How to "granny" proof a pc?

JPMiller · July 2nd, 2007, 11:59 PM

I did some searches, but I cant seem to find what I'm looking for...
I remember reading about a way to "lock" an account so that things can't be moved or added to the desktop, or that at least on a re-boot it would revert back to before the changes were made...
I have an 80 yr old grandma that loves regular old generic microsoft solitaire...
I built a lowend box that really has little else installed...
XP pro, and a few tweaking and security apps, even though its not hooked up to internet...
Every time I come over theres 50 "shortcut to Solitaire " icons on the desktop, and she somehow manages to lose the taskbar ...
I know I can create a limited account, but that doesnt solve the majority of issues.
I used to have a link or an article that specifically addressed this type of issue

EXreaction · July 3rd, 2007, 12:29 AM

What about having her use Ubuntu?

IIRC, it has a few games like that on the live disk, so you wouldn't need to install the OS, and nothing would be saved...

JPMiller · July 3rd, 2007, 01:00 AM

I'm keeping that open as an option, but I really want to find the article/link that explains what I want from XP..

EXreaction · July 3rd, 2007, 01:11 AM

If you find something let me know what it is, I am interested as well.

**GroundZero3** · July 3rd, 2007, 07:09 AM

Go to start, run, command then type gpedit.msc

http://aplawrence.com/Blog/B1166.html

JPMiller · July 3rd, 2007, 03:42 PM

Thanks for the link GZ...
But I'll be honest...
Thats a little more complicated than I was hoping for...
If I were to do enough reading ( and comprehending) I would most likely find what I want to do, to lock down the desktop, But I'm truly hoping theres an easier way...

TrendyMartini · July 3rd, 2007, 04:26 PM

There is plenty of software available that will help you achieve what you want to do, most of it shareware.

Here is one example:
http://www.pc-safety.com/lockmc.html

If all she does is play solitaire, maybe you should just have it load at start up, so she doesn't have to click anything!

JPMiller · July 3rd, 2007, 07:03 PM

Thanks TM...
I'll try that...
Trouble is the minute I get this all set up she'll want to try other games as well...

I did give GZ's option a try... and I locked up somew access and changes to the taskbar ect...
I just remember reading an article on this ecxact subject and how they made it so any changes would ]revert on reboot...
And it would stop the ability to make duplicate shortcuts...
It was awhile back and I probably saved the link... but I have nearly a hundred subfolders of links and some are now dead...
So I've been sifting through the most likely candidates, to no avail

shizzzon · July 3rd, 2007, 07:23 PM

Horizon Datasys

That company has all the software that would work perfect for your situation.

Lockdown software, Rollback security...

JPMiller · January 28th, 2008, 03:13 PM

Bump