[WEB4LIB] Re: Is it possible to boot PCs to a Web page?

[Paul (BRI)]

Just to add to this - I think the System Policy Editor and/or Internet
Explorer Administrator Kit is the answer for helping to lock down
win98/nt (even 95 :o) machines from "unwanted desktop tampering".
Windows 2000/xp has the Security Policies built in. But as others
touched on, you need to know a little about administration. If I recall
correctly, for Win95/98/NT can download the policy editor as an add-on
from Microsoft (free) or get it off your installation CDs. Hope that
helps, Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib at webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Chris Murphy
Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2002 12:17 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Re: Is it possible to boot PCs to a Web page?


Andrew's suggestion is the most elegant and best for the long haul. The 
method to which Andrew referred can also be applied from a group policy 
off a Win2K server if you are using Active Directory and have admin 
privileges. I have not done this myself, yet, so my experience is nil.

On our PACs, I set Public Web Browser 
(http://www.teamsoftwaresolutions.com) to start when the PC boots. PWB 
can be configured to have shutdown disabled or to restart if closed.

The PCs are configured with a shortcut to PWB in the Startup folder, and

they have security software and registry hacks to force autologon, hide 
the Start Menu and desktop icons, disable task manager, etc. Let me know

if you would like details.

As I migrate our PCs into our Windows 2000 network, I am replacing the 
security software, registry hacks, etc. with group policies. There is a 
learning curve, but you can do exactly what you are asking with group 
policies.

Yet another method for booting to a home page is to configure Active 
Desktop to show your desired page. I used this approach for a time to 
display dynamic content and hyperlinks on the desktop wallpaper. If you 
don't specifically want a browser starting up, this might be an option 
to consider.

Best regards,

Chris Murphy

-- 
Christopher Murphy
Information Systems Manager
The Community Library, Ketchum, Idaho chrism at thecommunitylibrary.org
http://www.thecommunitylibrary.org


Andrew Mutch wrote:
> Kim,
> 
> It sounds like you want to set your web browser as an alternate shell 
> to Windows Explorer. The creators of Public Web Browser have a 
> document that explains how to do this available here:
> 
> http://www.teamsoftwaresolutions.com/support.htm
> 
> While their document specifically applies to setting PWB as shell, you

> could do this with Internet Explorer or some alternative application 
> as well.
> 
> Andrew Mutch
> Library Systems Technician
> Waterford Township Public Library
> Waterford, MI
> 
> plim at ccsf.edu wrote:
> 
> 
>>Hi all,
>>Our Library would like to have our PCs boot to our Library home page 
>>instead of the Desktop screen. We are using Windows 2000. Does anyone 
>>kowns how to do this? Any instruction, or suggestion would be greatly 
>>appreciated.
>>
>>Kim Lim