ActivatorDesk(tm) Support System

General User Personal Option Settings - When Administrator first loads it detects the currently logged in user account that is active in Windows and presents options or settings that that user is allowed to change.

Settings function in all Window 32bit OS unless otherwise indicated with the following abbreviations shown below:

9x = works with Windows 95 and 98
Me = works with Windows ME
NT = works with Windows NT4
2K = works with Windows 2000
XP = works with Windows XP
None of Above = works with all Windows 32-bit operating systems

Desktop Settings:

Disable Desktop Icons - Disables (hides) Windows desktop icons.
Disable Display Settings - Disables the Desktop settings dialog so user cannot change wallpaper, schemes, and all desktop settings. This may be used to lock desktop settings in place so they may not be tampered with.
Disable Start Button - Disables (hides) Windows Start button and menus.
Disable Task Bar - Disables (hides) Windows Start button and menus.
Disable Tray Display - Disables (hides) from user the task bar tray and clock.
Display Hi-Color Icons - Enables display of high-color desktop icons..
Enable ActivatorDesk Wallpaper - Switches the wallpaper displayed to 'actwall.bmp'
Enable Task Switch - Turns on the ActivatorDesk TaskSwitch. The TaskSwitch is the ActivatorDesk Start Menu and Task Manager program or desktop.
Lock size Position Taskbar (NT/2K/XP) - Locks the screen position of the Windows desktop taskbar.

Personal Settings:

Block Ad Directories - Blocks advertisements, like common banner ads, and corresponding cookies or 'web-bugs' when browsing the internet using a common directory string list.
Block Ad Servers - Blocks advertisements, like common banner ads, and corresponding cookies or 'web-bugs' when browsing the internet using a common ad-server list.
Kill Browser Popups - This switch turns off ALL those annoying internet browser window popups without exception including any cookies or 'web-bugs' they would deposit on your computer. (see additional notes below)
Make Default Browser - Causes the main desktop browser program, when loaded, detect if it is the default internet browser and enables setting it to the default browser.
Open Popups in New Tab - Causes web page popups to be opened in a newly generated browser-tab.

Shutdown Settings:

AutoClose NonResponding(NT/2K/XP) - Automatically closes the 'Not Responding' popup dialogs when closing Windows.
Clear Typed URL History - Clears (washes) AddressBox typed URL history upon closing ActivatorDesk.
PowerOff After Shutdown(NT/2K/XP) - Enables BIOS power-down upon shutdown of Windows (note that this setting is dependent upon proper computer BIOS capabilities)
Purge IE Cache 1 Day - Purges (washes) ActivatorDesk (IE) Browser Cache (history, cookies, and links) for 1 day on exiting ActivatorDesk.
Purge IE Cache All - Purges (washes) all ActivatorDesk (IE) Browser Cache (history, cookies, and links) on exiting ActivatorDesk.
Purge IE History 1 Day - Purges (washes) ActivatorDesk (IE) Browser Cache history for 1 day on exiting ActivatorDesk.
Purge IE History All - Purges (washes) all ActivatorDesk (IE) Browser Cache history on exiting ActivatorDesk.

ActivatorDesk Administrator may be used to to perform database maintenance for the on-board database server system, including backup, restoration, and updating or synchronization of the on-board server portal links, webpages, ad or cookie blocking filters, and sexual and violence filter keywords.

One Database.. Many Users It also performs setup of user accounts and enables an administrator to define what levels of access to the desktop is allowed for each user. This is 'aligned' with the Windows User logged in matching settings to individual users, including security switches, graphical skins, wallpaper, etc. all automatically. It also enables an Administrator to login to any other PC running ActivatorDesk over a network or the internet to remotely manage its setup and security. For Desktop Lockdown and Administrator Level Desktop Security access and setup click Desktop Lock-Down

Update the Desktop Portal - To Synchronize your desktop portal with the latest links, sexual and violence keywords, ad-blocking, and settings simply click the Synchronize button at the top of the Administrator program. This feature also deletes any dead links that have been identified in the portal links listings. Note: You must be connected to the internet for this function to work.

Home Page and Search Page - ActivatorDesk permits the secure storage in its database of both the Home Page and a Search Page. Unlike Microsoft Internet Explorer, these settings are not able to be 'hijacked' or changed by websites who might run scripts to change your home page setting.

Simply enter your preferred Home Page and Search Page and click the 'Save' button for each. Then when you click the Search Button and the Home Page button on the browser, these settings will prevail.

Browser Buttons and IE Setup - The above options permit setting the browser Navigation Buttons and Address Bar to the top of the browser interface or the bottom as well as loading of the IE Setup within Windows.

Note: All the above settings are retained in the ActivatorDesk database for the currently logged in Windows user. Other users may select these settings, skin and theme preferences and these will be stored for each corresponding user account. Personalization settings are stored safely within the secure database server used by ActivatorDesk.

When killing or blocking all Browser Popup Windows this will also block links that are configured as popups. If a link does not load, simply hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click upon the link with your mouse pointer. If the link is normal, it will then be loaded to display in a new browser tab. For more information click View Browser Tabs

Note: For settings (above and at left) changes to be affected the main desktop program must be exited and reloaded.

Special Note: The switches at left and above may not be changed if they are Administrative desktop lock-down control. These security switches are greatly expanded when a desktop Administrator logs into the ActivatorDesk Administrator. To view the additional security switches available click View Administrator Switches

First-Time Bootup Special Password Procedure:

Special Note - ActivatorDesk may be used to lock down a desktop for select use of the internet or programs and limit access to the PC itself. The first time Administrator is run, it detects a default password, and mandates a new unique password be entered. The Administrator may not be used until a unique password is entered. Note: Special characters should not be used for passwords.

This password must be UNIQUE if others are not to access the desktop's security settings. Once a UNIQUE password is entered WRITE IT DOWN should you forget it, it wil be required to enter the PC should it be 'Locked Down'.

ActivatorDesk is no different than Windows NT or 2000 in that if a password is lost or forgotten, and the PC is locked down for security reasons, it may be impossible to access the PC. ActivatorDesk, however, does have a bypass routine so an Administrator may still access the PC with the password should, by chance, the database system fail completely. To view the Emergency Login procedure click more

Sooner or later EVERY PC WILL FAIL. Please write down your password so you may attempt recovery of access and settings when it happens. For more information about Administrator Lock Down and Access click more

ActivatorDesk(tm) Advanced Internet Desktop