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AIBU?

To think this IT problem shouldn't be insurmountable?

42 replies

Greenrememberedhills · 24/01/2015 13:47

My 14 year old son has an iMac, with administrator rights. I am a basic windows laptop user without any special techy knowledge. DS is driving me nuts not getting out of bed in the morning, and I think he sneaks back on the computer after bedtime.

I have discovered that if we become the administrator and not him we can put timer controls on the machine. I want DH to do this but he says it's too difficult or that DS will lose all his stuff or that it will prevent DS downloading software for his hobby.

Is it possible to change the administrator to me or DH and let DS continue to have and not lose all his stuff? If so, can anyone advise a simple way to do it?

All advice gratefully appreciated.

DH is away during the week.
DS isn't easy to manage, so a solution which relies on appealing to his better nature is unlikely to work; been there, done that.

Thank you.

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SorchaN · 24/01/2015 13:53

Sorry, can't help with the technical problem, but I think it's quite normal for a 14 year-old to have significant difficulties getting out of bed in the morning.

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InfinitySeven · 24/01/2015 13:54

If you limit his access, you will need enter the admin password for him to be able to download things, and if it means setting up a new account, he will lose his things.

Could you set a timer on the router instead? Or install child software on the Mac, which will force shutdown after a period of time has passed? You might be limited for options compared to a PC, though

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WorraLiberty · 24/01/2015 13:56

Surely you just take his laptop out of his room when he needs to go to sleep?

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egnahc · 24/01/2015 13:56

He is 14- not 7. Talk to him about it and agree a solution which treats him like an almost adult and lets him make responsible choices.

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AlpacaMyBags · 24/01/2015 13:57

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AlpacaMyBags · 24/01/2015 13:57

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Deux · 24/01/2015 13:58

You do this quite straightforwardly. But if it's restricting the amount of time your DS spends on his mac you might be better off setting controls on your router, assuming he is logged into Internet.

Do you have an account on the Mac? Do you know your DS's password? You can remove Admin rights for him but you can have multiple accounts with Admin rights.

Your DS won't lose anything but he won't be able to download or update software if he doesn't have admin rights.

Best thing is to google, How do I change the administrator on an iMac' or something. There will be YouTube vids as well.

I'm afraid I can't talk you through it without doing it myself iyswim. I'm on my phone right now.

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skylark2 · 24/01/2015 13:58

Just don't let him take the laptop to bed.

If he isn't an administrator, there will be things he can't install. No way to tell if his particular hobby would need them.

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Greenrememberedhills · 24/01/2015 14:07

Thank you for replies.

Just a few points to clarify-
It isn't a laptop with a large iMac.

We did put timer controls via k9 but he got round them at first by downloading things to watch later and then yesterday he was using the net at 12 despite k9 being in situ.

I really despair of suggestions to treat him like an adult however. That has worked with my other children but it doesn't work with him. I have batted to get him up for months one way or another, and I'm very worn out.

I did switch off the router at one point but he keep switching it in again and in any case my 18 year old is doing A levels and is responsible and sometimes works later.

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Greenrememberedhills · 24/01/2015 14:10

Thank you Deux. I don't have an account on his iMac but he is just about finally willing to allow us to do it.

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Greenrememberedhills · 24/01/2015 14:11

It is a large iMac I mean.

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egnahc · 24/01/2015 14:12

treating a 14 year old with respect and getting respect back is a 2 way process.

Most 14 and 18 year olds would have a similar bedtime?

Is 12 too late on a Friday night? Yes on a school night but how about agreeing rules that recognise his age and give him responsibility.

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DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 24/01/2015 14:13

Mm. In our case, we treated this as a choice between "something you don't want to do, or something you don't want to happen". The latter could be a plant mister, bedclothes pulled off, an email to school informing them she'd need stimulating to keep her awake, etc.

Didn't take long Wink

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Greenrememberedhills · 24/01/2015 14:16

My point about 12 is that it showed me that he had got round the 1130 weekend cut off. He'd be up till 5am no problem, with knock on effects Monday.

I quite aware of the need for two way respect, and am comfortable that I'm not an autocrat.

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ihatethecold · 24/01/2015 14:18

How about taking the power cable.
I do that sometime with my ds14 and his Xbox.

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ivykaty44 · 24/01/2015 14:20

I found that cold water on the bed helped - but it was me that needed to dry the bed for it to be slept in that night, so bear that in mind Smile

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Mostlyjustaluker · 24/01/2015 14:21

Just take the fuse out of the plug but don't let him see you do it.

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ivykaty44 · 24/01/2015 14:21

Oh and I can turn of the wifi downstairs and I also have the option of turning of the electric supply to the upstairs of the house Wink

I enjoy easing on the sofa so this helps….

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ivykaty44 · 24/01/2015 14:22

reading on the sofa..

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egnahc · 24/01/2015 14:23

when our house was rewired the electrician suggested putting a cut off to each bedroom fuse box. he said it was popular with families with teens- mine were babies. I often think of that man! never had to use it- the fact that I can is enough!

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britnay · 24/01/2015 14:24

if you can't trust him to behave responsibly then just remove the power cable.

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NatashaRomanov · 24/01/2015 14:26

Just remove the mac from his room. He can't use it according to your rules, he doesn't get it.

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Greenrememberedhills · 24/01/2015 14:26

I think he's too big to remove the power chord. Nearly 6ft. I've tried twice in the last year and a scuffle broke out on one occasion, as he tried to stop me- which I'm extremely keen to avoid.

There is no violence in our house. However, youngest DS is pretty protective of his stuff, to say the least. The best solution I think would be one which one which avoided all that.

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Deux · 24/01/2015 14:28

Just been thinking of your conundrum some more. You'll need your DS's password and the email address he used when he set up the 'Computer Account'.

If you set yourself up as the admin then if your DS is tech savvy and knows the email address you used he could possibly bypass this. Make sure on any security questions that they are not ones he could guess/answer.

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Greenrememberedhills · 24/01/2015 14:29

That is a brilliant point about the electrician especially if it was just sockets!

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