How do you lock you computer?

I am going to leave for a week and I don't want anyone useing my computer. I
know I need a password. But how do you set it up and then not use it any
more TIA "Kevin"


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"kevin"
wrote in :
I am going to leave for a week and I don't want anyone useing my
computer. I know I need a password. But how do you set it up and then
not use it any more TIA "Kevin"


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Set the password in your BIOS. Anyone booting your computer will need
to supply this password (including YOU). Hope that they don't dismantle
it to short the jumper to clear the CMOS and revert to the default
settings (which does not use a password). You can get security kits
that make it impossible to physically intrude into the interior of your
desktop computer (unless they decide to perform catastrophic entry).
Otherwise, put it in a closet and lock the closet.

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Actually I would do what Vanguard suggested as well as put a password on the
user.
If you have set yourself up as an administrator ...put a password on that you
can take it off when you come back.
Also dont forget to put a password on the default administrator account.
Now write all those passwords down on a small pice of paper and put it in your
wallet.
This way no one can start your system but if they do know the CMOS battery thing
they still wont be able to enter XP ...not even in safe mode
peter
"kevin" wrote in message
...
I am going to leave for a week and I don't want anyone useing my computer. I
know I need a password. But how do you set it up and then not use it any
more TIA "Kevin"


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Kevin;
All the security mentioned does nothing if others have unrestricted
access.
If you want others off the computer, you must physically lock it up
out of their reach.
This is not a weakness of Windows, this is typical of all operating
systems.
There is no security without physical security.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


"kevin" wrote in message
...
I am going to leave for a week and I don't want anyone useing my
computer. I
know I need a password. But how do you set it up and then not use it
any
more TIA "Kevin"


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Well that does not help me. Maybe I should tal talk to radio shack. You were
NO hellp to me at all
"peter" wrote in message
...
Actually I would do what Vanguard suggested as well as put a password on
the
user.
If you have set yourself up as an administrator ...put a password on that
you
can take it off when you come back.
Also dont forget to put a password on the default administrator account.
Now write all those passwords down on a small pice of paper and put it in
your
wallet.
This way no one can start your system but if they do know the CMOS battery
thing
they still wont be able to enter XP ...not even in safe mode
peter
"kevin" wrote in message
...
I am going to leave for a week and I don't want anyone useing my
computer. I
know I need a password. But how do you set it up and then not use it any
more TIA "Kevin"


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.784 / Virus Database: 530 - Release Date: 10/27/2004






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Remove the hard drive, put it in an anti-static bag and then
a bubble wrap mailer and take it with you.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


"Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote in
message ...
| Kevin;
| All the security mentioned does nothing if others have
unrestricted
| access.
| If you want others off the computer, you must physically
lock it up
| out of their reach.
| This is not a weakness of Windows, this is typical of all
operating
| systems.
| There is no security without physical security.
|
| --
| Jupiter Jones [MVP]
| http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/
|
|
| "kevin" wrote in message
| ...
| I am going to leave for a week and I don't want anyone
useing my
| computer. I
| know I need a password. But how do you set it up and
then not use it
| any
| more TIA "Kevin"
|
|
| ---
| Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
| Checked by AVG anti-virus system
(http://www.grisoft.com).
| Version: 6.0.784 / Virus Database: 530 - Release Date:
10/27/2004
|
|
|
|

You should probably word things a little bit nicer in the future if you want
people to continue to answering your questions. (Unless you are replying to
a computer snob who is rude to you to begin with). Just my advice. You can
take it or leave it.

Alrowa

"kevin" wrote:

Well that does not help me. Maybe I should tal talk to radio shack. You were
NO hellp to me at all
"peter" wrote in message
...
Actually I would do what Vanguard suggested as well as put a password on
the
user.
If you have set yourself up as an administrator ...put a password on that
you
can take it off when you come back.
Also dont forget to put a password on the default administrator account.
Now write all those passwords down on a small pice of paper and put it in
your
wallet.
This way no one can start your system but if they do know the CMOS battery
thing
they still wont be able to enter XP ...not even in safe mode
peter
"kevin" wrote in message
...
I am going to leave for a week and I don't want anyone useing my
computer. I
know I need a password. But how do you set it up and then not use it any
more TIA "Kevin"


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.784 / Virus Database: 530 - Release Date: 10/27/2004






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Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
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Version: 6.0.784 / Virus Database: 530 - Release Date: 10/27/2004

kevin wrote:
I am going to leave for a week and I don't want anyone useing my
computer. I know I need a password. But how do you set it up and then
not use it any more TIA "Kevin"

You want to SET a password, right?
But then you do not want to use it anymore?

