make protection on screen to user don´t access the computer

Windows XP Home Edition, but

Is There way to do this with Delphi, Becouse I have a Server Program and I would like to send a command for the client program for do that

What Happening is:

1) The Client pay for one hour.
2) I put the information on server program, is where I am seat.
3) The client go to other computer, Like COMPUTER001 or IP: XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
3) When the time is done the server program have to send command for client program for stop and lock the computer.

I would suggest the following...

On your computer have a console application that runs all the time.  This is where you control the use of the other computers.

On the client computers have a Windows Service running.

Console app sends command to client computer to unlock and allow access for specified time.

Use basic TCP commands to communicate between Console and Clients.

Show a warning 5 minutes before end of session.

Lock the computer at end of session.


There's quite a few elements here.  Let me know what specific things you need help on.  Here's a few things to get you started...

Use the Indy component TIdTCPServer in your CLIENT app.  It can wait for connections on a specified port.
Make the connection from the Console using a TIdTCPClient component - then send and receive commands.

To show a warning message from the Client Windows Service use something like this...
    MessageBox(0, PChar(Text), PChar(Caption), MB_SERVICE_NOTIFICATION or MB_SYSTEMMODAL);

Hi rafaelrgl

What you are asking for would take anyone here hours of programming...

I am doubting that anyone could afford to give you 50+ hours free...

Rather try a professional product.. like one they use at internet cafe's anywhere in the world.
Just ask around and someone will tell what they use, and where to get hold of it.

Mainiacfreakus

It certainly does sound like your basic internet cafe type application.

But if you want to write your own one, and maybe you can write something BETTER then go for it.  
If you do, then you could start selling it to the internet cafes.
(In which case I'd be happy to recieve a small commission   ;-)   )

To Lock the Workstation (from the CLIENT Windows Service) use...

  LockWorkStation;

... this will lock it just like if the user pressed CTRL+ALT+DEL.

You could probably also have your system automatically change the password.

I went to sourceforge and searched for intenet cafe

http://sourceforge.net/search/?words=internet+cafe&type_of_search=soft

theres the link.  There appears to be a LOT of opensource software to do just what you are wanting.  Give it a look see.

when you have done your communication between client and server i might help you how to disabling the access to the computere. where lockworkstation is no guarantee to work (not to mention that the user might know a password for the account) there are better possibilities to totally disable the access to the computer (im talking about disabling taskmanager-access, input interception, no taskbar access... this method has the advantage that you can let the user continue watching the screen or portions of it)

Tell me, what´s the better way to do that.

The command lockworkstation help, but is there other way to make that without let user whatch the screen.

LockWorkstation usually only displays the "Computer Locked" dialog with the desktop backgorund behing it.  The user shouldn't see anything else.  Please clarify - Do you want the user to see what is on the screen or not?

Another easy alternative would be to create your own form that takes up the entire screen area and is a system-wide stay-on-top window.

Or if you want to get more complicated you can do stuff like locking out task switching, the taskbar etc.

I think the form takes up the entire screen area and the user can´t access other programs or exit the screen is going to be great.

I´m sorry if I write something wrong, is becouse i speak portuguese. Thanks for help me.

Did you try LockWorstation?

It doesn't take up the entire screen.  What is left is just the windows desktop background (which you could just make black, or a tiled version of your company logo, or whatever).

I think it'll work quite well, and it's ONE LINE OF CODE.

I'm not sure if there's a remote way to Unlock the workstation.  I was thinking that when the Console application sends it's message to the client service it could also include the next password.  The client service would then set the password prior to locking the screen, and then you just give that password to the next person who wants to use the computer.

How is going to be to make the computer come back to user keep playing if he make another payment for another hour. If we use LockWorkstation

Thanks for you help and let me ask something for you. How can i lock the mouse and the keybord

That's a really good idea.  Then you can just use the service on the client to disable the computer.  Combined with a "Your time has expired" form it may be a really good option.


Here's a simple example of how to block keyboard/mouse.  Create a form, add a button and timer.  Set the timer.enabled = False and the interval to 10000 (10 seconds)...

function BlockInput(fBlockInput: Boolean): DWORD; stdcall; external 'user32.DLL';

{$R *.dfm}

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  BlockInput(True);
  Timer1.Enabled := True;
end;

procedure TForm1.Timer1Timer(Sender: TObject);
begin
  Timer1.Enabled := False;
  BlockInput(False);
end;


When you click the button input will be disabled for 10 seconds.  However pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete will free it up so you need to do something to block those as well.  I'm pretty sure you can find how to do that in an already answered question.