fortres software

[Jean-Marc Edwards]

Hi,

I find this discussion thread very interesting. We are planning on 
using Windows 95 on our public internet access stations and 
considering using Fortres 101. Someone 
mentioned to me yesterday that Windows 95 in a public environment 
might be problematic because users may not shut down the stations 
properly (everybody knows that Windows 95 needs to be shut down in a 
precise manner.) 

My question is: Is there anyone on this list who uses Fortress 101
on public Internet access stations and who has addressed the shut
down problem with Windows 95? Could you share your experience with 
this with the members of the list?

Someone mentionned to me that we could disable the on/off switch on
our stations so that users will not be able to shut down the
machines.

Jean-Marc Edwards, Systems Librarian
Library Network
University of Ottawa
jedwards at uottawa.ca


> >We have been just shutting down PC's that have fortress on them.  Both    
> >those with Win3.1 and Win95.  Nothing horrible seems to have happened.    
> >Sometimes Win95 complains a bit, and demands a scandisk.. but that is all.
> >                                                                          
> >Isabel                                                                    
> >
> We don't run fortres (yet?), but I do take a bit of an issue with your
> statement that "nothing horrible" happens.  Take it from someone who has
> had problems with users just shutting off Windows 95 machines.  On several
> occasions they have corrupted their network drivers and have required a couple
> of hours fixing other problems that cropped up.  Take Microsoft's advice.   
> ALWAYS SHUTDOWN THE COMPUTER PROPERLY!
> 
> Besides the correct shutdown of Windows 95 helps the administrator out as it
> creates backups of several important files each time that it is shut down.
> Examples include a copy of the  files that make up the registry, the winsock.dll
> and a bunch of others.
> 
> You can usually shut down "disabled" windows 95 machines by pressing 
> CTRL-ALT-DEL and then clicking on the SHUTDOWN button (unless this is 
> disabled by fortres (???).
> 
> You CAN get away with just turning them off for extended periods of time.
> Some people never experience any problems, BUT it is a crap shoot and one 
> that I would think most administrator's are unwilling to take.                                                                          
> >At 05:03 PM 7/9/97 -0700, Leslie M Kuizema wrote:                         
> >>Hello all!                                                               
> >>Sorry to interrupt this fasinating(???) debate on filtering with a techie
> >>question...                                                              
> >>Just installed Fortress software on our internet computers.  It works    
> >>beautifully, however I cannot figure out how to exit (logoff) my computer
> >>properly.  The manual states that by just turning the computer off, I    
> >>won't do any damage to my computer.  This goes against everything I've   
> >>ever heard about logging off properly.  Has anyone else out there figured
> >>out a way to logoff Windows properly without disabling the entire        
> >>software package every time?                                             
> >>                                                                         
> >>TIA                                                                      
> >>                                                                         
> >>Leslie Kuizema                                                           
> >>Asst. Head/Adult Services                                                
> 
Jean-Marc Edwards
Bibliothecaire de systemes (Internet et Formation)/Systems Librarian (Internet and Training)
Reseau de bibliotheques / Library Network
Universite d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
email: mailto:jedwards at uottawa.ca
tel: 562-5800 ext.3225
Page web du reseau de bibliotheques: http://www.uottawa.ca/library