Windows XP Shared Computer ToolKit
Today, Microsoft Released the Windows XP Shared Computer ToolKit version 1.0. It's a very powerful tool for administrators of public computers. It combined almost all the tasks that administrators need to do with shared computers to eight simple steps. The figure below shows the interface.
To configure a secure shared computer, we need to configure selected or all (recommended) steps from the 1st to the 8th. Click “Step 1” we will see the details of this step. It's a cool instruction to teach us how to adjust the partitions for public computers. In “Step 2” we can do a couple of security settings, such as “Remove Shut Down and Turn Off Computer logo options”. “Test your Password”in “Step 2”can be used to test the complexity of the Password of the current logged-on user account. In my case, my Password is really strong so I passed the test (See the figure below).
“Step 3” enables us to create a public user account, to prevent using an account with administrator permissions. “Step 4”is a shortcut to log off the current user account, and it includes the instructions to let us log in to the new public user account we've just created using “Step 3” and modify the profile of this user account to make it really “public”.
“Step 5“ is really powerful. It's a tool for restricting and locking user profiles. For example, we can restrict the user from saving internet histories to the account profile with this tool. The figure below shows this powerful tool.
“Step 6“ is a shortcut to log off the computer, so that we can log on as the new user account to test it funcionalities. For example, testing its restrictions and security, etc.
“Step 7“, Windows Disk Protection. It's for scheduling the installation of Windows Updates and it can be used to clear or retain user changes to Windows partition (usually C:\). I want to explain some of these options here:
- Clear changes with each restart
Each time the computer is restarted, all user changes to the Windows partition are cleared.
- Save changes with next restart
If we want to save user changes to Windows partition for one time, we should select this option. It will save user changes with next restart, then, the option will be automatically changed to “Clear changes with each restart”.
- Retain changes for one restart
If we want to install and run a new program, this is the right option to select. It will retain user changes to Windows partition for one restart (i.e. installed a new program and restarted the computer). The option will be automatically changed to “Clear changes with each restart”when we restart the computer for the second time.
- Retain changes indefinately
If we select this option, it will allow users to save changes to Windows partition until we change to another option.
“Step 8“, the last step, is to get more resources about configuring public computers. We can also view help of Windows XP Shared Computer ToolKit here.
Well, this is the brand new Windows XP Shared Computer ToolKit version 1.0. Genuine Windows XP Users can download this program for free at www.microsoft.com/sharedaccess. Try it, and enjoy it!