- How to add time for the subordinate user quickly? (Your kid wants to play some more...)
You have several ways. First, you can open the Main panel. If the main is not enabled please define the password in Boss session.
Then select the user whom you are going to add time. Then:
-
Simply set the time you need in panel Last remaining time .
-
Simply set for user the Boss rights. If the Main window is protected with password so the user can not change it.
-
If you need to delete the time range limit, simply uncheck No time range in panel Computer time limit .
-
Of course you can simply increase the time in panel Computer time limit .
Close the Main window. The changes take effect.
- Can the user without administration rights in Windows manage Time Boss?
Yes.
The user must have Boss rights in Time Boss.
The user must have the access (readonly is enough) to Time Boss folder.The user can't start the Time Boss Main without access to Time Boss folder.
- Who is Boss?
The rights Boss allow you to manage Time Boss with Main and Event Log .
The user with Boss rights has no time limit.
The White and Black lists are valid for Boss .
The Options are valid for Boss .
The Boss user may doesn't have the administration rights in Windows.
The Boss user may have "readonly" access to Time Boss folder.
- Who is Subordinate?
The rights Subordinate are used for users with time limit. You can set the limit in Main window.
- What is "Simple" mode?
This toggle defines the type of user interface. Simple mode hides the paneles: Internet time limit , Disabled programs and System protection .
Attention ( If you have changed anything on this panels ) ! The settings on this panels are in power even if the Simple mode is chosen! So, if you are not planing to use this panels in future, please clear all the settings in it before using Simple mode.
- How to change the language?
The panel Language defines the language of program interface. You can select the language
from list. The program will change the language after selection. Some
parameters will be changed when the Main window will
be closed. Files from Time Boss folder with extention *.lng are in the
list. If you will put the new file with .lng extension in Time Boss
folder, you can select it from list.
- How to edit the language?
The language files
are the simple text files and you can change them with any text editor
like NOTEPAD. The file is structured in lines and sections. The name of
section shows where the lines from it are used in the program. Each
line consists of parameter and value (parameret=value). The parameter
is the name of component in program, and the value is its text
description. You can change the value how you want.
Example:
[FormMain]
GroupBoxMain=Main
[FormMain]
- the section name, GroupBoxMain - the parameter, Main - the value. For
example, you can change Name to Significant. If you'll save this
modified file and select it in the list ( Language panel) - the name of Main panel in the Main window will be canged to Significant.
Important:
Please
don't change the parameters. Between parameters and = there are no
blanks. The parameter = value must be in one line. If the value has
several lines please set the sign / between them. Before editing please
make the copy of original language file. In any case there is the
reserve copy of original language file in Time Boss folder:
time_boss_default.bak.
- I use not default language file and see ??????? labels in TB Control Panel, whats happens?
If you use Windows Vista or Windows 7, please,
check the right language settings for
non-Unicode programs in
Windows Control panel->Clock,Language and Region->
Regional and Language Options->
Administrative->Change system local.
Restart PC.
- Who is Someone?
User Someone is an built-in user. The program keeps Someone account for all users who are registered in computer and who are NOT added in the Time Boss. User Someone cannot be removed.
- Can I stop Time Boss?
You should open Options and push the button Prepare for uninstall . The Time Boss will be stoped. But after restart of PC Time Boss will run again.
- The users with Subordinate rights can stop time_boss.exe from Taskmanager, is it normal?
The
all limitations functions are provided by the service time_boss_s.exe.
It is protected and nobody can stop it (except users with Boss rights).
The time_boss.exe is only small part of Time Boss wich indicates
remaining time for Subordinate users. So, users can stop time_boss.exe
with no expected effect.
- Installation
Only user with administration rights in Windows can install Time Boss.
All programs unit of program are located in Time Boss folder. Time Boss doesn't have any units in Windows system folders.
- Uninstall
You
should notice, that Time Boss is a highly protected product and its
impossible to deinstall this application by both simple folder deleting
and Windows uninstall wizard.
You can't uninstall program when it works.
For deinstallation open Options and push the button Prepare for uninstall at the bottom.
