Setting Parental Controls in Windows Vista

Windows Vista is the first Microsoft operating system that comes complete with parental controls. With this new feature, parents can configure various restrictions for any given user. Vista's Parental Controls is a very powerful system, enabling parents and administrators to monitor downloaded files, blocked websites, attempts to access blocked sites, programs run on the computer, instant messages sent and received, games played, and videos and movies played.

Here's how to set parental controls on Windows Vista

Step #1
First, access Windows' Parental Controls by clicking on the Start button. This is the circular button at the bottom of the page with Microsoft's flag logo on it.
Now go to the Start Menu Search Box and type "Parental Controls." Click Continue on the User Account Control dialog box that appears.

Step #2
This will take you to the Parental Controls welcome screen. You will create a new user account in this screen. To do this:

• Click the Create a new user account button.
• Type in the login name for the new account
• Check the option: User must set password at next login.
• Click Create Account.
• Press OK,

This will bring you back to the Parental Controls welcome screen.

Step #3
The first option you have is to choose a game ratings system. You have a choice between CERO, ESRB, OFLC, or PEGI.

• For the U.S, ESRB is recommended, because it is the most widely used rating system in the United System.
• For Europe, you the PEGI rating system is the recommended option.

Once you have chosen a game rating system, click OK.

Step #4
You should now be on the Family Safety Options screen. Under the section that reads "How often would you like to be reminded to read activity reports?" select how often you want to be reminded to check activity reports. You can choose weekly, every day, or never.

Step #5
The second option reads "Reset the Web Content filter to be the Windows Vista Web Content filter." Select Reset if you have a third party web content filter installed on your computer. Click OK when you are done.

Step #6
You can now configure settings for individual users.
*Click on a standard user account (you cannot set parental controls for administrative accounts).

*Now you can view the user's account activity log and adjust parental controls for this user. Under the User Controls option, you can determine if you want to implement parental controls for that particular user. Select either yes or no for this option. You can also determine if you want to log the activities of the user.

Here's what else you can do with Vista's Parental Controls:

• Under the Windows Settings, you can configure options for the Windows Vista Web Filter, time limits, games and program blocking.
• Under the Windows Vista Web Filter, you can control websites visited, whether or not they can download files, and the type of web content the user can view.
• Under the Time Limits option, you can specify the time the user can use the computer. = Under the Games option, you can specify the games that can be played based on rating, content, and title.
• Under the Allow and Block Specific Programs option.You can also block certain programs and applications.