How to lockdown Windows 7 for Kids

EricB1984 · 21 Feb 2012

I have windows 7 Ultimate 32bit on my mom's computer an eMachines Celeron 2GHz with 2 gig DDR2 memory. Machine runs fairly well; and is generally reliable. I have the spy bot search and destroy live running at all times, as well as Adaware live agent running at all times. I installed the virus software that Comcast gives you (think it's Norton). Although on my computer I generally don't need this stuff. There is family that goes to her house from time to time, including an 11 year old girl who has manages to destroy Mac OS 10.5, TWICE. What I am looking to do is have user accounts and every time they do ANYTHING my mother has to go over, and evaluate what is going on and type in a password. I tried this before with parental controls but still it didn't lock it down enough. This is the second time within a month that as soon as the computer comes up it is frozen. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated, Thank you.

Anak · 21 Feb 2012

Hi EricB1984, welcome to 7F! :)

Have you followed this: Parental Controls - Setup and Use
Take note of the box.

Tip

To help prevent your child or standard user from circumventing your Parental Control restrictions, you should make sure that all administrator accounts have strong passwords created for them. You should also enable the built-in Administrator account and create a strong password for it as well. This way they cannot use the built-in Administrator account to try and bypass Parental Controls as well.

Then: Parental Controls - Allow or Block Specific Programs

There are also related tutorials at the bottom of the Parental Controls Setup and Use tutorial.

EricB1984 · 21 Feb 2012

Although I feel like I remember going through all that before, I could be wrong; it was a while ago. I remember one of the problems I had, is that I don't like to run IE; and that was the only browser I had that I could disable downloads in.

EricB1984 · 21 Feb 2012

has anyone ever used this? WINSelect Standard It looks very useful, or would this be a bit extreme?

Anak · 21 Feb 2012

I have never used it, but as long as you, and your Mother understand it, and know how to work with it it should be okay.

No matter what you choose, do not forget to copy, and save any/all passwords, and it would not hurt to have an image or clone of your Mother's eMachine.

Extreme would be to deny any access to her machine except for you.

EricB1984 · 21 Feb 2012

Right, that's why she will have the Admin account and any passwords. Every time this family is there I have to use log me in from 20 some miles away to fix at least one computer and I am tired of having to reinstall. I have all of her pictures and other files on backup but the only other stuff in there is printer software and office.

Fred Garvin · 21 Feb 2012

If Anak's suggestions don't lock down the user profile enough, you could also create Windows Group Policies and enforce them on the user account you're trying to restrict. In the Win 7 search box, type gpedit.msc and click on the Group Policy editor. You might want to do a little Googling on enabling certain GPs.

Anak · 21 Feb 2012

That is a good idea Fred. Being as I have Home Premium I am not in the habit of using Group Policy.

Group Policy - Apply to a Specific User or Group

As before look to the bottom of the tutorial for more options.