MunkySpanner Posted February 15, 2012 Posted February 15, 2012 Every now and again we get asked to help out with what i would call "the fun little jobs that make everything worthwhile" One of the admin staff (here-on known as S) asked if we could help her get her own back on a couple of the other admin staff (here-on known as E & A). Whenever S leaves her desk, E & A have been pressing the Calculator shortcut key on S's keyboard many times opening multiple instances of Calculator. Since S likes her shiny new multimedia keyboard, swapping isn't an option and besides, us techies can be far more inventive than that. This also gives us the opportunity to flex our coding skills. The final solution has been to replace the original calc.exe with a new calc.exe of our own devising (the original has been renamed to calculator.exe just in case S actually needs it in future) Now when the Calculator key is pressed it opens a message box stating "Format C: Drive. All data will be deleted! Are you sure you wish to Format the C: Drive?", with Yes and No buttons. Whichever button is pressed a new message box opens and displays a green progress bar that looks like it’s deleting the files. They can’t close or stop this and it takes about a minute to fill the bar giving them plenty of time to panic. And for the piece de resistance, when the progress gets to 100%, a scary picture pops up and plays a scary laugh, which just comes back on if they close it. I don't think i've ever been so excited for the new term to start!
broc Posted February 15, 2012 Posted February 15, 2012 you could always issue a couple of shutdown /F commands for E & A' PCs too......
Greenbeast Posted February 15, 2012 Posted February 15, 2012 Nice trick, i can understand the excitement!
JJonas Posted February 15, 2012 Posted February 15, 2012 ooh do share I can see it appearing on the students desktop on April 1st. renamed minecraft.exe maybe leave out the scary picture bit.
MunkySpanner Posted February 15, 2012 Author Posted February 15, 2012 For thos who wish to have a bit of fun. The pdf explains how to close the program if you can't do so via task manager. Alternative Calc 1
MunkySpanner Posted February 15, 2012 Author Posted February 15, 2012 broc - had thought about it but might get into a spot of bother if something critical gets closed without saving. I know it'd serve them right but i'd rather they saw the funny side and we can all have a good laugh about it rad - another good option for the future. No optical drives installed at present though
FragglePete Posted February 15, 2012 Posted February 15, 2012 You have way too much time on your hands! Pete
SteveBentley Posted February 15, 2012 Posted February 15, 2012 Maybe S needs to learn what Windows+L is for?
arwen Posted February 15, 2012 Posted February 15, 2012 You could just create a script to do what every daft thing you want (I like the idea of displaying a 'scary' message on E & A's pcs) and reassign the calculator button to run the script.
GREED Posted February 15, 2012 Posted February 15, 2012 Not appropriate for sensible adults, but back in the day of win98 pcs when I was a lad, me and a friend wrote a script to call up about 50 porn sites whenever teacher opened Excel. He was a good friend because he got suspended for a week and never grassed.
aironwilson Posted February 16, 2012 Posted February 16, 2012 Renaming the Windows button via Registry!?
Ric_ Posted February 16, 2012 Posted February 16, 2012 Surely causing calc to open on their PCs instead would be equally funny... the more they press, the more they annoy themselves
mac_shinobi Posted February 16, 2012 Posted February 16, 2012 The BSOD screen saver installed on said machine ( not set as default ) and when they press the calc key it executes the screen saver ?
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