Teenager-proof a computer

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^^^^just give them a time traveling delorean and some prophylactics to cure the parenting problem. Perhaps those options also too technical.:rolleyes:
 
The client in question is a tired old lady raising her grandson alone, and she is doing the best she can. As I mentioned already, I don't think DeepFreeze will work in this case. The software I found seems to have a great deal of promise, however, and is easier than futzing around with Group Policy.

This is the custom dialog that comes up when an install is attempted:

goodthing3.JPG


I am pleased.
 
Password the customers computer and sell her a used laptop for the brat - with the proviso that brat pays for his own repairs

The situation of continually patching up the shared machine will far exceed the purchase price of the brat machine

after that, any stupidity of the brat is his own financial burden. This will take the problem put of your customers hands.

Or keep sucking money off the old lady. Sounds like a gold mine. ( sarcasm) sorry. Couldn't resist. :p

But seriously, couldn't agree more that this is a parenting issue, not a tech issue.

If you do go the 'lock up route, deep freeze would be my first suggestion.
 
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Have I mentioned already that DeepFreeze can't work in this situation--because the occasional change like saving documents and bookmarks do need to happen?

The kid in question is very nice and fairly responsible, he just has careless friends. His grandmother is not made of money, either. I can see why residential repair is a dying breed...seriously guys, a little compassion goes a long way. :(
 
I have all kinds of compassion, however, I also have my limits. I've had my share of customers who would rather take the easy route than behave like a parent. They would rather be their kids' friend. The kid is a teenager. No matter what you do, he, or one of his "friends", will find a workaround. It's not my job to teach someone how to parent; it's my job to provide solutions to technical needs and problems. In this situation, I would provide the best solution based on my expertise. That would be as follows: install a control mechanism such as kas pure or live family safety, advise the customer how to operate it, advise them to keep the computers in common areas of the house and conduct regular inspections, advise them to not allow the kids' friends to touch the machines, etc. At the end of the recommendations, the customer will sign paper work acknowledging reception of my advice and absolution of my responsibility if they fail to follow my advice or if someone gets around the security mechanisms. I'm also not responsible for what happens in the event the kid downloads a nasty that wasn't caught by the software. Most people are fine with this.

Now, onto something else you mentioned: The minute a customer, any customer, starts pleading poverty, my eyes glaze over. I am not a charity; I am not independently wealthy. I am in business to make money. I do have my altruistic endeavors, but they do not include providing free or discounted service to someone, no matter how sweet they are or how good their granny cookies may be, because of goofy teenagers. You HAVE to remember that if you want to be successful. This year, we, along with one of my clients, donated 20 refurbished computers to an organization that rescues abused kids. There is no way we would have been able to do that if we caved at every sweet old lady that batted her eyes at us.
 
TechLady said:
Have I mentioned already that DeepFreeze can't work in this situation--because the occasional change like saving documents and bookmarks do need to happen?

The kid in question is very nice and fairly responsible, he just has careless friends. His grandmother is not made of money, either. I can see why residential repair is a dying breed...seriously guys, a little compassion goes a long way. :(
Click to expand...

Just curious, if the kid or his friends is already bypassing UAC, presumably through an admin account or password, how does your solution work? (It's an honest question about the software you are using, not some snarky remark.)
 
'putertutor said:
Just curious, if the kid or his friends is already bypassing UAC, presumably through an admin account or password, how does your solution work? (It's an honest question about the software you are using, not some snarky remark.)
Click to expand...

I have no idea why she finally gave up her system password. But the program I installed has its own password, and NOBODY is going to get that.
 
Second TechLady's post... a little compassion goes a long way... especially when you know NOTHING about a situation beyond a few sentences.

Rick
 
What program are you using?

I'm actually shocked that a software hasn't come out that "locks down" the installation of applications on a computer system. It's a very necessary utility in a lot of cases. I can also see cases where deep freeze wouldn't work either, I mean it "would" but the computer wouldn't be very usable in that state.


