'lo everybody.
Oay, so here's the deal. My roommate is driving me nuts in that he keeps using my computer and indiscriminately pushing my stuff aside to work on his own stuff, despite the fact that he has a computer of his own.
I can't just password-protect my computer, because that's just too overtly aggressive; I don't wanna cross that line.
I was wondering if anyone knew of an app or something that I could stick on a CD or flash drive such that either Windows wouldn't start unless said drive is/is not plugged in. I currently have a temporary solution in that when his girlfriend's card reader is plugged into my usb port, my computer won't boot up properly. Is there anything similar that is a little less identifiable?
Thanks for any help you can give.
Fervel
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Just password protect it...that's the easiest, and IMHO a password isnt aggressive. Aggressive would be wiping the contents of his flash drive if it was plugged in to your computer.
The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705
It is aggressive though. He would get royally pissed, and it's not like there aren't things he could do make my life more complicated.
I just want some sort of "key" on a drive such that Windows wouldn't start up without it...or wouldn't start up *with* it. The card reader will work for a while though.
What I want is to be *paaaaaassive aggressive*
If he has his own computer, why would it piss him off if you passworeded yours? Blocking actions based on what device is/isnt plugged in sounds a whole more complicated, and deceitful than going into the control panel, opening the Users section, selecting your user id, and adding a password to it.
If detecting the card reader is what causes it not to load properly, couldnt he just boot up, then plug the card reader in after the fact?
Also, you could password protect YOUR stuff by creating a password for your ID, and then creating a new user ID for him to use, and give him the password only for his ID.
The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705
Look, just trust me that password-protecting my computer is not a viable solution. I'm not saying that he *should* be pissed if I do it, but that he *will* be. It doesn't help that we have the same circle of friends, though he's pissing them off too.
He's just an ass, and there are more things going on that aren't worth mentioning. If I wasn't pissed at him already, I wouldn't really mind him using my computer - I didn't before. But his shoving the things on my desk aside with no care as to what happens to them is kind of the last straw.
But I need something sneakier than simply password-protecting it.
And I tried Google, of course.... but after an unfruitful initial search, I figured I'd pop over here and ask if such a program even existed.
Another possible solution, get yourself a portable external hard drive, and install windows to that. you will lose the setup that is currently on your PC, but you can back everything up, and your PC will never boot unless your external drive is in then.
The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705
Hehe, yeah...though that does involve buying an external hard drive.
true, but then u have all that extra storage space too, and its nearly pocket sized so it's easy to carry around.
The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705
about a solution that requires a USb drive to be connected to the computer turns on, but I don't remember the name... try google
EDIT: Ok, I found something for you
If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,
and the bus is interrupted as a very last resort,
and the address of the memory makes your floppy disk abort,
then the socket packet pocket has an error to report
Awesome! Thanks!
How about setting your machine to automatically log in to an account just for him when it is started. It could be a limited account, one he could mess up any way he wants. The problem would be that you'd have to log out and into your own in order to use it yourself.
When you talk about him shoving things off your desk, are you talking about your physical desk, or rearranging the desktop on your computer?
MC
I mean my physical desk.
I have papers and other stuff in a manic order-within-the-chaos kind of way and when he wants to use my computer he just kind of wipes everything aside.
I ´m somewhat puzzled about Your relationship? What is Your roommate using next? Your pants? Your Bed? I don´t think you are crossing a border that he hasn´t already
jumped over? Here in Germany we call that mobbing. Seek for some professional assistance and piss him off royally. It´s Your machine and You don´t have to apologise for someone else´s wrong attitudes.
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Setup your own password with your own stuff.
Turn on the Guest account. Or set him up with a Limited account.
All modern versions of Windows support this (2000, XP, Vista).
You can use the excuse that you're letting other friends use your PC, too (like people who visit often).
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
This is the perfect thing for you:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/security/936f/
It is a USB thing similar with a USB drive and the computer will boot only if it is inserted. It was originally intended for kids but you can use it.
Artificial intelligence stands no chance against natural stupidity!
Also cool!
Thanks!
I would counter with the fact that it sounds like his roommate is acting like a child, so why not use a device for one. Sounds like he'll have a tantrum if he can't use the computer.
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http://sourceforge.net/projects/usl/ It won't let the computer start without your flash drive, it will lock once you remove your flash drive and you can make as many keys as you want. Plus it's opensource.
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