With the many distractions available on a computer, you may want to monitor how your [insert account user type here] uses your computer. In this guide, you’ll learn how enable computer usage information collection and how to view usage reports.
This guide is included as part of the Windows Guides Vista User Accounts and Parental Controls Series. Please visit the main page if you would like to learn why this guide may be useful.
Enable Computer Usage Information Collection
- Make sure you are logged in as the administrator of the computer
- Press the Start button and select Control Panel
- Under User Accounts and Family Safety, click Set up parental controls for any user
![Collect Information About Computer Usage in Vista [How To] parental control series 01 Collect Information About Computer Usage in Vista [How To]](http://i0.wp.com/mintywhite.com/images/wg/0809/13parentalcontrolseries/parental-control-series-01.png)
- If prompted, (type your password and) select Continue
- Click the account you want to add parental controls to
![Collect Information About Computer Usage in Vista [How To] parental control series 02 Collect Information About Computer Usage in Vista [How To]](http://i2.wp.com/mintywhite.com/images/wg/0809/13parentalcontrolseries/parental-control-series-02.png)
- Under Activity Reporting:, ensure On, collect information about computer usage is selected
![Collect Information About Computer Usage in Vista [How To] collect information 01 Collect Information About Computer Usage in Vista [How To]](http://i2.wp.com/mintywhite.com/images/wg/0809/13parentalcontrolseries/collect-information-01.png)
- Press OK to save these settings
View Computer Usage Reports
To view computer usage reports, do the following:
- Follow steps 1-5 in the previous example
- Click View activity reports
![Collect Information About Computer Usage in Vista [How To] collect information 02 Collect Information About Computer Usage in Vista [How To]](http://i1.wp.com/mintywhite.com/images/wg/0809/13parentalcontrolseries/collect-information-02.png)
- Here you may view visited websites, file downloads, applications run and more
![Collect Information About Computer Usage in Vista [How To] collect information 00 Collect Information About Computer Usage in Vista [How To]](http://i0.wp.com/mintywhite.com/images/wg/0809/13parentalcontrolseries/collect-information-00.png)
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