tazz Posted November 11, 2009 Posted November 11, 2009 We had a few incedents like this, the darlings were pushing (punching) the blaking plate into the machine fishing it out and going for the RAM. We put a bit of wood In-between the the blanking plate and the frame, after a couple of attempts they didn't do it again! We did this with our Dells. Currently we use no-nails on our RM boxes (which I think was an Edugeek suggestion)
TheydonBois Posted November 23, 2009 Author Posted November 23, 2009 (edited) We had a few incedents like this, the darlings were pushing (punching) the blaking plate into the machine fishing it out and going for the RAM. We put a bit of wood In-between the the blanking plate and the frame, after a couple of attempts they didn't do it again! Just to let you all know, I took this idea and with the help from our excellent Technology techs got a piece of 5mm thick perspex cut to the following size with a laser cutter: 128mm x 22mm. This fits ito the slot where the screws of the floppy go. I have some pics and will add them later if interested, along with the exact specs of the perspex. I am also getting some double height ones cut for those machines where they have trashed the DVDROm and will let you know the final size on those as well. Edit: Sorry - 128mm, not 18mm! Edited November 23, 2009 by TheydonBois
dalsoth Posted November 23, 2009 Posted November 23, 2009 The DT department made wooden covers for our machines in the past but sadly even they were smashed through. You could just employ a tactic that others have mentioned to charge the department that were in there prior to the incident being reported. So if a teacher enters a room and finds a mouse missing or broken then they report it to you and the department before them is charged. If they do not bother to report it, they might get charged if the person after them reports it to you. Somewhere along the line someone will pay. Saves you trying to become the detective. You can highlight their lack of reporting when they complain it was not them. If the teacher reports it during their own lesson as happening then even better the student can be charged. Would pass that to the head of year or someone similar to chase up payment though rather than yourself. Best to make sure your boss is happy with the above policy before you start and publicize the rules a while before going into effect.
ChrisH Posted November 23, 2009 Posted November 23, 2009 Get a rape alarm and put it inside one of the machines. Stick the cord to the back of the blanking plate in such a way, that if it is pushed in it goes off. Leave a little slack so It doesn't go off if prodded. You may want to muffle the alarm slightly.
ricki Posted November 23, 2009 Posted November 23, 2009 HI I would glue the switch on the powerpack and either get some reinforced blanking plates that have the metal back. I think I got the last load I had from Western Business Systems at Blackpool tel 01253 298222 but they were not cheap. The other way is to get some thin metal and bend it into a [ shape with some screw hole in and fix them inside the plastic panels with screws. Good luck with this one. Richard
TheydonBois Posted November 23, 2009 Author Posted November 23, 2009 Just to clarify, the solution I mentioned a few posts back is what we are currently rolling out. I did one classroom on Friday evening, with the rest to follow shortly. With the perspex coming it at around £15 a sheet and approx 150 units being able to be cut from it, the material cost is very low compared to buying floppy drives or card readers. Basically manhours are the only expense and as some 400 PCs are effected, this is something that cannot be done quickly. I will add pics and confirm the material details as well as update this thread in a few weeks to confirm whether its worked or not.....
TheydonBois Posted November 27, 2009 Author Posted November 27, 2009 Looking good. No further 'attacks' in the completed areas and a teacher even caught a student with his hands in the till so to speak and is on a 5 day suspension, and hopefully an explusion as he is apparently a troublesome student anyway. Which I think is probably code for theiving toerag, but cannot confirm for sure. Details on Materials Used: 5mm thick Acrylic (we are using black so it appears as part of the PC), cut to 22mm high and 128mm long using Techsofts 2d Design software cut by a 55w LaserCamm by our excellent DT Technician. This is dropped into the slot where the floppy drive screws would fix with the DVD drawer put back into place above. The plate cannot more to either side nor be pushed upwards as it is held in place by the DVD above.
gshaw Posted November 27, 2009 Posted November 27, 2009 Get one of those 360 degree cameras I've seen Net-Ctrl demoing then use the evidence to claim back from the parents...
tommej Posted November 27, 2009 Posted November 27, 2009 Had a similar problem a couple of years ago. Billing the relevant Department for any missing RAM or vandalism charges soon stopped 99% of the vandalism. The Depts had to pay up and everyone suddenly became extrememly vigilant. The Dept Heads would also take time to check up on the ICT suites that had supply teachers in. If it's not practical to bill the departments for the total cost, making them pay something might focus them We did this and it works suprisingly quickly.
