Internet Coffee Shope Computer

cctaco · Joined: Feb 10, 2006 Posts: 3

I have 6 computers for customers to use and read an article, in computer magazine that you could have xp. Erase all stuff and reset itself everynight so the computer would be fresh in the morning. I lost the article but whated to know if anyone has way to this.

Reason to do this is that people download stuff and it sometimes messes up computer, I don't want to limit people on what they can do to much.

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2422

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sharedaccess/default.mspx

Morbius · Joined: Sep 05, 2005 Posts: 1712

I'd set that computer (s) up with two partitions on the hard drive.
Put a backup copy of C: on D:
Then just restore the backup to bring C: back to "FRESH".
I've set this up for school teachers that have problems with the kids screwing up the PC's in the class room.

Several backup programs are available to accomplish this.
My favorite of the bunch is Norton's Ghost 2003.
I use it several times a week to make backups of my own HD.

If you don't trust having the backup on the same computer with the OS,
Ghost 2003 will also write the Image file (compressed) to a CD or DVD.
I wouldn't imagin that you'd have an awfull lot of software on a computer
like that, so a CD would probably hold the compressed backup image along
with the Boot files, making it a self booting restore disk.

Good Luck,
Morbius Cool

cctaco · Joined: Feb 10, 2006 Posts: 3

Thanks for the link to windows.

Installed it on a computer and all went well for about 2 days, no the welcome screen comes up with out the limited users account. I hit ctrl alt del twice got a login screen, tried the limited user account doesn't work. Got in with the admin account.

Open users and the limited user account is not listed just admin and guest and guest is disabled ( which is what I wanted).

So, tried to add account and it won't let me it states that account is already there.

Is there some sort of lock out or something I missed, any help would be great thanks

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2422

I do not run XP so obviously I can't try this program. All I can do is search
According to this page http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/o...ccount.mspx#EBD
you should be able to create as many limited user accounts as you want. Try creating one with a different name.

Also I would be sure that fast user switching is turned off. You don't want anyone trying to switch from a limited user to the admin account, using a password revealer that they may have carried in on a thumbdrive and login to the admin account.

ejward · Joined: Jan 06, 2003 Posts: 6521

Here's what we do for outside vendors that need web access. We give them a PC with a striped down version of XP on it. No browser. Then we load VMWare Player on it. Then, download this Browser appliance virtual machine. Point the player to the browser appliance. When it runs, you get FireFox running in it's own self contained world. They can do whatever they want. They can even format their drive if they want. It will have no effect on the XP machine. Each night, replace the VMDK file with a fresh one.

ejward · Joined: Jan 06, 2003 Posts: 6521

My above suggestion? I'm doing it on my sister's computer tonight!!! I'm sick of the 11:00pm "Oh well I click on this pop up and I know I shouldn't have and now I can't get on the internet" phone calls!! Sad

Morbius · Joined: Sep 05, 2005 Posts: 1712

Ghost 2003 is the answer to all the above problems.

When in just a few short minutes, you can restore your entire C: drive to a previous time,
just how does it get any better'n that?

Using my own Ghost backups has saved my Bu** so many times I can't even count them anymore.

Nuff Said,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

:cheers:

cctaco · Joined: Feb 10, 2006 Posts: 3

I wanted to have a stand alone system that required me not to have to mess with it. The shared computer tool make the drive restore to a previos state, as often as you'd like. Which I have it set for every log off. That way the computer is always the same for every user. It has worked great for me since Feb 12, 2006 I have about 280 regular user sharing 8 computers. A few problems like where is the stuff I saved to the c: drive and I say see the sign. "All info will be erased from harddrive every time you log off, thanks." Ghost is great to set up the machines with but isn't the solution I was looking for.

Have a great day

and good luck

adkmom · Joined: Jun 18, 2003 Posts: 469

tiberiu · Joined: Dec 25, 2007 Posts: 7

Yep... Deep freeze is the best... It is like inserting some frigidaire parts into your computer. I helps preserve your files and settings.