STEP 1: UPGRADE WIN
XP
The most commonly overlooked step is failing to check for
upgrades. Most of Microsoft's upgrades close security holes
and fix bugs. So, it is highly recommended that you check
windows update before installing anything new on your
computer.
Visit
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com to check for the
latest update.
STEP 2: CREATE A NEW
USER ACCOUNT
The main account you use for your PC should have a
password set on it. Please set it if you haven't already.
[hint: start, control panel, click on classic view, select
user accounts]
Add a new user account that will be
accessed by end-users. You should name this account
kioskuser and assign it administrator privileges. Restart
your PC after do this, and login as kioskuser. Remember to
assign a password to this as account as well.
STEP 3: TURN OFF SOME WINDOWS FEATURES
By default, several windows settings are configured to
automatically install updates, activate the windows
firewall, enable hibernation, power off disks and monitor,
set screen savers etc... Many of these features will
interfere with the smooth "hands-free" operation of an
internet kiosk.
System Properties [hint: start, control
panel, select system, select Advanced]
- Turn off Error Reporting: [hint: select Error Reporting]
click on Disable error reporting. Click OK
- Startup and Recovery: [hint: select Startup and
Recovery]
uncheck "Write an event to the system log"
uncheck "send an administrative alert"
check "automatically restart"
Write debugging information = "none"
Click OK
- Turn off Remote Assistance: [hint: select Remote]
uncheck "Allow Remote Assistance"
- Turn off Automatic Updates: [hint: select Automatic
Updates]
check "Turn Off Automatic Updates"
Click OK to close the System Properties Dialog.
Display Properties [hint: start, control panel, select
Display]
- Turn Off Screensaver: [hint: select Screensaver]
select none for screensaver.
- Turn off Power settings: [hint: select Power] set
all power schemes to "Never".
- Click Advanced, uncheck both options. Set "When I
press the power button on my computer" to "Shutdown".
- Turn off Hibernation: Click on the Hibernate Tab and
uncheck "Enable hibernation".
- Click OK to close the Power Settings Dialog
Click OK to close the Display Properties Dialog.
System BIOS Changes
When many PC's boot up, they
can be halted or modified by settings in the system bios
before the operating system takes control. This is a grave,
and overlooked, security risk. A typical example is that
many PC's are set to boot from Floppy first, before the hard
disk is checked. An unscrupulous end-user could simple place
a dos boot-up floppy in the floppy drive and easily add a
virus or take control of the computers while it boots. To
disable these features, it is necessary to make some system
changes to your bios.
- Power on the PC. The initial screen that displays is
typically the bios with a message at the bottom or top
stating "Press F2 to enter System Bios" or "Press Del to
Enter System Bios". Press the appropriate key to enter your
system bios. This must be done quickly as soon as you see
the bios screen.
- Look for the Passwords setting. Enter a
System/Supervisor Password that you will remember. This will
prevent an end-user from ever enter the system bios and
undoing your changes.
- Next, look for "Boot" setting. This setting will
commonly list the boot up devices, in the order they are
checked. Make sure your Hard Drive is the first boot-up
device listed.
- You may or may not want to disable your Floppy drive
completely if you do not want to give user's access to it.
This can also be done from within the system bios.
- Remember to Save and Exit the changes made to your
System Bios.
STEP 4: INSTALL OTHER USEFUL UTILITIES
Antivirus software, cache cleaners, spyware blockers
etc... all have a useful purpose in protecting your computer
from damage and hence, downtime. Visit our
Do It Yourself page for some
other useful, and free, utilities you may choose install.
STEP 5: ENABLE WINDOWS XP TO AUTO-LOGON
When your PC is run as a kiosk, you must ensure that
whenever the PC is rebooted, automatically, manually or
because of a power outage, it will power back up to an
operational state, ready for business. Part of this involves
ensuring your PC is configured to auto-logon.
In Microsoft
Windows XP Home Edition and in Microsoft Windows XP
Professional, follow these steps:
- Click Start, and then click Run.
- In the Open box, type control userpasswords2, and
then click OK.
- Clear the "Users must enter a user name and password
to use this computer" check box, then click Apply.
- In the Automatically Log On window, type the
password in the Password box, and then retype the
password in the Confirm Password box.
- Click OK to close the Automatically Log On window,
and then click OK to close the User Accounts window.
STEP 6: SETUP TASK SCHEDULER TO
AUTO-RESTART THE PC
Regardless of all precautions you may take, there is
still nothing better than a clean reboot of the computer
at least once per day. Use Task Scheduler to schedule
the computer to shut down and restart at a specific
time. To do so, follow these steps:
- Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
- Click Performance and Maintenance, and then click
Scheduled Tasks.
- Double-click Add Scheduled Task. The Scheduled Task
Wizard starts.
- Click Next.
- Under Click the program you want Windows to run,
click Browse.
- In the Select Program to Schedule dialog box, locate
the %SystemRoot%\System32 folder, locate and click the
Shutdown.exe file, and then click Open.
- Under Perform this task, specify a name for the task
and how frequently you want this task to run, and then
click Next. [hint: scheduling the shutdown during an
off-peak time like 4am is probably a good idea]
- Under Select the time and day you want this task to
start, specify a start time and date for the task, and
then click Next.
- Type the user name and password to run this task
under, and then click Next.
- Click to select the Open advanced properties for
this task when I click Finish check box, and then click
Finish.
- Click the Task tab.
- In the Run box, specify any additional parameters
that you want to use with Shutdown.exe.
- Click OK.
If you would like the computer to reboot more often,
just add another task by repeating the above steps.
STEP 7: INSTALL KIOSK MANAGEMENT
SOFTWARE
There are several good kiosk management software
packages around. At Whotspot, we have tested many but
recommend and sell only two products: SiteKiosk and
KioWare Lite. We sell KioWare directly. For Site Kiosk,
you must contact the manufacturer.
We have a more detailed discussion of
these products on our Kiosk Management Software page,
but the short answer to your needs follows.
If all you
want is a robust Kiosk interface that only allows users
to surf the net, erase all traces of activity when done
and is simple to install and configure, we recommend
KioWare Lite.
If you need a more full-featured
interface, with support for over 25 languages, the
ability to launch many PC-based applications outside of
the browser like MS Word and others, then we recommend
SiteKiosk.
You may purchase these products from us or directly
from their manufacturers. If you purchase from us, we
will support you during the installation and provide
ongoing support as required.
FREE DEMO DOWNLOAD
To download a DEMO version of KioWare Lite,
click here.
After you have tried the product out, feel free to purchase
it from us using our Shop. We will not only support you after the purchase,
but we will send you an automated configuration file to get
you started quickly.
To download and DEMO version of SiteKiosk,
click here.
STEP 8: RESTART YOUR PC
The final step in all installation is to cleanly reboot
you PC and test whether the application automatically
starts when the PC powers on again.
Need more details? Contact us.
Ready to order?
Not an IT expert? Have problems configuring your own
equipment? Want a completely managed, plug-and-play solution
complete with credit card processing and prepaid surfcards?
Checkout our Whotspot WiFi
Gateway!
