restricting programs in Vista (parental controls?)

Banzai_Joe · 7 Sep 2008 at 20:18

Hi all,

our kids have a pc each running Vista HP, and a freeview TV card in for their tv viewing.
During schools days i have set up parental controls so that it kicks out their account at 9pm.

Now, we don't mind them watching tv (via VMCE), but its t'internet and games that we don't want them on after 9pm.

So is there any way we can lock down t'internet (more specifically IE) and gaming but just allowing VMCE to run after such a time?

Parental control time limits are crap as they only go in hours.

Thanks for any help offered.

swinnie · 7 Sep 2008 at 20:19

Give them a thick ear.

Not sure how suitable this is but my friend used AceSpy for a while.

Banzai_Joe · 7 Sep 2008 at 20:27

Lol, we could set up a vegetable stall the amount of cauliflower ears i've given them for breaking the rules. If we could trust them, then we'd just say "no more gaming or internet at 9pm, but you can watch tv until 10", but they'll stretch the boundaries.....they're 14 after all......and twins!!!!!

swinnie · 7 Sep 2008 at 20:30

k.Jacko said:
Lol, we could set up a vegetable stall the amount of cauliflower ears i've given them for breaking the rules. If we could trust them, then we'd just say "no more gaming or internet at 9pm, but you can watch tv until 10", but they'll stretch the boundaries.....they're 14 after all......and twins!!!!!

Install VNC and catch them in the act, then ban PC.

Thats what we did with my sister. Give them limited accounts then they can't close the service.

Banzai_Joe · 7 Sep 2008 at 21:12

Lol, do that at work with naughty users. But this aint the right approach here.
I just want to know if there is a way to do what i asked in the op.
I don't want to install any monitoring/spying software, i already know they'll try cheating the system.

FrostedNipple · 7 Sep 2008 at 22:54

kick them in the shins, they'll soon get the message!

pingwing · 7 Sep 2008 at 23:03

Give them cheap real tvs and put timers on the sockets in their rooms? (im sure there are ways to disable the power sockets to some parts of the house....)

And avoids plebbing with odd controls....

Edit, back up idea install linux on their pc's so they cant play games!! (then just ban them from the network post 9pm at the router)

Edward01 · 7 Sep 2008 at 23:45

pingwing said:
Give them cheap real tvs and put timers on the sockets in their rooms? (im sure there are ways to disable the power sockets to some parts of the house....)

trip the trip switches to the upstairs part of the house after 10!!!

Banzai_Joe · 8 Sep 2008 at 21:05

Can a mod please close this thread, for obvious reasons tbh.

pingwing · 8 Sep 2008 at 21:27

Ill venture a serious idea befiore its locked....

I saw somewhere a netgear router (i think) that could bar ip addresses at certain times, so if you want tehm off the net you could just ban their pcs from the network...

Banzai_Joe · 9 Sep 2008 at 22:26

ahaa.....thanks pingwing. Yes i actually tried that months ago on my Netgear router, to block MSN from the kids pc's, but it didn't work.
Limting hours to certain IP's is a little easier though, so i'll try that.
I totally forgot that i'd done that, thanks for the reminder.