[OPLINTECH] Solution for some flash memory drives not working on public computers?

[JKENZIG]

Here is another tip I wrote a bit ago about the Sandisk for reference
http://kenzig.blogspot.com/2007/01/tip-why-your-usb-key-may-not-work-on.html
 


Jim Kenzig
Network Manager
Cuyahoga County Public Library

-----Original Message-----
From: oplintech-bounces at oplin.org [mailto:oplintech-bounces at oplin.org] On Behalf Of Phil Shirley
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 10:03 AM
To: oplintech at oplin.org
Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] Solution for some flash memory drives not working on public computers?

Here's a summary of the answers I got:

U3 smart drives (most SanDisk Cruzer flash drives) want to install and/or run their own software – tell patrons to delete the software or hold down the shift key while inserting their smart drive, temporarily disabling the specialized software and allowing the drive to be used as a normal drive [I'm going to pass along both of these suggestions to my patrons and staff.]

Install Windows Activesync, which adds drivers for USB devices, and then uninstall it. [I'm going to do this.]

There was some problem related to Roxio wanting to use drive letter D: - so made sure drive letter D: was available and that fixed it.

Allow any program to run and use Deep Freeze or something similar, with various means of rebooting  [I'm told Microsoft Steady State is another option for rebooting between users]

Could not get the Safe Removal icon to work consistently - made sure the USB device was optimized for quick removal vs. performance so patrons could disconnect the device safely without using the Safe Removal icon in the taskbar. [Our safe removal icon works, but still I'm interested in doing this just to protect people who don't use it.  However, the option is unchecked and grayed out on at least some of our public computers (Win2k), even when I'm logged on as the local admin.]

Phil

Phil Shirley wrote:
> With the security we have on our public computers, there are some 
> flash memory drives that won't work.  Some of these want to run their 
> own software, which doesn't work because we only allow the running of 
> certain software that's installed on the computer (Word, etc.), and 
> I've heard that even if we allowed the running of the applications on 
> some of the popular flash drives by adding them to our "run only" 
> entry, some of these programs would still have a problem because they 
> want more access to the registry than we should give them.
> 
> Has anyone encountered and solved a similar problem with giving access 
> to flash memory drives on public computers, or does anyone have any 
> suggestions - perhaps at least a list of program names for these 
> drives to add to my "run only" list?
> 
> Phil

-- 

Phil Shirley
Technology Services Coordinator
Cuyahoga Falls Library
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
330-928-2117, ext. 109
pshirley at CuyahogaFallsLibrary dot org

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