Hello Everyone,

Do you share your PC with others, some of whom may be messy users with a habit of littering files and changing settings?  Perhaps you are a privacy nut who doesn’t want to leave any trace of your World Wide Web wanderings behind for others to see.

Welcome to Windows 7 PC Safeguard. 

PC Safeguard, the successor to Windows SteadyState, found in the Windows 7 UAC (User Account Controls), prevents specified Standard User Accounts  from making permanent and unwanted changes to the system account settings by removing all changes and files saved after the user logs off of the computer.

NOTE 1:
The PC Safeguard feature cannot be applied to any account type designated as an Administrator.

In short, no matter what changes the Standard User makes while logged into Windows, including views, Themes, Window positions, etc, when she/he logs out of the account, all changes will be erased, thus, restoring all to the original system configuration.

NOTE 2:
Microsoft Windows XP and Vista users may download a free copy of MS Steady State, the predecessor to PC Safeguard.

NOTE 3:
This document presumes that you have at least one user account setup on your computer with an account type designated as Standard User.

To apply PC Safeguard to an account:
1.
Login to Windows 7 with a user account type designated as Administrator.

NOTE 4:
This document presumes that you are familiar with the Windows 7 UAC.

2.
Browse to User Accounts.

3.
Select Manage Another Account.  A list of local users will appear.

4.
Choose the Standard User account to which you wish to apply PC Safeguard.

5.
Select Setup PC Safeguard.

6.
Select the Turn On PC Safeguard Radio Button.

7.
Click the [Apply] Button to save your settings.

NOTE 5:
Depending upon the speed of your computer, it may take anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes for Windows 7 to successfully enable PC Safeguard on the selected account.  Be patient. 

NOTE 6:
If you’re “Big Brother” with a heart, you may configure PC Safeguard to allow users to access individual hard drive volumes.  One scenario when this may be useful is to set up a small 1GB partition where the user can secure their files without resorting to removable media.

Now, the next time the person whose account you have applied PC Safeguard logs onto the computer, he/she will be presented with a message reminding that upon logoff, all files and changes will be erased.

From this point on, the user experience is identical to any other standard user’s. They can access applications installed for all-users, change wallpapers and themes and download files. There’s no performance impact, nor additional restrictions.

Enjoy,

Mark