Bear with me as this may get a bit long.

I am working on integrating a Windows XP based application into an aircraft
training simulation. The XP computer will only need to run the specific
applications needed as part of the training scenario. The plan is that the
system will boot, wait for the trainer to signal that the training scenario
is ready to run, then execute the application. When the scenario is
complete, the application will terminate, and the system will go back to
waiting for the next scenario. We want this to be as transparent to the
users as possible, all they should see is there GUI interface, when the
trainer is running. I also need to be able to shutdown the system on command
from the trainer.

I have a pretty good idea about the various options for logging in, starting
an application automatically, etc. Back in the WindowsNT days, I could set
up the system so that if the user terminated the running application, he was
automatically logged off, so he never saw the WindowsNT GUI, just the
application. My first question is, "Is there a way to make Windows XP behave
this way?"

I'm not sure what you mean exactly. Try disabling the "Welcome Screen"
from the "User Accounts" control panel.

John Hughes wrote:

I was looking for a lot deeper answer. Turning of the welcome screen is just
the tip of the iceberg. For instance, there is a posting that describes 13
different ways that a program can be started (see Startup in this discussion
group). I am trying to figure out what the advantages and disadvantages of
those 13 places to start a program might be. I am looking for guidance
beyond the obvious (some places start programs on boot, some places start
programs on login, etc.). I am also looking for guidance on ways to minimize
what the user can do, besides play with the specific program we want him too.
I know how to do many of these things, but I am looking for expert help to
make sure I don't unintentionally break something, or leave a gapping
security hole.

Am I on my own?

thanks,

jfh
--
jfh

"Jaelani" wrote:

I was not asking to be spoon fed. I spent several days bouncing around
various documents, web sites, forums, news groups, etc. trying to find
something that would point me in the right direction. Mostly what I found
was a huge pool of unconnected information. It is often difficult to discern
if the informaton you are reading pertains to Vista, to XP, or even to
Windows 3.1.

I did ask some specific questions.

1. Is there a way to make Windows XP automatically log the user off when he
terminates an application that was automatically loaded on logging in? I
have found many references to setting up the automatic log in, with more
options than I could have ever imagined. So, I can pick one and go with it,
but there doesn't appear to be any information about which of the options
might be more or less secure, which options are likely to be around in the
future, which might go away, etc.