How to prevent guest computer users from deleting history

Is the guest using Your account or a specific "guest account "?

You can tie down a specific user account quite well but if the guest is using Your account, You will tie down Yourself as well.

Christer

 

Well, the history will be deleted after a ceratin number of days. The setting is in IE > Tools > Options > General tab > History and the maximum appears to be 99 days. After that, the history will be ammended automatically.

You can, however, prevent manual deletion of the history through the Clear-button. This is done by editing the registry which is always risky business. I personally use Norton Ghost for backup and have no fears but if You don't have any backup of Your system ...... ...... thread carefully and always create a backup of the registry prior to modifying.

The safest way is to get an utility which does the job for You and I believe that Tweaking Toolbox XP will do it.

If not, there is a site which discusses a number of tweaks and reg edits:

WinGuides Software Network

There are quite a few reg edits to "tie down" an account and the one You are looking for is on:

Internet Explorer Control Panel Restrictions (Part 1)

Do the "history" thing.

Christer

 

...... and I forgot ...... :

If You'd like to create a separate Guest account, this is how it's done:

First of all, there is a Guest account which is created by default and it is also deactivated by default. DON'T USE THAT ONE, CREATE A NEW ONE.

To create a new account, go to Control panel > User accounts > Create a new account and name it anything but "GUEST ". When it comes to account type, make it limited and leave the password blank (if that is according to Your wish).

However, when logged in to a limited account, You cannot make any changes in the registry. This seems like a catch 22 situation but if You temporarily change the new account to an administrator, You can do the reg editing and then change it back to limited. You do the changing in Control panel > User accounts but DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE TO CHANGE A SINGLE ACCOUNT TO LIMITED ...... ...... there must be at least one account with administrator privileges!

I would also go to Control panel > Administrative tools > Management > Local users and groups > Users and right-click the new account and choose properties. Here I would check the box for "user cannot change the password" and "password never expires ".

Otherwise Your guests may have a good time seeing You pulling Your hair out ...... ...... !

Christer

 

dolphin,
You're welcome ...... ...... I only hope I'm not getting You into trouble!

Christer

 

Newt,
thanks for that information!

I have never been that deep into the innards of XP-home.

I wonder why there is a difference in this respect between pro and home. Would it be good advice to tell home users to disable that Guest account and create a new one if the want to use a "Guest" account?

Christer