Mom Needs Help with Teenager overriding Password

[SuperMom]

Hi There!

I was just wandering if anyone could help me with a problem. My 16 year old daughter has watched a video on you tube on how to override the password I have on windows so she can get into the computer. She actually is able to find out what all the passwords are even though I clear the history and temp folders in internet options. I have windows 7 and Vista. Yes I have change the password to the network so she cant get to the web but is there anyway that I can possible stop her when the computer first comes on? It looks like the information comes up on the hard drive, and I cant keep totally disconnecting the desk top it's to much work. I could be wrong but she sure did get in last night as the administrator(And that's me) She even told me Mom there nothing to fix it(Yeah okay lets see about that.



I know most of the individuals on here are Computer Savvy so perhaps you can give me some insight. PLEASE

P.S. No I can beat her its not allowed in California

 

[Brink]

Hello SuperMom, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you have Windows 7 Ultimate, then one option would be to turn on Bitlocker Encryption for your Windows 7 drive with a USB flash key. Afterwards you will have to have the USB flash key that contains the startup key in order to be able to unlock and startup Wnidows 7.

This way you can keep the USB key with you when you do not want her to have access.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Shootist]

I don't have Windows 7 Ultimate but only Windows 7 Professional and Vista can I do this with those Operating Systems? Thanks in advance for any additional information Brink!!

Personally I think it's time to stop talking to her and give her a swift KICK in the BUTT.

Other then that there are always ways to get around Windows Passwords. there are even links on this site on ways to reset passwords.

Personally I think that is a bad idea. Screw the people that forget their password.

Just MHO.

Good luck.

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Hi there,

Read this and see if that helps
Web Security: Tips to Protect Kids Online | Microsoft Protect and Windows Live Family Safety 2011
Put a password for Build-in admin
Gave her access to Standard account

 

[SuperMom]

Thanks Jack Sparrow. I will read up on it but shes that good,makes me angry she has is a standard user and when she overrides the system she goes in as the administration and changes the settings in Windows family security. I'll keep trying but thanks for letting me know

 

[DarkXeno]

Well I hate to say this one but you can go to the extreme and see if your machine has an option in BIOS for a power on password. So once the machine is turned on it ask for your password before it even boots.

 

[SuperMom]

Well I hate to say this one but you can go to the extreme and see if your machine has an option in BIOS for a power on password. So once the machine is turned on it ask for your password before it even boots.

Dark is this something legal and is there a website for it with windows? I will attempt anything at this point

 

[Jacee]

If she can't follow the rules, then she shouldn't be allowed to use your computer!

Unplug the power cords from the machines and the wall, then take them with you. :devil:

 

[DarkXeno]

Well I hate to say this one but you can go to the extreme and see if your machine has an option in BIOS for a power on password. So once the machine is turned on it ask for your password before it even boots.

Dark is this something legal and is there a website for it with windows? I will attempt anything at this point

Its legal, you just need to make sure you have the option on your computer, it all depends on the make of the machine. When the machine boots ie before you see the Windows logo, enter into BIOS by using the correct key for HPs its f10, Dells its F2, most computers its DEL you just have to watch the screen when it boots.
There you will need to look for the option. If you tell us the kind of machine you have we can give you more detail instructions. I know with the people here we have seen tons of computer setups so we should be able to walk you threw it.

 

[DarkXeno]

If she can't follow the rules, then she shouldn't be allowed to use your computer!

Unplug the power cords from the machines and the wall, then take them with you. :devil:

You know what I like this way a lot more then my original idea.

 

[Bongo]

Unplug the power cords from the machines and the wall, then take them with you. :devil:

I was thinking that too


As a last resort you can update to Windows 7 Ultimate to do what Brink said in Step two
Jerry

 

[Imperfect1]

I don't have any suggestions or words of wisdom for you SuperMom (sorry!), but I just wanted to give you some support and a hug for all the frustration you're going through with your teenage daughter. I hope, perhaps, in addition to all the good suggestions by the other posters, you can find some way to reason with her, and/or find some workable motivation for her to respect your wishes and your computer. Good luck, and come back and let us know how you're doing!

