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How To: Protect a shared computer
By TheEmperor | March 18, 2008
Many people have shared computers either in their homes or in managed labs. Securing these can be a huge pain and the users always manage to find some way to wreck them up no matter how hard you try to stop them. This is especially true if we’re talking about a family PC that the kids use. Solution? Windows SteadyState.
SteadyState is software that runs in the background of the PC and not only locks down the user interface if desired, but can return the system to a previously determined state with a simple reboot. What does this mean? It means no more viruses, no more spyware, no more costly computer repairs because someone deleted a system file or installed some harmful software. Just reboot and go on as usual. SteadyState even has a builtin mechanism for applying Windows Updates to ensure that the system is up to date.
To get started with SteadyState first get your PC to the state you want it, all software installed, all user accounts created, everything setup just the way you want it. Now head over to Microsoft and download SteadyState. Next follow the instructions below:
1. Log on as Administrator or as a member of the Administrators group on the
shared computer.
2. Start Setup.exe from the installation disc or from the computer. To start
Setup.exe, double-click the file icon.
3. Click Validate to verify your copy of Windows is genuine. You can click
Cancel to exit the Windows SteadyState Installation Wizard.
4. When the verification has successfully completed, you will see the
Microsoft Software License Terms page.
5. If you agree to the terms, click I accept the license terms, and then click
Next to install Windows SteadyState.
6. Click Finish to complete the Windows SteadyState installation.
It’s that simple.
Now you can configure SteadyState for the amount of protection you want. For more details the complete guide to SteadyState can be had from microsoft through this link. It includes step by step directions for configuring Shared Users, hard disk protection, and everything else related to SteadyState.
Now you can forge on knowing your PC is safe from harm.
Topics: family pc, helpdesk, kids pc, lab computer, protect shared computer, restore system state, shared computer, steadystate |
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