[WEB4LIB] USB memory

[Andrew Mutch]

Katie,

You're in luck - this was discussed just a couple of months ago. See this
post by Alnisa Allgood on how to add a shortcut for Unplug/Eject
Disk/Device to the desktop:

http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Web4Lib/archive/0502/0070.html

There's a number of related posts in the archive on this topic:

http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Web4Lib/archive/0502/thread.html#54

I've never heard of a device actually being damaged when you remove it
without stopping it. However, I have personally experienced the loss of
data when I removed a device before a file was completely transferred to
the device (on Windows 2000). As far as adding USB support generally, I
would encourage you to pursue it. Our patrons expect it to be available.

Andrew Mutch
Library Systems Technician
Waterford Township Public Library
Waterford, MI


> 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
>
>
>