Idiot/Kid Proof Computer

R

RBremen

n00b
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Jan 1, 2006
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Any ideas on the best way to idiot/kid proof a system? I'm working on a friend's system which commonly gets screwed up do to kids/neighbors (don't ask...). I've thought about the following

1. Creating at least two accounts, one with admin privleges and another for the family with very limited privelges.
2. Removable hard drive cages...he get's one and the family gets another

Anthing else that I might have missed? I'm also going to create a backup iso and hide it on a partition. I have also thought about incorporating system restore as an option. Just tyring to get an idea and see if any one or a mix of them will work best.

Thanks,
Bremen
 
Easy.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sharedaccess/default.mspx

This will make your computer indestructible. Basically, it lets you lock down accounts, restore the OS when rebooted while removing any changes (unless you authorize the changes) and it actually works.

You need to have some un partitioned free hard drive space (not just unformatted, but unpartitioned, for the restore image)
 
hungryduck said:
maybe not letting random neighborhood kids use the system?
Click to expand...

I think I will have to agree with you, buddy. Why do random neighborhood kids use it?!
 
AMD[H]unter said:
I think I will have to agree with you, buddy. Why do random neighborhood kids use it?!
Click to expand...

That's irrelevant anymore, not even a concern. MS has some cool shiz out just for that.

Use the shared computer toolkit and you could even leave it in a mall to be used by strangers and the OS will be the same as the way you left it.
 
Unless you get rootkits and they change your kernels at the root level perhaps...?

The last time some fool disabled my security and a rootkit dropper got in, I wasn't even able to reformat...

The restoration process can't help much if the main program has already been rewritten (including the restoration program itself!), huh?

I would say something about you being a Bose lover and now this, but I'll jsut leave...
 
I was thinking of the Deep Freeze software but the MS stuff will prolly do. Of course all you may need is just putting them on guest accounts.
 
Guest account aren't all that great for what he's wanting. My sister's sisterr-in-law still managed to instal AOL crap through the guest account on her computer.
 
The removable HDD cages is a good idea. I have a Lian-Li caddy system but I'm not using it curently as it is IDE and I'm moving to SATAII but they are great for keeping OS's intact from each other. There are lots of things you can do to lock down an OS but it all depends on how much you want to limit their use. You could set it up in kiosk mode so they can do hardly anything and only visit websites you specify. You can setup kiosk mode with the Opera web browser for free or you can buy 3rd party apps to do it. A friend and I set up three XP computers in kiosk mode that are used by the general public and you can't do anything on them except visit the one business website. But that is probably overkill for your friend. If he installs XP Pro on the HDD used by the kids you can use the policy editor to stop access to many functions on both the limited user and guest accounts.

A friend just had a similar problem with his kids and their computer. One of them had downloaded 5gb of porn and made the folder hidden. The ruse was up when the computer kept crashing because there was no space left on their small 20gb HDD so the porn was found. My sister won't even let her 15 yr old son use the computer anymore for similar behavior. They keep the computer room locked.
 
I'm in favor of the lockdown accounts idea. Also, since this computer is at a high risk for viruses, don't use System Restore...leave that crap disabled.
 
BBA said:
Use the shared computer toolkit and you could even leave it in a mall to be used by strangers and the OS will be the same as the way you left it.
Click to expand...
I tried this once and when I came back at the end of the day my computer was gone!
 
So, this one day I was walking through the mall and just saw this computer sitting there.....

Sorry, someone had to do it :)
 
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