Hiding the C Drive

[GRitchie]

So I put a GPO out this holidays to prevent staff seeing C: as they don't really have a need for it.

Most staff have got a shortcut, to anything they need from C:, on their desktop so I'm fine with that much.

 

One teacher in particular isn't happy with a shortcut and is demanding access via Computer to see the drive.

 

The headteacher is trying to keep a happy-medium but I feel will ask me to configure it so she can have it as was, which would mean I have to waste time configuring item level targetting to exclude her etc etc etc

 

 

How do I pose my argument that she doesn't need access that way, nor are shortcuts 'unreliable' nor are we preventing her from doing her job.

 

 

I've found this member of staff in particular to be causing me 1 too many problems so far here. Getting beyond a joke now...

 

Thanks guys!

[tmoon-mint]

I would pose the question the other way around. What reason can this particular member of staff give for needing access to C?

[synaesthesia]

I'd put your foot down and say it's not feasible to do that for one member of staff, and cite the reasons for doing in the first place. Security, data protection, saving the school time & money in repairs etc.

[GRitchie]

The reason she needs it is because there used to be a robocopy system for files here. I've since scrapped that, but given the option for staff to have a local folder (that isn't backed up).

That folder is (eg) C:\SCHOOL-WORK and then a shortcut to that is placed on their desktop.

 

How far can I say no though? If the head comes back now and says set it up how she wants, am I in a position where I can argue with that??

 

 

EDIT: I'm finding more and more she feels she is in the position to dictate settings and policies when IMO she's not. But fortunately for her, the HT has been on her side for most of our battles... Which is great

Edited April 13, 2016 by GRitchie

[mavhc]

Just tell the head how much money it will cost, hours of support*cost per hour. If they want to spend that money that's their choice. £200 vs telling the teacher to learn something very very slightly new.

 

What's the advantage of having that folder vs a local desktop folder?

[GRitchie]

Will do - but then he might just say 'well revert it for everyone then' and then I'm in a worse position...

 

Well the thing is, the folder we've given her is a local C: folder anyway. As a matter of fact, the shortcut she has actually goes directly to C:

But apparently shortcuts are unreliable and unstable - opinions on this comment?

[stickman]

But apparently shortcuts are unreliable and unstable - opinions on this comment?

 

Well it's untrue, nothing more to say. It sounds like she's throwing her toys out of the pram to get her own way. As above, explain the amount of work involved and insist that things stay as they are. If the Head falls on her side again, stick to your guns and repeat why you think it's a bad idea, if the Head persists then there isn't much you can do but comply begrudgingly, put your reasons in writing in case there's ever any come back.

[bald_pig]

So you've just removed it from "computer" and added a desktop shortcut to C:? That sounds a bit silly to me, why wouldn't you just leave it as-is?

[mavhc]

Shortcuts are very unstable, if you delete the C drive the shortcut won't work!!!!!!

[Chuckster]

A shortcut is there to remove the need to take several steps to get to your end destination. You can argue the fact that by creating a shortcut you will have increased the said teacher's productivity by 4 fold (Start - My Comp - C: - School Work).

 

Thankfully, in my current job the network was in a complete abysmal state. The HT told me to get it working and has backed every one of my decisions, even if it means he is locked down like the rest of 'em.

[GRitchie]

@bald_pig Yes, as the staff have no need for access to the C drive (realistically).

Because she was complaining about not being able to access it, I've given only HER a full shortcut to C. IMO she shouldn't even have that much - just directly to the folder of which she needs to access...

[sted]

add a batch file to her logon and nobody elses something like

 

subst h: c:\

 

gives her a drive h that is drive c granted she shouldn't need c access but sometimes the arguments aren't worth the hassle

 

you could also use that script to attrib+h every other folder on the c drive

[GRitchie]

@sted that would do what she's asking, but that's not what I want to do. But if I'm forced, that may be the easiest way yeah...

[sted]

could you give her a personal say h drive just for that you could probably change its icon so it looks local but is really \\server\akwardperson$ or similar

[adamholt1]

I wish I could agree with you but seen as you have a Leeds UTD badge I'm afraid I can't.

[synaesthesia]

If you really have to, get her to sign a document something along the lines of "I take full responsibility for my actions with this laptop despite the wishes of the and will endeavour to reimburse the ICT department budget for any issues causes." I hate people like that, we're working together, not against eachother. You're there to help them and do what's best for them, employed specifically to know what you're doing and they are not. You therefore are the expert in the matter and they should be coming to you for advise, not dictating it.

[GRitchie]

Yes. That's exactly how I feel about it. But then it's turned to be so that I'm making their lives difficult and that I'm against them, when that's not the case. I'm merely doing my job to the best of my ability; taking experience from the other 2 schools I've worked in as a technician, using policies they had in place and using Edugeek as my home for ideas!

 

But because I'm significantly younger than the staffing body here, I sometimes feel they also don't like the thought that a young whippersnapper is coming in and making changes. SIGH.

[TechMonkey]

Essh! Your are kinder than me. I would have migrated them all away from anything on the C drive with no option. Our lot moan enough when they lose a couple of bookmarks as Chrome stores them locally!

[synaesthesia]

I tell you what, I expected one hell of a backlash when we moved from CC3 with roaming profiles to mandatory profiles, no saving to desktop etc. Surprisingly little! Tell new staff that we don't give them laptops however... blimey!

[GRitchie]

@TechMonkey it's only becasue of the headteachers request that they have a local folder (that they no is not backed up). Domestic broadband in this area is fairly poor, so most people can't cope on the VPN. But it's the solution I've put in place...!

 

@synaesthesia You don't have laptops? What a world!!

[mavhc]

We have a local folder for each staff member, their desktop

[synaesthesia]

It's bliss. Desktop computers are reliable, generally don't get the cables messed around with, projector cables stay working longer. Staff have computers at home and have access to office 365 and decent remote access to SIMS & file services via home access plus and remote SIMS via Edulink. Not much of a reason for them to carry laptops really

[tmoon-mint]

Could you not just use offline files then if thats the only reason they need access to C?

[GRitchie]

Oh no, there isn't when you look at it like that. But you're obviously very lucky to be in that position!

 

"Staff have computers at home" provided by school, or you just assume they should in the 21st century?

But not bad, not bad. I wish I had the ability to do my job and set policies, but here it seems the staff get what they want...

[GRitchie]

Looked into offline files, trialed with one member of staff and there were a few sync problems so I didn't like it too much. Plus, someone said online that they had issues when they were on a VPN as it didn't want to use the live version and had problems that way.