Administrator Password Protection

[Quetzalcoatl]

Hello,

My goal is to avoid that somebody else uses my PC without my consent.
The PC is run under Windows XP Home.
I tried with accounts creation (I was able to control the behaviour of the
accounts, including passwords, being the Administrator of the PC).
But it is quite easy to reinitialise the Administrator password using a
floppy with adequate software and to take over the PC.
I tried with a BIOS password and/or with BIOS "boot on floppy" deactivation.
But it is quite easy to get the BIOS password with adequate software or to
get rid of it with an hardware clearing and then to activate the "boot on
floppy" feature.
Short on new ideas, I make a feverish and quivering plea for aid:
please, help!

[Jupiter Jones]

The solution is limited to only one choice and very simple.
Physically lock up the computer.
There is no security without physical security.

This is not a weakness in Microsoft or Intel products.
For the security you are wanting, there is absolutely no protection
with any OS or computer system if the dishonest person gets physical
unrestricted access.

The closest you can get is encrypting files.
Windows XP Pro has EFS, Home does not.
There are 3rd party alternatives.

--
Jupiter Jones
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
Please respond to newsgroup only for everyone's benefit.


"Quetzalcoatl" > wrote in message
...
> Hello,
>
> My goal is to avoid that somebody else uses my PC without my
consent.
> The PC is run under Windows XP Home.
> I tried with accounts creation (I was able to control the behaviour
of the
> accounts, including passwords, being the Administrator of the PC).
> But it is quite easy to reinitialise the Administrator password
using a
> floppy with adequate software and to take over the PC.
> I tried with a BIOS password and/or with BIOS "boot on floppy"
deactivation.
> But it is quite easy to get the BIOS password with adequate software
or to
> get rid of it with an hardware clearing and then to activate the
"boot on
> floppy" feature.
> Short on new ideas, I make a feverish and quivering plea for aid:
> please, help!

[Peter Clark]

use full disk encryption or a secure physical vault


>-----Original Message-----
>The solution is limited to only one choice and very simple.
>Physically lock up the computer.
>There is no security without physical security.
>
>This is not a weakness in Microsoft or Intel products.
>For the security you are wanting, there is absolutely no
protection
>with any OS or computer system if the dishonest person
gets physical
>unrestricted access.
>
>The closest you can get is encrypting files.
>Windows XP Pro has EFS, Home does not.
>There are 3rd party alternatives.
>
>--
>Jupiter Jones
>An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
>http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
>Please respond to newsgroup only for everyone's benefit.
>
>
>"Quetzalcoatl" > wrote in message
...
>> Hello,
>>
>> My goal is to avoid that somebody else uses my PC without my
>consent.
>> The PC is run under Windows XP Home.
>> I tried with accounts creation (I was able to control
the behaviour
>of the
>> accounts, including passwords, being the Administrator
of the PC).
>> But it is quite easy to reinitialise the Administrator
password
>using a
>> floppy with adequate software and to take over the PC.
>> I tried with a BIOS password and/or with BIOS "boot on
floppy"
>deactivation.
>> But it is quite easy to get the BIOS password with
adequate software
>or to
>> get rid of it with an hardware clearing and then to
activate the
>"boot on
>> floppy" feature.
>> Short on new ideas, I make a feverish and quivering plea
for aid:
>> please, help!
>
>
>.
>

[Roger Abell {MVP}]

Some of the newest systems and disks have added ways=20
to password protect boot and/or disk spin-up. There are=20
also new login hardware, like smartcard and eye checkers.

However, if you are letting them be alone with a screwdriver=20
long enough to change your mobo settings, then they will be=20
able to get around most anything.

This is not a Windows thing. This is true for any OS.=20
It you let them play long enough they can defeat whatever=20
you have placed in the way.

--=20
Roger=20

"Quetzalcoatl" > wrote in message =
...
> Hello,
>=20
> My goal is to avoid that somebody else uses my PC without my consent.
> The PC is run under Windows XP Home.
> I tried with accounts creation (I was able to control the behaviour of =
the
> accounts, including passwords, being the Administrator of the PC).
> But it is quite easy to reinitialise the Administrator password using =
a
> floppy with adequate software and to take over the PC.
> I tried with a BIOS password and/or with BIOS "boot on floppy" =
deactivation.
> But it is quite easy to get the BIOS password with adequate software =
or to
> get rid of it with an hardware clearing and then to activate the "boot =
on
> floppy" feature.
> Short on new ideas, I make a feverish and quivering plea for aid:
> please, help!
>=20
>

[Robert]

Get a whole disk encryption program like Drive Crypt and no one will
be able to access it without the password.

Robert



On Sun, 27 Apr 2003 23:24:34 +0200, "Quetzalcoatl"
> wrote:

>Hello,
>
>My goal is to avoid that somebody else uses my PC without my consent.
>The PC is run under Windows XP Home.
>I tried with accounts creation (I was able to control the behaviour of the
>accounts, including passwords, being the Administrator of the PC).
>But it is quite easy to reinitialise the Administrator password using a
>floppy with adequate software and to take over the PC.
>I tried with a BIOS password and/or with BIOS "boot on floppy" deactivation.
>But it is quite easy to get the BIOS password with adequate software or to
>get rid of it with an hardware clearing and then to activate the "boot on
>floppy" feature.
>Short on new ideas, I make a feverish and quivering plea for aid:
>please, help!
>