What is Windows SteadyState?
Windows SteadyState is a software utility that was developed by Microsoft to help protect and restore Windows environments in schools, libraries, or businesses. It works by redirecting and restricting changes made to a Windows system so that once the computer is rebooted, it returns to its original 'steady state'.
Some key features of Windows SteadyState include:
- Protecting the Windows registry, files and folders from modification
- Preventing permanent changes made by users, programs or malware
- Restoring deleted files or rolled-back drivers upon restart
- Blocking harmful software or devices from running or being installed
- Managing desktop and network environments consistently across multiple workstations
By leveraging Windows SteadyState, IT administrators can more easily maintain standard configurations, quickly recover from problems, and prevent permanent damage - saving significant time and effort. It was designed for shared computing environments like schools and libraries where controlling user activities is important.
Microsoft officially discontinued Windows SteadyState in 2011 after Windows 7 was released. However, it remained in use for several more years in some organizations due to its unique protective capabilities before transitioning to more modern endpoint management solutions.