Prepare the device

IT Pros can request technical support by emailing dsign@iu.edu.

Prepare a Windows 10 PC for digital signage:

Minimum specs: 8GB ram, 64MB hard drive. No additional graphics hardware components required.

• Install Windows OS: Windows 10, Pro/Business/Ultimate/Enterprise, 32-bit/64-bit
  Note: Windows 11 is not offically supported but we have recieved multiple reports of sucessful implementations.
  
  
• Windows Media player: WMP12 preferred. Run WMP setup wizard. For video types MOV, MP4, AVI, MPEG, MPG, WMV.
  
  
• Windows Sysinternals Autologon:
  • Go to https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/autologon
  • Extract to C:\Autologon

1. Set up the Local User (e.g., FWiUser, FWiPlayer).
2. Set Password.
3. Set Computer name.
4. Set WorkGroup.
5. Disable screen saver.

Power Options

1. Preferred Plan = High Performance
2. Turn Off Display = Never
3. Put Computer to Sleep = never

Power Options - advanced Power Settings

Configure all settings to Disabled/Off/Never:

1. High Performance: Require a password on wakeup
2. Hard Disk: Turn Hard Disk off After
3. Sleep: Sleep After
4. Sleep: Allow Hybrid Sleep
5. Sleep: Hibernate After
6. Sleep: Allow wake timers
7. USB Settings: USB selective suspend setting
8. Display: Turn off display after

Task Bar

Right click on the Task Bar and select Properties. Select Task Bar Auto Hide. 

Display Settings

Ensure that no scaling is enabled. (Scaling = 100%).

Notifications

Under Settings > Notifications & actions > disable 'get notifications from apps and other senders'.

Network Sharing Settings

• Public Folder sharing = Off
• Password Protected Sharing = On

Schedule Daily Reboot

Schedule Daily Reboot Task for 2:30 AM (or preferred time).

• C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe; Arguments: -r, -f, -t 10
• Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Task Scheduler

Remote Desktop connections

Right-click Computer > Properties > Remote Settings > Allow

Enable Page File and set to system managed size

Start > Control Panel > System > Advanced System Settings > Performance > Settings > Advanced > Virtual memory

Uninstall Unnecessary Components

• Windows Live Essentials–uninstall completely
• Internet Explorer Toolbars (Google, Yahoo, Bing)
• All OEM Bloatware (Manufacturer installed applications)

Install and configure Content Player.

Set up Auto Logon

1. Click Start, type netplwiz and click Enter.
2. In the User Accounts dialog box, click the account you want to automatically log on to. If it is available, clear the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer checkbox.
3. Click OK.
4. In the Automatically Log On dialog box, enter the user's password twice and click OK.

Automatically start Content player 

1. Press Win-r.
2. In the Open: field, enter the following:
   shell:startup
3. Press Enter.

Prepare the device for emergency notifications.