The program will be stopped and then you can uninstall it with Install/Uninstall wizard in Control Panel Windows.
The users with Subordinate rights can't do this. The Main window can be opened only by users with Boss rights. Main can be protected with Password .
If the program isn't registred in 30 days you can only uninstall Time Boss.
Even
if the trial period has finished, the program works during few minutes
after PC starting ( every time computer starts, until you wouldn't
uninstall application correctly). To do this you should: Restart your
system. Open TimeBoss Main ( its availble during these few minuts) -> Options -> button Prepare for Uninstall . After this use Windows uninstall wizard.
For Windows Vista and Windows 7:
If the button "Prepare for uninstall" is disabled then
run time_boss.exe with administrators rights.
For that
choose "Hide" in popup menu for tray icon of Time Boss.
Then open Time Boss with administrators rights
(Run->Program files->Time Boss->time_boss.exe->right mouse click
and choose "Run with administrators rights" from popup menu).
- How to update Time Boss to new version?
If you have the old version of program and want to update to new version without loss of screenshots and journal then open Options window and push the button Prepare for uninstall .
Then
WITHOUT rebooting of PC run the setup.exe of new version. Ignore all
messages of system ("Can't copy file...", "Access deneid...") during
setup. Then reboot the PC.
If you want make the full
update please uninstall the old version and then install the new
version. In this case the event log and all screenshots will be lost.
Its needed to input registration info (name and key) again.
For Windows Vista and Windows 7:
If the button "Prepare for uninstall" is disabled then
run time_boss.exe with administrators rights.
For that
choose "Hide" in popup menu for tray icon of Time Boss.
Then open Time Boss with administrators rights
(Run->Program files->Time Boss->time_boss.exe->right mouse click
and choose "Run with administrators rights" from popup menu).
- Where is the Save button in Main window?
There is no save button. All changes will be saved when you close Main window.
- I just saw on screenshot we can put half time or 15 minutes in the time table.
Is it only a Time Boss Pro feature or we can do that in Time Boss basic?
It's basic feature since version 2.39. Please use Crtl+Mouse Click.
- Is it possible to make Time Boss folder inaccesible for users in Windows?
Yes. You can forbid writing (or deleting) Time Boss components for all users.
- How to limit the Internet?
Select Internet time limit panel and define needed time limitation.
If you want to disable internet in any time, please set 0 hours and 0 minuts in "per Day" or "per Week" sections.
If you want to enable internet in any time, please set 24 hours and 0 minuts in "per Day" sections.
- How to block some undesired webpages?
The Time Boss can do this. Please use settings on "Internet filter" page.
All sites from table Forbidden Internet sites (Black list) will be blocked.
For example: http:\\bad.com or www.bad.com or *.bad.com.
The best way is to use * before site name (for example *.bad.com).
The table Allowed Internet sites (White list) contains allowed sites, ALL others sites will be blocked.
So if the White list is not empty, only sites in it and homepage can be visited.
- TB is almost the best parental control application I ever used.
However, I'd to get the possibility to block a webpage/URL/Domain using
a scheduler so that my kids could or couldn't use a website/blog when they are allowed to do it...
Open page "Internet filter", add needed sites (for example *.facebook.com) to "Black list"
and set for this sites time limitation (you can use time table, time range... ).
- I would like for example to allow an
user to have 1 hour internet time/day, but only 30 min of Facebook. How I can set this up?
1. Open page "Internet time limitation" for this user and set 1 hour time limitation.
2. Open page "Internet filter" and add "*.facebook.com" to "Forbidden and limited Internet sites (Black list)".
Press button "Time limit" (at right) and set 30 min time limitation for this site.
3. Check option "Allow only Internet Explorer (IE) using" on page "Internet filter".
- How to add undesired webpages from Internet Explorer to Internet black list?
You
can use Drag ang Drop mechanism (press Mouse button and move) to copy
URL (internet sites) from Internet Explorer (IE) to Internet Black
list.
Please open Time Boss Internet filter page. Open IE, select needed links from "Favorites" or from URL input box and move them to Time Boss Forbidden Internet sites (Black list) panel.
