Win98SE Administrator User account

We run 10 computers on a network which students are allowed to use. The problem is that they (teenage boys) are going on the internet all the time and you can guess the content of their downloads. I am totaly fed up of cleaning up after them. As we are on broadband and on a network all the computers are connected to the internet all the time, I recently put on a program (Net Nanny) as a way to stop some access but so far they have managed to change my password from my secret question answers. This is not too big a problem as what i put in was only temperory till I could get it all up and running. The biggest problem is that they deleted the whole program (grrrrrr) as soon as they got a new password. What I want to knowis, is there a way of having administrator rights on 98SE so that they cant delete anything. If they cant delete it and i give it a long worded password (none of them can spell) and a more complicated secret question then I should be able to stop them accessing the net. I would like them all to be able to use the programs that are already on the computers as they are all technical programs to do with their training. Any help apreciated thanks
Stitch

 

Install the System Policy Editor. It is located on the 98 CD at X:\Tools\Reskit\Netadmin\Poledit. Go to Add/Remove, Windows Setup tab, click on Have Disk and browse to that folder, select Poledit.Inf.
You can do a lot with that program, even limit what programs they can run. If something is not on the list, it doesn't run. You can disable the right click menu, disable adding items to the desktop, Start Menu or disable it.
If you do not want to install this as it will show up in Add/Remove, click here for direct registry editing to establish your own policies.

 

Thanks Mark
Will have a go and post back to let you know how I get on, will be after Wednesday now though as Im off work till then
Thanks again
Stitch

 

Mark
I have installed the system policy editor but cant work it out. Dont suppose you could do a bit of hand holding and walk me through some of it could you. What I would like to do is to stop anyone but myself from being able to delete a program. So idealy would like to disable the add remove folder or password it.
Stitch

 

You might find this a bit negative ..
If you find the kids must be restrained electronically from the
internet, take away the PCs and start over again with the
basic principles of life - love, respect. discipline, truth, integrity and honesty - that applies to their parents also.
The internet is not a tool for the unenlightened.
I sympathise with the kids, as they have been simply taught
to Click and Surf, with no informed bounds of sensibility.
regards

 

Thanks Tony
Will have a read and post back
Stitch

 

Merlin
I would love to take away the computers it would make my job easier thats for sure. The problem is we are a training center and most of the technical side of the training is done on the computers and sometimes the internet is needed. This being so they are connected all the time. I have put Net Nanny on which will work fine but they all know haow to get into the add remove program folder and delete the program. What I want is to stop this access. btw these lads are all angels they can do no wrong according to their parents that is. Yeh right.
Stitch

 

One idea that may work for you, is to install a BIOS password and they will not be able to gain access to the computer at all.

I had to do this on my computers. Sometimes they may cause more problems by delete or uninstall.

The BIOS password will stop the problem at that point, after that there has to be some major rules for using the computer.
If they can't respect your rules, they will have NO access.

Giffyo

 

Hi stitch,

You can make the control panel inaccessable with a registry hack (I think, and it's worth a try. just tried it with XP and it works). Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer, right click in the right pane and select new Dword. Name it NoControlPanel and hit enter. Then right click the new entry and modify. Give it a value of 1. I think in 98 it will look like this; 01 00 00 00. Log off and back on and the control panel option should be disabled if not gone. Changing the value to zero will allow access again.
Here are some other things you can disable.

 

Dave
Changing the registery is something I'v never done before so that will wait till I have my new comp (training comp) up and running (should be this weekend) then I can play away to my hearts content without doing any damage. But it is something I would like to look at more so will get back to you and the board with that one.
Giffyo
We have to give access to the comps all the time at the training center where I work it would annoy the boss so much if he had to log everyone onto the comps. (he gets iritated very easily ) Thanks for the idea though
Stitch

 

Some info using SPE here
To disable the entire Control Panel, click on Default User. Then click on the + signs Windows 98 System, Control Panel, Display. Put a check in Restrict Control Panel Display, Look at the grey box below, you will notice some options have appeared. Put a check in Restrict Display Control Panel. This will keep the entire Control Panel from being accessed.
It is in the grey box more options appears when you check an item in the white area.
Noadfear's suggestion accomplishes the same thing.
NOTE: if you ever Disable Registry Editing Tools, you will lock yourself out, at least while in windows. It can be undone by importing a reg file in dos.
If you want to just disable Add/Remove, open a dos window and do this command.
ren c:\windows\system\appwiz.cpl appwiz.old
You could have Windows Explorer to not Hide File Extensions for Known Types in Folder Options, and you will be able to rename it there, otherwise you will not be able to get to the CPL extension.
You do not need to use Appwiz.Old, you could use Control.Txt or anything else, just do not use CPL as the last three letters
It will no longer appear in the Control Panel.

 

Could try Winlock to lock down the PCs a bit (and it can stop downloads). Its nice small software which works fine on Win98 and you can lock/unlock the system at the simple input of a password. You can set all the restrictions you like. It can remove add/remove programs (or even the whole control panel) and you do need the password to remove it anyway.
Its very simple software, however.

See http://www.crystaloffice.com/wproinfo.html