Student PC Setups

[gloriousglenn]

Hi everybody!

 

How do you all set up your PC's so that the students cannot 'break them'?

 

I am after a simple way of being able to set them up so that they can't change the desktop picture, access the control panel, change settings etc etc.

 

I don't mind if it is done through a MMC or 3rd party software....just nice and simple please!!!

 

I only need to do one as I will then create an image onto an external HD and copy it across to the other PC's.

 

Any help/idiots guides would be appreciated.

 

Cheers

Glenn

[elsiegee40]

A good starting point is to use mandatory profiles for the kids - anything that does get changed is wiped out the next time they logon... see this thread: http://www.edugeek.net/forums/windows/18661-creating-small-mandatory-profile.html#post185577

 

Redirect home directories, so that they are not part of the profile.

 

You should be able to bolt everything down using permissions and group policy. There are several threads on this

[powdarrmonkey]

If you have an Active Directory domain, use group policy to lock down every setting you can find. Everything you've mentioned can be done in there.

[Quackers]

We use Windows Disk Protection to freeze the state of the hard disks, so they can delete change what the hell they want, reboot and all is back to normal, coupled with group policy settings restrictions to lock down the desktop, and using mandatory profiles.

[gloriousglenn]

So would Windows SteadyState do the trick then? I think that has Disk Protection.

 

Does Windows SteadyState work on a network or just standalone? I download the SteadyState Handbook earlier but it's 90 pages long...only on page 13 so far!!!

 

Cheers

Glenn

[Quackers]

So would Windows SteadyState do the trick then? I think that has Disk Protection.

 

Does Windows SteadyState work on a network or just standalone? I download the SteadyState Handbook earlier but it's 90 pages long...only on page 13 so far!!!

 

Cheers

Glenn

 

 

Yeah, its steadystate we use, but only the disk protection part.

 

If you download the 2.5 Beta, then go to the Microsoft support forum for it, there is code there to make things scriptable.

[gloriousglenn]

Nice one, cheers.

 

I'll keep reading then!!

[tech-man]

Faronics Deep Freeze - much better than the MS one............

[gloriousglenn]

But SteadyState is free and Faronics Deep Freeze would cost me nearly £1500.

 

I have difficulty in persuading the budget office to give me money for a KVM switch let alone £1500 for something I can get fror free!!!

[gloriousglenn]

If you have an Active Directory domain, use group policy to lock down every setting you can find. Everything you've mentioned can be done in there.

 

I had enough time yesterday to have a go farting around with Group Policy Objects and on the first attempt I managed to do the majority of what I wanted. I'll be continuing my testing on Tuesday. Thanks ;-)

[muppet]

Hi Glenn,

Keep us informed of how you get on.....quite frightening that they're letting a 'Muppet' run the network!!! (I'm not being rude..just an in-house ex RAF joke).

 

I'm an ex-Muppet based just up the road from you in Faringdon and working just down the road in Eynsham.

 

This place is great for help and support, plus everyone is friendly and understand that there is a varying degree of experience on the forum.

 

Regards,

Muppet

[gloriousglenn]

Hey Muppet,

 

You're right, it is scarey that they've let this muppet loose on the network. I pretend to know what I'm doing and wing it quite well!!

 

And you're spot on with this place...Loads of help, friendly and quick to respond too.

 

Not long left in the mob now, so the more IT courses they're going to throw at me the better!!

[farmerste]

clean slate from fortres.com is a good solution to stopping kids messing things up, its much cheaper, and works well with antivirus updates.

support can be a problem , as their FAQ never seem to get updated.

 

have you looked at 'reborn' cards i'm testing them soon?

Edited May 6, 2008 by farmerste

[gloriousglenn]

have you looked at 'reborn' cards i'm testing them soon?

I haven't heard of them to be honest! I'll check them out though. Cheers.

[farmerste]

i have bought an earlier cheaper version of the reborn card from ebay recently, it was only 50p plus postage

if you are looking for a quick trial

[selu]

Hi everybody!

 

How do you all set up your PC's so that the students cannot 'break them'?

 

I am after a simple way of being able to set them up so that they can't change the desktop picture, access the control panel, change settings etc etc.

 

I don't mind if it is done through a MMC or 3rd party software....just nice and simple please!!!

 

I only need to do one as I will then create an image onto an external HD and copy it across to the other PC's.

 

Any help/idiots guides would be appreciated.

 

Cheers

Glenn

Here is one usefull piece of software to do what you need to do.

 

http://www.selu.co.uk/timegate.rar

 

This free trial is a software version of the reset card with similar functions. Very simple to use and cheap to buy I look forward to your comments following your free evaluation.

 

Please install on a clean pc no reset card hardware required.

 

License costs will be approx £5 for singles will haggle for 10 license keys or more.

[gloriousglenn]

I think I've pretty much sussed it with GPO and SteadyState. A couple of teething problems but with trial and error I'll get there.

 

Many thanks for everybody who has replied....As always it's very much appreciated.