IT has screwed up MY laptop

  • Thread starter Thread starter Phil Conundrum
  • Start date Start date
P

Phil Conundrum

I have my own IBM Thinkpad R51 which I use on the road, home and at
the office. Running WinXP Pro SP2.

The IT guys had to set it up to run on the network in the office.
They have done two things which are driving me crazy and they refuse
to change.

1. They have set it up to log me off after about 2 minutes of
inactivity. This not only is a pain but if I am running a long
download or some other job, it sometimes stops that process.

2. They have Hi-Jacked my IE home page. No matter how many times I
go back and change it to the Home page I want, it goes back to the
Company home page which is about useless to me.

If this was the Company's computer that they paid for then it is their
business. But this is mine that I use for Company business and I
paid for out of my own pocket.

So, I need some help to get this thing configured the way I want it.

HELP !!

/pc
 
Apparently, your company has implemented Group Policy
restrictions. Only your company can make the changes you desire.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I have my own IBM Thinkpad R51 which I use on the road, home and at
| the office. Running WinXP Pro SP2.
|
| The IT guys had to set it up to run on the network in the office.
| They have done two things which are driving me crazy and they refuse
| to change.
|
| 1. They have set it up to log me off after about 2 minutes of
| inactivity. This not only is a pain but if I am running a long
| download or some other job, it sometimes stops that process.
|
| 2. They have Hi-Jacked my IE home page. No matter how many times I
| go back and change it to the Home page I want, it goes back to the
| Company home page which is about useless to me.
|
| If this was the Company's computer that they paid for then it is their
| business. But this is mine that I use for Company business and I
| paid for out of my own pocket.
|
| So, I need some help to get this thing configured the way I want it.
|
| HELP !!
|
| /pc
 
For the homepage, see if this helps (start at step 6)

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320159

As to automatic logoff - I don't find anything in WinXP that seems to
directly control that. There are third party apps that have that
functionality. Go to your IT guys and make them extend the timeout value,
or remove that feature.

Val
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We've secretly switched the dilithium crystals with new Folger's
Crystals...
let's watch what happens."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have my own IBM Thinkpad R51 which I use on the road, home and at
the office. Running WinXP Pro SP2.

The IT guys had to set it up to run on the network in the office.
They have done two things which are driving me crazy and they refuse
to change.

1. They have set it up to log me off after about 2 minutes of
inactivity. This not only is a pain but if I am running a long
download or some other job, it sometimes stops that process.

2. They have Hi-Jacked my IE home page. No matter how many times I
go back and change it to the Home page I want, it goes back to the
Company home page which is about useless to me.

If this was the Company's computer that they paid for then it is their
business. But this is mine that I use for Company business and I
paid for out of my own pocket.

So, I need some help to get this thing configured the way I want it.

HELP !!

/pc
 
Phil said:
I have my own IBM Thinkpad R51 which I use on the road, home and at
the office. Running WinXP Pro SP2.

The IT guys had to set it up to run on the network in the office.
They have done two things which are driving me crazy and they refuse
to change.

1. They have set it up to log me off after about 2 minutes of
inactivity. This not only is a pain but if I am running a long
download or some other job, it sometimes stops that process.

2. They have Hi-Jacked my IE home page. No matter how many times I
go back and change it to the Home page I want, it goes back to the
Company home page which is about useless to me.

If this was the Company's computer that they paid for then it is their
business. But this is mine that I use for Company business and I
paid for out of my own pocket.

So, I need some help to get this thing configured the way I want it.

HELP !!

/pc
Click to expand...

For the Internet Homepage issue, log into an account with administrator
privileges. Next, hit the Start Menu, then the Run option. In the box,
type in gpedit.msc
Under User Configuration, choose Windows Settings, Internet Explorer
Maintenance tab, then URLs, then double click on Important URLs. Try
setting your homepage here and see if that works.
 
I have my own IBM Thinkpad R51 which I use on the road, home and at
the office. Running WinXP Pro SP2.

The IT guys had to set it up to run on the network in the office.
They have done two things which are driving me crazy and they refuse
to change.

1. They have set it up to log me off after about 2 minutes of
inactivity. This not only is a pain but if I am running a long
download or some other job, it sometimes stops that process.

2. They have Hi-Jacked my IE home page. No matter how many times I
go back and change it to the Home page I want, it goes back to the
Company home page which is about useless to me.

If this was the Company's computer that they paid for then it is their
business. But this is mine that I use for Company business and I
paid for out of my own pocket.

So, I need some help to get this thing configured the way I want it.

HELP !!
Click to expand...

Instead of logging onto the DOMAIN account, log onto your local account,
then you should have your old settings/desktop. When you logon, if you
don't see three boxes (User Name, Password, Logon Domain) you need to
click on the Options button to show it - then select "This Computer" and
use your old user/password.

As long as they didn't delete the old user account you can still logon
to the non-domain account.
 
VManes said:
As to automatic logoff - I don't find anything in WinXP that seems to
directly control that.
Click to expand...

To update you Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit has this functionality

Dick
 
Leythos said:
Instead of logging onto the DOMAIN account, log onto your local
account, then you should have your old settings/desktop. When you
logon, if you don't see three boxes (User Name, Password, Logon
Domain) you need to click on the Options button to show it - then
select "This Computer" and use your old user/password.

As long as they didn't delete the old user account you can still logon
to the non-domain account.
Click to expand...

Note if you do this you will not be able to logon to the domain account
until you are physically connected to the domain again. Shouldn't be a
problem, just something to be aware of.

Kerry
 
kerry@kdbNOSPAMsys- said:
Note if you do this you will not be able to logon to the domain account
until you are physically connected to the domain again. Shouldn't be a
problem, just something to be aware of.
Click to expand...

