Software to lock CD/DVD eject door for specific user 3

[DayLaborer]

I spent a bunch of time Googling this but couldn't find the answer...

I am looking for software that will disable the eject button for the CD/DVD drive door for specific Windows' users (e.g. my kids ) on my PC. I found a number of programs that lock the door for all users altogher. Is there anything out there that will lock the door on a per-user basis?

Thanks,
Eliezer

 

[kjv1611]

Maybe you can look at "Steady State"? I've not tested it yet, but you can at least keep a system in it's current state. It has options, I believe, it'd be worth a look - it's free from Microsoft... last I checked... still haven't used it yet myself, though I intend to.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[DayLaborer]

Kjv, that's very cool - but it doesn't mention any support for Windows 7. Also, I couldn't find any mention about locking a drive door.

Thanks,
Eliezer

 

[madonnac]

This may be the type of program you are looking for:

http://www.lock-dvd-drive.com/free-cd-dvd-guard.php

 

[linney]

Is any software going to be able to prevent the button being pushed to open the drawer, or the trick with the end of a paper clip and the emergency release button? What about the use of external CD/DVD drives too?


can i disable the cd rom eject buttom after windows boots?
thread779-1283367

This seems to be a per user setting if you just want to block access to drives for a particular user. It involves editing the Registry.

Prevent Access to the Contents of Selected Drives

http://www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/1157/

 

[kjv1611]

Yeah, linnney makes a good point - you won't be able to totally disallow access on the hardware side. So just keep that in mind. There are ways to disable the use/access of any drive, but the hardware itself will always be accessible.

The ONLY option I can think of, if you're really serious about blocking the opening/closing of the CD/DVD drive is by getting a case that has a locking front panel over the optical drive bays. I've got at least 2 cases, myself that 2 this - though one of the doors is broken, so wouldn't help in that case. ;0)

Here's a current example, not the cheapest, but it is a nice case... well, the Sonata 1 was, so I'm sure this one is as well:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024

I own an older Chieftec Dragon full-tower case, still a nice case, that is the one with the broken door..

Also, I own an Antec P180b case, which also has the locking case - you can still find these about on eBay and some other PC sites.. And there are newer versions of basically the same thing that are better as far as cable management, at least:

Couple p180 variations:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...PA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=p180&x=0&y=0

p182:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129025&Tpk=p182

Those are just examples. I still really like my p180b. It's super quiet, keeps everything cool, has pretty good component setups, other than running the wires from the PSU... but all that's another story, of course.



--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[linney]

How old are the "kids", how tall are they? Less drastic than chopping off their fingers or legs might be placing the tower out of reach for a couple of years?

If you don't give them the eject button to play with they might take a liking to the actual power points which might get serious.

 

[kjv1611]

Yeah, that can be true.

I will say that you may have to worry about it, but you may not. This is more parenting than technical, but just to share some of my experience.

With all I do at home, I've got easily 3 to 5 desktops and 1 to 2... to 3 or 4 laptops plugged up at any given time. My son is now 3 years old. In the 3 years to date it's been rare for him to push any buttons when it mattered.

I THINK that the only reasons for this is:
1. Trying to train him - sometimes it seems nothing will work, and others, he picks right up..
2. Taking away the curiosity. In my case, I've got tons of PCs that it doesn't matter WHAT he pushes, button-wise. So I've actually let him play with some of the computer stuff - under my supervision, since he wanted to... and so when it comes to the "real" computers, he doesn't have that curiosity any longer.

I've not put any of my machines out of the way, or locked them away or anything. There's been no shocks, no cuts, etc.. Not saying that it absolutely couldn't have happened, but so far, we've had 0 problems.

Now, before he could walk, he about deleted some pictures off my parent's pc when his uncle was holding him, letting me see the computer... just took him a split second to hit just the right keys, and ALMOST got it gone! [LOL]

Well, every child is different. My son is hard-headed at times, but in general, he minds well for only a 3 year old. Actually, he's usually minded well for pretty much the whole time.. Makes a dad proud, I guess.

As another example, I know another dad who works (for now) out of his home, pretty big database type job... works for an employer, but from home. Anyway, they have now 4 children - from 1 1/2 maybe to maybe 10 or 11. To my knowledge, he's had no major issues, and I know his kids like to climb over everything they can.

Well, hopefully if nothing else, this'll offer you a little piece of mind.

'Course, if you're talking teenagers, you've got a whole different ball game ahead of you... one which I don't have to mess with - yet.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[DayLaborer]

Wow, great responses!

I am not concerned about the paper clip - they won't go that far.
I'm certainly not looking to physically encase/lock up my tower.
I'm not so concerned if they can eject a CD while no one's logged in.

My main goal is to disable the (hardware) eject button while they are logged in. It's mainly my 6-year old and 8 year old that get curious and experimentitive. They will try (many times?) to insert their (dirty) CD's and I'd rather have the drive stay closed for them...

 

[DayLaborer]

Kjv, check this out:

http://lifehacker.com/5176876/windows-7-guest-mode-creates-bomb+proof-accounts

Eliezer

 

[kjv1611]

Seems I did glance at something about that before with Windows 7. That's a great reference though, thanks for sharing. I know I have been intending many times to use SteadyState - or the Win7 Equivalent for our home PCs where our 3 year old is involved for sure. Oh, he's managed all sorts of interesting things to do with icons on desktops and such. LOL

I realize this is off-topic, but here's another thing that is worth looking at from a parental perspective: web filtering.

I've installed this one before for a couple of other parents, but haven't used yet myself:
K9 Web Protection

It works VERY well on locking everything down. The bad part, of course, is that it works per PC, not per user account or anything like that. So, if the parents and child are using the same system, they get the same filters, unless the parent uses the admin password. It can be annoying at times in how GOOD it works, actually. It isn't a cut and dry approach, which parenting isn't a cut and dry approach, anyway. ;0)

And of course, there's always the setting up of an OpenDNS account, and/or using their DNS addresses in your home router.

Here's another idea, which may have been at least partially within the links Linney suggested:

1. Hide the CD/DVD drive(s) from Explorer view - using a 3rd party app, or find the settings within computer manageemnt. I know TweakVI worked well for Vista for this, so I imagine (not tried yet) Tweak7 would work for Windows 7.

2. Next, disable autorun for the optical drive(s), so when they put a disk in, it does nothing.

The only possible issue there, I think, is that one or more of those options may work per system, not per account.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[DayLaborer]

Yep, we're doing the web filtering thing, too.

I've used "1st Security Agent" for those items at the end of your post. It's really thorough - per user - but $69. :-(

Thanks!!!
Eliezer

 

[linney]

I don't think that Guest Mode is still available in Windows 7, I think it was dumped before the final release due to too many bugs?

Windows 7 Feature Focus
Guest Mode

"Note: This feature has been removed from Windows 7 and will not appear in the final product".

http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/ff_pcsafeguard.asp

It's (semi) official: Guest Mode has been removed from Windows 7

http://community.winsupersite.com/b...est-mode-has-been-removed-from-windows-7.aspx

Where's Guest Mode

http://www.windows7news.com/forum/general-windows-7-help/where's-guest-mode/

SteadyState is not compatible with Windows 7 either.

Perhaps in the future something similar to the two programs will become available?

 

[kjv1611]

Thanks for the bad news, Linney. I suppose that's why I didn't see anything of late about it.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me