Alternative to Windows SteadyState for Public Access Computers

SteadyState software alternative, Reboot to Restore is an impeccable solution to combat challenges encountered due to outdated configurations in PCs.

Shared computers pose unique challenges. Microsoft launches software that provide users with a great deal of flexibility that allows them to customize experiences by configuring the computer settings. In case of shared computers, administrators desire to limit the users’ ability to alter settings, particularly those settings that would affect the system or the user experience. The SteadyState software from Microsoft is a free tool that make the process of setting up and managing shared computers easier.

It is undeniable that digitization has emerged as the key to accelerating business growth in the current scenario with enterprises becoming increasingly device-dependent and Cloud-driven. It has transformed the very nature of systems and processes across industries. Businesses have embraced a number of changes to adapt to the dynamic landscape – be it healthcare or education. However, this brings with it several challenges. For enterprises, it is especially important to ensure their IT systems run seamlessly and efficiently.

While enterprises continue to adopt the latest digital trends, they also have to contend with legacy IT systems that have to work in combination with emerging technologies. This hybrid environment can give rise to a number of issues.
For instance, a user may find his system to have suddenly slowed down after an upgrade. This could be the result of compatibility issues between outdated operating system (OS) and existing hardware. To resolve this, users will need to flag the issue to the IT department – a tedious and cumbersome process that is further impeded by protracted communication protocols.

High memory usage by certain applications is another problem users often encounter. Over time, it results in subpar system performance. While upgrading to the latest OS version, in many instances, you may discover that the application’s current release is incompatible with the existing configuration. In the worst case, these problems manifest themselves as the dreaded ‘blue screen of death’. For maintaining PC health, Deep Freeze reboot to restore is an unbeatable solution. When the Deep Freeze product is installed on a system, all system administrators need to do is create a pre-configured state for the systems to go back to.

Software developers have always sought to provide a simple solution to users, one that does not require sophisticated intervention. SteadyState software, was one of them. The main function of the SteadyState software was to revert the configuration of a personal computer to its ‘original’ state upon reboot. This would be set up before activating the SteadyState software when the admin would install all updates, drivers, and programs to their latest versions. Thus, the SteadyState software allowed system administrators to customize all aspects of configuration, including programs, and websites. This would essentially create a default state to which the system would return upon every instance of a reboot.

SteadyState software was a by-product of the U.S. Libraries Program, an initiative of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The primary function of the SteadyState software was to enable easy maintenance of shared and public access computers by locking their configuration at a ‘steady state’. Windows SteadyState software was discontinued with the release of Windows 7.

Hence, the SteadyState software can no longer be downloaded. Even though Microsoft SteadyState no longer supports Windows 7, using the native features of Windows 7 and free Microsoft tools, several features can be duplicated. Since then, more comprehensive SteadyState software alternatives, such as Deep Freeze patented Reboot to Restore technology by Faronics are in place. The technology combats challenges related to outdated configurations with a simple reboot. Easy troubleshooting with the help of SteadyState software has eradicated the need for regular maintenance of systems, thereby reducing IT intervention substantially.

Reboot Software for Public Access Computers

Maintaining the health of public access computers involves significant hassle. At schools, libraries, or kiosks, several dozen users access these systems on a daily basis for a variety of reasons. At the same time, the technicians and IT personnel are not always trained or equipped to take care of overly complex challenges pertaining to a large number of workstations. The fallout: It essentially defeats the purpose of providing widespread access to technology.

While access to technology has emerged as an essential part of updating public infrastructure, its flipside comprises a slew of challenges to system administrators. As a SteadyState software alternative, we now have the robust Deep Freeze software that acts as a critical application to combat the ill effects of weak configuration with a simple reboot.

For instance, the SteadyState software solution has become a critical component for the education sector with computer-aided education being an integral part of school curricula. Not only do students require regular access to online resources to complete homework, but also for key research-related activities. Schools and higher education institutions view access to large computer labs as a catalyst to improve productivity and facilitate self-learning — an essential tool for cognitive development. Even libraries have begun to provide a wide bouquet of digital services. Furthermore, access to special online portals, digitized resources, and improved software, such as the SteadyState software are now offered to patrons. Maintaining the computers and fixing system-related troubles on a daily basis is time-consuming and cumbersome for the IT department. The process is eased out significantly with a handy Windows SteadyState replacement, such as Deep Freeze. The system issues are fixed in a few minutes as opposed to reimaging or the snapshot that takes a lot of time, adding to system downtime.

Another major challenge to public- and shared-access computers is vulnerability to unauthorized and CPU-draining programs. An increased risk of malware infection is also omnipresent as users keep downloading a variety of documents and programs throughout the day. This necessitates the use of other SteadyState software options to keep harmful files and programs in check while keeping the possibility of complete reconfiguration or reimaging at bay. If any other SteadyState software solution like that of is not implemented, it increases the risk of system crashes and unproductive downtimes by a wide margin.

As technologies keep evolving, the manner and method of taking on challenges also requires evolution; new-age challenges require robust methods of prevention and cures, such as SteadyState software.

Experience the Benefits of Deep Freeze Reboot to Restore

Deep Freeze Reboot to Restore is the ultimate alternative to SteadyState software that offers protection to workstations that helps in combating a large majority of the challenges discussed. This SteadyState software alternative secures configuration files and core operating systems on a server or a workstation. Moreover, the allows you to reset to the extent you want. It uses patented technology to redirect cloned data from the hard drive to an allocation table. Once installed in your systems, this SteadyState software substitute establishes a baseline which is essentially the point to which the computer would restore back to once the reboot is completed. Thus, several other software, such as SteadyState software has helped enterprises across industries to resolve IT issues with easy troubleshooting. This is how this unique SteadyState software alternates have reduced downtime and the number of IT tickets significantly.

Gilchrist County in Florida, one of the top school districts, found itself facing some of the abovementioned challenges. The county schools had 3,000 workstations spread out over two towns, and only a three-member team to manage them. Much to the detriment of users, not only did they not have enough tech personnel in hand, the schools were also using an antivirus program that was causing systems to slow down. For these reasons and more, Faronics has been a longtime partner of the Gilchrist County helping in mitigating IT challenges through the years. Mundane IT tasks can be automated, meaning teachers and administrative professionals can keep their focus off repetitive maintenance tasks.
With Deep Freeze reboot-to-restore, a SteadyState software substitute, teachers and librarians do not have to worry about resetting their classroom computers over and over again. As a force of habit, users tend to change the settings on their computers. For the next user, these changes may hamper their workflow. With Deep Freeze, system administrators can freeze configurations to their desired setting as the default state. Upon every instance of reboot, the computer will revert to that state.

This solution also does away with the necessity of having IT personnel on hand as day-to-day problems have an easy fix. With the Faronics solutions, the need to summon the IT department has reduced by as much as 63 percent. The Deep Freeze reboot-to-restore is superior to the SteadyState software solution that has significantly contributed to the change in percentage.
Deep Freeze Reboot to restore is also a cost-effective technology to maintain the security of endpoint systems in schools and libraries. For instance, it removes the necessity of imaging hard drives or storing snapshots of a system which are more cumbersome and time-consuming solutions. They also require an additional storage space which Deep Freeze’s reboot-to-restore SteadyState software alternative does not. Deep Freeze is compatible with both MacOS and Windows.