How can i disable games on xp pro using group policy??

[paul123456]

is this an option, can i disable the games on xp machines?
if i can't do it using group policy is there a specific port i can block for the online gameing games? thanks for reading..
Thanks, PAUL

 

[TheGoodRev]

Youre talking about Online commercial games, not Microsoft Hearts or equivalent right?

I know the commercial games use certain ports, quite obscure ones, and if they are blocked, then internet gaming doesnt work. Do you know which actual games they are using? that would be the first move I think.

 

[paul123456]

well the boss wants all the games disabled, the ones that come with xp pro, (freecell, internet checkers, backgammon, spider solitaire, solitaire. u know those. i no there is no way to block the games they will be playing on the internet but for now i would like to block the local ones. if u have any ideas please let me no. Thanks, PAUL

 

[TheGoodRev]

I know that 'Games' is one of the options that is an optional installation when you install Windows. Using your Admin priviliges, you could go remove that option from the Add/Remove Windows Components screen, but if you have a big network, that might be too slow, theres probably a better way, but I dont know it sorry.

 

[tlcscousin]

Look throught user configuration admin templates you should be able to remove the games from the program menu.

 

[paul123456]

i don't see a program menu under user config. and yeah goodrev thats a possiblity but im trying to do it from a central location. if anyone out there has done this maybe some sort of script i can run on logon thats will give users deny access to the games please let me know Thanks, PAUL

 

[brontosaurus]

Find out the names of the executables and pop them into the "Don't Run Specified Windows Applications" policy under \User Configuration\Administrative Templates\System

 

[paul123456]

there we go thanks brontosaurus Thanks, PAUL

 

[dtorres]

brontosaurus method will work, but if the user knows things about W2K they can just rename the .exe of the game and it will run.

I prevent setup.exe and install.exe on my network, but if the user knows that renaming the setup.exe to something for example setup_1.exe it will work.

Another method but extremely hard to administrate is only allow specific .exe to run. Since there are so many differnt .exe that are running in the backgroud it is hard to determine which was should be allowed.

 

[ErikButler]

create a bat file to go to the games directory and delete *.*.

Also you could just c$ into the machines if you only have a few boxes and then delete the games folder on new machines you set up before the users get them. of course users will start to store the games on floppy disk like they do here but at least it makes it harder on them.

in group policy you can deny them access to the games folder.

There are many options.

cutting off there fingers is always an option also.
Thanks
Erik Butler
2000 MCSE
erikbutler@centurytel.net

 

[brontosaurus]

yes, I like cutting off their fingers, and perhaps a frontal lobotomy...