USB memory

[Katie Mills]

At the public library in which I am a reference librarian patrons have
begun asking if they can use USB memory (jump drives, thumb drives,
etc.) on library computers.  Right now they can only use floppies
which limits them to 1.44 mb.  Our public access computers run Windows
2000 and our security/patron management program is SAM (by Comprise
Technologies).

The problem:  SAM security locks down the desktop and system tray.
The only usable desktop icons are Internet Explorer and the recycle
bin.  The system tray has the clock and SAM staff icons.  When you
plug in a USB drive the little green arrow does not show up in the
tray and thus cannot be shut off before removing it.  The start button
is disabled so control panel is also off limits.

If the patron goes through the procedure of saving their work and
everything is done properly except closing the drive can the drive or
PC be damaged when the drive is removed?  Will data be lost like the
ominous MS message portends?

Can an icon be placed on the desktop that patrons can use to shut down
the device?  (If I can keep this clean and fairly simple I might have
a shot at getting this to happen.)

Another problem is that I'm getting mixed advice from knowledgeable
people.  One says that yes the device can be damaged and data can be
lost and another says nothing will happen since it's hot swappable and
all we need to do is turn off the error message.

Any thoughts or suggestions?  Has anyone done this in a SAM
environment or at least made this work without using the system tray
or the control panel?

Thank you for any insight or advice you can provide!

Katie Mills, MLS