DescentBB

Password protect for XP

A friend using XP Home has some kids (family) that are getting on his computer w/o his permission.

Can he just password protect his admin user account?

There is only one user.

Will that do it w/o having to go into the BIOS or is there another way?

Obviously setting a password on the only user account is enough to keep amateurs from using the computer without your permission. It isn't unbreakable, but it is beyond the patience (and knowledge) of most kids.

Also, in some cases, if you don't have a pw'd profile on your system, you won't be able to network at a Lan. Windows considers it \"unsecured\" and shuts down local networking capabilities.

weird huh?

That only really applies to remote desktop and the c$ admin shares, irrelevant anyway because XP Home can't serve a remote desktop or admin shares (only Professional can).

If he creates a password for himself as the admin and uses the computer can he just logoff so the kids can't get on or does he have to turn off the computer when he's done.

Doesn't even have to log off if he doesn't want to, he can just hit the Windows key + L to lock the workstation.

You can even set the screen saver to require the password to unlock it after you have added the password to your act.

RC

Got'er done, thanks.

Krom wrote:That only really applies to remote desktop and the c$ admin shares, irrelevant anyway because XP Home can't serve a remote desktop or admin shares (only Professional can).

Very true ... Tho the user can get XP Home to serve the admin shares, but only after you essentially "turn them on" despite XP Home trying to convince you to not do it. As Krom knows, that's because XP Home doesn't have all the safeguards in place that XP Pro has.