User / Admin rights on HP/Compaq T5710 thin client

[VWCHAPPY]

Hi,
I just picked up this thin client and just reinstalled the XPe from a flash
drive. Installation went well, all drivers went on, everything work fine. I
am just having a couple problems:

One problem is once I set up my desktop and screen resolution, after I
reboot, it goes back to the default with the 800X600 resolution, and the
icons that were there went I first reinstalled the OS. Seems like it isn't
saving my settings.

Also, when I click on some icons in the control panel like, User Accounts,
Add/Remove Programs, etc; it keeps saying, "the requested feature is not
available".

Also I am trying to install google toolbar but the Sygate is not allowing it
- and when I click on the Sygate program to open it, nothing happens.

Down in the tasbar next to the clock, there is a green "lock" icon and when
I hover over it, it says "enabled". I believe this is probably the root of
the problems - it is not allowing me to make any modifications. How do I
DISABLE, so that I can modify??

I understand the thin client is not a full fledged PC, but it should give me
some configurability!

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!! Thanks!!

 

[KYputerlady]

I am working with HP/Compaq T5730 and can tell you what I've learned. If you
hold down the Shift key while logging off it will allow you to log in as
Administrator (password is Administrator). As Administrator you can make
changes.

You were correct about the green lock. It is for the Enhanced Write Filter
(ewfmgr). As Administrator you can right-click on it to disable or enable it.
It will require you to reboot it but when it is disabled you can make changes
to the user profile. After you make the changes you must log back in as
Administrator and re-enable the ewf for the changes to be permanent.

A lot of features that are available in the full version are not accessible
in the embedded version but as Adminstrator you have access to more of them
than you do as a User.

I still had to tweak some things in the registry to get the machines I'm
working on the retain the settings I wanted. I'm still working on one last
issue, getting persistent cookie to stay for my user account. So far, I've
got the cookie to stay and work properly when I log in as Administrator but
not the user.

 

[Cpyder]

You can do a few things...
If you just want the cookies to remain after a reboot, add the IE temp
folder to the Exclusions for EWF.

If you want the logged on user to do more or less... add to your
domain and create a GPO to handle restrictions.
(having the autologon for thin thinclient, located in control panel,
to autologon with domain creds)

If not on domain, create a new local user on box, and copy the admin
profile to it. Log in as that user and clean up the profile.

NOTE: Do all this with the EWF off or commit changes before each
reboot.

 

[Cpyder]

Just doing a disable will not work, EWF is configured to re-enable
itelf after so many reboots without prompt.
We just tried and figured how to permanently disable the Write Filter.

1. Disable Write Filter
2. Run services.msc and stop the service.
3. Use MSCONFIG (launch from usb drive) to remove the service from
startup.
4. Rename the EWFMGR.exe to .old (just incase you wish to undo)

I am doing a Thin Client Capture now to see if doing these steps will
keep after that.
If they do, these steps can be done from the factory image. So you can
create a base image for your organization (or just you) to work off.

 

[Cpyder]

UPDATE:
The above steps do not do what I thought....
All they do is disable the service that controls the Tray Icon that
lets you know that status of the EWF.
You do not have to rename the file....

1. Disable Write Filter and reboot.
2. Run services.msc and stop the service.
3. Create a shutdown script with gpedit that runs the bat file...
"start ewfmgr.exe c: -Disable" or "-Commit"

You do have to reboot, the disable does not take affect untill
restart.
This way, every time you shutdown/restart the write filter will be
told to disable.
It resets the EWF's count of how many times it has been rebooted as
disabled.

I have rebooted several times already making changes and have not
noticed anything out of the ordinary yet.
(I can hope)

 

[ryguyb9]

Hello,
We have gone through these same issues. We have started taking the
Administrator profile and copying all the files into the default profile, it
then gives the users increased functionality. It seems cloogy but it works
ok. We then apply restrictions to the users or computers in group policy.