Windows in a bootable CDROM for a disabled girl? [modified]
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Hello all, Today I've received a friend that has made me a question that I would like to be able to solve. He has a sister that is slightly mentally disabled. That boy has a Pentium 2 computer that would be enough for the needs of his sister. She wants to surf the web, view some films, listen to music and almost nothing else. It seems that she usually destroys the operating systems that she use, not the first day, but it usually happens each month or similar... I would like to prepare that P2 computer in order to boot from a CD that would have a fully set up Windows 98 with Internet Explorer and Media Player with the latest codecs. She should be able to install programs in the Hard drive, but she would have to install them each day. The hard drive should be used in order to store data only. Each time I search for bootable windows CDROM I find how to prepare the setting up cdroms for any windows OS in the market, but this is not what I'd like to do. I would like to do something like preparing a virtual machine and automatically boot it at the start up. Could you give me an advice on how to do that? As always thank you in advance. /EDIT: Changed the icon to question...
[www.tamelectromecanica.com][www.tam.cat]
modified on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 2:20 PM
When I worked for a college I wanted something like that for the PC labs, instead I had to reimage all the systems every semester. Circa 1990, 286s, didn't have CD drives (or ghost), I'd wipe the drive and use Laplink to copy from a known-good system. X| I often wished there was a readonly boot disc, but you can only fit so much on a 3.5" floppy.
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Hello all, Today I've received a friend that has made me a question that I would like to be able to solve. He has a sister that is slightly mentally disabled. That boy has a Pentium 2 computer that would be enough for the needs of his sister. She wants to surf the web, view some films, listen to music and almost nothing else. It seems that she usually destroys the operating systems that she use, not the first day, but it usually happens each month or similar... I would like to prepare that P2 computer in order to boot from a CD that would have a fully set up Windows 98 with Internet Explorer and Media Player with the latest codecs. She should be able to install programs in the Hard drive, but she would have to install them each day. The hard drive should be used in order to store data only. Each time I search for bootable windows CDROM I find how to prepare the setting up cdroms for any windows OS in the market, but this is not what I'd like to do. I would like to do something like preparing a virtual machine and automatically boot it at the start up. Could you give me an advice on how to do that? As always thank you in advance. /EDIT: Changed the icon to question...
[www.tamelectromecanica.com][www.tam.cat]
modified on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 2:20 PM
I don't normally recommend linux, but this one of the few. I would recommend a live cd of Vixta or another flavor of Linux. As a developer I don't always like the limitations of Linux. But a live CD in Linux is sooooooo easy to find.
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."
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I'll take a deeper look to it... it seems interesting, I'm worried as the windows allowed need lots of resources, but I'll try to find more info. Thank you!
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When I worked for a college I wanted something like that for the PC labs, instead I had to reimage all the systems every semester. Circa 1990, 286s, didn't have CD drives (or ghost), I'd wipe the drive and use Laplink to copy from a known-good system. X| I often wished there was a readonly boot disc, but you can only fit so much on a 3.5" floppy.
WOW! this would be a painful job... :omg: I'm semi-lucky as I will be able to use a CDROM... ;P
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That could do the trick, but this would mean that she should learn to start the Virtual machine each time and also this would mean that she could destroy the primary OS. Wouldn't it? I've played a little bit with virtual machines, but I only know them from the point of view of starting the program and then the virtual machine from the primary OS already started. Thank you for your feedback!
Virtual PC has command line parameters[^] to start a VM in full screen mode.
Regards Senthil [MVP - Visual C#] _____________________________ My Home Page |My Blog | My Articles | My Flickr | WinMacro
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I don't normally recommend linux, but this one of the few. I would recommend a live cd of Vixta or another flavor of Linux. As a developer I don't always like the limitations of Linux. But a live CD in Linux is sooooooo easy to find.
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."
Hello El Corazon! I've thought on that as the first possible option... I've used Linux distro's even in Pendrives... But I'm a bit worried of that girl trying to use something that she don't know... She is a little disabled and changing anything can make it even more difficult for her... It seems she loves to use the computer to hear music and watch movies... and some times she surfs the web, but I'm not sure if she will be capable to become used to the change... Anyway, now I know the name of what I'm searching for: "live CD"... Thank you!
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Virtual PC has command line parameters[^] to start a VM in full screen mode.
Regards Senthil [MVP - Visual C#] _____________________________ My Home Page |My Blog | My Articles | My Flickr | WinMacro
Thank you, but if it is a command line parameter, it must be an OS loaded before... and that OS can be destroyed by anyone... I'm looking for a most roughed solution... Something that start a Windows OS from a CDROM.
