How to configure an brand new windows 7/8 for digital signage/infoscreen/infoterminal usage?
The point is: I'm using windows mainly as an end-user - not as developer.
Our software was been developed for an micro-pc that runs OS X or a small Debian. Due missing drivers we have to switch to windows.
Now the main thing: I saw so much Infoscreens that: have bluescreens, an windows error prompt over their software or some popus - or even worse the user got in the actual windows system.
Our software is an webapp that runs in Google Chrome Kiosk Mode (autostart with a link) – The users can also use the touchscreen, but have no keyboard.
So are there any ready to use utils to fix all that?
We are familiar with Windows but mainly develop things on *nix-sytems.
Solution 1:
There are several programs which offer features to lock down a computer to use it as a public kiosk or digital signage system. Also take into account that Windows 8.1 offers a kiosk mode (assigned access feature).
Some program examples:
- Secure Lockdown by Inteset.
- FrontFace Lockdown Tool by Mirabyte.
- Public Kiosk Software by F Key Solutions Inc. (last updated on 2012).
- Advanced Internet Kiosk sold by SoftStack, being a more updated version of Public Kiosk Software by F Key Solutions Inc.
- SiteKiosk Windows by Provisio.
- Fortres 101 by Fortres Grand (need to be purchased to try it).
- AlwaysUp by Core Technologies.
- Secure Desktop by Visual Automation.
- Webconverger, an open source operating system made for kiosk computers.
This can be a starting point to the OP.
In order to perform a quick test, we used Gmail Notifier Pro to create pop-ups on a Windows 7 machine and checked if the program blocked the pop-up.
So far the following programs didn't block the pop-up: Secure Lockdown, FrontFace Lockdown Tool, AlwaysUp.
Nonetheless, Advanced Internet Kiosk blocked it.