t e c h i e - t a l k s ::: technology at its best

Windows 7 comes with an option that allows an Administrator to easily allow/prevent other users (with no admin rights) to run executable programs. This works well especially if you share your PC with guests and you would not want them to run unnecessary programs. Or it could be just to prevent your less tech-savvy Dad from accidentally running tons of applications.

By disabling access to programs, users will need to input an admin password whenever they try to run these programs. Therefore, you’ll have a generally “safe” computing environment. For example, if you are not keen in letting guest users to access the web, you can limit the guest’s account access to FireFox or Internet Explorer. And that is it!

Here is how you go about setting up a protected environment using Windows 7 ‘parental controls.’ Make sure you have a normal user account without administrator rights. This account will be the one that has restricted programs. Next, setup parental control on the created account (you will need to log into an admin account for this).

Go to: Control Panel -> User Account and Family Safety -> Parental Controls -> ‘Created Guest User Account’ .
Under the heading Parental Controls, check the option ‘On, enforce current settings.’
Click on ‘Allow and Block Specific Programs‘

After clicking the link, you’ll be brought to a screen where most of the installed programs can be located. Deselect the programs that you don’t want your guest users to run. Be sure to know the relationship between programs (some applications may invoke another, causing unwanted conflicts). And when you’re done, just click OK! It is as simple as that. Now you can be assured that your guest users will not misuse the programs in your PC.