i need some help - Can I control access to certain programs in Windows 7?
 

I allow my 12 year newphew to use my computer i can not watch him all of the time and i would like to make sure that he is not accessing games on my computer that he knows he is not allowed to play. is there any software out there that would do this. i am using windows 7

Internet explorer has parental controls. That should do it. Enable that, set your level, allow the sites you want and ignore or block the ones you don't.

the concern is not so much websites but what video games he is playing on the local machine

then create a limited user. In the admin account, lock out any folders/files you don't want him to use: Security. This way, you leave ONLY the few things you want him to use.

Oh, ok yeah. I thought it was web-based. Definitely a plain user account would work.

You can control so many aspects of this that it is hard to put it all in writing. Anything from deleting shortcuts (only works if he is lazy), to limited users and folder permissions.

Check this out (ignore sharing, just permissions)
How to Share and Set Permissions for Folders and Files Using Windows XP

And this
File and Folder Permissions

Microsoft articles can be rather boring, but they are often full of useful info.

Basically, whatever you do not want him to have access to, add his user account in the security tab and set the deny permissions. I would not do this to the whole program files folder, for instance, or he will probably not be able to load his profile properly.

Additionally, he will not be able to install many things, so he probably won't be able to put the game he wants on the machine to begin with.

A couple of instructional videos that might help.

thanks guys tfp comes though again