System info help

[Teamaker]

We are running Office 97 at present we have recently noticed that if the students go to Word help, about Microsoft word then System info they can see the system info, they can also send each other messages through Test Direct Play in the network tab in the DX diagnostics tool.

Does anyone know how we could prevent this?

 

[Jontmke]

I can't remember the System info program name, but the DX program is DXdiag.exe. Rename it, or delete it.

JON

 

[Teamaker]

Thanks for the reply.

I had realised it was this file are there any drawbacks to deleting this file?

 

[drcard]

HI Teamaker,

There is only one basic way to control what programs you allow a user to use on a Win98 system...through the registry. If your not used to working in the registry, then this could be a little scary do do manually. There are numerous programs that will do this registry editing for you. The cheapest you already have on the Win98 CD....System Policy Editor. This takes a while to learn, but in the long run is the only way to control what the students have access to easily. If you desire to do it manually, let me know and I'll tell you it step by step.

HTH, Dana)

 

[Teamaker]

Thanks for the reply Drcard we do actually use system policy and i have disabled registry editing and dos promp but i couldn't find any settings that looked like i could stop students accessing the Dxdiag program to send each other messages.

 

[Jontmke]

This program (dxdiag) is what you think. It diagnoses Direct X systems to see what version you have installed and then test them for troubleshooting. I don't see any problem with removing this file. You only use this (usually) to find out why your games will not work. And, if you want to use this, put it on a floppy or somewhere that the admins can get to it and then run it.

JON

 

[drcard]

Hi Teamaker,

Disable access to msinfo32.exe (system information utility). This will block easy access to the DX tool as well as other tools accessible through this System Information Utility. If the DX is removed and the DirectX version is upgraded (via a new program installed) it could crash your entire system. With DirectX 8.1 and up this will mean a reformat and reinstall on that system.

HTH, Dana)

 

[Jontmke]

These are school PC's. Ther should be no reason to upgrade Direct X. And if so, like most companies\schools I would think they are using an Image program like Ghost and would redump the entire drive anyway.

JON

 

[Teamaker]

Drcard we have 250 stations what is an easy way to disable access to msinfo32.exe without visiting every machine?
Can you just modify the registry to stop it running?

 

[Jontmke]

Put a line in the Login script, or run a btach from the Login script. Such as:
If exists c:\winnt\system32\msinfo32.exe rename msinfo32.exe msinfo32.old

(Or the correct path in Win98)