Windows 7 - Lock It Down for Kiosks

The Perfect Kiosk Platform

Windows 7 is a great operating system environment to run kiosk or single-purpose applications such as POS or multimedia systems. Its ability to host just about any program from a variety of development environments makes it an ideal platform. Adobe Flash, Silverlight, Java, Microsoft.Net, and HTML are just a few of the development languages available to build rich interactive kiosk and single-purpose applications that will run on Windows 7. In addition, there are several variations of Windows 7 available to run your application from the inexpensive (Windows Home Premium), to the fully functional (Windows Enterprise). The Windows version chosen will depend on the functionality needed for your application and your budget. For example, if you don't need corporate networking abilities, Windows 7 Home Premium is a lower cost solution.

There is another version of Windows 7 called Windows 7 Embedded. Windows 7 Embedded provides complete OS customizations, is light-weight, and is primarily for single-purpose application use. Basically, it is Windows stripped down with no added services or applications. You add to it what you need for your application. This sounds perfect for kiosk and single-purpose implementations, however, a higher degree of IT expertise is required to implement it and it is expensive unless a high volume of licenses are purchased. In addition, Microsoft only makes it available to OEM hardware vendors.

Lock Down Windows 7 with Inteset Secure Lockdown

A benefit of using Windows 7 Embedded is its stripped down out-of-the-box operation. Conversely, retail versions of Windows 7 are loaded with OS enhancing applications, utilities, and services. In this case, if a retail version of Windows 7 is used for kiosk implementation, it is very important to optimize it and lock it down so users do not have access to undesired features and operations. This can be accomplished a few ways. One is through the Windows 7 Group Policy Editor. However, this utility is designed for larger companies that need to control employee access to the operating system functions and not so much for kiosk implementations. In addition, the Group Policy Editor is not available on Windows 7 Home Premium.

An inexpensive, flexible, yet simple alternative to Windows 7 Embedded or the Group Policy Editor is available through the use of a utility called Secure Lockdown v2 by Inteset, LLC(1). Secure Lockdown runs on any retail version of Windows 7. This utility creates a virtual embedded environment whereby your master application is the only one accessible by the end user. It essentially removes access to the Windows 7 Desktop environment and unwanted keystrokes and runs your master application exclusively. It can be enabled simply by applying a few configuration settings and checking the Enable option.

Optimizing Windows 7 for Your Application

Before enabling Secure Lockdown, it first makes sense to optimize the operating system environment for use with your kiosk application. Preparing a retail version of Windows 7 with Secure Lockdown is the reverse of preparing a Windows 7 Embedded environment. Instead of adding features, you strip out superfluous Windows programs and services. Windows 7 makes this easy to do with its Windows Features and Services tools. Note that removing Windows features does not optimize disk space. It simply removes the applications from being accessible. However, many applications do have complimentary services that will be removed thereby increasing system startup speeds and increasing memory availability. Removing services will increase boot times and memory significantly depending on which services and how many are removed. Analyze the ones where the Startup Type is Automatic and disable those you do not need.

Some other recommendations to improve performance and usability for your kiosk implementation using Secure Lockdown are:

Use a solid state drive (SSD) for the OS. A 32gb SSD drive used for the OS partition exclusively is relatively inexpensive and will improve overall performance of the system significantly over its SATA drive counterpart.

Disable the Windows System Restore feature. This is an unnecessary feature and will conserve disk space if disabled.Set the Windows Sleep, Power, and Screen saver settings to suit your environment.Remove the Microsoft logo from the bootup sequence. This can be accomplished by editing the "No GUI Boot" option under the Boot tab using the Windows MSConfig Snap-in tool.Customize the Windows 7 Welcome/Logon screen with your company or product logo. This can be accomplished using a Windows Registry tweak(2).Customize the Windows Desktop background with your company or product logo.

Once you have prepared and tested the system with your kiosk application, it's wise to make a backup image of the operating system using tools such as Norton Ghost or Acronis TrueImage. In addition, creating an image will also easily allow you to port your setup to other machines that use the same hardware.

Now you have Windows 7 optimized for your kiosk application. As the last step, enable Inteset Secure Lockdown v2 and your system will be ready for the masses.

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Fix Windows Computer Errors Fast

Overheating: For a CPU that is overheating, you may check the PC health section of your BIOS. A healthy CPU fan generally runs at about 3000 to 5000 RPMS. You may also want to check your power supply and video card fan. A fan may be repaired by cleaning it (removing and unclogging dirt on its blades).

Computer memory: Widows usually detects a problem with your computer's memory and may start the memory diagnostics tool automatically. However, if you suspect that there is a problem with your memory and wish to start diagnostics manually, go to the memory diagnostic tool, which is under, Control Panel>System and Maintenance> Administrative tools. You will be prompted to choose whether to run the program on restart or restart and run later.

