How to keep Kids from installing junk?

[PropNut]

OK ive about had it with my kids installing every little game demo,screen saver etc....my 20 gig HD is about 80% full of crap...So this is my plan im going to reformat and clean everything off then install my stuff...but what i would like to do is somehow lock the system from un-supervised installations.. Now can some one tell me how is the best way to do this, is there some good software ..or maybe freeware to do this..any help is appreciated
Thank You PropNut

 

[nuttervm]

are you using win98 or nt/2k? it would be easier with nt/2k but i think it can be done with 98 too. answer that and we'll work from there.

 

[Jugernot]

Heh, why don't you just tell them not to install anything? If they do, they get punished. No internet for a week or something.

 

[micron]

Good idea Jugernot .

 

[Ladi]

I like Jugernot's idea.

In NT/2K, you can set up user accounts for each limiting their permissions. There are some lockdown-type apps for 9x systems such as FolderLock might work just as well. Search places like download.com or DaveCentral for other solutions.

Barring that, perhaps *limiting* their installations (give each a 1 gig or so partition to play with..they are responsible for that space and if they install somewhere else, they lose privileges) would work as a compromise.

~Ladi

 

[Shudder]

I like the Win2k logon process. Just have to make sure to log off yourself when you're done, but that should be good enough.

Too bad it's not like Linux, then you could really set up how much space they have to work with.

 

[poopaskoopa]

my abit board(bf6) comes with a power-on password feature that requires the user to type the password just to power up. it's awesome. make sure your kids don't know how to clear the cmos!

 

[radiocore]

go with win2k

 

[Cosmic_Horror]

the best way, (and the way i and my younger brother learn to look after hard drive space) is to give them a certain amount of space. eg say 1Gb each. Once they go over this limit they must remove anything.

Our first computer was a 386sx-20 with 80Mb hard drive. My brother and i had 2Mbs each and there was an aditional 10Mbs for games (shared).You wouldn't believe how much we wield and deal to borrow 500kbs just to install that new game when we where over total! LOL

 

[vi edit]

use poledit...Poledit intall guide

 

[ET]

Depending on what you like to run, just install Win NT 4. No Direct3D stuff will run, and they'll quickly learn to stay off the computer

Just kidding. I think that Win2K is the better solution.