Simple instructions on how to set up a desktop PC in a public place like an Internet café in six steps: (Some bat scripting required)
1:
Install Opera and read about Opera Kiosk mode. Also install plugins like Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash and Adobe Shockwave.
2:
Download my custom opera profile: Opera kiosk mode profile v1.2 (for windows)
Install it by manually extracting the contents of the zip file into the Opera profile directory.
Default profile folder for Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7:
%APPDATA%\Opera\Opera\
3:
Start Opera with the new profile and customize your Homepage/Settings/Theme/Buttons/Languages/Speeddail/Dictionaries…
Advanced: Configure a master-password and add an exit button. Add “/noexit” to the startup switches and you’ll be prompted for the master-password when clicking the exit button to close Opera
Advanced: Type in and go to this address opera:config to open advanced settings. Configure settings like: ”Go Home Time Out”
Advanced: To limit all the menus you can go to “Preferences -> Advanced -> Toolbars -> Menu Setup” and select “Opera Kiosk Menu 1″. If you do this all the menus is reduced to a minimum. Note: The preferences menu will also be gone so it will be impossible to open the Preferences again. To show all the menus again you have to manually remove the line “Menu Configuration=” from the operaprefs.ini
4:
Advanced: Set up Windows profile by running: gpedit.msc (be careful not to lock yourself out of windows). Blocking access to the Windows Task Manager might be done here…
Advanced (found in opera documentation): Windows 2000 and XP do not allow Opera to block access to the Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del). To block access to the Task Manager (recommended), you will need to replace the GINA used by Windows. Please see the MSDN article on Customizing GINA, Part 1 and Part 2 for further details.
5:
Remove administrator rights from the windows guest user-account
Advanced: Configure NTFS drives with secure settings. Ex: “C:\Windows\” and “C:\Program Files\” folders should be “read only” from the secure windows user…
6:
Opera is started in kiosk mode with this command line:
“C:\Program Files\Opera\opera.exe” /kioskmode /kioskresetstation /kioskbuttons /kioskspeeddial /kioskwindows /noexit /nodownload /nomaillinks /noprint /nosave /nosplash
Advanced: Automatically start opera at windows login by adding this bat file to windows startup. When opera is closed the windows user will automatically logout. To prevent the Opera startup dialog from appearing a batch program is needed, download INI file Tool and copy to system folder.
The bat scrips: Download Batch script examples, you have to edit the file to fit your needs…
Any questions or comments, leave a comment…
Update December 2010:
I have updated the Opera kiosk mode profile to v1.2. Changes:
- Main menu is now hidden.
- I have added a limited Menu profile (read description above)
- Profile tested and is working with Opera 11
@lucky hartono: As I sad; You have to put “” around C:\program files\opera\opera.exe. Example: “C:\program files\opera\opera.exe” /kioskmode
By the way: I have updated the opera kiosk profile to V1.2 now
this’s command line i typed in Start – run – C:\program files\opera\opera.exe /kioskmode and then I still have the same problem,(“windows cannot find ‘C:\program’, Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. to search for a file, click the start button, and then click search”), I used Windows XP 98. But when I operate opera kiosk mode in windows 7 there’s running well. Can you explain to me step by step, I’m sorry because I newbie…
@lucky hartono: I have updated the batch script and made an example file that you can download. Your problem was only that you needed to put “” around the “%ProgramFiles%\Opera\opera.exe”…
thanks for the tutorial, i found problem “windows cannot find ‘C:\program’, Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. to search for a file, click the start button, and then click search.” my version 10.63
One more idea
1: Start Opera in sandbox-IE.
2: Delete the sandbox contents for every time opera closes or the computer restarts.
How to make it happen:
Install sandboxIE
Put in Batch file one and use this one to start:
@echo off
“%ProgramFiles%\Sandboxie\Start.exe” delete_sandbox_silent
“%ProgramFiles%\Sandboxie\Start.exe” “path to batchfile two.bat”
shutdown -l -t 1 -c “Session is finnito…” -f
Put in Batch file TWO:
@echo off
echo Starting Opera…
“%ProgramFiles%\Opera\opera.exe” /kioskmode /kioskresetstation /kioskbuttons /kioskspeeddial /kioskwindows /nodownload /nomaillinks /noprint /nosave /nosplash
(replace the “” as normal)
Sandbox-IE is an underestimated program that starts and runs programs in their own sandbox. Check it out at: http://www.sandboxie.com
The sandboxes is stored in “C:\Sandbox”.
[...] Setup Opera Kiosk Mode : http://sandbox.planetdaniel.net/2009/09/setup-opera-kiosk-mode/ [...]
Would you do the setup for me for a fee?
I tried adding the button to close opera and I was able to create the button and it works, but when I add the /noexit, then it doesn’t work.
If you open the operaprefs.ini and find [State] Run=0, it means opera did shut down correctly. If Run=1 it means opera did not shut down correctly and you’ll get the startup dialog. I have found two ways to set Run=0 before startup:
1: Download INI file Tool as described and use this line in the bat script: INIFILE “%APPDATA%\Opera\Opera\operaprefs.ini” [State] Run=0
2: In this method you’ll also make sure the settings always stays the same.
Rename the “operaprefs.ini” to “ORGINALoperaprefs.ini”
Open the “ORGINALoperaprefs.ini” and make sure the setting is as following: [State] Run=0.
Add this line to the bat script (before the line executing opera):
copy /Y “%APPDATA%\Opera\Opera\ORGINALoperaprefs.ini” “%APPDATA%\Opera\Opera\operaprefs.ini”
Good luck! I hope you understand
Hi, Thanks for the reply on the buttons.
I have an additional question:
Is there a way to avoid the Opera splash screen asking to go to LAST SESSION or HOMEPAGE?
I have not made any installation file. Everything has to be set up manually.
Try to install opera and explore your profile folder. then replace it with the one you can download in step two.
Thank’s for the tutorial, but i have problem.
where is install.exe ?
thank’s
You are welcome. More about buttons:
http://operawiki.info/CustomButtons
I have not upgraded the “Opera kiosk mode profile” for opera 10.5 yet… On any requests I might do so. Please let me know.
Hi. thanks for the tutorial.
how do i add the EXIT Button?
Thanks