[~*McoreD*~]

Did you know that you can actually specify times for users to use the computer? This feature is actually there in XP but can only be accessed by Command Prompt. There is no GUI for it.

But in Longhorn, I have seen there is a GUI in User Accounts.

If your child is playing games in the computer 24 * 7 and is not doing any school work, then as a parent this feature will be ideal for you.

Luckily, it is very easy to do this in Command Prompt.

Here is an example:

Say you have a user called Mike.
You want him only to use the computer from 3PM (15 hrs) to 6PM (18 hrs) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

You go to Command Prompt and type the following:

Code:

net user Mike /times:M,15-18;W,15-18;F,15-18

or

Code:

net user Mike /times:M,3PM-6PM;W,3PM-6PM;F,3PM-6PM

Easy isn't it?

If you want to reset the times:

Code:

net user Mike /times:All

If you want him not to do the computer at all:

Code:

net user Mike /times:

For more info, search for net user in Help & Support in Windows XP.
There are restrictions in Net User command. You have to give the times in exact hours and you cannot use Minutes or Seconds.

I have also attached a very small tool which can automate this process.
However, you will need Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 in order to use it.

Code:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/a/a/c/aac39226-8825-44ce-90e3-bf8203e74006/dotnetfx.exe

Enjoy!

P.S: Microsoft® will wait another four or five years and finalize the GUI for it and emphasize that feature as a new feature in Longhorn. :P

A more recent build is attached in the second post.