Re: How to hide a program

From: Shenan Stanley (news_helper_at_hushmail.com)
Date: 12/07/04 

Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 08:46:41 -0600

Gaia+ wrote:
> I'm really sorry if I'm not at the right place, or if the question was
> answered before - but I did not saw it.
> I have a problem. I tried to find the answer on the web, and asked
> friends who know well Windows, but nobody could help me.
> I have WinXP Pro.
> Because I don't want my children to use it, nor to know that's it's
> installed on my pc, I'm trying to hide a software in the "Add/remove
> programs" menu - my Windows is in french, so I'm not really sure of
> the translation of this menu.
> I would like if someone would be nice enough to help me, please ?
> Thanks a lot !

Trying to hide it in Add/Remove programs?
You mean your children have administrative accounts on your computer?
Take that away.

If you mean hide in your start menu - just edit the appropriate folders in
Documents and Settings.. No reason to have start menu or desktop icons on
your children's desktops and start menus the same as yours.

Use the multi-user and Users, Power Users and Administrator groups to your
advantage. Lock down your system from your children's accounts. Make them
"users" where they cannot just install/uninstall whenever they please. Make
yourself administrator and password protect the account.

Windows XP is and will remain a MultiUser OS. If you delete some of the
users in the Documents and Settings directory, you will affect your user and
possibly other things. It could cause things you had set to go missing and
the directories, in most cases, will recreate themselves.

In Other Words:

There is no way to truly configure Windows XP as a Single User PC.
It will still be working like it was a multi-user computer even if you are
using it
as a single user PC.

You need to learn to use the All Users sub directory in Documents and
Settings. It is a manual process for some applications because they were
not designed with a multi-user winodws in mind. You just have to copy/move
icons/shortcuts you want for everyone into the All Users Start Menu or All
Users Desktop. This way... All Users see it.

HOW TO: Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783&Product=winxp

HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove Special Permissions for Files and
Folders in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308419&Product=winxp

Doug's Windows XP Security Console
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm

Windows XP is a multi-user OS, even when used by one person only, the
fundamentals don't change.

Documents and Settings is the directory that contains your user
information/documents/etc. It also contains a few extra directories used by
Windows.

One is "Default User" - This is used whenever a new account is created. It
bases the initial setup of that account off this directory.

Another is "All Users" - This is used by.. all users. If you want something
to appear on the desktop of every user of the machine, you put it on this
users desktop (in the desktop folder.) Etc.

You may also see "Administrator" - depending on your setup, this is the
original administrator user and if you know that account's password, you
should leave him alone and use him only in an emergency.

You could also (if you have it where you can see ALL files) see
"LocalService" and "NetworkService" folders. These are service accounts,
normally unused by the standard user. 

-- 
<- Shenan ->
-- 
The information is provided "as is", it is suggested you research for
yourself before you take any advice - you are the one ultimately
responsible for your actions/problems/solutions.   Know what you are
getting into before you jump in with both feet.

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