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Hello all, Today I've received a friend that has made me a question that I would like to be able to solve. He has a sister that is slightly mentally disabled. That boy has a Pentium 2 computer that would be enough for the needs of his sister. She wants to surf the web, view some films, listen to music and almost nothing else. It seems that she usually destroys the operating systems that she use, not the first day, but it usually happens each month or similar... I would like to prepare that P2 computer in order to boot from a CD that would have a fully set up Windows 98 with Internet Explorer and Media Player with the latest codecs. She should be able to install programs in the Hard drive, but she would have to install them each day. The hard drive should be used in order to store data only. Each time I search for bootable windows CDROM I find how to prepare the setting up cdroms for any windows OS in the market, but this is not what I'd like to do. I would like to do something like preparing a virtual machine and automatically boot it at the start up. Could you give me an advice on how to do that? As always thank you in advance. /EDIT: Changed the icon to question...
[www.tamelectromecanica.com][www.tam.cat]
modified on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 2:20 PM
What do you mean by "destroys the operating system"? Would an install of Vista with UAC turned on and having her running as a standard (limited) user work? It might be a bit on the slow side running on a P2, but it might work.
Scott Dorman
Microsoft® MVP - Visual C# | MCPD President - Tampa Bay IASA [Blog][Articles][Forum Guidelines]
Hey, hey, hey. Don't be mean. We don't have to be mean because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are. - Buckaroo Banzai
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Hello all, Today I've received a friend that has made me a question that I would like to be able to solve. He has a sister that is slightly mentally disabled. That boy has a Pentium 2 computer that would be enough for the needs of his sister. She wants to surf the web, view some films, listen to music and almost nothing else. It seems that she usually destroys the operating systems that she use, not the first day, but it usually happens each month or similar... I would like to prepare that P2 computer in order to boot from a CD that would have a fully set up Windows 98 with Internet Explorer and Media Player with the latest codecs. She should be able to install programs in the Hard drive, but she would have to install them each day. The hard drive should be used in order to store data only. Each time I search for bootable windows CDROM I find how to prepare the setting up cdroms for any windows OS in the market, but this is not what I'd like to do. I would like to do something like preparing a virtual machine and automatically boot it at the start up. Could you give me an advice on how to do that? As always thank you in advance. /EDIT: Changed the icon to question...
[www.tamelectromecanica.com][www.tam.cat]
modified on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 2:20 PM
If you can bring up the Virtual PC image on bootup, chances are, she's not gonna know how to access the OS behind it. It would be nice if on closing it, it shuts down the real OS. Thus, only someone who knows how to access the OS and disable the shutdown would be able to use the real OS.
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What do you mean by "destroys the operating system"? Would an install of Vista with UAC turned on and having her running as a standard (limited) user work? It might be a bit on the slow side running on a P2, but it might work.
Scott Dorman
Microsoft® MVP - Visual C# | MCPD President - Tampa Bay IASA [Blog][Articles][Forum Guidelines]
Hey, hey, hey. Don't be mean. We don't have to be mean because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are. - Buckaroo Banzai
Well, she is slightly mentally disabled so it seems that sometimes she don't know exactly what is doing... her brother has told me that the OS should be fully reinstalled/refreshed each time as he has to do it manually almost each week...
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What do you mean by "destroys the operating system"? Would an install of Vista with UAC turned on and having her running as a standard (limited) user work? It might be a bit on the slow side running on a P2, but it might work.
Scott Dorman
Microsoft® MVP - Visual C# | MCPD President - Tampa Bay IASA [Blog][Articles][Forum Guidelines]
Hey, hey, hey. Don't be mean. We don't have to be mean because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are. - Buckaroo Banzai
This P2 computer probably has 512 RAM top, old VGA and no drivers. If you install Vista the computer will become “mentally disabled” too.
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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Hello El Corazon! I've thought on that as the first possible option... I've used Linux distro's even in Pendrives... But I'm a bit worried of that girl trying to use something that she don't know... She is a little disabled and changing anything can make it even more difficult for her... It seems she loves to use the computer to hear music and watch movies... and some times she surfs the web, but I'm not sure if she will be capable to become used to the change... Anyway, now I know the name of what I'm searching for: "live CD"... Thank you!
Joan Murt wrote:
she loves to use the computer to hear music and watch movies
Then I wouldn't recommend linux - too much of a chance that the sound drivers will go wiggy and then she's unable to get her video or music to play back correctly.
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! Real Mentats use only 100% pure, unfooled around with Sapho Juice(tm)! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! VCF Blog
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If you can bring up the Virtual PC image on bootup, chances are, she's not gonna know how to access the OS behind it. It would be nice if on closing it, it shuts down the real OS. Thus, only someone who knows how to access the OS and disable the shutdown would be able to use the real OS.
This could be an option... I'm afraid that in a Pentium 2 computer... 2 Windows would be too much, but a keyboard hook on the main OS with a service looking for the VM OS would be enough to do what you are proposing, but again... I think that the "guest" OS (I think that is the guest) would run really slow there... Thank you for your feedback!
