>> Is there anyway to disable access to the maximize/minimize/close/system
>> buttons & remove the menu bar (possible programmatically through another
>> application).


The code will address the above problem. If its not visible (you can't click it) and you have no keyboard (no accelerators) then hiding the gadgets (by resizing the window and repositioning) should do the trick. This is a little like using kiosk mode in Internet Explorer.