Help Center

1. 

   Anonymous
   Unregistered

   I'm running a Cyber Cafe with four systems. All the systems are installed with Windows XP Professional SP2. I want to control the hard disks in all the systems at the same time These drives should not be accessible by local users.

   Details:-
   -----------
   I'm using one system as Server (Specifications : Intel Pentium Dual Core processor, Mercury Mother board, 160GB seagate harddisk, 1GB RAM). I'm using Freeproxy to share the internet connection. (BSNL India Broadband)

   All other systems have AMD Sempron Processor, 512MB RAM, 80GB Hard Disk( Except System 2 which have 160GB Hard Disk).

   I've stored lot of data in all the systems and shared those drives to access from server. But I don't want my customers to access those data. Many times my customers use pendrives and may copy my data or they may upload to remote servers. I want to restrict them from accessing local drives, installing any kind of application or software and change any settings. At the same time I want to access those drives from my system2, system3, and system 4 from server.

   I've also shared some folders from server to access from other systems with guest account password(Shared folders are protected by guest account password).

   Till now I'm using folder lock software to block the drives. This will also restrict me accessing these drives from my server. Due to cost factors I cannot buy more harddisks. I want to utilize the resources already available.

   Is there any solution for this problem? Please help me to solve this issue. Thanks in advance.

   Posted 3 years ago #
2. 

   Anonymous
   Unregistered

   One: Create different user profiles on your client PCs - make them run as "limited users". Instead of FolderLock use Windows' built-in Security settings [Right-click each folder and choose SECURITY & Sharing] to restrict access only to one particular folder - say each user's "My Documents" folder which is where they can save all their stuff (temporarily).

   One more option is to install free software like Returnil which will restore your PC's state each time it's restarted. Changes made during an active session are NOT stored. Protection can be turned on and off with a reboot as per the Admin's wishes.

   From the BIOS, you can disable the USB ports on your client PCs or simply unplug them from inside the case. That's safest. Of course, I'm assuming that you'll come to know when someone tries to fiddle with the USB ports at the back of the cabinet...Naturally, this won't hold true if your client PCs have some USB peripherals attached.

   Here's how you can disable USB based removable storage devices by editing the Registry.

   One last tip - learn to make use of the Group Policy Editor. It's powerful and can do damage if mishandled just like tampering with the Registry so handle with care!

   START > RUN > gpedit.msc

   Posted 3 years ago #
3. 

   Anonymous
   Unregistered

   Hi Sparx,
   Thank you very much for the response. I've created user profile for customers (Limited Users). I cannot block access to external devices and CDs as many people want to take their work in Pen Drive. My only concern is that they should not copy our content which is stored in D, E Drives. Only I can access them through Network. (As the systems may be occupied by the customers I can't disturb them if I want something stored on the other system).

   I'm sure their must be some solution in the windows itself but I'm not sure about it. Any IT pros and system guys please help me.

   Posted 3 years ago #
4. 

   Anonymous
   Unregistered

   You can create a common folder/folders wherein each PC's users can store/access their files on the main server. If you so desire you can then map those shared network folders to a drive letter on each client PC, thereby eliminating the need for strangers shoving external media in your client PCs.

   As for restricting access, it's all a question of setting permissions correctly for those profiles and thereby limiting access to non-C drives.

   Posted 3 years ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.