[apoppin]

Your roommates? Talk to them . . . tell them what you are telling us.

And tell then you are going to password-protect your computer - you only allow them to use it when you are there.

 

[rubix]

i suggest a full screen goatse picture for the desktop

 

[Yzzim]

Glue pubic hair to the keyboard/mouse

 

[EXman]

Sell it!

 

[PsychoAndy]

screensaver with password
guest user
bios password
taking the keyboard and mouse with you when you leave
(this is an oldie but a goodie) taking a key and locking the keyboard out (damn i feel old)
removing the power cable to the machine and taking it with you

 

[blahblah99]

Basically what others have said:

1. Bios password at power on
2. Windows logon password (w2k, xp).
3. Guest account with restricted access (browsing, running software only, no downloading, no storage, no installs), restrict program access
4. Screensaver password
5. Keylogging software that logs keystroke and tell them every keystroke is logged.
6. Keyboard lock
7. Computer lock
8. Take power cables with you
9. Take the video cable with you

And finally, communicate with him! Tell him you don't want them using your computer to store stuff on there or close programs that you have running. Let them know what's ok for them to do on your computer and what's not ok and if they are your friends they should respect that. And if they still insist on using your computer, make it annoying for them to use your computer. Give them guest accounts but restrict all activities besides web browsing. Add a pass to your bios at startup so you know if they resetted your computer (or try to hack out the admin password, etc etc).

 

[Ken g6]

Run SETI@Home for Team Anandtech. When you're not using the machine, bump the process priority from idle to high, using task manager or something like Another Task Manager on Win9x. Then everything will run so slow your roommate won't want to bother! And it shouldn't take more than a minute to bring it back to idle.