Is it possible to make it impossible to install certain programs on ones computer?
My son keeps installing AIM (AOL Instant Messanger) on my computer so he can communicate with his loser friends. (apparently they never heard of the telephone).
I’ve been on the SDMB before bitching about AIM: It conflicts with other programs on my computer and makes it run slow and “herky jerk”, if you know what I mean. I’ve forbidden him from putting it on, but the moment I’m away, he does. Then I always have to uninstall it and reboot my cpu in order to use my own computer.
Beating him until he begs for death has not worked as well on him as it worked on me when I was a kid, so I need to come up with another way to keep him from installing that shit. Is there a way to program my computer so that when he try’s to install AIM it won’t accept it?
You know what I’d do? Set up a password on the computer so he can’t use it at all. If he doesn’t respect your wishes, why should he be allowed to use your things?
If you have Windows XP, you can just put a password on the Administrator account, and then set up a Use account that doesn’t allow new installations of anything. That’d keep him from clogging up the hard drive with games and stuff, too.
Have you tried some form of password protection on either your internet connection (not practical if you have an “always on” connection), your OS (only available on some OS’s), your computer’s BIOS, or barring any of those, a sturdy padlock on the door to the room with the computer?
You could try installing a firewall and blocking port 5190 – which would prevent AIM from functioning, and discourage the little blighter from reinstalling it.
Zonelabs has some decent options for people who don’t have a whole network to worry about. I believe that the free version will do what you need.
OK the problem is that your son installes aim and causes poor performance on yoru computer not that you don’t like him using aim. The solution is very simple - tell him to only use the net version of aim - go to aim.com and click on aim express.
Aim express is a browser version of aim that doesn’t install anything.
I would have to second that. AIM should not cause any such problems (AOL yes but AIM no) unless you have a really old computer. If you are using a hardware firewall you can block the port there and not effect the performance of your computer.
I would suggest setting AIM not to start automatically when the computer starts and tell your son to totally close it when he’s done. I would also look to see what else is running. Go to start>run and type msconfig Look at all that junk your have during startup, start unchecking things you don’t need. If using MS office get that ‘fast find’ out of the startup group also I don’t like preloading office so I usually get rid of that too (it loads only when I start an office program.
On the more diabolical side, you could get one of those keystroke-capture devices between the keyboard and PC, or some program to capture keystrokes, and then read his AIM conversations aloud at the dinner table or some other public place.
How savvy is the little punk? Could you sneak this stuff past him, or will he figure you out pretty quick?
Have you though of removing the power cord from the computer?
Seems to me you have a discipline issue here. You might want to look into your relationship since your computer problem may be a symtom and not the real problem.
If you don’t have XP or Win2000 or WinNT, then try this:
Find out where AIM installs and the name of the executable. Uninstall the crap, then create a directory of the same name. Store an empty file in this directory with the same name as the executable (right down to the .exe,) and then set its properties to “hidden system readonly.” If you have the normal settings on Explorer, then he won’t be able to find the file that causes the install routine to stop. You might also make the directory itself hidden and read only.
If all that doesn’t work, strip the ends off a power cord and threaten to plug it in and connect one wire to his left nut and one wire to his right nut for 15 seconds if he ever installs AIM again. If he does again anyway, go to 30, 45 , 60 etc seconds. At some point he should get the idea.
I’ve already done this, with hillarious results. He’s at that dumb-ass stage that teengae boys go through (17 years old. Thinks he knows everything, doesn’t know jack shit). I’ve had the key stroke device on for almost a year now and he still hasn’t figured it out.
He does have legitimate use of the computer, for school work. I’m just tired of screaming about the “herky jerks” AIM causes, and want to block it’s use.
My computer is a 3 year old IBM Aptiva, E series 545, 20 Gigs on the hard drive. Why that one program (and never any others) slows it down is simply because it’s probably conflicting with something else on the hard drive.
I don’t think that schools have gotten to the point where they require a computer for homework. (Too many households out there that still don’t have a computer after all.)
Make him write out the reports longhand, and do his research at the public library.
A minor’s computer usage should be at the discression of the head of the household, and he clearly can’t obey your simple rules for using the computer. Therefore, his computer privleges should be yanked.
If just AIM running is making your old boat anchor huff and wheeze when multi-tasking a new PC might definitely be in order, and then you can give the door stop to sonny boy for his exclusive use. Problem solved.
