--- Forwarded Message from Deanne Cobb <[log in to unmask]> --- >From: Deanne Cobb <[log in to unmask]> >Sender: [log in to unmask] >Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 08:37:34 -0600 >To: LLTI <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: #6607 Students downloading programs <fwd> >Disposition-Notification-To: Deanne Cobb <[log in to unmask]> >Return-Receipt-To: Deanne Cobb <[log in to unmask]> >Priority: NORMAL We have about 58 PC's running Word in our labs, all of which are accessible to our international students for self-access. Although we stress at new student orientations (and in signs all over the labs and on each monitor) that students are not to download programs or fonts in their own language, they continue to do so. We explain that downloading programs changes system folders and cause other difficulties, but it makes no difference to the students. We were told about some software called "Fortress" that will prevent students from doing this, but we can't find this company. Could anyone help with information about Fortress or some other software that we could use? I should mention that on Friday afternoons, we do reimage the computers and change from Netscape to Internet Explorer to allow students to write in their own language, but the rest of the time we want the labs to be English Only, in keeping with our immersion program policy. We would appreciate any suggestions you might have. >> Hi Barbara, I think Fortres is exactly what you might be looking for. The URL for Fortres is http://www.fortres.com/ We have Windows 98 PCs in our lab and we run Fortres Clean Slate. This is a good product for the most part. Students can still download whatever they wish and use it, but the moment that the machine is rebooted, all that material is erased and the machine is left configured exactly as you made it before applying the security. When you need to run an update on your plug-ins or make any other changes that you want to be lasting, you simply disable the security, restart the machine, make the changes you want, re-enable the security and then reboot again. As well, if you have a program that requires that material be written to a folder (one of our CD-Roms works like this, or maybe if your students record audio in the lab) all you need to do is make that particularly folder writeable. That way, when you do want to go through and clean up your computer, all you need to do is discard the material contained in that one folder, not the whole machine. The only problem that we have experienced is that we don't ask our students to reboot between users (many reasons). Occassionally the computer starts behaving strangely. Then it's usually just a matter of rebooting the machine at that time and it works perfectly fine. Good luck with your search for something to meet your needs. Sincerely, Deanne Cobb Language Lab Manager Language Institute University of Regina " the only thing he ought to consider, if he does anything, is whether he does right or wrong, whether it is what a good man does or a bad man." --Plato "I will be correspondent to command, And do my spiriting gently." - William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), "The Tempest", Act 1 scene 2 begin:vcard n:Siennicki;Barbara tel;work:604-822-1525 x-mozilla-html:FALSE org:University of British Columbia;English Language Institute adr:;;2121 West Mall;Vancouver;British Columbia;V6T 1Z4;CANADA version:2.1 email;internet:[log in to unmask] title:CALL Head Teacher fn:Barbara Siennicki end:vcard