Can anyone help me with a couple of things that I can’t seem to figure out. Should be simple enough but I can’t find the answer by looking through my PC’s various help indexes.
Can I lock my Capslock so it won’t function?
And how can I lock my PC so it need a password on startup?
How can I lock a CD-RW?
Thanks very much in advance.
Rider.
You can lock your PC by going into your bios setting and enabling system security.
Watch your machine when it boots up, and it will say something like “Hit F2 to enter setup”. That setup is where you can enable a boot password.
For your other questions, what OS are you using?
Yes you can. You can reassign keys.
Which O/S are you using? (And please don’t just say, “Windows.” Which version of Windows?)
Duct tape?
Seriously, perhaps if you explain a bit why you want to lock your computer, someone might offer a better solution.
Windows XP Pro.
Well, I just want to lock it so I have some privacy from my family. Nothing sinister.
Do you by chance have whats known as root privlege on your pc ?
Declan
sorry, don’t know.
The easiest way to kill Capslock is to simply pry off the keycap. It can be replaced later if need be. The key caps are designed to be removable and reinstallable for cleaning.
The easiest way to lock your system is by going into control panel, users, and adding a password for your account.
Do you mean lock so that no one else can access it, or so it can’t be erased? For the first one, you could zip up all of the files before burning, and require a password to unzip. You can’t prevent erasure of a CD-RW by any means.
Not sure (someone else suggested re-assigning the key, try that)
Go into the BIOS and set up a password. Can’t give you generic instructions because it varies a bit, but generally there is an option for setting a user password (anyone who starts up the system) and an admin password (someone who is allowed to muck with BIOS settings). WRITE DOWN THE PASSWORD SOMEWHERE because you don’t be able to get into the BIOS again if you forget it, unless you physically open the computer and muck with its guts (typically involves installing a BIOS clear jumper).
Get a case with a lock on the front. We have these at work. They like to lock just a little bit even without the key. Royal pain in the butt they are sometimes. Get a good one so you don’t have the problems we do. The case has a swing out front that locks with a key. Without the key you can turn the computer on and off but that’s it.
Duct tape also works, but you have to install it on your family and they may not be quite so receptive (why am I not surprised someone named Duckster suggested duct tape).
Only write down the password if you want your family to know it sooner than you think.
If you have Windows XP Pro and you’d like to lock your CD Writer…
Logon using Administrator or an account with admin privileges.
Go to Start/Run and type “gpedit.msc” without the quotes.
Then Go to User Configuration/ Administrative Templates/ Windows Components/ Windows Explorer/ Prevent Access to Drives from My Computer.
Users cannot view the contents of the drive from My Computer or Windows Explorer, using map network drive, or using the dir command.
gpedit.msc offers amazing options. You can do all sorts of fun stuff with it. It’s an admin’s dream playground.
Apologies for resurrecting this thread, but just in case it still interests anyone, you can download a little utility that locks/disables the Caps Lock key here.
If that link breaks (it is pointing to download.com and could be dynamic) email me and I’ll find another.
Thanks…quick and easy : )