One of the challenges of managing public computers is that all manner of malware, other programs, and system changes can be introduced by users. SteadyState works by offering several vital functions in an easy-to-manage interface:

• Windows Disk Protection. This feature basically creates a snapshot of the hard drive at a certain point in time (like when you finally get it configured just the way you want it). Whenever the computer restarts, Windows restores the computer to this exact state. So whenever a user is done with the computer, you can just restart the computer and it returns to the same state as before the user logged on.
• User Restrictions and Settings. This feature allows you to restrict access to programs and settings, and also to lock a user account to prevent changes.
• User Account Manager. This feature lets you create and delete user accounts, and also to export user accounts for use on other shared computers – perfect for creating identical user accounts on a group of shared computers.
• Computer Restrictions. This feature lets you restrict access to computer settings.

Right now, Windows SteadyState is only available for Windows XP and does require that you validate the copy of Windows you’re running.

Four me, there are four big features that the Professional version will offer that the Express version does not:

• Quotes – So you can create a quote for a job and then later convert it to an actual invoice.
• Multiple price levels – So you can charge different customers different prices for the same job.
• Job Costing – So you can track the material and labor cost for each job and see the actual profit you make on every job.
• 1099 Reports – So I can pay my contractors more easily.

If you don’t need these features, then you have a free, powerful, easy-to-use accounting package to play with.

In the next few weeks, I’m planning to move my business accounting to Office Small Business Accounting Professional 2007, but I’ll give the Express version a whirl first and post a full review. In the meantime, the Express site has a Flash demo you can check out or you can just grab a copy for yourself.

XNA Game Studio Express 1.0 requires Windows XP (no official Vista support yet, though their FAQ says it will install on Vista).

Independent game developers rejoice!

Now somebody get to work and make me an Xbox Live version of Mail Order Monsters.

Most people order the icons according to the programs they use most frequently. Instead, try alternating icons by applications that take a long time to load and those that take a short time to load. For example, place your icon for Notepad between the icons for, say, Word and Photoshop. If you’re in a hurry and accidentally click the icon next to the one you meant to click, you won’t have to wait for a program that takes a long time to load.

1. Right-click any open space on the Windows Taskbar.
2. On the shortcut menu, point to Toolbars, and then click New Toolbar.
3. In the New Toolbar dialog box, locate your shortcut folder, select it, and then click OK.

That’s it. The new toolbar appears and looks something like this:

To remove the toolbar, right-click the Taskbar, point to Toolbars on the shortcut menu, and click the shortcut toolbar to disable it. When you disable the Toolbar, you will have to recreate it if you want it to appear again.

1. Click Start, then click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, if the window is not already in Classic View, click the Switch to Classic View link on the left.
3. Double-click Administrative Tools.
4. In the Administrative Tools folder, double-click Services.
5. In the Services window, scroll until you find the Error Reporting Service entry and double-click it to open its properties.
6. In the properties dialog that opens, in the Startup Type box, select Disabled. Also click Stop to go ahead and stop the service.
7. Click OK and then close the Administrative Tools folder.

Error Reporting will no longer bother you.

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information.
2. In the System Information window, in the list on the left side, open the Components category, and then click Display.
3. In the right side of the window, the Name and Adapter Description labels describe your video card model.

1. Click Start and then click Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel window, if you haven’t done it already, click Switch to Classic View in the Tasks pane.
3. Double-click Regional and Language Options.
4. In the Regional and Language Options dialog box, switch to the Languages tab, and then click Details.
5. In the Text Services and Input Languages dialog box, click Language Bar.
6. Clear the Show the Language bar on the desktop check box.
7. Click OK until the dialog boxes are gone and then close the Control Panel window.