Can you explain what that means in real terms?
If you are going to set a password to keep people out, then you have to use
it or there was no use in setting the password.

You choices have been laid out by other good responses.

A BIOS password (hardware level) would keep people from even booting and
trying to hack into your computer in various ways (if your BIOS is also
setup to boot from HDD first and there is no keystroke to get around this -
all should be options in the BIOS itself - sometimes referred to as "System
Setup" at boot time, usually pressing F1 or F2 or DEL gets someone into
their BIOS - yours may be different.) Note that if they have unrestricted
access to the system, they CAN get to everything on it with a little time
and a few tools (both hardware and software tools.) You could turn off this
password when you returned.

A Windows password is just a good idea. You could get this information
yourself.. It is on your PC right now. Start Button - Help & Support. In
the search field type (without quotes): "reate a user password" and search.
It will tell you how to do this.

In case that was too much for you to comprehend:

To create a user password

Passwords add a level of security to your computer. When sharing a computer
with others, your customized settings, computer programs, and system
resources are more secure when you assign a password to your logon name or
user account name.

The steps to perform this task differ depending on whether your computer is
a member of a network domain or is part of a workgroup (or is a stand-alone
computer).

My computer is on a domain
---------------------------------
You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators
group in order to complete this procedure. If your computer is connected to
a network, network policy settings might also prevent you from completing
this procedure.

- Open User Accounts in Control Panel.
- On the Users tab, click the name of the user for whom you want to create a
password, and then click Reset Password.
- In New password and Confirm new password, type the password, and then
click OK.

-- Note
You can create passwords only for local computer accounts, such as guest,
administrator, or accounts you create for your computer.

My computer is not on a domain
--------------------------------------
The steps to perform this task differ depending on the type of user account
you have.

If you have a computer administrator account on the computer:

- Open User Accounts in Control Panel.
- Click your account name.
- Click Create a password.
- In Type a new password and Type the new password again to confirm, type
the password for your account.
- You can also enter descriptive or meaningful text in Type a word or phrase
to use as a password hint to help you remember your password.
- Click Create Password.

If you have a limited account on the computer:

- Open User Accounts in Control Panel.
- Click Create a password.
- In Type a new password and Type the new password again to confirm, type
your password.
- You can also enter descriptive or meaningful text in Type a word or phrase
to use as a password hint to help you remember your password.
- Click Create Password.

--Notes
- When you create a password hint, anyone who uses the computer will be able
to see the hint on the Welcome screen.
- A user with a computer administrator account can create and change
passwords for all users on the computer. Users with limited accounts can
only create and change their own passwords, as well as create their own
password hints.
- If a user with a computer administrator account changes the password for
another user, that user will lose all EFS-encrypted files, personal
certificates, and stored passwords for Web sites or network resources.

--Note
- To open User Accounts, click Start, click Control Panel, and then
double-click User Accounts.


Now.. If you set both a BIOS and Windows Password, you have at least made
it difficult for someone to break into your computer. Again - however,
physical access to the computer would pretty much make all of this a moot
point.

Well said, Alrowa. My thoughts exactly.
Alrowa wrote:
You should probably word things a little bit nicer in the future if you want
people to continue to answering your questions. (Unless you are replying to
a computer snob who is rude to you to begin with). Just my advice. You can
take it or leave it.

Alrowa

"kevin" wrote:


Well that does not help me. Maybe I should tal talk to radio shack. You were
NO hellp to me at all
"peter" wrote in message
...

Actually I would do what Vanguard suggested as well as put a password on

the

user.
If you have set yourself up as an administrator ...put a password on that

you

can take it off when you come back.
Also dont forget to put a password on the default administrator account.
Now write all those passwords down on a small pice of paper and put it in

your

wallet.
This way no one can start your system but if they do know the CMOS battery

thing

they still wont be able to enter XP ...not even in safe mode
peter
"kevin" wrote in message
...

I am going to leave for a week and I don't want anyone useing my

computer. I

know I need a password. But how do you set it up and then not use it any
more TIA "Kevin"


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.784 / Virus Database: 530 - Release Date: 10/27/2004





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Kevin, there is a very simple way to lock your PC if you cannot lock it up in a
closet or other storage room. Open the case and disconnect the power plug
from the back of the harddrive and close it. Your PC will not boot for it
has no access to the BIOS and/or system files. Your monitor will show all
kinds or
errors, only you know why. Just don't tell anyone what you did. Voila!

"kevin" wrote:

I am going to leave for a week and I don't want anyone useing my computer. I
know I need a password. But how do you set it up and then not use it any
more TIA "Kevin"


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.784 / Virus Database: 530 - Release Date: 10/27/2004