How to Idiot-Proof My Desktop...
Tuesday, June 26, 2001 by Brandr Beekman | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Hello, I'm new to this site so please bear with me...
I'm planning on giving my PC (running Win98) to my mother for her to use it for simply tasks. All she'll be doing is surfing the internet, writing/reading email, and some word processing. She is computer illiterate, so I want to make it as easy on her as possible.
Is there anyway I can "lock-down" the desktop, so that she only had access to those programs (which will be placed on the desktop). I would like to disable the start-menu and everything else, so that she can't doesn't become overwhelmed and start changing settings and the like.
If there is a way to lock-down the desktop, how can this be accomplished?
I'm planning on giving my PC (running Win98) to my mother for her to use it for simply tasks. All she'll be doing is surfing the internet, writing/reading email, and some word processing. She is computer illiterate, so I want to make it as easy on her as possible.
Is there anyway I can "lock-down" the desktop, so that she only had access to those programs (which will be placed on the desktop). I would like to disable the start-menu and everything else, so that she can't doesn't become overwhelmed and start changing settings and the like.
If there is a way to lock-down the desktop, how can this be accomplished?
Jafo
Reply #2 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 12:12 AM
Reply #2 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 12:12 AM
Then again, I have just set up 8 on-line gaming computers with LiteSTEP as the shells, so absolutely nothing can be accessed of the OS apart from the shutdown command and the games as shortcut 'buttons'. No popups, no right-click config, no start menu, no nothing.
Only one hotkey to access the step.rc, and another to recycle the config.
As 'idiot-proof' as you can get.....
Only one hotkey to access the step.rc, and another to recycle the config.
As 'idiot-proof' as you can get.....
Alexandrie
Reply #3 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 12:14 AM
Reply #3 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 12:14 AM
I already let my son play on my computer when he was 3 years old, and he never did something I did not wanted. I explained to him what he can do and he only did he was supposed too. You have to trust her a little. Just take time to explain her what she can use. This way she will become familliar with the rest and maybe one day you will let her use more and more programs. 
Doreen
Reply #4 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 12:14 AM
Reply #4 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 12:14 AM
uh Jafo do you think his momma is ready to go Steppin? hehe
Doreen
Reply #5 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 12:20 AM
Reply #5 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 12:20 AM
I wish I could talk my mother into letting me set her up, she is afraid of computers 
Jafo
Reply #6 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 12:38 AM
Reply #6 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 12:38 AM
Doreen...my mum is afraid of electric typewriters....
AJCrowley
Reply #8 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 3:19 AM
Reply #8 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 3:19 AM
that would be poledit.exe, probably not located on your machine, but it's on the win98 cd somewhere.
craeonics
Reply #9 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 4:04 AM
Reply #9 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 4:04 AM
Haha, since when do mothers listen to their kids?
Brandr > Try it the way Jafo described, use a shell replacement and configure it so that she can only access the basic apps.
Brandr > Try it the way Jafo described, use a shell replacement and configure it so that she can only access the basic apps.
Elwin
Reply #10 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 6:22 AM
Reply #10 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 6:22 AM
At some point your mother said, "Well, I gotta let that child mess up on their own sometime, or they'll never learn".
Do the same for her.
And if she messes things up - fix it for her.
Remember: She's been doing the same thing for YOU for a lot longer than you can remember...
Do the same for her.
And if she messes things up - fix it for her.
Remember: She's been doing the same thing for YOU for a lot longer than you can remember...
JcRabbit
Reply #11 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 6:28 AM
Reply #11 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 6:28 AM
Beekman,
You might be interested to know that Winstep will release NextSTART Corporate in the next few days, a special version of NextSTART intended for places that need strict control over what users can and cannot do on their computer systems (places like public libraries, trade shows, cyber cafes, banks, etc...).
NextSTART Corporate combines the flexibility and ease of use of the regular NextSTART version with security features that prevent normal users from changing any aspect of its configuration/menu structure. It can also block access to the Windows Start Menu, effectively preventing users from running anything you don't want them to.
I think NextSTART Corporate would be perfect for what you want: you could quickly setup a simple menu holding only the applications your mother needs to run and then 'lock it down' by enabling the security settings. By also making NextSTART take over task management and hide desktop icons on startup, your mother wouldn't be able to change or access things that might confuse her.
