Password protection

[DaveImme]

I have a Win 98 box at home and have a CMOS and screensaver password, but I'm embarrassed to admit that the kids know they can reboot (ctrl-alt-del) and get by this. Is there any way to completely password protect it, even if they reboot it? I really don't even mess with 98 that much anymore, so can someone steer me good?

Thanks

 

[Kjonnnn]

How about good old fashion Parent-Child fear....

 

[wolluf]

Are you sure you've got a CMOS password? - rebooting out of screensaver is no good if you have - it has to be input before win98 boots. So I suspect you haven't (so good idea if you're that bothered).

 

[GrandpaCarl]

hi DAVEIMME,

What exactly are you trying to accomplish? Are you not wanting your kids to be able to boot up your computer, or are you just wanting them not to be able to use your computer after it has timed out to start the screen saver?

I never had that problem, years ago when my kids were kids, nor do I have that problem with my Grandkids or GreatGrandkids. They just know what they can and cannot do. No passwords necessary, no yelling, no threats, they just know.

CMOS passwords can be quite secure. I can well remember when Dallas Semiconductor first brought out their BIOS chip/Clock with an internal battery. If you set a password on bootup and forgot it, you were in big trouble as were some clients of mine. Their was no way to reset the password except to unsolder the chip from the motherboard and then reprogram it - something few people, even experts, knew how to accomplish. Later Dallas revised the design to allow a reset pin, but even then, that was tricky.

I suspect that CMOS passwords should still be quite secure unless default passwords are still active. No boot from hard disk or even floppy is allowed until password is satisfied. Keep in mind that there are several different password classes. Some only protect against changes to the CMOS settings, others prevent booting without giving the password. Sounds like you chose the wrong one.

I don't use passwords on my computer except for internet access.

GrandpaCarl

 

[DaveImme]

Well, not to get into the discipline area of this, my box has a cmos password at boot up and I have a screensaver password, as well. So, yes, password is required when box is 'started' (NOT rebooted). I've not looked to see if there is an option in cmos for that, so I will look.

But, if they ctrl-alt-del, then it is not 'officially' turned off, therefore cmos password is for boot up only. Yes, Ctrl-alt-del will reboot the box even though it requires a password to proceed.

Maybe I just need to install some internet guardian program....