- My husband has been unable to access the internet using Internet Explorer.
His account is set as a Boss account and there are no Time Boss restrictions on it. Why?
Please open TB Event log and check how TB determine your husband - may be
as Someone - then edit husband user name in TB (the right user name you can
see in the Event log in the Someone Logon event ).
If all is ok with user name - then check the TB Internet filter for your husband.
Maybe the "Allowed Internet sites (White list)" is not empty.
If so - only sites
from "White list" are allowed in IE.
- I'm using other internet-guardian program, can I use Time Boss?
Yes, you can.
In this case please open Main -> Option ->panel Internet programs and check Disable IE monitor .
- What is "Stealth" mode?
The "Stealth" mode disables the icon of Time Boss in system tray (defined user wouldn't see Time Boss components).
- Where can I view screenshots?
Please open the page Screenshots in Event Log ..
- Where can I view statistics?
Please open the page Statists in Event Log ..
The Statistics is based on Event log . If the Event log is clear - the Statistics will be clear to.
- Where can I view summary time statistics for day, week, month?
Please open the page Total statists in Event Log ..
The Total statistics is based on Event log . If the Event log is clear - the Total statistics will be clear to.
- Why I view incorrect summary time on statistics page?
It
seems that this user (kid) changed the Windows system time during work
on PC or abnormality shutdown PC. You can check that in Event Log .
- Can I see statistics for a previous month?
If you want the program to log events (and save statistis) more than one month,
then increase the number of days for event log saving (TB->Control panel->Options->Log file->Save messages in log last ... days).
- Why is it that my “Save messages in log lasts 30 days”, but the Event History only shows 6 or 7 days?
Can I view the 30 day logs some other way?
Please, open TB Event log window and select item "Event log" on left panel.
On right panel on top clear "User","From date" and "To date" text boxes and click button "Refresh".
So you can see all events in your log.
All events are in the simple text file time_boss.log (it is read-only). You can open this file with Notepad.
30 days is default length for the Event log.
You can change this setting here: TB Control panel->Options window->Log file panel.
- How to reset time statistics?
If you delete all messages from event log (TB->Control panel->Options->Event log->Clear all) - all statistics will be lost.
- How can I save data from Event log or Statistics pages?
Select
the needed data and copy it (Crtl+C). Open any text editor (Notepad, MS
Word, MS Excel...) and paste data (Ctrl-V). Save the file.
- How to copy data from Event log or Statistics pages?
Select needed lines using Crtl, Shift button and Mouse. Push Ctrl-C (Ctrl-Insert).
If the pasted text contains the wrong chars then switch the language to national language in Time Boss before copying.
- Why Notepad and others systems programs are absent in Event log?
Time Boss doesn't trace the programs from Windows system folders (Notepad is a system program) if toggle Log sys. programs in Log panel is disabled (by default).
- My kid change system time on PC. How can I forbid that?
Please open the panel System protection for this user and check options "Protect system Date and Time". This options need LogOn/LogOff to take effect.
- How to save screenshot to my file?
Select the needed screenshot and press right button of mouse on picture - the Save Picture ... popup menu will be opened.
- Where located the screenshots files?
The folder Screenshots contains the folders wiht screenshots files. The every day has the folder with name like '01-01-2005'.
Each
screenshots is the JPG image file with name like '14-30-34.jpg'. The
size of file is about 150KB for the screen with resolution 1280*1024
(32b colors). So the folder for one day can has size about 10MB... The
program automaticly delete old screenshots, please see Screenshots
panel in Options.
You can manualy delete don't needed or old screenshots files.
- How to protect screenshots files?
You can add the folder with screenshots (\Time Boss\Screenshots) to table Folder protection on the panel System protection.
- How can I hide my folders (with files and subfolders)?
Please select needed user who shouldnt be allowed to see the content of your folders. Open the System protection panel and add needed folders to Folders protection table.
- Where user with Subordinate rights can view his time-table and statistics?
The user can see this data from popup menu on Time Boss icon in system tray.