Please feel free to drop us an email at [email protected] for more information.
Jorge Coelho
NextSTART 2.51 - The Desktop Revolution Begins Here!
http://www.winstep.net - Winstep Software Technologies
IRC Chat: #winstep on AustNet
You might be interested to know that Winstep will release NextSTART Corporate in the next few days, a special version of NextSTART intended for places that need strict control over what users can and cannot do on their computer systems (places like public libraries, trade shows, cyber cafes, banks, etc...).
NextSTART Corporate combines the flexibility and ease of use of the regular NextSTART version with security features that prevent normal users from changing any aspect of its configuration/menu structure. It can also block access to the Windows Start Menu, effectively preventing users from running anything you don't want them to.
I think NextSTART Corporate would be perfect for what you want: you could quickly setup a simple menu holding only the applications your mother needs to run and then 'lock it down' by enabling the security settings. By also making NextSTART take over task management and hide desktop icons on startup, your mother wouldn't be able to change or access things that might confuse her.
Please feel free to drop us an email at [email protected] for more information.
Jorge Coelho
NextSTART 2.51 - The Desktop Revolution Begins Here!
http://www.winstep.net - Winstep Software Technologies
IRC Chat: #winstep on AustNet
Jafo
Reply #12 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 7:50 AM
Reply #12 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 7:50 AM
You know, I reckon Jorge follows me around....and as soon as I say the magic word 'LiteSTEP', up he pops.....hehe....
JcRabbit
Reply #13 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 8:51 AM
Reply #13 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 8:51 AM
Hehehe... Have you tried NextSTART already, Jafo? You can run it together with LiteSTEP if you want...
Jorge Coelho
NextSTART 2.51 - The Desktop Revolution Begins Here!
http://www.winstep.net - Winstep Software Technologies
IRC Chat: #winstep on AustNet
Jorge Coelho
NextSTART 2.51 - The Desktop Revolution Begins Here!
http://www.winstep.net - Winstep Software Technologies
IRC Chat: #winstep on AustNet
Jafo
Reply #14 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:08 AM
Reply #14 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:08 AM
Many moons ago, I think, Jorge....maybe I should have another look at it.....[just to keep you from pestering me]....garn, chuck us a copy over here, then....hehe...
Sylva
Reply #15 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:39 AM
Reply #15 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:39 AM
Alexandrie, I only _wish_ my daughter listened to me that well! She got into everything, changed everything, and I think destroyed something n tehre too..hehe. funny thing is, she learned what she was doing faster than I did *s*.
kenray
Reply #16 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:42 AM
Reply #16 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:42 AM
all thats whey to complicated for the job...
delete all the icons on the desktop, except the ones that go to the word processor and the internet.
your mum will not screw with the start button if you show her how to click on icons. And if she ever did, the flurry of options there will scare her off.
make yourself a plain wallpaper, with a big circle for each icon mom will use, and an explanation of what that program is.
load that WP up on the DT, then move your 4 icons over their corresponding circles.
ta-daa
delete all the icons on the desktop, except the ones that go to the word processor and the internet.
your mum will not screw with the start button if you show her how to click on icons. And if she ever did, the flurry of options there will scare her off.
make yourself a plain wallpaper, with a big circle for each icon mom will use, and an explanation of what that program is.
load that WP up on the DT, then move your 4 icons over their corresponding circles.
ta-daa
Doreen
Reply #17 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 10:35 AM
Reply #17 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 10:35 AM
Donna my 4 year old can do anything on machines! he does his own installations and is a "big time gamer" he kicks the pants off of my 9 year old and all his friends when they play games nobody can beat him. hehe
but my youngest just like me he loves machines and gadgets...
but my youngest just like me he loves machines and gadgets...
Doreen
Reply #18 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 10:38 AM
Reply #18 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 10:38 AM
I'm telling you if you lock down your mother she will get bored and not learn more than the 2 icons you stick her w/
do what Elwin said and give something back to her, "your time to teach her"
I think that is neat your mom wants to learn... hehe
do what Elwin said and give something back to her, "your time to teach her"
I think that is neat your mom wants to learn... hehe
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Reply #1 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 12:04 AM
just show her the basic stuff and she will be fine.
I set my uncle up with his machine last year (of course I got a few HELP ME! calls) but now he is all over the place and he can't imagine how he ever got along w/o one!