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winsleuthFlag for United States of America

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Limiting Opens Apps in Windows XP

(This is posted as a question already but no response in a day so pasting it here, I hope there is no rule against this; maybe it doesnt belong in the Security area)

I have a client that connects with a PC at an office via PCAnywhere. It works well most of the time but I need to put some restrictions of what he does. He will not do as asked and ALWAYS goes an opens five, six and seven apps while online. That is when things get unstable and next thing I know he has crashed the PC or worse. I am looking for a Utility or Tweak or something that will stop him from opening more that 'X' number of Apps or that will disallow opening Apps if memory gets low. I think I have seen an option for this in one of those super tweaking programs but I have to specify the name of each allowed program. I dont care what programs he uses, I just dont want them all loaded at the same time when I am an hours drive away. And I dont want him to have Super User options so he can Reboot remotely or the like.

Any ideas?
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trywaredk
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HOW TO: Restrict Users from Running Specific Windows Programs in Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=323525

Description of the Software Restriction Policies in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310791

Remember to Enforce a Remote Access Security Policy in Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q313082&sd=tech 

HOW TO: Apply Local Policies to all Users Except Administrators on Windows 2000 in a Workgroup Setting
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;293655

Local Policies to all Users except Administrators (only workgroup)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;293655

Refresh policy from windows 2003 server:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/proddocs/standard/Refrgp.asp

How do I use Group Policy to implement Internet Explorer Advanced Settings?
http://www.jsiinc.com/subm/tip6400/rh6403.htm

Internet Explorer Group Policy security settings need some extra help?
http://www.jsiinc.com/subj/tip4800/rh4816.htm

One can restrict the programs that a user can run
http://is-it-true.org/nt/registry/rtips113.shtml
 
Internet Explorer Control Panel Restrictions (Part 1)
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/537/

Internet Explorer Control Panel Restrictions (Part 2)
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/797/

Disable Network Messenger Service (Windows NT/2000/XP)
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1228/

Disable MSN Instant Messenger
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/981/

Disable Run Commands Specified in the Registry - This restriction is used to disable the ability to run startup programs specified in the registry when Windows launches.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/876/

Disable Registry Editing Tools
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/190/

Disable Command Prompt and Batch Files
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1143/

Disable the Windows Key (Windows NT/2000/XP) Popular
This tweak disables the Windows key that is found between the Ctrl and Alt keys on a Windows enhanced keyboard.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/903/

Disable the Windows Hotkeys (All Windows)
This restriction allows you to disable the use of the Windows hotkey combinations that provide shortcuts to the Start Menu and task swapping.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/549/

Secure Access to Floppy Drives (Windows NT/2000/XP)
This setting determines whether data in the floppy disk drive is accessible to other users.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/204/

Disable Ability to Skip Startup Programs (Windows NT/2000/XP)
Normally if you hold the Shift key while Windows is loading you can prevent the Startup applications from being launched. This setting disables the ability to by-pass these programs.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1056/

Disable CD Burning (Windows XP)
This restriction is used to disable the use of the inbuilt CD recording functions of Windows.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/979/

Disable File Download in Internet Explorer
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/901/

Disable Internet Access
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1288/

Disable Control Panel
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/543/

Windows Netmeeting Policies and Restrictions (All Windows)
These restrictions and policies can be used to disable or restrict access to certain features of Windows Netmeeting.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/636/

MSN Instant Messenger Restrictions (All Windows)
These restrictions are used to disable various features of the Microsoft MSN Instant Messenger client.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/982/

Automatic Hidden Shares (Windows NT/2000/XP)
When networking has been installed on a Windows machine, it will automatically create hidden shares to the local disk drives. It is possible to disable the sharing at run-time, but this tweak will stop the automatic sharing altogether.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/4/

Manage the Encrypting File System (Windows 2000/XP)
When you use Encrypting File System (EFS), you can store data securely because selected NTFS file system files and folders can be encrypted. This setting allows you to enable or disable EFS.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1152/

Add or Remove Programs Restrictions (Windows 2000/XP)
These restrictions apply to the Add/Remove Programs feature of Control Panel. They allow you to entirely or individually disable components.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1041/

Control the CD-ROM Autorun Function (Windows NT/2000/XP) Popular
Normally when you insert a disc into your CD-ROM drive, the contents are automatically launched. This tweak allows you to disable this behavior.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/6/

Restrict Access to the Windows Update Feature (All Windows)
The Windows Update feature allows users to easily update Windows components and software over the Internet. These settings allow can be used to grant or restrict access to this function.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/441/

Restrict Task Creation and Deletion (Windows 2000/Me/XP)
These settings allow you to restrict the creation and deletion of items in Task Scheduler.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1078/

Prevent Access to the Contents of Selected Drives (Windows 2000/Me/XP)
This restriction prevents users from using My Computer or Explorer to access the content of selected drives. Also, they cannot use Run, Map Network Drive, or the Dir command to view the directories on these drives.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1157/

Network Connection Restrictions (Windows 2000/XP)
These restrictions control access to the features and properties of LAN, RAS and other network connections.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1047/

Enable Remote Assistance (Windows XP) -  :o) Don't use this setting!!!
The Remote Assistance feature is a convenient way for an administrator to remotely connect to a computer and with permission view the screen, move the mouse, use the keyboard and chat online.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1213/

Check for Internet Explorer Updates (All Windows)
Internet Explorer 5 and higher has the ability to automatically check for software updates. This tweak controls that feature.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/784/

Configure Remote Access Client Account Lockout (Windows 2000/XP) New
You can use the remote access account lockout feature to specify how many times a remote access authentication has to fail against a valid user account before the user is denied access. Use this tweak to set the number of failed logins before the account is locked-out and the time before the lockout is reset.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1270/

Hide the Last User Name (All Windows) Popular
This setting can be used to blank the username box on the logon screen. This will prevent people that are logging on from knowing the last user to access the system.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1/

Secure Access to Floppy Drives (Windows NT/2000/XP)
This setting determines whether data in the floppy disk drive is accessible to other users.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/204/

Manage Floppy Access from Recovery Console (Windows 2000/XP) New
If this setting is enabled, a user has full access to all drives on the system and can copy files from the hard drive to the floppy disk when using the Recovery Console.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1290/
 
Using Group Policy Objects to Hide Specified Drives in My Computer for Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=231289


----------------------- IF THE ABOVE SOLUTIONS DOES'NT WORK, THEN ------------------------------

HOWTO: Enabling Local Auditing Policies on Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;252412

HOW TO: Enable and Apply Security Auditing in Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Professional:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q300549&sd=tech

Avatar of winsleuth

ASKER

The links were interesting but they didnt answer my question, that is why I sat on this. The accepted answer addressed the problem of security, not stability, which was what I had asked for. Ill revert to the tweaks and utils I have that will limit, though crudely, the number of apps open at one time. Thanks for all the work put into the answer of course and Ill save the links for the issues they address. When there isnt a good or applicable answer I am not sure I know what I am supposed to do. Any info on that would be appreciated.
Dave