keeping teenagers out

[drb46]

My friend has a win98 machine that was given to her. Every time I go and get it running right, then later the teenage kids of the person who gave her the machine come over and screw up the settings again. Does anyone have any ideas about how to allow them to use the machine, but not change the settings.

I've never dealt with this problem before. Thanks.

[catacon]

I believe you can setup password protected accounts in 98. Im just sure how to do this, but see if you can find that.

[glc]

It's pathetically simple to bypass security in 98. Recommend an upgrade to 2000 or XP.

[Digitalic]

I agree that W98 is a joke when it comes to security. If you want to stay with that OS, still allow teenagers or anyone else on it and still be able to revert to a prvious state before the changes try installing Norton Go Back.

It`s around $40-50 or less if you shop around, easy to use and works like a charm.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Just use the password protection in the BIOS.

Make sure you NEVER forget that password, tho, for the only way to remove it is to reset the BIOS by opening the PC and removing the battery for a few minutes.

[sdkfz]

If the case can be locked - look for two metal loops on the case at the rear on the side that comes off - then put the password on the BIOS - write it on a something that you can tape to the insde of the case and then close it up and lock it. It sounds like the teenager is likely to know how to get around a BIOS password so your only sure fire way is to both add the password and lock up the case.

[GaryRouth]

. . . one other thing to test:

glc reminded me of this on a similiar thread recently = while many Bios passwords are necessary for the machine to proceed with the startup, *some* bios passwords merely keep the user from altering Bios Settings.

You could test your system to see which kind it is, or it might say one way or another in a text next to that setting in the Bios Setup screens.

Those little locks used to be common - we'd have folks at the lab forget either where they put the key, or their password (so you'll want copies of both!).

. . . Gary