User Accounts & Custom Desktops

I just installed Windows XP Pro. I was under the impression that I could tailor each users profile to only show specific programs. I have children in the home and I am trying to restrict them from certain items in teh Control Panel, Media Player, IE, etc. Can this be done while XP is installed using the FAT32 Partition?

 

Have you looked at the options available for customizing the desktop?
1.Right-click the desktop and click Properties.
2. Click the Desktop tab.
3. Click Customize desktop.
4.Click the General tab, and then click the icon(s) that you want to place on the desktop.
5. Click OK.

For the control panel part of it, easiest is probably to disallow the control panel shell and simiply put shortcuts to any components you want them to use.

For the rest, if you can't do what you want with the "customize desktop" section, post back specifically what you want to do.

 

In Windows XP there are two different types of accounts; Administrator's and Limited. Administrators are allowed to install software, make system wide changes, etc. Limited accounts on the other hand are restricted in what they are permitted to do, especially as it applies to making system wide changes.

XP requires that at least one account be an Administrator Account. This should be your account and it should be password protected to prevent anyone else from making changes to it. Your children can each be given their own accounts, or a joint account that they share, whichever you perfer, just make sure that they only have limited rights.

After a new account is created you will note that the desktop contains only the Icon for the recycle bin. As the administrator you need to decide what programs and shortcuts will be accessable to each user. Some of this is done at the desktop while some of it is done through each users Start Menu.

Each users has their own folders for Desktop, Start Menu, Cookies, Temporary Internet Files, Temp folder, History, etc. To see the folders associated with each account open Windows Explorer, and navagate to My Computer, Drive C:, Documents and Settings. Also be aware that some of these folders are hidden by default, i.e.; Internet Explorer, Temp folder, etc. To see all folders click on the Tools menu, Folder Options, click on the View tab and select "Show Hidden Files & Folders ".

In addition to each account being listed under Documents and Settings, you should also see one named All Users. This is a good place to stick those Start Menu Items and Icons that you want all users to be able to see and access without having to copy them to each users own folders.

To learn more about setting up and using Accounts open Control Panel, click on User Accounts, and then click on three titles listed under "Learn About ". Each of these three brief articles also contain a link entitled "Learn More About User Accounts ". When you click on one of these links Help and Support will open with a list of several additional articles that you can read on this subject.

Hope this helps. Write back if you have any specific questions that you are unable to find the answers to.