TheydonBois Posted November 27, 2009 Author Posted November 27, 2009 Get one of those 360 degree cameras I've seen Net-Ctrl demoing then use the evidence to claim back from the parents... And who is going to monitor this day in and day out? Yes we have had a cost approaching £1000 in lost RAM which we are not replacing, we are lucky enough to have 4Gb in each machine and during the installation of these plates, are reducing all the PCs to 3Gb that had more giving us spare RAM to use in places that lost theres. Our costs have been £500 RAM purchases, £60ish acrylic materials, a few hours O/T in DT Tech time, and my O/T to install, but this will resolve the issue. Sitting on a webcam all day long requires extra manpower, and plus how are you supposed to be extra vigalent to 11 rooms that probably require 2 to 3 cameras each? We did this and it works suprisingly quickly. But it does not actually resolve the issue, plus as they are not stealing all the ram, in most cases the PC still boots up. How can you prove a departments lesson had x amount of RAM stolen without knowing EXACTLY how many where in there at the beginning of every lesson? This would require opening the cases as Windows would only report RAM it has installed correctly, while some sticks may be present just lifted slightly where the student was disturbed, meaning departments are charged incorrectly...
penfold Posted November 27, 2009 Posted November 27, 2009 But it does not actually resolve the issue, plus as they are not stealing all the ram, in most cases the PC still boots up. How can you prove a departments lesson had x amount of RAM stolen without knowing EXACTLY how many where in there at the beginning of every lesson? This would require opening the cases as Windows would only report RAM it has installed correctly, while some sticks may be present just lifted slightly where the student was disturbed, meaning departments are charged incorrectly... I think the point was that your problem is not a technical problem but a behaviour problem. As such charging departments would mean that they would *probably* be more vigilant in the monitoring of students.
TheydonBois Posted November 27, 2009 Author Posted November 27, 2009 This is true and it would have been a course we may have considered - I think that for us though, this would have been a logistical nightmare and not one that could be implemented. Dont get me wrong and I very happy with all the responses given, and it helped us to come to what I hope is a complete solution, but with a class size of 27-29 kids and non IT teachers using IT rooms for their subject meant it would be very hard to implement with 100% guarentee that the appropriate department was being billed.
gshaw Posted November 27, 2009 Posted November 27, 2009 And who is going to monitor this day in and day out? Yes we have had a cost approaching £1000 in lost RAM which we are not replacing, we are lucky enough to have 4Gb in each machine and during the installation of these plates, are reducing all the PCs to 3Gb that had more giving us spare RAM to use in places that lost theres. Our costs have been £500 RAM purchases, £60ish acrylic materials, a few hours O/T in DT Tech time, and my O/T to install, but this will resolve the issue. Sitting on a webcam all day long requires extra manpower, and plus how are you supposed to be extra vigalent to 11 rooms that probably require 2 to 3 cameras each? I guess best you could do would be to check the suites at the end of the day for any visible damage (I know this doesn't cover the RAM issue) then review the camera if you find anything wrong. Seems a shame that the culprits will still be at large after this and effectively getting away with it
mikes Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 Why wouldn't using resin glue on the backing plates work? I've glued in the plastic 5 1/4" plates using resin glue on all of the older RM stations, and those plates aren't going anywhere. Me and a stout sixth-former went to town on one to test it out - couldn't even bash it through with a screwdriver. Must be some strong kids at your School...
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