At work, we frequently get the request from clients to keep internet machines locked onto their website. There are a number of different pieces of software that can do this – and we do use them. Sometimes though, we just need a quick and dirty way to do this. I have discovered a way to do just that! Read on . . .

IE7 does have a “Kiosk Mode” which launches the browser with no tool bars, no address bar, nothing! just the browsing window. I’ve also written a How-To for Firefox Kiosk Mode.

Method One

You can launch IE7 into Kiosk mode by adding a switch to a command line command!

  1. Click Windows Key+R
  2. Type:
    iexplore -k
  3. Click OK

Run It Foo!

To exit, simply hit Alt+F4!

The problem with this method is that people can figure out that hitting Alt+F4 will close the window, and then they double-click IE from the desktop. We can’t simply removed the IE icon because a blank desktop with no way to get back online is unacceptable! We need their website/webapp running! Here’s a way around this issue:

Method Two

We can create a shortcut to IE and pass the switch directly!
-k

  1. Create a shortcut to IE7 on the desktop and remove the direct link:
    Notice the shortcut arrow in the corner
  2. Right-click and select “Properties“

  3. In the “Target” field, add the ” -k” operator the the command – remember to add a space before the dash:
    IE7 Properties
  4. Hit OK!
  5. Don’t forget to remove all shortcuts to IE in the Start menu and the Quick Launch bar!

Known Issues:

  1. Now, users can still open My Computer/My Documents and use the address bar there. As I mentioned, there are many different apps that can really lock the machines down, we use Fortres at work.
  2. Users can open a new window, using Ctrl+N. This opens a standard IE window, tool bars and all.
  3. You need to adjust the popup setting in IE to “Always open popups in a new tab”.

Unfortunately this is the best, free method as of this writing – at least until someone creates an addon for IE.