- Can I add the programs or internet sites from Event log to Black List (or Internet Black List)?
Yes, you can. Please select (Ctrl or Shift button and mouse) needed lines in Event log and select Add selected programs or Internet sites to Black List in popup menu (Right mouse button).
Please note this command is enabled only if Main window of Time Boss is active. To activate it, open the Event log directly from Main window.
Please note users with Boss right have the active Black List to!
- What the name of net(lan) user should be like in TB?
The name of TB user should be short and without domain name.
Example: for net user \\PC_dad\dad the user name in Time Boss will be dad.
- How can I limit the time that a concrete program works?
Please, open Disabled programs page. Then add needed program or program folder. Push the button Program time limit and set the time limits.
You can edit names of programs and folders on the panel Black list.
You can have short names of programs (without full path) in Black list. So all programs with the same names will be restricted, without folder dependence.
- How the user with Subordinate rights can view the remaining time for a program from a black list?
The user can see this data from popup menu on Time Boss icon in system tray. Menu My computer time limit -> Forbidden folders and programs (Black list) -> column Last remaining time
- Is it possible to prevent Time Boss from deinstalling (or deleting its components) in Safe Mode?
Yes, it is.
In this case please open Main -> Option ->panel Safe Mode Protect and push Enable . Setting the protection can take few minutes.
Notice, that the user with Administrator rights has a possibility to remove the protection.
- How to add time for program from Black List quickly? (Kid wants to play some more...)
You have several ways. At first you should open the Main any case. If the Main is not enabled please define the password in Boss session.
Then select the user whom you are going to add time. Then open panel Disabled Program , select needed program or folder and uncheck Active column or push button Program time limit (DblClick) and :
-
Simply set the time you need in panel Last remaining time .
-
If you need to delete the time range limit, simply uncheck No time range in panel When allowed .
-
Of course you can simply increase the time in panel How much time allowed .
Close the Program time limit and Main windows. The changes take effect.
- How to use Backup Folder for screen shots?
If you define a folder, the program will write screenshots to this folder as well.
This
will allow you to view on the one (parental) computer all screenshots,
that are taken on the other PCs. Of course you 'll have to install TB
on all computers you are using..
To do it, you have
1. to give full access (make share) to the screenshot folder on the parental PC (Time Boss/Screenshots) for other computers.
2. then to chose this folder as a Backup folder on the other computers.
- How to open Control panel if I selected Hide in Configuration menu?
Please start Time Boss from windows menu (windows button Start->Programs->Time Boss->Time Boss) or run time_boss.exe from Time Boss folder.
- Does Time Boss (Pro) work with Windows 7?
The last version of TB (Pro) full compatible with Windows 7.
- What if I had Time Boss on my 3 old computers, but I stopped using some of them and bought new computers instead. Will the registration info still be valid for my new PCs?
You can use the same registrations key on a new PC.
The registration will be valid.
- I bought Time Boss, by the way A FANTAXCTIC SOFTWARE TOOL TO KEEP MY KIDS
UNDER PC-CONTROL, in November 2006. I have registered version 2.2.7.0. Is it possible to upgrade for free (or what is the fee?) to the latest version and how do I do this?
You can upgrade to latest version for free. As a registred user you get all future versions for free.
- Can I download and install the latest version of Time Boss without
deinstallation of the old version, and how to avoid loosing my settings for different users?
Yes, of course.
If you have the old version of program and want
to store the old users list, log file and screenshots
then open Options window in old version of the program
and push the button "Prepare for uninstall".
Then WITHOUT rebooting
the PC run the setup.exe of the new version.
Skip ALL system messages
(like "Service Time Boss srv... Code:1073...").
Reboot the PC.
You can also save the configuration to some file (File->Save configuration to file) and then load it.
For Windows Vista and Windows 7:
If the button "Prepare for uninstall" is disabled then
run time_boss.exe with administrators rights.
To do that,
choose "Hide" in Time Boss tray icon popup menu.
Then open Time Boss with administrators rights
( Run->Program files->Time Boss->time_boss.exe->right mouse click)
and choose "Run as administrator" from popup menu.
