Anyway to lock C drive?

[wseyller]

This computer is for a friend, but he tends to screw windows up all the time. I have a small harddrive with the OS, and service packs. I also have a larger drive for programs and other files. Is there a way I can lock the drive or critical data from being tampered with and let him do what he wants with the other drive.

 

[Navid]

The best thing to do may be to create an image of the C drive and store it on a CD or DVD.
If he screws things up, just restore the image and the system will be back up and running minus some of the programs that he may have installed in the meantime, which can be re-installed.

 

[HKSturboKID]

or setup system restore point. But then again, if he screw the pc up to the part that he can't even login, restore point won't help.

 

[ActuaryTm]

From another thread, inquiring similar:

"Make use Virtual PC for the times other users are utilizing the machine?

At worst, if a spyware/malware infiltration becomes terribly serious, merely rebuild the .vhd (virtual hard disc) file (or better, instantaneous point to a backed up copy of such) - no downtime to the non-virtual machine. Also lovely features that allow one to "discard changes" upon closing the virtual machine down."

 

[VirtualLarry]

I've always wished that HD's included a write-protect jumper on them, that would be so useful. (Also for data-recovery or forensic-imaging purposes.) You would think that at least the LEO angle would prompt the mfg's to consider adding something like that. Unless of course it already exists in an undocumented manner. (I know that Maxtor HDs support a "safe mode" that allows you to reprogram their firmware.)