On the topic of parenting: I agree with TechLady. I think there are some on this site that grab the pitchforks too quickly. The lady isn't made of money and the point of that is she can't afford to bring the machine back in every other week because it got trashed. I never once read where this elderly lady wanted it done for free or wanted a discount.

This is an elderly lady simply out gunned in this war. Most average teenagers are far superior in their knowledge of a computer system then the average elderly person. Simple methods won't work. Simply telling the kids friends "not to do that" might not work either.

How many of you did every single thing your mother and father asked? None of you ever got into trouble, none of you wound up smoking against their will, none of you ever did anything wrong?
 
340x_paddles.jpg


When a person has physical access to a machine, there really isn't any sure-fire way of guaranteeing you are locking down the machine.

Pop in a CD and passwords are reset, boot into linux and delete the file that starts a parental control program, the list goes on.

Either way, good luck.
 
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brandonkick said:
What program are you using?

I'm actually shocked that a software hasn't come out that "locks down" the installation of applications on a computer system. It's a very necessary utility in a lot of cases. I can also see cases where deep freeze wouldn't work either, I mean it "would" but the computer wouldn't be very usable in that state.
Click to expand...

Precisely.

brandonkick said:
On the topic of parenting: I agree with TechLady. I think there are some on this site that grab the pitchforks too quickly. The lady isn't made of money and the point of that is she can't afford to bring the machine back in every other week because it got trashed. I never once read where this elderly lady wanted it done for free or wanted a discount.

This is an elderly lady simply out gunned in this war. Most average teenagers are far superior in their knowledge of a computer system then the average elderly person. Simple methods won't work. Simply telling the kids friends "not to do that" might not work either.
Click to expand...

Billy-D_Approves.gif


Somebody gets it...

Anyway, again, here's what I came up with; still testing: http://www.completelock.com

And it's free.
 
My goodness! I must have been raised by evil tyrants! When my parents gave us rules, we followed them or there were consequences that we did not want. Sure, we broke the rules . . . and were punished when we were caught.

Anyway, I digress. Back to your initial problem: edubuntu. Some aio suite. Or the product you are trying. WHEN the kid, or his friends, get around it, or when he craps up granny's machine, bill another hour or two to fix it and/or try a different solution. Rinse, repeat. Until the root cause of the problem is addressed, this lady will be seeing you often. You can then either bill her each time or give your services away.

For those that think I'm being a hard a**, or I lack compassion, I recommend some intro to business classes. There is a time for charity, and there is a time to straighten your back and remember the bottom line. Unless, of course, your family has another source of income and you don't mind working for free.
 
angry_geek said:
WHEN the kid, or his friends, get around it, or when he craps up granny's machine, bill another hour or two to fix it and/or try a different solution. Rinse, repeat. Until the root cause of the problem is addressed
Click to expand...


Well said. Its not popular to address the root of the problem these days. Instead we are conditioned to throw large sums of tech and money at the symptoms of the problem.



TechLady said:
Simply telling the kids friends "not to do that" might not work either.
Click to expand...

You are correct. Simply telling them not to without any consequences if they do will not work. Again its called parenting and seems to be a lost art.
 
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Ccomp5950 said:
When a person has physical access to a machine, there really isn't any sure-fire way of guaranteeing you are locking down the machine...
Click to expand...

Indeed sir, that is correct. However...these are teenagers we're talking about...smart, but not that smart. And kind of lazy. Given those conditions, I think I have a chance of winning.

We shall see.
 
TechLady said:
Indeed sir, that is correct. However...these are teenagers we're talking about...smart, but not that smart. And kind of lazy. Given those conditions, I think I have a chance of winning.

We shall see.
Click to expand...

Give the windows 98 hahaha

In all seriousness only way i could see this working is hardcore group policy settings with active directory
 
TechLady said:
Have I mentioned already that DeepFreeze can't work in this situation--because the occasional change like saving documents and bookmarks do need to happen?

The kid in question is very nice and fairly responsible, he just has careless friends. His grandmother is not made of money, either. I can see why residential repair is a dying breed...seriously guys, a little compassion goes a long way. :(
Click to expand...

External hard dive and portable edition of browser.
 
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