[WEB4LIB] USB memory

[Katie Mills]

Perfect!  It explains the process in detail.

Thank you very much,
Katie Mills

On 4/22/05, Andrew Mutch <amutch at waterford.lib.mi.us> wrote:
> 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
> >
> >
> >
> 
>