What's New In WinU 5

The checkpoint/rollback feature can save Windows system configuration information, and 'roll back' to a saved configuration when needed. Some program has destroyed your Registry? Roll it back to the way it was before it got trashed.

There are a number of new button-types, for example you can create a button that will generate and display a Diagnostic Snapshot, start the current screensaver, save a checkpoint, restart the computer, and more.

One of the new button-types is a Spacer/AutoRun button. It is basically an invisible button that takes up a space on the screen. You can use it as a layout tool which helps you display your buttons in groups on the screen, with blank spaces or blank rows between the groups. Another use for it is as an AutoRun button. Use it to automatically launch programs when entering the desk. Hint: if you want to use this as an AutoRun button but don't want it taking up a space, put it at the end of the list for this desk. Nobody will know it's there.

WinU can accommodate a computer that uses a non-standard system shell. (This is not a common setup. If you don't know what this is, you don't have one.)

WinU 5 works in NT as well as Windows 95/98.

Enhanced diagnostic snapshots provide more detailed data. Naturally, diagnostic snapshots in NT shows NT oriented data.

Previous versions would work correctly with games that changed the screen resolution when they started (the usual case) but not with those few games that changed the screen resolution while they were running. WinU 5 will allow this.

Launch sequence speedup: At startup WinU can back up the current Registry. This allows you, if necessary, to reset your system as it was prior to the current session. However saving the Registry takes a few seconds at launch. You can now skip this step if you prefer a faster launch sequence at the expense of a Registry backup.

Compatibility: WinU 5 will convert settings from WinU 4 when first installed, and will read WinU 4 clone files. WinU settings earlier than WinU 4 can be converted through an external process.

In addition to being able to import and export clone files, you can now import and export plain-text files too. These are lists of WinU's settings, and closely parallel the checkboxes and such, so if you are familiar with WinU's setup screens you'll have no trouble reading the plain-text settings files. They're handy for remembering how you're systems are configured. And yes, you can modify them, then re-import them.

At Win95/98 bootup WinU can disable keys in the DOS part of the boot cycle. These can be either the standard 'breakout' keys (Ctrl+Break, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+Alt+Del) or it can disable the entire keyboard until Windows starts. (NT doesn't start in DOS so doesn't use this feature.)

You can now list the websites which users are allowed to visit. With this option, if a browser displays a webpage that isn't on the list, the browser will be closed. Valid sites can be specified by title or URL.

Logon validation: WinU 5 can provide oversight when the user logs on to Windows at the regular logon screen. You can disable the Escape and Cancel at logon (so they can't bypass the Windows logon screen), they can be validated with Windows, they can be validated with your network server. If they don't pass, they can't even access the local computer's drive. This is another way we provide to make the Win95/98 logon as reliable as NT's logon.

Better oversight of Explorer windows, including better control over the Delete key, Cut/Delete menu items and toolbar buttons. Explorer access to Network Neighborhood, Control Panel, Recycle Bin, etc. can be locked.

In the Window Control tab you can now supply Allowed Folders (directories which are "available" while the target-title window is visible). All other folders are off-limits. You can use this to prevent users from saving files into unauthorized folders.

The logfile can be locked so it can't be modified by the user, only by WinU.

In addition to all its other logging/reporting options, WinU can now log the active (foreground) window as it changes through the session, with separate entries each web page visited, Word document edited, etc. There is also a new report on this information, providing a good way to see exactly what windows the user accessed, in what order, and for how long.

In addition to the per-desk File Control set on the File Control tab, you can have per-button File Control. This becomes the active settings when that button program is active.

The installer asks if this is an administrator's computer before installing the helpfile, Administration Manager and License Meter Manager. This simplifies setup of your client computers. If doing a "silent" automated install, the /admin parameter tells the installer to install these files.

The confusing differences between Casual and Super security modes are gone. There is now just a single mode in which security protections are active.

You can set WinU 5 to allow the taskbar to remain visible. This provides controlled use of taskbar, tray icons, and Start button. You can lock the tray icons or Start button if the taskbar is showing. When locked, clicking on them does nothing. If you lock the Start button, you can click on it, Ctrl+Esc, whatever you want, it won't open.

Most of the tabs have been simplified so they are easier to use.

In previous versions it was important to not set your taskbar to autohide or always-on-top. This doesn't matter now, you can set it any way you want.

In previous versions, apps started before WinU were always kept hidden underneath, and you set as exceptions any apps that were allowed to show themselves. In this version, the default behavior is that apps started before WinU are treated just like any other programs. (You can check a box if you prefer the old style behavior.)

The number of programs that WinU 5 can control has been quadrupled. It can now have up to 1000 desks, and each desk can have up to 1000 program-launch buttons.

WinU 5 can copy window controls and blockouts to other desks.

On the interface tab, watch the Font button. In addition to its regular font function it serves as a button-style indicator. As you change the button-style options, the Font button is modified to show that style.

The old Remote Administration Kit had a number of "convenience" utilities. Most of these have been built right into WinU 5 as new button-types.

The WinU Timer, Password Manager and Logon Manager are still available. These can be found in a new WinU 5 version of the Remote Administration Kit, which is much smaller than the previous version.

This version has better international support. It will recognize window titles, Control Panel names, etc. in French, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, and German. In these languages, it can provide better oversight and monitoring than before. It will also accept a wider range of non-US characters in passwords, names, etc.