Errors on your Hard Drive: To check for errors on your Hard Drive, go to My Computer, right click on the drive, and click Properties>Tools and then click Check Now...You may choose automatically fix file system errors for a more thorough scan.

Outdated or poorly programmed device drivers: When your computer seems to predictably crash when you perform certain tasks such as play games, watch movies or plug-in certain hardware such as a joystick, the drivers associated to that task may have a problem. The first thing is to check for compatibility. Check if the drivers you installed meant for your version of Windows.

Corrupt files and programs: Corrupt files may also present problems in your system. A corrupt file is sometimes created when there is interruption when you try to

The quickest way to find a problem is to always start with the most obvious cause. Generally speaking, hardware malfunctions are usually the most obvious and easiest to fix. Secondly, check if there is a pattern for the "crashes", especially if you have encountered several "crashes" before. For example, you may find that your computer tends to crash when you are watching movies; this may indicate a problem with your graphics card drivers.

What causes a computer crash?

A computer crash is a condition where a computer's application and or operating system ceases to function properly and exists, due to a malfunction in the execution of the machine instruction. The most commonly known computer crash is arguably the "Blue Screen of Death". These crashes sometimes happen at the least convenient time, like when you are about to finish an assignment or report, not to mention the time wasted when you try to restore the system.

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Why is there so much Hype and expectations for Windows 8?

Windows 8 is referred to the next Windows operating system from Microsoft, which is expected to release in late 2012. There is more than a year left for the official release, but already there is a massive amount of hype and expectations for the operating system. Before going ahead we would like to clarify that Windows 8 is not the official name of the operating system, it is internally known as recently demonstrated. Anyways it is usually referred to as the normal Windows 8 in the world of new technologies, as well as among geeks. There are many reasons why Windows 8 has attracted so much hype and expectations of more than a year after its release. Here are a few reasons, the same:

1. the Touch OS: Windows operating System desktop friendly and do not traditionally have been developed for computer touch screen control. On the other hand Apple has been experimenting with possibilities of touch, long on their computers and gadgets, including the iPad and iPhone. Microsoft first touch feature in Windows 7 phone where she had a great look with touch capabilities. I have not been surprising that became a hit with Windows 7 Phone, reaching 25,000 applications much faster than the iPhone applications took place in the past. So Microsoft has announced that the touch-friendly features to Windows 8 too and the new operating system will be optimal for touch input. This is a new step which would allow faster and easier way to use your computer for any normal person in the majority of computer users around the world use Windows instead of with a different operating system. Despite this, the Windows 8 really well-free mouse and keyboard for users of a traditional computer.

2. Light OS with an ergonomic: Windows 7 was the first Microsoft operating system, which did not require more advanced equipment to start the operating system. He broke the previous Convention, where new versions of Windows require better hardware to work properly. Windows 7, Windows Vista was lighter than in almost all of the results of the tests and was even faster than Windows XP in multiple results. Yes, it was a huge step forward not only for Microsoft but for computer users in the world too did not require to change their computer or hardware, each time a new operating system got launched. Microsoft now has announced that Windows 8 will run on the same hardware and may be even lighter than Windows 7. Not only work had not yet feature rich OS odsuwajac, but also looks like one. Windows 8 's sleek appearance with smooth got past demos and scrolling and touch features seem to work very smoothly.

3. Internet Explorer 10: another reason to hype is Internet Explorer 10 which is completely optimized for touch announced by Microsoft. Internet Explorer was delayed in the browser market, but in recent years that have changed significantly with the recently launched IE9, which is one of the fastest browsers around at the rates. IE9 is much faster than previous versions of Internet Explorer, and the only browser that opens almost immediately as you click on the icon to the desktop. IE 10 will run from Windows 8, and will not only be faster and better, but will also be fully optimized for touch Yes to browse the internet from several accents and you can scroll through pages-free.

4. ARM support: one more reason for hype is support for ARM chips. Traditionally the ARM chips served mainly in the range of tablets, but now Microsoft has announced that it will make 8 Windows fully optimized for use on ARM chips, too. The same guidelines that the operating system would be very bright because the ARM chips are not large newspaper. This could also open up the market and can significantly reduce the cost of computers using ARM chips. Price cheaper would be of particular benefit to people with poor countries where computers are still not available to all.

5: Beta Release of nearby: from now on, one of the main reasons for the hype is also due to the fact that the beta of Windows 8 is expected to take place within the next months 2-3. It would allow the beta testers and geeks in the world to test the new operating system and its functions.

The above pair of reasons, with several other kept hype and expectations, going each day and week. I hope that Windows 8 lives up to hype and expectations after the release.

The author is the tech that owns the Windows 8 Release where he posts about features and news related to Windows 8 recognized the person influenced.

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