Could someone advise a way to restrict use of MSN messenger?

[Mercian]

Here is my problem - My sister is an MSN messenger addict and it really pisses my whole family off, it also means that i cannot browse this fine forum as the silly cow spends all the time on the bloody thing.
What i want to do is to be able to hide and restrict access to MSN so that me and the rest of my family can use it but she can't use it 24/7!!!. If someone could help me out it would be very very appreciative. Thanks

EDIT- Sorry i forgot to mention that im trying to do it inconspicuosly, devious i know but it really is a problem and her being able to blame me for getting rid of it is more hassle then its worth. Is there some way to do this with an administrative tool program i could download?

[Chadruharazzeb]

Create a windows profile just for her but don't make MSN accessible from it, and password your own. That way if she wants to use the PC, she can, but she won't be hogging MSN all the damn time.

[superkully]

You want a script which does a 'kill msnmessenger.exe' or somesuch every ten minutes. That'll sort it.

[yashiro]

If you're on XP/2k and using separate user log in's.. (which you should)

- Find the messenger executable.
- Right click -> Properties -> Security
- Do Add...
- Add her account name.
- Her name has now appeared in the access list.
- Highlight it.
- Put a tick in all of the DENY boxes.
- Ok the lot.

Next time she logs in she wont be able to use Messenger but everyone else will. All the files etc. are still there she just cant run it.

Blame it on "Windows being crap".

If you wanna be really crafty you could automate this in a command script so you can lock and unlock it with one click.

[superkully]

How about a verbal communication from your Mam to the effect "You're spending too much time on MSN, you will only be allowed 1 hour per day".

?

[Fusion]

How about a verbal communication from your Mam to the effect "You're spending too much time on MSN, you will only be allowed 1 hour per day".

?

i was thinking that

[DjSatansfury]

Or a swift kick to the head...

hohoohoho

Surely though, MSN shouldnt be using THAT much bandwidth?

[Crispin]

EDIT: Might as well practice what I preach

Dear DjSatansfury
Urrr....How to put this. When one person is on a computer, other people can't use it. And either they only have one computer or have not set up a network, which is fairly understandable

*Goes back to figuring out Linux installation. User-friendly my ass...

[superkully]

I think DJ Satan... was trying to say was:

If four people could play Micro Machines on the same keyboard, why can't the whole family use the computer simultaneously for something as banal and trivial as MSN / web surfing? You barely ever press two keys down simultaneously, do you?

[DjSatansfury]

Well actually, i got it into my head that this was a 2 pc network, lol, on 56k. Dont ask wtf i got that from.

If its just one PC, then i suggest the former of my suggestions.

DM's anyone?

[MaxPower]

Can't you just rename MSN's.exe to anything you like? This way it tries to start MSN, looks for default .exe name - cant find, wont load

[g-funk]

You can just go into the programs folder (or is it windows folder) and rename the messenger folder to "messengeroff"

That will hide it from her.

[probeater]

had a similer problem once, the most devious way to stop her using msn messenger would be to block port 1863, unless shes a computer geek she won't have a clue how to rectify it.

[yashiro]

had a similer problem once, the most devious way to stop her using msn messenger would be to block port 1863, unless shes a computer geek she won't have a clue how to rectify it.

Indeed but neither will the rest of the family.

[Mercian]

Thanks for all the advice. It seems that i a world of computing in this modern day and age the best solution to a problem does seem to be a swift kick to the head as this worked a treat
Thanks all who posted