Looking for a program

[evilvoice]

Ok, so far so good...didnt get things working like I wanted, but it works...I have only one problem...Some people in my family dont know how to use a computer other than to click on start menu and such...and I dont want them messing up my computer...so I have set up virtual machines for all of them. My only problem is that unless they click on the icon, they will still be on my machine. I am looking for a program that locks the PC. With my password it lets me into normal windows, when they enter their password, it runs the shortcut, or program whatever, which running this program will start thir virtual machine and let them mess that up.

So Basically, Im looking for a program that will lock windows.

Upon entering a password it will unlock windows

Upon entering user1 password, it will run VM1

Upon entering user2 password, it will run VM2

Im sure this could be deemed as in the wrong place, but I figured on an unattended install, rather than making a whole new user that I only want to run one program, this would be the place to ask. I did a google search and it turned up a good program, but way too many options for my liking and I didnt see a real way to unattendedly install it...so Im open for ideas...worse comes to worse I can always make users, but I still think that is not gonna accomplish what I want because they will still have access to the main machine.

[jrzycrim]

You could create a user account for each family member and then place their respective virtual machine icon in their startup folder.

What's to prevent them from exiting the VM?

[Denney]

By virtual machine, are you referring to VMWare, Virtual PC and the like?

If so, I don't think it is possible. Why not just give them their own account on your PC and just limit what they can do by using Group Policy and Local Policy??

[evilvoice]

well, once the vm is started, if they exit it wont be a big deal, they never shut down the machine anyways...In vmware (what im talkin about), I have it set to run fullscreen, so itll just be like booting up a normal machine. They have never shut down my computer, its just they like to click on adds and stupid stuff that I really dont wanna go through the process of cleaning...Im not blaming them for viruses and such, just dont want them getting into things im working on and click click the drive is formatted...I guess I could make 2 user accounts and just have the vm in their startup...it would also lessen some things they complain about on my machine, like the existence of proxomitron (which doesnt always let a site load correctly, and they havent learned about the bypass button)...I may just do that...I just thought of this today as I am about to reformat with my unattended cd, but how hard is it to create 2 users? Im fairly certain all I would have to do for the bypassing prox and putting the vm in startup is a delete and copy...In reply to raverod, Im not sure how much of a lockdown I can make this pc with group and local policy, basically all they do is print, surf the web and play games, lots and lots of games...I dont mind them downloading things either, just when its some stupid spyware that I dont care about, like gator. I would much rather throw what they want on a vm and not have to go through the whole policy editor...

Thanx for the suggestions, I think im gonna create 2 users, kick prox out of startup and bump the vm link in.

[jrzycrim]

I have to agree with RaveRod. Using a VM for each user seems like a huge waste of system resources. You're definitely better off creating separate user accounts.

Edit: I posted this before I saw your last post. I understand what you are trying to do.

What Kind of games are we talking about here? How well will they run inside a virtual machine?

[evilvoice]

its only 2 users, yea 4 gb could become excessive for each, but when ya lose something youve been working on for months, you tend to not care about what resources are used up.

[Denney]

If you have a big enough hard drive, just split the drive in 2 and install another copy of Windows XP on the second one... multi-boot...

When they want to use the computer, they just boot into the other partition (you could do this for them if you must), then, if they screw with the computer to much, you just reinstall that partition (or better yet, make an image just after you have set it up for them and just ghost it back when they screw it up).

They never even have to touch your installation then.

[jrzycrim]

its only 2 users, yea 4 gb could become excessive for each, but when ya lose something youve been working on for months, you tend to not care about what resources are used up.

Hard Drive space isn't really an issue. You probably have more than enough. I was thinking more about overall system performance. For web browsing, you don't need much. With games, depending on what games you're talking about, they might not perform so well inside the VM.

[evilvoice]

these are like gamehouse games...bejeweled, solitaire, minesweeper...real basic things that I dont think use up too many resources.

[jrzycrim]

Okay: Those shouldn't be a problem

Good Luck,

[[BM]Crusher]

just make them buy their own computer

or, just tell them they aren't allowed to use your computer at all..

if they all chucked in some money, surely it wouldn't be more than a few hundred each for a decent system?

talking US dollars of course... decent system in australia is probably $900 hehe...

[jrzycrim]

Really! I'd hate it if I had to share my system. I don't think I could. I can understand why he's worried about his 'puter getting screwed up. I'd be nervous all the time!

For what he needs, he could probably find some pretty cheap systems that would fit the bill.

Cheers,

[[BM]Crusher]

for what he needs, you could build a computer for $50 more than likely

p2-450 w/ 128mb memory running xp home or even win98