Thread: [SOLVED] Limited XP account can't access internet

drop down to mark "solved is missing" in threadds in this forum


OK, now we have this Windows forum, I might as well post a question that's been bugging me for a while.

The kids have inherited my old laptop, which is connected to our wireless DSL router via a wireless USB network adapter. Great. No cables. We can drag the thing all over the family room.

Thing is, that only accounts with administrator rights can access the internet on that machine.

Now, I don't want to give my 6-year old admin rights on that 'puter, even though there's just a few children's games installed on it. But, you know, I'm talking about the kid who, every time he gets his hands on the iPod Nano, manages to set the display language to Kanji and it takes me three hours of trial and error to get a halfway readable language back on the screen. That kid will not get admin rights on any computer in our house, unless he outsmarts me and hacks it.

But when he logs in with his own account, the internet connection does not fire up. So he screams and wails, and I have to come running and log on with my admin account and then switch users, so he can go to the Bob the Builder site, or wherever, and once we've been through that song and dance, most of his allotted 30 minutes computer time is used up and he is mighy p*ssed off.

I know, I have to work on my parenting skills, but I'm already asking those questions in another forum

So, Windows XP-perts, what gives? How come, a limited user account cannot make the internet connection unless the admin shadows it first? And how can I hack it?

Holding my breath ....

Hi Teylyn,

Take whatever I say with a pinch of salt and as a guess... I usually run Linux.

'Personally', I never normally (with a very few exceptions) allow any windows machine to connect to the net or an unknown network with Admin priviledges... even if I'm the Admin!.

Some wild suggestions:-
Have you tried creating a totally new connection whilst your children are logged onto the laptop with there own username/password?

I haven't got a Win machine in front of me at the moment, but I seem to recall (might have to look/adjust my wording):-

Internet Explorer → Tools → Security: now in one of the settings (might be internet or intranet) I seem to recall a setting to allow 'Auto logon for current user'. Might be worth a play.

Also, have you checked Control Panel → Network Connections, then right click on the connection and bring up properties. Again from memory I think there is a setting/tick box along the lines of 'Allow other users to connect via this computer'.

Only suggestions, if you haven't already tried.

Good luck with it. I'll dig out and poke around in an old XP machine if you think it will help.
J.
PS: you don't have a special kind of router that is selective with user access?!

@Jack, I'll try it out in the morning

@Jo-Jo, yes, I've tried connecting while logged on as "the kid". no go. But I'll have another play.

Thanks both for your replies. I'll be posting back with results.

OK, will do. xcuse, mui tarde!

Saturday, actually, at my end of the nick! A.M. wee hours

OK, checking back.

It's working now. I tried the "run with different credentials" and it worked, but I had to stand next to the computer with the password at the ready and I did not see an option to save it. So that was a nice quick fix but not the long term solution.

I played around a bit more and ended up biffing the proprietary USB card's connection management software. If that software is not started, Windows will pick up the USB wireless card with its own Wireless connection dialog, and there's no need for any passwords or other stuff.

Bewdifull.

Thanks for helping out.