- Is there a way that you can lock the internet (ie zero time) except for 1 or
2 allowed internet sites that can have unlimited time?
Yes, to do that:
1.Open TB control panel.
2.Set "Internet time limitation" for needed user to zero.
3.Open TB control panel->Options and delete iexplore.exe
from "Internet programs" list. Close Options dialog.
4.Add your allowed sites (
for example
"*.google.com") to table "Allowed Internet sites (White list)" on panel "Internel Black and White lists" for the needed user.
Also you can set time limitation for this sites - press button "Time limit".
5.Close TB control panel.
6.Restart IE (if it is opened)
Only IE will be allowed to browse web without time limitation
and only your chosen sites and the default home page will be allowed in IE.
- Why Is my Norton Firewall constantly generating messages with action "Open Process Token"
regarding Time Boss? What is Time Boss attempting to access? It generates this message about every 3 seconds.
TB gathers information about all processes running on your system every 2 seconds.
This information is needed for logging events and for limitation
of Black Listed programs.
Thats why TB trys to get information about Norton Firewall process too.
- We are using Time Boss and would like to install the Time Boss Pro version.
Will we need to uninstall the standard version first?
Will we lose the configuration we have set up or can that be loaded into the pro version?
If you want to upgrade from TB to TB Pro you do not need to uninstall TB.
1.Open TB Control panel
2.Push button Prepare for uninstall.
For Windows Vista and Windows 7:
If the button "Prepare for uninstall" is disabled then
run time_boss.exe with administrators rights.
For that
choose "Hide" in popup menu for tray icon of Time Boss.
Then open Time Boss with administrators rights
( Run->Program files->Time Boss->time_boss.exe->right mouse click
and choose "Run as administrator" from popup menu).
3.After TB stops, WITHOUT PC rebooting, run setup.exe of TB Pro and install it to the same folder
4.Restart Windows
Configuration, log and screenshots will be stored.
- I have just installed the trial version of Time Boss.
The children are reporting that some games (such as Harry Potter) are aborted when Time Boss displays the 5 minute warning.
Thus they are unable to save and exit properly. Is there a way around this?
When the warning appears, Windows switch from the game to the warning window.
Kid can use Alt+Tab to return to the game.
To prevent this issue you can use warning only as sound (Miscellaneous->Warning->Only warning by sound).
This sound will be played directly in the game.
-
I would like to purchase that program, but first I wonder if it is possible to set a limit for a set of programs as a whole.
It doesn't make any sense to limit amount of time alloted to a single program if kid can play another one.
Is it possible to create a time pool/schedule and associate programs with this pool/schedule?
Yes, it is possible.
Open panel Program White and Black list for needed user.
Add a new group (button Add group at right).
Add needed games or a whole folder with games to this group.
Set the time limitation for this group (button Time limitation at right).
So all programs from this group and all program from folders in this group
will be limited with one time restriction
(for example, kid can play any games from the defined group for 2 hours of total time).
- If my Son has Administrator level rights on his Windows 7 PC's, will he be able to hack into Time Boss and change Passwords etc, and override it's controls?
Users with Administrators level rights in Windows and Subordinates rights in Time Boss (TB)
can not open TB Control panel, can not change any settings in TB and can not stop TB.
- When my Son goes on his account, it logs him right off again, even if he has time left. I can not see any settings that would affect this...
May be you have activate TB "Session time limitation" option for your Son.
In this case TB prevent open next session of user if "Break time" (default 10 min) is not ended.
So simple disable this option (TB Control panel -> Computer time limitation for your son -> Session limit -> uncheck Enable).
- How to configure Time Boss Pro for using in your local network?
If
you can use shared folders (can copy files from one PC on another) in
your local network that means that Time Boss Pro will work well in your
network.
There is no necessity to adjust specially Time Boss Pro.
There is no necessity to adjust any lan ports, IP addresses, firewalls and etc in your local network.
