Need Revenge Help From Techies!

[lordlundar]

Somehow rig his computer so that everything looks normal, but the minute he hits any key, a pre-programmed message will appear (mine, of course), and the computer will lock up until unlocked by a specific password (also mine, of course).

Anyone know if this is possible, and if so, how?

In thery, it's a screensaver that would do it.

I actually had (still have I think, now to mention it) that is called ATField, based off of Neon Genesis Evangelion. When run, the program would do an overlay of the screen and when you clicked anywhere on the screen, it would do a replica of an impact on the A.T. (Absolute Terror) Field that was used in the show. pressing Esc would end the program by default, but you could input a password which would override it. The best part about it was the menu is in Kanji and the password input isn't displayed, so you can never be sure if it worked.

[ApolloSZ]

One I'm thinking of... is basically a small script to open sayyyy a text file, or rick astley? lol, and then make it a scheduled task? Could get more details if you want Jester

[Evil Queen]

Rick rolling isn't as fun anymore since a lot of people became big fans of it.

You could just change the screen saver so that it has a scrolling message on it and password protect it. So until he figures out the password or takes the computer into the shop, he won't get in.

I think there is a way to do what you want it to do, Jester, but I'd have to direct DataJager your way. He's currently in a presentation right now (computer majors) but should be back in another 4 hours.

[Jester]

You could just change the screen saver so that it has a scrolling message on it and password protect it. So until he figures out the password or takes the computer into the shop, he won't get in.

Or asks me for the password.

I like that idea. It's entertaining and frustrating, all at the same time.

Now....how would I do it? I know how to set up pictures as screen savers, even a slide show, but a scrolling message? Not a clue.

I think there is a way to do what you want it to do, Jester, but I'd have to direct DataJager your way. He's currently in a presentation right now (computer majors) but should be back in another 4 hours.

I am in no hurry. The last prank was months in the making. Tell him what I am looking for, and if he's interested, have him post how to do it either here or in PM, whichever he is more comfortable with.

And thank you.

[Magpie]

Now....how would I do it? I know how to set up pictures as screen savers, even a slide show, but a scrolling message? Not a clue.

Scrolling text is a default Windows screensaver.

[Jester]

I don't know about his computer, but my Windows as 3D Text, but not scrolling text. And the 3D text allows only a very short message.

Obviously, his computer may be different. But at least now I know where to look.

Now, how do I lock the screen save in so he can't do a thing about it until I allow him to? I can see in my computer that it has the option to password protect upon resumption of screen saver, but it doesn't really give me the option of entering a password.

Another thing, I do believe that he doesn't leave his computer on, but turns it off when he is not at home. This may or may not allow for the screen saver option, depending on how things go. Though I suppose I could set the screen saver to a very short time period before it kicks in.

(Yes, I am thinking aloud on my computer. I do this in real life, too. What's your point?)

[ApolloSZ]

Yep set the screensaver to like a minute.
As for the password, you'll need to enable the password in "User accounts" in the control panel.

[Magpie]

Doesn't the password for the screensaver tend to be the user password for that account though? I know that defaults tend to change with different versions of Windows (hence the current lack of scrolling text), but I've never had my screensaver password be different from the account one. (That's not to say that there wasn't an occasion where I manually set it to that, but it would have been a while ago).

[HYHYBT]

Yes.... which leads to an even simpler idea: just change his password and don't tell him.

[Eric the Grey]

Magpie has 95% of it. <...> Then, close the window.

There is a much easier way to do this. I'll detail it below...

Another thing, I do believe that he doesn't leave his computer on, but turns it off when he is not at home. This may or may not allow for the screen saver option, depending on how things go. Though I suppose I could set the screen saver to a very short time period before it kicks in.

(Yes, I am thinking aloud on my computer. I do this in real life, too. What's your point?)

The screensaver option may work, but will be more annoying, and if you change his password on him, when exactly will he call you to get it from you? You may want to think over that one carefully since you value your sleep...

On the notepad option, here is what I would do.

1. Right click on the desktop.
2. Under "Arrange icons by" - Uncheck "Show Desktop Icons" This removes them from view without moving them.
3. Open up Notepad, and place the window in such a way that it doesn't interfere with where his icons were, if possible.
4. Type in your message (ie: Stop calling Jester at 8am!!!!).
5. Press the PrtScn key to take a snapshot of the screen and window as it is now.
6. Open up Paint (located in Programs -> Accessories
7. Click on Edit -> Paste or type Ctrl + V to paste your snapshot into the window.
8. Save the resulting image wherever you want, but remember where it is. I'd suggest My Documents, just because it's easy.
9. Right-click on the desktop and choose properties and change the background to the new one you just created.
10. Right-click on the desktop and recheck "Show Desktop Icons"

He now has a fully-functional computer, with a message from you to watch every time he logs in. Until he figures it out that is. This will of course, depend on his competency level with computers.


