| Details:
From PcVue 6 to PcVue 7.2 (in Windows NT4 and 2000 environment):
When you are doing an advanced installation of PcVue, you can choose to install the software to lock desktop access rights.
This installs a driver called AIKF.SYS (AIKF = Arc Informatique Keyboard Filter), that will disable Desktop Access in User Rights.
Effects
The driver will lock all Windows key combinations, such as CTRL+ALT+DEL, CTRL+ESC, CTRL+SHIFT+ESC, ALT+ESC and ALT+TAB.
If you do not install the AIKF driver and disable Desktop Access in User Rights, all Windows key combinations will be locked as well, except CTRL+ALT+DEL. (The latter, according to Microsoft, is never locked, for security reasons.)
Note:
- If you install an USB keyboard, the driver AIKF.SYS doesn’t work.
- The driver disables your PC standby mode.
Conflict between the AIKF driver and USB keyboards
This article warns of an incompatibility between the AIKF.SYS driver and USB keyboards.
The driver is supplied in the default installation of PcVue. It is used to lock desktop access rights and prevent use of the shortcut CRTL+Alt+Del.
Solution
If you use an USB keyboard, the AIKF.SYS driver will not work.
You need to use another keyboard connection or de-install the driver.
How to De-install the AIKF.SYS Driver
Problem
The AIKF driver prevents the User from unloading PcVue by typing the CTRL+ALT+DEL command.
This driver interferes with the power saving function of Windows. We advise that when PCVue is running, you should use a Windows screen saver instead of power saving.
Solution
The solution is to de-install the AIKF driver. It is not de-installed by PcVue Uninstall, so it has to be removed manually.
How to remove the device driver with Windows NT
- Select Start in the System Tray.
- Select Parameters.Control Panel.
- Select Peripheral Devices
- Select ARC Informatique Keyboard Filter Driver (in Status.Started and Start.System).
- Click on Start Mode then choose Manual or De-install.
- Validate all dialog boxes, then restart.
How to remove the device driver with Windows 2000
- Select Start in the System Tray.
- Select Settings.Control Panel.
- Double-click on System.Hardware.Device Manager
- Tick View.Show Hidden Devices.
- Select ARC Informatique Keyboard Filter Driver in Non-Plug and Play Drivers.
- Right-click on it, select Un-install and confirm the warning,
- Close the Device Manager, System Properties and Control Panel.
Keyboard management for desktop access rights
From PcVue 7.20c to PcVue 10.0 (in windows XP and W2003 server)
Details
The AIKF driver, used in the earlier versions of PcVue to prevent access to the keyboard, is no longer required so it is no longer installed. Management of access to the desktop is now carried out by a DLL function in PcVue. The benefits and drawbacks of the new function are as follows.
Restrictions
- Blocking of CTRL+ALT+DEL only works with one Windows user belonging to the Administrators group. The Power Users group thus does not support de-activation of CTRL+ALT+DEL.
- Multimedia keyboard: De-activation of the extra keys offered by some multi-media keyboards does not function properly (e.g. media keys, volume keys, browser keys and launch keys). It is thus preferable to use standard keyboards (i.e. 102 keys without extra Multimedia keys) for industrial usage.
Benefits
The benefits over the previous method are:
- Support of non-PS/2 keyboards (USB, Bluetooth etc.).
- No more difficulty with the industrial PC keyboards. (The AIKF driver did not support them fully).
- No more conflict with the energy saving facility of portable computers (since the AIKF driver is no longer used).
- Removal of all the icons and de-activation of right-click on the desktop. This makes it possible to secure the PC even if PcVue, FrontVue or PlantVue are not in full-screen mode.
- No need to install and use the low level (AIKF) keyboard driver to block CTRL+ALT+DEL.
Keyboard management for desktop access rights
From PcVue 9.0 (in windows 7 and W2008 server and R2)
Run GPEDIT.MSC from a command prompt or the start menu. Follow the instructions listed below to disable Ctrl-Alt-del options :
- Type gpedit.msc from cmd prompt
- Select User Configuration->Administrative Templates->System->Ctrl-Alt-Del Options
- Double click on each Remove Change Password, Remove Lock Computer, Remove Task Manager, and Remove Logoff and select Enabled then OK.
To remove all the nasty items in the ctrl-alt-del screen that can give users access to things you want to protect :
- Select Computer Configuration->Administrative Templates->System->Logon. In the right hand pane, double click on Hide entry points for Fast user Switching
- Select Enabled then OK
To remove the shutdown button :
- From User Configuration – Administrative Templates – Start Menu and Taskbar – Remove and prevent access to the Shut Down, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate commands | Enable
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