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Remove Guest from AOL Client for Mac OS X Apps
I had a situation where my kid was circumventing the parameters we set for him in using the internet. He had created a free AOL account as was using it to surf the web untethered. I recalled that a while back I was able to remove accounts from the login window of AOL (kiosk type environment where we wanted only Guest to show). So I wanted to do this for my home machines. I searched high and low and found nothing. So I started digging through the AOL files and found where I needed to make a change to remove the Guest Account. So here are the steps that will remove the Guest Access from being an option when logging in to AOL. Make sure you back up the Main Database before you start this so that if you make a mistake you can go back and start over!

Open Terminal. In Terminal, cd to /Users/Shared/America Online/Data and then hit Tab before you hit Return -- this will fill in the rest of the directory name. Once there, you want to type in vi Main Database. Once the database is loaded type in /Guest; this will search the database for the word Guest. Once it finds it, type in the following: r [space bar]. You will see the letter (should be the letter G) that is highlighted be replaced by a space. Move over to the next letter (you can use the arrow keys for this) and repeat the step. Once you have done this to all five letters, type :wq; this will save the file and quit vi.

Now download the following application: FileType. Then launch FileType, click on Add File and select the Main Database (should have the Unix Executable icon on it). In the right-hand Creator box, type in AOp3 and in the adjacent Type enter AODB. Make sure both change check boxes are selected, then click Change.

You can now launch AOL and notice that Guest is not present.
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Remove Guest from AOL Client for Mac OS X | 7 comments | Create New Account
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Remove Guest from AOL Client for Mac OS X
Authored by: esemay on Mar 18, '04 10:56:34AM

Can you use this to also add other screen names into the pull down list? ie: If you have 2 different accounts, but want non-guest access to all 14 screen names.

Thanks,

Shawn



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Remove Guest from AOL Client for Mac OS X
Authored by: mrdlcastle on Mar 18, '04 08:32:00PM

I don't think that will work. While trying to get this to work, I first attempted to just remove the Guest account and from that point on, every time I launched AOL it would report that the Main Database was corrupt. I then tried to just delete the word then place another word there (longer and shorter) and got the same results.
That's why the steps call for replacing the word Guest with an equal number of spaces.



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overkill ?
Authored by: little dude on Mar 18, '04 11:53:32AM

don't you think that, if your kid was capable of circumventing the previous limitations, he'll find a way to get around this stuff too ?

I'm not trying to critizise your parenthood, but when I noticed that my kids were bypassing my security settings, I considered them old enough to read the internet uncensored. They've bumped into some pretty rough stuff that according to conservative measures they shouldn't be viewing, but since they are not forbidden to see it, they come to me to talk about it, rather than viewing it behind my back where I can not provide them with context.



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overkill ?
Authored by: b-baggins on Mar 18, '04 12:49:36PM
...when I noticed that my kids were bypassing my security settings

Not to criticize your parenthood, but your measure of your kids' maturity is them sneaking around behind your back?

I also find your non sequitir thinking disturbing. Your child has already demonstrated a willingness to sneak around behind your back and yet you think he will discuss everything he sees on the web with you and not view anything behind your back?

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overkill ?
Authored by: Ezekiel on Mar 18, '04 06:43:22PM

Actually, I think he's trying to say that now his kids can't be stopped, so there's no use trying. Might as well support them instead of trying to punish them. When you were a kid, would you listen to older people who told you what you "couldn't do"? If you did, gosh darn, but most people don't/didn't.

It's not like it can really hurt them, that's like saying reading the papers about terrorist bombings, rapes and other horrible things would hurt children. As long as you teach them not to trust everything they read as The Truth, I think it'll be fine. Kids are no where near as volnerable as some people seem to believe. Maybe they they forgot what it was like being young? Or maybe they were mentally scarred? Who knows.



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overkill ?
Authored by: mrdlcastle on Mar 18, '04 08:48:29PM

I would have to agree that we have differing opinions on how to raise children.
I believe in that a parent knows what's best for their children. I also am not naive in believing that they are not curious about what's out there in the adult world.
There are things on this great expanse we call the Internet, that I feel are inappropriate for a young child of any age to see. Especially during this critical time of development when they are most suceptible to "mental scarring".
I know that my child will see many of the things that I don't want them to see at some point in their lives. I just am doing my best to ensure that they don't experience them until they are ready to.
I don't consider this punishment, I consider it proactive parenting.
Just like one wouldn't throw a soldier into a firefight without training them first, I feel one should prepare their children to take on anything they encounter. But before they do, one should make sure they have the proper tools to handle them.
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Anyway, since this is a site about hints and not how to parent one's children, I posted this here for those that like me may have wanted to do this for what ever reason (like for instance removing your accounts and leaving guest only access). :-)



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Remove Guest from AOL Client for Mac OS X
Authored by: roncross@cox.net on Mar 19, '04 01:05:08AM

Does your son read macosxhints? If he does, then you are busted! Maybe you shouldn't have posted this one. Hopefully, your son will never look at this site and figure out that the little secret to internet freedom is just one click away. MACOSXHINTS.

thx
Ronald Cross

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rlc



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