 

[Shootist]

Well I hate to say this one but you can go to the extreme and see if your machine has an option in BIOS for a power on password. So once the machine is turned on it ask for your password before it even boots.

I agree with this option. ALL PC that I ahve ever used have had a option in the BIOS setup section to enable a BOOT Security password. Without that password the system will not load ANY OS.

The one drawback to this is IF you lose (forget) the password some systems become door stops. IE there is no way to reset it or remove it.

But then some systems have a way to clear the BIOS BOOT password by removing the RTC/BIOS battery and changing a jumper. But to do that you must get to the physical insides of the PC.

 

[brady]

You'll have to Drive lock... Other than that, there is nothing you can do that she can't get around (other than taking the pc with you everywhere you go)

Drive lock is disk level passwording/encrypting.


And Yes: Bios Passwording is easily removed (2 minutes tops)

edit 2 : Only available on ultimate and enterprise versions of win 7

 

[gregrocker]

If you create for her a Standard User account in Control Panel>User Accounts, then give your own Administrative account a strong password, the only way she can access your account is if she has a keylogger on the machine. You can check that in Control Panel>Programs and Features.

Then go here and set up the boundaries (Click to enlarge):

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Jacee does have a good idea.

The only issue with a BIOS pw is if 'mom' forgets it, she's done too.

 

[GEWB]

Well, power cords are cheap or can be "borrowed" from other devices.

My first thought is to use a product like TrueCrypt:

Free open-source disk encryption software for Windows 7/Vista/XP, Mac OS X, and Linux
Main Features:

* Creates a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mounts it as a real disk.

* Encrypts an entire partition or storage device such as USB flash drive or hard drive.

* Encrypts a partition or drive where Windows is installed (pre-boot authentication).

* Encryption is automatic, real-time (on-the-fly) and transparent.

* Parallelization and pipelining allow data to be read and written as fast as if the drive was not encrypted.

* Encryption can be hardware-accelerated on modern processors.


See:

TrueCrypt - Free Open-Source On-The-Fly Disk Encryption Software for Windows 7/Vista/XP, Mac OS X and Linux

Maximum PC | How To: Encrypt Your Entire Hard Drive The Easy Way Using TrueCrypt

Regards,
GEWB

 

[SuperMom]

If she can't follow the rules, then she shouldn't be allowed to use your computer!

Unplug the power cords from the machines and the wall, then take them with you. :devil:

Been there she has no access to the laptop,but when I'm not home the desktop is still here. Can lug that with me everyday. My poor husband has just given up at this point,but you know Mothers wont go down without a fight:devil:

 

[SuperMom]

Well I hate to say this one but you can go to the extreme and see if your machine has an option in BIOS for a power on password. So once the machine is turned on it ask for your password before it even boots.

Dark is this something legal and is there a website for it with windows? I will attempt anything at this point

Its legal, you just need to make sure you have the option on your computer, it all depends on the make of the machine. When the machine boots ie before you see the Windows logo, enter into BIOS by using the correct key for HPs its f10, Dells its F2, most computers its DEL you just have to watch the screen when it boots.
There you will need to look for the option. If you tell us the kind of machine you have we can give you more detail instructions. I know with the people here we have seen tons of computer setups so we should be able to walk you threw it.

I have a first generation dell XPS running Vista. I'm all game for anything

 

[SuperMom]

I don't have any suggestions or words of wisdom for you SuperMom (sorry!), but I just wanted to give you some support and a hug for all the frustration you're going through with your teenage daughter. I hope, perhaps, in addition to all the good suggestions by the other posters, you can find some way to reason with her, and/or find some workable motivation for her to respect your wishes and your computer. Good luck, and come back and let us know how you're doing!

Thank you Imperfect1!! I need it!!