I'm in the process of building a Windows-based PC (probably Windows
2K) for a five year old, and would like to (a) make it easy for him to
launch selected applications and (b) make it impossible for him to
launch any other applications.

Long ago, when I owned a Macintosh, there was a program called
KidsMenu, or the Launcher or LaunchPad or something like that.  It
permitted you to manage a Palette, to which aliases (desktop Shortcuts
in Windows parlance) could be added.  On startup, the only thing that
would launch was the Launcher, and you could only start programs who
had buttons installed on the Palette.

I need something similar for Windows, that would launch on startup of
the PC, and control the entire session unless I opted out via a
special (preferably password-protected) mechanism.

Thanks in advance!

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Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 05 Sep 2006 01:57 PDT

Hi rtheath,

Please let me know one of these programs suit your needs:

http://program-sentry.leithauser-research.qarchive.org/

http://www.tomdownload.com/home_education/kids_parenting/access_control.htm

Best regards,
Rainbow

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Clarification of Question by rtheath-ga on 10 Sep 2006 19:21 PDT

Hi Rainbow - please see additional comments below.  Thanks, Randy.

This one is well thought of at download.com
http://www.download.com/WinForcer/3000-2092_4-10329323.html?tag=tab_pub

Thanks guys - unfortunately, none of these suggestions really fit the
bill.  I am really after a desktop replacement. Don't want my 5 year
old mucking about with the Windows desktop.

I found exactly what I was after in KidDesk Internet Safe, by either
RiverDeep, EdMark, or IBM.  Not sure who created it vs who got
acquired - I think RiverDeep wound up with it and discontinued the
product, unfortunately.  I will have to seek it on the after-market.

appreciate your thoughts - if anyone can find a currently-published
equivalent to KidDesk Internet Safe, I'll happily mark this question
answered.