Windows XP Professional - Security question

[Iexist]

Hello, I am new here.

Now this might be a very stupid question but I have been looking everywhere and I found this place, maybe you can help me here.

Can you with WinXP Pro prevent users from entering certain folders and/or modify certain things like say, your desktop configuration, Internet options, etc.?

Another thing, my processor is an AthlonXP 2200, I have 256 Mb RAM and 80Gb HD,, even though I haven't really installed many stuff my PC is kida slow at times, like when I am printing for instance. I know this is normal but when I say slow is like REALLY slow. This didn't happen in the past so I don't know what's going on.

[splatfreak]

Have you done a virus scan on your PC?A virus could cause your PC to run slower.Also 256MB is not that much memory if you have a lot of programs running in the background this could slow things up.As for the user security I can't help you.

[slickvic22]

I am running xp pro also, on 256 RAM. Get service pack 2 first off. Then i recommend running spybot search and destroy and ad-aware se. Also run either the windows firewall or Zone Alarm. Also check your startup list and narrow it down to just a few things. The only items you need are the 2 desktop items, everything else you can start manually. I can run AIM, IE, Outlook, and several other programs while printing and have no problem. Sounds like a lot of adware/spyware.