password on startup

[fatgaz]

i share my computer with 3 of my children, i respect their wishes and let them have their own password protected accounts. But is there any way i can put a password on the start up so they can respect my wishes and only go on the computer with my permission ? i have windows xp home ed sp2

[peanut]

Ive checked the windows help pages and found nothing on that. Only passwords for each account. If all else fails you could replace your power switch with a key switch. If you ask me, your kids should give you the same respect you are giving them. If they cant respect your wishes to get pemission from you to use the computer, either unprotect the account or deny access all together. Remember the administrator can do anything they want to each account, protected or not.

[fatgaz]

thanks for the answer

can i change their password without knowing it ?

[fo3nix]

you can set a password in your BIOS, probably:

when your computer is booting up, press the F1 key or DEL or something (individual depending who made your computer; it'll tell you though on the screen. "F1 to setup" or something).

then there will probably be an option somewhere to set a password. set it, and it'll ask for that password as the computer starts up.

warning: do not mess with anything else in the bios, unless you know what you're doing!!!

[peanut]

Fo3nix and ZebUK are right but its usually F2 or delete to get into bios. If you wait until the windows xp logo comes up you waited too long. You need to do this when the motherboard logo shows ( just after pushing the power button ). Then keep tapping The F2 or delete key until you see either " entering setup " or you see the bios screen. After creating a password be sure to save your settings.

[peanut]

Another thing to keep in mind, once you go into bios you may see a "security options" option. Be sure to select system not setup. After making your selection then set your password. otherwise you will only be protecting bios and thats not what you want.

[fatgaz]

thank you all very much for your aswers

you do not know how peacefull it is, now all the fighting has stopped

once again thank you