Memo

So, I'm building a kiosk computer in XP. Does anyone know how to disable right-click and remove the taskbar? Preferable disable any system keyboard commands as well like ctrl-alt-del and all that suff. I want people to only be able to use the program running and that's it.

SmokeyDP

I assume this will be running custom software on it. You might want to check out a computer programming forum also.

KCEnder

you can actually capture all system commands from keyboards in your software, if you trap them, they won't execute the given commands. codeguru.com has always been a good place for me to start any search.

OC

Are you running IE in Kiosk Mode?

__________________
But what is adulthood except a delayed end-run around our parents' better judgment?
-- Peter Egan

*cough*

Memo

No, the computer will not be running IE. And I know I can program my own software but.....I'd rather not. This will be a timeclock computer. It will run a simple time clock application with 1 button to clock in and one button to clock out. Users will have to use keyboard to input their pin code, so can't just disconnected keyboard either.

bbrian

If you have control over the source code of the timeclock app, have it register as a screen saver. There is a simple Windows API call to do this. It is the easiest way to trap all system related keystrokes and your app can still function like a normal app. If you need help with the API call, let me know..

Otherwise you can control ctrl-alt-delete, deny shutdown, etc through group policy, but I don't think it has anyway to make the taskbar not show.

Memo

Oh I can do it through group policy? I'll try that. I believe there is a registry edit that will remove the taskbar.

Memo

Ok, so I got it to hide the taskbar and all icons on the screen. How exactly do I restrict usres from ctrl+alt+deling with group policy? I created a group called "Kiosk Users." Where do I go from there? I am in Windows 2000 now because I reformatted adn that disk was laying around. I can easily go back to XP Pro if needed though.

bbrian

I'm not sure you are completely following me.. this has nothing to do with a Windows 'Group'. To get to the group policy editor do the following:
Click Start -> Run, enter 'mmc' (without quotes), hit OK. In the MMC console, click the File menu, click 'Add/Remove Snap-in', click the 'Add' button on the StandAlone tab. Scroll down to 'Group policy', select it and hit Add, then click Finish, click Close, click OK. That should bring up the group policy editor.. In the editor there are tons of settings. Be-warned.. you can EASILY lock yourself out of all sorts of stuff. If you aren't sure what a setting does, I don't suggest using it.

Most of the settings you are looking for are under:
Local Computer Policy, User Configuration, Administrative Templates, System
For example, one setting is 'Run only allowed Windows Applications'.. If you use the editor in Extended Mode, and it will give you a basic description of the settings. You can enable the 'Run only allowed Windows Applications', then in the properties you can add a list of allowed executables.

Under: "Local Computer Policy", "User Configuration", "Administrative Templates", "System", "CTRL-ALT-DEL Options"
You can disable a lot of the buttons in CTRL-ALT-DELETE, but you can't disable ctrl-alt-del completely.. (sorry I thought you could).

Under: "Local Computer Policy", "Computer Configuration", "Windows Settings", "Security Settings", "Local Policies", "User Rights Assignment"
There is a "Shut down the system" setting that you can add a list of users that are allowed to shut down the sytem. Most likely you will just want to remove 'Users' from the list.

Browse around the editor.. there may be other settings you want to use to lock down the machine.