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Default homepages dropped by Internet Explorer 7
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Default homepages dropped by Internet Explorer 7
2:07 PM EDT 10/3/07
We currently have 4 Gates public access computers running with Windows XP, SP2. We upgraded to Internet Explorer 7 when it became available. Now, every time any of the public access profiles logs on, we receive prompts to initiate the phishing filter and to choose a default home page. We have tried to set defaults through EXEC and ALL, with restrictions both ON and OFF, and are unable to keep the default homepage set. This problem does not affect the EXEC home page, only those for the other profiles. Has anyone else experienced this difficulty? Any suggestions as to how to correct this problem?

Diana Jones
Librarian
Spokane Tribal Library
Re: Default homepages dropped by Internet Explorer 7
6:32 PM EDT 10/20/07 as a reply to Diana Jones.
For all, what happens if you remove the restrictions, run IE and follow the prompts - do whatever it asks you to do - then log off and back on again to all (restrictions still removed)?

When you run IE again does it still act like you haven't done anything? If it now seems right, replace restrictions and test again. If it breaks here let me know.

Also remember that you have to set the start page for the All profile from the Exec account. You can see instructions for it in <a href="http://pacomputing.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=7427">this article on PAComputing</a> (about 1/2 way down the instructions, look for "To Set the Internet Explorer Start Page for Each User").

Dale
Re: Default homepages dropped by Internet Explorer 7
3:24 PM EST 12/27/07 as a reply to Dale Musselman.
Happy Holidays! I am experiencing the very same problem that is described in this post. We have 4 stations and on each one I am caught in a loop. I take off Centurion guard and have the home page arranged the way that I want it in "exec" but when I put Centurion guard back on and go to "all" I am getting the web page to make choices for Internet Explorer 7. (I am tickled that the address includes the words "run once"--ha ha!) More importantly, I am trying to get the status bar back for patrons so that they can see a printer icon on any web page. The lack of this is driving patrons crazy and they aren't used to right clicking to get a print option. Okay, so I tried the documentation linked here and I was stonewalled because I have no choice for IE Security. Then I noticed that we are not one of the states listed for this documentation so I am hoping that you might have some help for me in Wisconsin! Thanks, in advance, for your attention!
Re: Default homepages dropped by Internet Explorer 7
6:18 PM EST 12/27/07 as a reply to Elizabeth Timmins.
So, the first thing to keep in mind is that the IE start page set in exec has nothing to do with the public accounts. This is a user account setting, as are things like the toolbar/menu settings.

For the WI, XP model, you can find instructions for setting the start page in chapter 5 (p91) of the Easy Guide which can be found in pdf form here: http://pacomputing.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=11886
Note that chapter also describes how to make other changes to the public account desktop by unlocking the Profile restrictions and logging in to the user account. This is what you probably need to do to let the run once routine get cleared out. Basically logging in to all with the restrictions removed and running Internet explorer once or twice. Then log out and right back in to make certain it has stopped (don't worry about the start page with restrictions removed - it will be wrong until they are put back).

But in exec, when you start up Policy Editor and then open the Policy file, if what you see doesn't match the instructions, tell me what you do see.

If you do See Internet Explorer listed, under there are also the settings for controlling the toolbars. I don't have access to one of these so I can't give you the specific path, you'll need to look around a little and test, but once you get in there, most of the options are pretty self-explanatory.

Dale
Re: Default homepages dropped by Internet Explorer 7
7:39 PM EST 12/28/07 as a reply to Diana Jones.
Dale rocks! I wanted you to know that I do have a hard copy of the "Gates Bible". I was so excited to learn about the restrictions and I got a little zealous (p.40) so with the first computer that I worked on I took off all 3 layers of security and then of course, could do nothing! So I am reinstalling them and it will take 3 hours! Yikes! Live & learn. No matter, when I got to the other 3 computers I knew exactly what to do. Take the public restrictions off--go into the "all" profile and set the home page the way you would normally do it in IE and get rid of that incessant setting message FOREVER! Also, the toolbar issue resolved itself. I reinstalled the restrictions on each one and also locked Centurion Guard. I have 3 of the 4 ready for the New Year. Yippee! And I will complete the other one next week. Thank you--thank you--I needed a gentle nudge in the right direction. Also, a clearer understanding of the function of "exec". We are so grateful for your assistance and we appreciate these PCs as a resource in our library. Happy 2008!