Lock windows PC to use only Otzar Hachochma

[Jojo202]

Anyone have experience with locking down a PC to only be able to use one app (only Oztar Hachcoma)?
Must be free, simple, secure, offline.

(Windows kiosk mode only works with Store apps, Group policy editor is a pain if I need to unlock/lock to fix anything, and missing some important functions)

[imayid2]

Anyone have experience with locking down a PC to only be able to use one app (only Oztar Hachcoma)?
Must be free, simple, secure, offline.

(Windows kiosk mode only works with Store apps, Group policy editor is a pain if I need to unlock/lock to fix anything, and missing some important functions)

Why can’t you just block the internet and use the hard drive?

[Gvann]

Anyone have experience with locking down a PC to only be able to use one app (only Oztar Hachcoma)?
Must be free, simple, secure, offline.

(Windows kiosk mode only works with Store apps, Group policy editor is a pain if I need to unlock/lock to fix anything, and missing some important functions)

You may need internet to install it, but once installed you can just have the internet taken off completely. You don’t need internet to run the program once installed (don’t know for sure if you even need for installation)

[Jojo202]

You may need internet to install it, but once installed you can just have the internet taken off completely. You don’t need internet to run the program once installed (don’t know for sure if you even need for installation)

You dont need internet to install it. Sorry if my question wasn't clear. I am looking for a way to totally lock down a PC so that NO OTHER app is usable besides for the oztar. That means no settings, control panel, file explorer, calculator, etc.

[Alexsei]

Have you tried asking Otzar? I'm sure they figured it out

[Jojo202]

Have you tried asking Otzar? I'm sure they figured it out

Yes. Much back and forth with them, vague short snippets of hebrew, not at all clear in explaining what I am supposed to do. Did not work for me. Usually ends with them telling me to spring for a costly update for only $xxxxx and you get xxxxxx more sefarim. If someone did it and it worked for them and they can post it here, that would be helpful. It's called Kiosk mode.

[Definitions]

At my work we use a custom program on kiosk mode. The developer is more familiar with it than I am. I can ask him how he got it.
I saw on the windows documentation that only WUA apps are supported. I'm not sure what that means.

Also I'm pretty sure he disables kiosk mode by running explorer.exe via a password protected menu.

[sillypainter]

Surelock from 42gears.com is what you want.

[Yo ssi]

I once did this using windows 7 ultimate, had a real fun time.

[Jojo202]

Surelock from 42gears.com is what you want.

But its not free, and needs to be connected to the internet...

[Yo ssi]

Group policy editor is a pain if I need to unlock/lock to fix anything, and missing some important functions)

Can be user based, what's missing?

[Jojo202]

Can be user based, what's missing?

Have to go through the list manually to lock the features, not everything can be locked well from it, and if I need to unlock something to change something for that user its a real tedious process.

[Yo ssi]

Have to go through the list manually to lock the features, not everything can be locked well from it, and if I need to unlock something to change something for that user its a real tedious process.

Once it's locked why would you need to unlock? I'm curious what it doesn't have. I'm pretty sure I've done it successfully.

[Jojo202]

Once it's locked why would you need to unlock? I'm curious what it doesn't have. I'm pretty sure I've done it successfully.

Need to unlock to lets say fix printer configuration or add an app to the taskbar, but there are at least 4 or 5 that I have to unlock, and it gets tedious. They still have access to the start menu so I need to manually uninstall any built-in apps. Additionally, even though file explorer is supposed to be locked, users still have the ability to save files to certain folders. It works but it gets messy. Just looking for a better solution.

[yfr bachur]

Must be free, simple, secure, offline.

'

you remind me of the guy who was looking for a a quick, good, cheap, conveniently located dry cleaner...
good luck anyway

[Yo ssi]

Need to unlock to lets say fix printer configuration or add an app to the taskbar, but there are at least 4 or 5 that I have to unlock, and it gets tedious. They still have access to the start menu so I need to manually uninstall any built-in apps. Additionally, even though file explorer is supposed to be locked, users still have the ability to save files to certain folders. It works but it gets messy. Just looking for a better solution.

Not sure why you need to add an app to the taskbar if your only using otzer. The printer should be fixable from another user.
You can basically remove everything from the start menu no need uninstall anything. Don't 100% recall off hand but I believe you can disable saving of files to anywhere (perhaps not the public user I can't remember).
It's a bit more robust than you may think.

[Gvann]

Not sure why you need to add an app to the taskbar if your only using otzer. The printer should be fixable from another user.
You can basically remove everything from the start menu no need uninstall anything. Don't 100% recall off hand but I believe you can disable saving of files to anywhere (perhaps not the public user I can't remember).
It's a bit more robust than you may think.

You can manually delete just about anything on windows by typing in the codes the remove the application you want.

[Jojo202]

Not sure why you need to add an app to the taskbar if your only using otzer. The printer should be fixable from another user.
You can basically remove everything from the start menu no need uninstall anything. Don't 100% recall off hand but I believe you can disable saving of files to anywhere (perhaps not the public user I can't remember).
It's a bit more robust than you may think.

All true but tedious to use. Sometimes you just want to be on the account that's having issues to try to fix, and it gets annoying. Unless you know of a simple way to fully unlock and lock every time.

You can manually delete just about anything on windows by typing in the codes the remove the application you want.

Yes I know thats an option, and I've done it. I am looking for a more simplified, streamlined solution.

[Definitions]

At my work we use a custom program on kiosk mode. The developer is more familiar with it than I am. I can ask him how he got it.
I saw on the windows documentation that only WUA apps are supported. I'm not sure what that means.

Also I'm pretty sure he disables kiosk mode by running explorer.exe via a password protected menu.

Sounds like he was editing the registry like you were saying. I'm not familiar with this at all.

If I remember the words correctly, he said he replaces the shell with our program.
In a local user when setting it up we run this in CMD not as an admin.

REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v Shell /t REG_SZ /d "program path goes here"

Then when we want to get out of kiosk mode he has a password protected button that somehow runs the regular explorer.exe

But this is our program and likely you can't do that in otzar hachochma.

[Yo ssi]

All true but tedious to use. Sometimes you just want to be on the account that's having issues to try to fix, and it gets annoying. Unless you know of a simple way to fully unlock and lock every time.

Definitely do some research for utilities for allowing to enable and disable in bulk. You shouldn't be uninstalling any programs if you set up your permissions correctly.

Being that the computer I set up is only used for Otzer, I don't believe I ever needed to do any maintenance. It may be still running today!