Eric the Grey

[El Pollo Guerrera]

An easier way to force a message:

There is a classic prank which involves taking a screenshot of the victim's desktop, setting that as the background, then hiding all the icons and setting the task bar to autohide. So the computer looks normal, but you can't click on anything. A friend of mine came up with a variant of it where, instead of hiding the icons, you just take your screenshot with a text document open. So it looks normal, except that there's an open text document (reading what ever you want) that can't be closed. Not as good as what you're suggesting, but easier to do, and needs less tech knowledge.

A guy I know did this to someone who left his laptop unattended at some mega-huge computer party/game convention event.

Except he took all of the items on the desktop and put them into a folder that read "horse porn".

The guy got back to his computer, looked at his screen, then right-clicked and chose "delete".





They stopped it before there was any real damage done.

[Jester]

Yes.... which leads to an even simpler idea: just change his password and don't tell him.

Very evil. And very tempting. Especially since I do believe I know his password, since he gave it to me years ago. Let's just say we are good enough friends that if he walked into his apartment and saw me on his computer, he wouldn't be all that surprised. After all, not only do I have his computer password, I also have a key to his apartment.

There is a much easier way to do this. I'll detail it below...

You're my HERO!

[Jester]

Mother FUCKER! That prick friend of mine called me this morning at 7:20 am. So I called him just now.

FRANK: [sounding sleepy, like he's napping. Perfect!] "Yeah."
JESTER: "Hey Frank, you called me at 7:20 this morning. Why?"
FRANK: "Mother's Day."
JESTER: "Okay, so you called me at 7:20 am on Mother's Day. Again....why?"
FRANK: "It wasn't me, it was Mom."
JESTER: "Your mom called me on your phone?"
FRANK: "Yes."
JESTER: "WHY?"
FRANK: [unintelligible attempts at speech by an obviously very-tired or very-drunk Frank.]
JESTER: "Seriously, your mom knows after the prank I pulled that I don't like early mornings. Why would she call?"
FRANK: "I don't know. [unintelligible] I need some sleep."
JESTER: "Whatever."
*click*
JESTER: "Douchebag."

Yes, it's perfectly alright for him to call me at hours he knows I'm not awake at, but Heaven forbid someone calls him when he's napping. I am so freakin' mad right now. I am somewhat sick, felt like crap this morning, and the phone actually woke me out of a deep sleep.

Now, you might ask the question my mother asked when I was talking to her earlier. "Why don't you just shut your phone off?" Several reasons.

1. If a friend calls with an actual emergency, I want to be there for them. Admittedly, this has happened a total of one time, and it wasn't Frank with the emergency, but still. I like to think that my friends can depend on me in crises.

2. Key West is notorious for power outages. My cell phone doubles as my backup alarm clock. Admittedly, I did not set any alarms for today, it being my day off, but still. I can't just rely on the power grid down here to keep my electric alarm clock on the ready.

3. I like to think, perhaps mistakenly, that I have friends that are as considerate of me as I am of them. It is not, after all, like this is something new and Frank was unaware of this. I should point out that NONE of my other good friends call me at such hours. Just this self-important arrogant douchebag magician. In his mind, he is always perfectly justified, no matter what the stupid reason is. In my mind, I may just have to take his head off with an axe.

*stomping off to find an axe*

[wolfie]

Now....how would I do it? I know how to set up pictures as screen savers, even a slide show, but a scrolling message? Not a clue.

Here's how for Windows 98, but other flavours should be similar.

From the desktop, right-click the desktop background, then click on "properties" in the menu that pops up. Click on the "Screen Saver" tab, then the downward-facing arrow (to the right of the white-on-blue text, which probably says "(none)", below the picture of a monitor). From the menu, select "Scrolling Marquee" (although "3D Text" should also work if your message is short). Click on the "Settings" button (which will have been grayed-out if no screen saver was selected, but becomes "live" after you have selected one) and enter your text. After selecting "OK", select the "password protected" checkbox, click the "change" button (which will ungrey when you check the box), and enter a password. Finally, set the "wait" interval to 1 minute, and click "OK".

[The Electric Fetus]

THAT is just freakin' BRILLIANT!!

nothing harmed, completely fixable and against a techo-noob VERY frustrating.

sweeeeeeeeeet!

Party ON!