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This P2 computer probably has 512 RAM top, old VGA and no drivers. If you install Vista the computer will become “mentally disabled” too.
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
Hence my statement that it "might work".
Scott Dorman
Microsoft® MVP - Visual C# | MCPD President - Tampa Bay IASA [Blog][Articles][Forum Guidelines]
Hey, hey, hey. Don't be mean. We don't have to be mean because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are. - Buckaroo Banzai
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Joan Murt wrote:
she loves to use the computer to hear music and watch movies
Then I wouldn't recommend linux - too much of a chance that the sound drivers will go wiggy and then she's unable to get her video or music to play back correctly.
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! Real Mentats use only 100% pure, unfooled around with Sapho Juice(tm)! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! VCF Blog
Yes, moreover I'm a little bit worried on if she would be capable to handle Linux or not... I've asked his brother (my friend) and he has told me that it would be better a Windows OS as it is what she is "used" to... Thank you for your feedback Jim!
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Hello all, Today I've received a friend that has made me a question that I would like to be able to solve. He has a sister that is slightly mentally disabled. That boy has a Pentium 2 computer that would be enough for the needs of his sister. She wants to surf the web, view some films, listen to music and almost nothing else. It seems that she usually destroys the operating systems that she use, not the first day, but it usually happens each month or similar... I would like to prepare that P2 computer in order to boot from a CD that would have a fully set up Windows 98 with Internet Explorer and Media Player with the latest codecs. She should be able to install programs in the Hard drive, but she would have to install them each day. The hard drive should be used in order to store data only. Each time I search for bootable windows CDROM I find how to prepare the setting up cdroms for any windows OS in the market, but this is not what I'd like to do. I would like to do something like preparing a virtual machine and automatically boot it at the start up. Could you give me an advice on how to do that? As always thank you in advance. /EDIT: Changed the icon to question...
[www.tamelectromecanica.com][www.tam.cat]
modified on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 2:20 PM
Why not just image the machine and then restore the image every time she destroys the install? I would donate (buy) the license to image it. Then nobody has to worry about having a CD, memory speed and all that other stuff that can be irritating with bootable OSs.
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Well, she is slightly mentally disabled so it seems that sometimes she don't know exactly what is doing... her brother has told me that the OS should be fully reinstalled/refreshed each time as he has to do it manually almost each week...
Hmmm...I would suggest Windows XP running in limited user mode but that might actually make her more frustrated as a lot of things don't work correctly. Is she doing anything more than web browsing? Would running XP and IE in a kiosk type mode work? This would change the OS so that it boots in to IE running in full-screen kiosk mode rather than the explorer shell. The drawback is that I believe all she would be able to do is browse the web.
Scott Dorman
Microsoft® MVP - Visual C# | MCPD President - Tampa Bay IASA [Blog][Articles][Forum Guidelines]
Hey, hey, hey. Don't be mean. We don't have to be mean because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are. - Buckaroo Banzai
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Yes, moreover I'm a little bit worried on if she would be capable to handle Linux or not... I've asked his brother (my friend) and he has told me that it would be better a Windows OS as it is what she is "used" to... Thank you for your feedback Jim!
You could probably customize a distro with themes, icons, etc to look close enough that she *might* be OK in terms of getting things to work. My biggest concern would the audio though. Every linux distro I've dealt with at home, including Ubuntu, has had incredibly flaky audio performance. Your friend is probably right though. Good luck, it's certainly a noble task!
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! Real Mentats use only 100% pure, unfooled around with Sapho Juice(tm)! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! VCF Blog
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Hmmm...I would suggest Windows XP running in limited user mode but that might actually make her more frustrated as a lot of things don't work correctly. Is she doing anything more than web browsing? Would running XP and IE in a kiosk type mode work? This would change the OS so that it boots in to IE running in full-screen kiosk mode rather than the explorer shell. The drawback is that I believe all she would be able to do is browse the web.
Scott Dorman
Microsoft® MVP - Visual C# | MCPD President - Tampa Bay IASA [Blog][Articles][Forum Guidelines]
Hey, hey, hey. Don't be mean. We don't have to be mean because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are. - Buckaroo Banzai
This is also a nice idea... Well, she also likes to listen to music and to view videos, but I don't know if a small web page could do that for her... I'll think of it. Thank you!
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Why not just image the machine and then restore the image every time she destroys the install? I would donate (buy) the license to image it. Then nobody has to worry about having a CD, memory speed and all that other stuff that can be irritating with bootable OSs.
I would like to avoid any job for her brother, but anyway, it is indeed a good idea Rex. I've know the DriveImageXML program that works like charm (it is similar to norton ghost and acronis true image) and it is free for home use. I'll take a look at it. Thank you for your question/suggestion! :rose: