Comment Hibernate Once Resume Many (Score 1) 366
I set up a few systems for a similar purpose... very simple boxes using old thin client terminals from eBay that run at about 15-20 watts, but any system running Windows XP will do. As it turns out, you can get a regular XP installation to use the Hibernate Once Resume Many (HORM) functionality from XP Embedded. (I can't find the link offhand to the instructions I found, but it was on Google somewhere)
Essentially the Enhanced Write Filter (EWF) in HORM allows you to set up the machine so it's ready to use (web browser window open full-screen, font preferences set, etc.) and then hibernate it, resuming to the exact same state from that point onward. When HORM is enabled, Windows will not delete the hibernation file after booting, and any changes made to the disk are cached in RAM (or to a temporary partition) instead.
The user could then change all their settings, accidentally install spyware, viruses, or AOL, even delete half the files in the Windows folder... and when you cycle the power switch, it will start right back up to your previous hibernation state as though nothing had happened. If you need to make maintenance updates later on (windows patches, etc.) there is functionality as an administrator to commit any file system changes you have made to disk, then re-hibernate to a new state.
Essentially the Enhanced Write Filter (EWF) in HORM allows you to set up the machine so it's ready to use (web browser window open full-screen, font preferences set, etc.) and then hibernate it, resuming to the exact same state from that point onward. When HORM is enabled, Windows will not delete the hibernation file after booting, and any changes made to the disk are cached in RAM (or to a temporary partition) instead.
The user could then change all their settings, accidentally install spyware, viruses, or AOL, even delete half the files in the Windows folder... and when you cycle the power switch, it will start right back up to your previous hibernation state as though nothing had happened. If you need to make maintenance updates later on (windows patches, etc.) there is functionality as an administrator to commit any file system changes you have made to disk, then re-hibernate to a new state.
