XP Home passwords..

[mb26]

on XP home i can password my account, but anyone else with a 'computer administrator' account can delete my password, giving them access to my account and files!

i would like to know if there is a program, like Winsecure , (it brings up a password screen upon startup and stops u accessing the computer unlesss the correct password is inputed) - however winsecure does not work under windows xp!

it does not have to be perfect, as no computer-geniuses have (physical) access to my computer,

any help would be greatly appreciated!

[TwoRails]

Just a though, but if this is your computer and you are concerned (as many are, including me) of tampering, then set up the other accounts as limited. Then only you can control the computer. It's also a good way to help protect novice users from themselves until they learn a little.

[mb26]

well that is what i would like to do but it is not possible as the other users need to be able to install programs etc, so i figured a 'start up' password utility would solve the problem...

i think i've found a couple though after looking on download.com (searching for 'password protect', unfortunately they are limited/ pay, but i'm sure i'll sort that out)

[doctorgonzo]

I don't know if the solution you have found will actually solve your problem. Either the other accounts are administrator accounts or they aren't. If they aren't, then there is no problem. If they are, then a utility that asks for a password won't do any good, because they are going to have to know the password to use the PC, right?

[PMich]

I believe that is the purpose of the power users group. They can install programs and such but cannot access others accounts.

[mb26]

doctorgonzo; they are administrator accounts, and i would have the program, which asks for a password, to start up upon my logging on (so they can log on to their own account fine)

and PMich .. i dont think XP Home has a 'power users' category, its either 'computer administrator' or 'limited' (can't install, use control pannel etc)

[Doobie]

Originally posted by mb26
doctorgonzo; they are administrator accounts, and i would have the program, which asks for a password, to start up upon my logging on (so they can log on to their own account fine)

and PMich .. i dont think XP Home has a 'power users' category, its either 'computer administrator' or 'limited' (can't install, use control pannel etc)

Bare with me a little since im using windows in spanish so words will difer.

1. Click on My PC on desktop or start menu with right mouse button.

2. Click Manage

3. click on local user or group

4. click on users

5. double click on the user you want to change

6. click on middle tab (it should say member of, something like that)

7. click add

8. click advanced

9. then search

10. select advanced user from bottom

11. click ok

12. click ok again

13. delete administrador

14. click ok

that should be it...they should have an advanced account now.

[doctorgonzo]

I understand, but you have your own account passworded already, right? If so, then how is adding another password going to solve anything? If other people don't know your password already, adding another one won't improve security.

[mb26]

Doobie, i got to the computer manager but there is nothing to select 'local user or group' or a 'users' section? .. all there is is; System Tools, Storage, and, Services and Applications.

doctorgonzo, the whole problem was that computer administrators can delete the password of another computer administrator, allowing them to logon to any account.
with another passwording program, they cannot remove the password (atleast not without messing with the regisrty which they dont know about) and if they delete my windows password with control panel, and try to log onto my account, then they would be greeted with a password and not able to use my logon or access my files.

[doctorgonzo]

Okay, I see what you are trying to do. If they are sophisticated enough to delete your password, though, they are probably sophisticated enough to know where to look for another password program. Also, if they are administrators, they can access your folders and files whether they are logged in as you or as themselves.

[PMich]

If you go into the user section you can highlight individual accounts and change their properties assuming that you are an administrator. If you change the people who are administrators whose access you want to limit to power users then they can still install programs but cannot alter other users accounts.

edit - I am doing this as if it were in win2K seeing as how I am on my 2K machine right now. I will check my XP home machine when I get home to make sure this can be done in a similar fashion.

[MulderMan]

with xp home any user level can change passwords in command prompt with the 'net user' command if your farmiliar with it.

[mb26]

doctorgonzo, 'computer administrator' accounts in XP home cannot access files in documents and settings\[username] on other c/a users (where 'keep my files private' (or something to that effect) option is checked) - this covers my documents, desktop etc.

therefore i can place the 'passwording program' within my section of documents and settings, meaning it doesn't exist as far as any other user is concerned - they cannot delete it or run it, and wouldnt know it was there.. and anyway, i dont think the other users of my PC would check program files folders anyway!

i repeat..
'and PMich .. i dont think XP Home has a 'power users' category, its either 'computer administrator' or 'limited' (can't install, use control pannel etc)' maybe XP pro has power users but Home is all or nothing.

and finally, MulderMan;
well no one is that advanced who'd have access to my PC, so its not really relevant, but thanks anyway its a good thing to knowr:D

[PMich]

Woops, missed that in your previous post. You are correct though, that is not an option here. My apologies.

[Strider]

Originally posted by mb26
doctorgonzo, 'computer administrator' accounts in XP home cannot access files in documents and settings\[username] on other c/a users (where 'keep my files private' (or something to that effect) option is checked) - this covers my documents, desktop etc.

therefore i can place the 'passwording program' within my section of documents and settings, meaning it doesn't exist as far as any other user is concerned - they cannot delete it or run it, and wouldnt know it was there.. and anyway, i dont think the other users of my PC would check program files folders anyway!

i repeat..
'and PMich .. i dont think XP Home has a 'power users' category, its either 'computer administrator' or 'limited' (can't install, use control pannel etc)' maybe XP pro has power users but Home is all or nothing.

and finally, MulderMan;
well no one is that advanced who'd have access to my PC, so its not really relevant, but thanks anyway its a good thing to knowr:D

Not to make you parnoid but a person really doesn't have to be all the advanced to get a password nowadays, all they have to do is watch TechTV. Here's an link to an episode that I watched just recently : http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/darktips/story/0,24330,3602921,00.html
I just goes to show that no system is really secure, but in order to make it secure as possible make sure you use passwords that make it difficult and maybe totally impossible to get.

[mb26]

strider, yes i know luckily the people with access to the PC dont really have much interest in PCs.. or atleast not in manipulating them or whatever u would call it.. it definitely wouldn't be got past..