means of deactivating computer use

I've got a friend who is selling computers in a small town.
customers pay part and not the rest.
they sure know how to call him when they are having problems.
any simple way of entering a means into the computers (Win 98) so that theya re deactivated if payment is not made within a given time period and new code not entered ?

 

Your friend cannot do this remote or local.
A solid, signed contract and the law is the only way.
Anything installed on the PC can be easily "undone ".
regards

 

Has he considered Small Claims Court? Yes, I know...it's a small town and he doesn't want to "make people mad. "

I live in a tiny town, too, (pop. 950) and I know what happens when you get legal. The people who get taken to court get really angry. They usually won't tell anybody, though, because they're embarrassed about being dragged to court over non-payment. They may never do business with him again but they don't pay their bills so it's not going to be a big loss.

However, even though the person involved usually won't say anything out of embarassment, word does get out in a small town. The end result is that everybody else will think twice before "putting off" paying your friend. I know it works...I had to get legal over a bill about 15 years ago. Haven't had a problem since, even with some of the worst "late payers" in town.