Changing Program Names

Bondy,

Don't do i't.

For some simple applications this will not cause you any problems.

But, for complex applications with drivers and "hooks" into other applications this can and probably will cause you nightmares.

Regards,
Sapper

A Name or ID for the Program will allways be coded internally.

This is to identify the program, for the majority of people this is not able to be changed.

Trying to change it without the propper skill set will stop the program from running - Permanently.

Forgot to put this comment in earlier.

Regards,
Sapper

Renaming doesn't work - just tried renaming the exe of a program I wrote from SudoSolve to SudoXXXXX, then running it. Task Manager still lists it as SudoSolve .

While not a direct answer to the OP...it does get to the root of the problem.

This would be a great option.

Set up or get your local "Dial-a-Geek" (we have a local guy with this as his business name) to set up different accounts (password protected) for you and the kids.

Then they will only be able to play with what you let them play with.

Dances...Thanks...I needed to open the Box and look outside. I've been thinking to Micro lately..not enough Macro.

Regards,
Sapper.

Your most welcome, glad to be of help.

I don't really want to change them to limited accounts, because otherwise, I will need to install all their games for them, or tell them my password, in which they will abandon their accounts and we will start the problem all over again

Sorry Bondy, you can't have it both ways. Either you control access or you don't. How about telling them "If you shut down this software, you won't be allowed to use the computer"?

There are parental control application out there that will probably allow you to do what you want, and they would be password protected as far as trying to shut them down. I guess you are using the TeamViewer software to allow you to see what they are doing on the computer/internet?

Tom

Bondy,

Don't tell them your password, but supervise them while they install the software so you know what they are doing while they do so.

Then once it is installed, you log them out and onto thier own accounts.

While I do prefer the finger method, this way will save the keyboard from all the scratches from the pins and plaster when they put said fingers back together.

Nothing worse than plaster in the keyboard.

Regards,
Sapper

A really good solution: start breaking fingers!

Mike

Programs can be shared across users, preventing the need to re-install.

But the other option also appeals to me - rules.

Kids have little guidance in polite machine borrowing, instruct them so they will be better borrowers everywhere?

I say this based on the crowds of kids that ran through my house, frequently borrowing household machines *to just check my email* and then installing IM and other things.

User accounts and so forth *would* prevent this - but only on your machines. I chose to *instruct* the little darlings. In one case erasing an MP3 player's memory after *borrowing* it - to demonstrate that *borrowing* implies returned as is.

Of course I wasn't always well thought of, but I found any number of parents raising their children like wolves (wolves actually do better) and inflicting them on the rest of us. What is a fella to do?

Ok thanks I think I will try the fingers idea

I tell'em to get their own computer or put up up with me

You can go into set up and set the timer for 45 seconds then the computer will shut down

Metalize the top of Ctrl,Alt and Del and put 12Volt on it (low amperage please) that will stop them trying to open taskmanager (but if they are as devious as you say, they just will use some rubber the next time)

Re:

> almost all processes and threads are *killable* via the task manager

I have seen several systems that have a "watcher" process that runs under an obscure name totally unrelated to the primary process. The watcher will restart the primary process if it is missing from the process list.

I have this method installed on industrial SCADA systems so if the core dies, it is immediately rebooted without user interaction. I have also seen it on other "not really a virus, but in reality it is" programs (e.g. ITunes!!!) installed on my PC, I don't know what process is the watcher so I can't kill the primary process.

Not sure if your Parental Control program has this, perhaps you can download a freeware watcher.

you mean Apple's iTunes? it's a virus? source, please. I'm intrigued.

If you're worried about tampering, create a 'live DVD' version of your system and run that. Your system is now unbreakable.

I would not do this change the name of the icon pointing to it.