About using the shared folders in Windows you can read here:
How to configure file sharing in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040
Windows XP Networking: Sharing in the Home Office
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_august13.mspx
Windows Networking. Windows File Sharing
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/windowsfilesharing/Windows_File_Sharing.htm
-
How to connect to remote PC?
You can connect only to remote PC where Time Boss Pro is installed.
If
the necessary PC is absent in menu "Network" then choose menu item
"Find and connect to remote PC". Press button "Refresh list" and select
the computer that you need. You will connect to this PC and this PC
will be added to menu "Network". In future you would be able to connect
to this remote PC using this menu item.
If you have connected to remote PC you can see string "You are on remote PC!" in the caption of program.
After connection you can make ALL changes you need on remote PC. This
changes will be saved on remote PC when you return to local PC (nemu
item "Network->Return to this computer") or connect to another
remote PC or close program.
If you can not connect to remote PC, try to do this:
1. Make some folder with files on remote PC as shared (like c:\test).
Can you see this folder and files from it in the neighborhood on your PC?
2. Make some folder with files on your PC as shared (like c:\test).
Can you see this folder and files from it in the neighborhood on remote PC?
3.Is TB PRO installed on remote PC and it works?
4.Can you see the name of remote PC in the window "Find remote PC" in TB PRO(Control panel->Menu->Network->Find remote PC)?
5.If with 1,2,3,4 are ok. Try to send the text message to remote PC from TB PRO (Menu->Network->Name of remote PC->Send text message). Can you see this message on remote PC?
More info about shared folders on Windows XP you can see here:
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B304040&x=20&y=10
(see level 4 and 5)
For Windows Vista:
Please check the Network and Sharing Center options in Vista(click Start, right-click Network, and then click Properties).
On panel Sharing and Discovery you can see:
Network discovery - On
File sharing - On
...
Password protected sharing - Off (!!! just like in Windows XP)
...
Please restart PC after options changes.
For Windows 7:
Please check the Network and Sharing Center options in Windows 7
(click Start -> Control panel -> Network and Internet. Choose homegroup and sharing options, and then click Change advanced sharing settings...).
On panel Advanced sharing settings you can see:
Network discovery - Turn on network discovery
File and printer sharing - Turn on file and printer sharing
...
Password protected sharing - Turn off password protected sharing (!!! just like in Windows XP)
HomeGroup connections - Allow Windows to manage homegroup connections (recommended)
Please restart PC after options changes.
More info about shared folders on Vista and Windows 7 you can see here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx
- How to use Backup Folder for screen shots?
If you define a folder, the program will write screenshots to this folder as well.
This
will allow you to view on the one (parental) computer all screenshots,
that are taken on the other PCs. Of course you 'll have to install TB
on all computers you are using..
To do it, you have
1. to give full access (make share) to the screenshot folder on the parental PC (Time Boss/Screenshots) for other computers.
2. then to chose this folder as a Backup folder on the other computers.
-
How to see the event log on a remote PC?
Choose
in menu "Network" necessary PC and press menu item "Connect". If the
needed PC works (and Time Boss Pro works on it too) then program will
connect to Time Boss Pro on remote PC and load needed data. The caption
of program will have string "You are on remote PC!".
Choose button "Event log". Choose panel "Event log".
-
How to see the screenshots on a remote PC?
Choose
in menu "Network" necessary PC and press menu item "Connect". If the
needed PC works (and Time Boss Pro works on it too) then programm will
connect to Time Boss Pro on remote PC and load needed data. The caption
of program will have string "You are on remote PC!".
Choose button "Event log". Choose panel "Screenshots". http://compnetworking.about.com/od/windowsfilesharing/Windows_File_Sharing.htm
-
Where will save screenshots from remote PC on your local PC?
When
you press button "Save screenshot" then this screenshot will be saved
in a defined screenshot folder on local PC. The subfolder will have
name the same as the remote PC.
In future you would be able to see this screenshot in a program on a local PC ("Event log"->"Screenshots").
-
Can I use TB Pro in a mixed network of Vista, Windows 7 and Windows XP computers?
Yes, you can use TB Pro in a mixed network of Vista, Windows 7 and Windows XP computers
without limitation.