Not true, I did not say to remove yourself from the Domain. All Domain
workstations have TWO LOGON options, DOMAIN and THIS COMPUTER. If you
don't remove yourself from the DOMAIN, you can still logon locally to
the workstation without being part of the domain - normally you can only
do this if you have already created the Administrator or other accounts
and then only if the IT Department didn't delete the
accounts/rename/change their passwords.

Logging on LOCALLY to "This Computer" will NOT remove the computer from
the domain.
 
Leythos said:
Not true, I did not say to remove yourself from the Domain. All Domain
workstations have TWO LOGON options, DOMAIN and THIS COMPUTER. If you
don't remove yourself from the DOMAIN, you can still logon locally to
the workstation without being part of the domain - normally you can
only do this if you have already created the Administrator or other
accounts and then only if the IT Department didn't delete the
accounts/rename/change their passwords.

Logging on LOCALLY to "This Computer" will NOT remove the computer
from the domain.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I wasn't clear. Logging on locally won't remove you from the domain.
What I meant was you won't be able to logon to the domain profile again
until you are physically connected. You will lose the cached credentials.
This means you may not be able to access files in the domain profile like My
Documents etc. You could always take ownership if needed but this may cause
problems when you are back on the domain.

Kerry
 
On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 15:29:00 -0800, "Kerry Brown"

To the best of my limited XP Pro knowledge it appears that there is
only one log-on.

So, this does not appear to work as does anything else that was posted
with the exception of the Shared Computer Toolkit, which I am unable
to determine IF it has been installed and IF I can change anything
even if it has. I need to explore that one.

/pc
 
If this is being used then it would need to have been installed by IT
on my system ?

If it is there how do I access it ?

If it is not there and I install it can I override their defaults for
my system ?

Thanks,
/pc
 
I agree with DL, however it is your butt you should be kicking. It's
no surprise to me, I'd have done the same thing, if forced to
configure a civilians Laptop to connect to my corporate network, I
sure wouldn't have done it of my own free will. No IT group worth any
salt is going to allow you to connect to their network without locking
down your laptop to their standard. As for the two minute log-off,
that's about how long it takes to steel a laptop.
No of course, having said all that, someone should have warned you,
the laptop wouldn't "be yours" anymore except at tax time.

| It might be simpler to revisit IT guys and kick but!
|
| | > I have my own IBM Thinkpad R51 which I use on the road, home and
at
| > the office. Running WinXP Pro SP2.
| >
| > The IT guys had to set it up to run on the network in the office.
| > They have done two things which are driving me crazy and they
refuse
| > to change.
| >
| > 1. They have set it up to log me off after about 2 minutes of
| > inactivity. This not only is a pain but if I am running a long
| > download or some other job, it sometimes stops that process.
| >
| > 2. They have Hi-Jacked my IE home page. No matter how many times
I
| > go back and change it to the Home page I want, it goes back to the
| > Company home page which is about useless to me.
| >
| > If this was the Company's computer that they paid for then it is
their
| > business. But this is mine that I use for Company business and I
| > paid for out of my own pocket.
| >
| > So, I need some help to get this thing configured the way I want
it.
| >
| > HELP !!
| >
| > /pc
|
|
 
It is quite normal for a company to lock down any computers that connect to
the corporate network. Can you imagine the cost involved of removing a virus
from a corporate network. Another scenario is a stolen laptop, especially if
they have wireless implemented, connecting to the network and stealing
information. You will have to talk to the IT department again. It may be a
case of "our way or no way". If that's the case then you will have to decide
where the computer is more valuable to you.

Kerry
 
Answers in-line

Dick

Phil Conundrum said:
If this is being used then it would need to have been installed by IT
on my system ?
Click to expand...

Correct but as it is basically a sexy interface to group policy they may
have used group policy instead.
If it is there how do I access it ?
Click to expand...

You need to have a administrator login.
If it is not there and I install it can I override their defaults for
my system ?
Click to expand...

Not sure but you would need to be an admin to install it. Frankly if this
was my computer I would be "talking" to the IT guys about them removing the
restrictions from MY computer. There answer is likely to be if we do you
cannot use it at work.
 
Yeah, that is exactly what they said. MY reply was then you buy me a
computer our of your budget.

Still a stalemate.

I am an Admin on MY laptop - so that would allow me to install the
Toolkit. Does that help ?

/pc
 
The problem is that I was forced to buy my own laptop to their specs
and then they took control of it. So it is mine at Tax Time,
however, if they want to control a laptop then they should buy me a
computer and then they can do whatever they wish and I should have no
reason to complain.

But when it is MINE then it should be MINE.

Thanks,
/pc
 
Phil said:
Yeah, that is exactly what they said. MY reply was then you buy me a
computer our of your budget.

Still a stalemate.

I am an Admin on MY laptop - so that would allow me to install the
Toolkit. Does that help ?

/pc

Not sure but you would need to be an admin to install it. Frankly if
this
was my computer I would be "talking" to the IT guys about them removing
the
restrictions from MY computer. There answer is likely to be if we do
you
cannot use it at work.
Click to expand...

Would this be of any help??
http://tinyurl.com/63wlg
 
Phil Conundrum said:
Yeah, that is exactly what they said. MY reply was then you buy me a
computer our of your budget.

Still a stalemate.

I am an Admin on MY laptop - so that would allow me to install the
Toolkit. Does that help ?

/pc
Click to expand...

Phil

Can I suggest you ask in the NG microsoft.public.windows.sharedaccess. As
the SCT is a new product there are MS development staff in the NG

Dick
 
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