I did a search but did not find any specific fixes. This is a friends machine. His teenage niece uses AIM and consequently often gets viruses on the machine. She even suggested that AIM be uninstalled and it was then uninstalled. The next time she uses the PC she loads it back on and sure enough another virus. He's using AVG free AV software and I don't know why it is not stopping it upon the virus loading to the PC. It is updated regularly. There are no logins to get into this PC. Just power it up and you are in. Is there a simple way to prevent AIM from either being downloaded (from anywhere) or a way to prevent it from being able to run on a WinXP machine? Registry setting or a script that is activated when AIM's executable is envoked maybe? Thanks for your time, Bryan

I guess I searched in the wrong place. I found the answer at winguides.com under "Restrict Users from Running Specific Applications (Windows 2000/Me/XP)". Thanks just the same, Bryan

Yes there is that registry tweak as pointed out above. However I need to ask, how is she gettign viruses through AIM? Virues in aim require a person to either accept a file or click on a link. So you jsut need to tell ehr that and have her be carefull. Are yo usure it is coming through AIM? Could be e-mail or anythign else. -Ryan Adams Ryan's Custom Computers

"So you just need to tell her that and have her be carefull." In theory the above is correct but this person apparently has no respect for the owner's wishes in regards to use and proper use of the PC. She downloads way too many things and does not understand that it is not her machine. We have not installed any key loggers and don't sit over her shoulder while she uses it but the owners only visit the same sites that are harmless (sports and children's sites). If it were my machine she wouldn't be using it at all but she babysits for their 7 year old and the PC gives her something to do while there. She has been instructed but continues to get viruses only while she is using it. Sometimes, the next time the owner goes to use the machine it won't even start up normally. One might think that she would mention that there is a problem with it rather than just shutting it off an saying nothing. By restricting the use of AIM without her knowing that has been put in place hopefully she will give up trying to use AIM thinking that something is wrong with the PC and I'll pretend that I don't know how to fix it. The last time I worked on it I found 5 viruses and 183 spyware items. It was so bad one time I had to format and reinstall Windows from scratch. She knows how to surf (irresponsibly) but does not know how to fix a PC. If restricting AIM does not resolve the problem we'll restrict more things or require her to login with NetNanny or some similar program. The hope is if AIM is no longer working then she won't be downloading the things her friends send her to install on the machine. I also suggested they buy McAfee or Norton AV to help catching the viruses before they are actually downloaded. I have never tried AVG but I would have thought it would have caught them upon download like McAfee does but apparently not. I hope this lends some understanding to the problem. Regards, Bryan

Oh that pushes my button. Someone that figures what the heck and does it anyway. McAfee has to be told to look for AIM stuff otherwise it doesn't know. As for me I would put the fear of God in this gal or hire someone that listens to my instructions. Make you wonder what else she's doing... The simplest route to go is to hire someone else, but if they insist on using the child is to create a lower level user account. Add the AIM blocker and I think you would have her shut down pretty well. You would have to edit the internet security settings in this account. Kinda like a AOL kiddie account. Restricts where you can go and what you can do. Good luck my friend.