Computer Hope

Software => Computer software => Topic started by: KFrey on October 20, 2016, 03:07:26 PM

Title: Looking for software like DeepFreeze, CleanSlate, etc
Post by: KFrey on October 20, 2016, 03:07:26 PM

Hi all,

I'm looking for a software package that sort of acts like Deep Freeze or Clear Slate, except I have some specific requirements:

1) The software needs to delete all user files, downloads, browser cookies, saved passwords, logged in websites, newly installed programs etc

2) The software should NOT automatically restore on reboot.

I work in a library and we lend out some laptops, we just need a way to restore back to an original state, which includes deleting user files etc.  We do not want something that automatically wipes upon reboot in case the user turns the computer off, or it runs out of power, or they simply reboot it.  Instead, when the laptop is returned, we want our staff to have something easy to use which will reset the machine, clean it of anything that may have been left behind, before the next user.

I've spent a few hours searching online, but the only thing I can find are programs that restore automatically on reboot, and most of them do not delete user files, etc.

Thanks!
-KFrey

Title: Re: Looking for software like DeepFreeze, CleanSlate, etc
Post by: Spoiler on October 21, 2016, 08:48:12 AM

Why not image the machine the way you want it and when it's returned just restore the image?

Title: Re: Looking for software like DeepFreeze, CleanSlate, etc
Post by: camerongray on October 21, 2016, 09:15:18 AM

Imaging software is definitely the answer here.  Personally I help run a programming/technology club for young people where we have 20 laptops that need to be easy to restore when the kids inevitably bork them!

I set up a imaging server using Fog (https://fogproject.org/ (https://fogproject.org/)) - It's a bit of a fiddle to set up but once it's done it's extremely powerful, you simply connect the machine to the network and tell it to boot from the network - It will automatically start into the imaging environment and restore a clean image.  For our laptops which dual boot Windows and Ubuntu, it takes around 5-10mins to restore a clean image onto one of them!  It's also very handy for deploying machines, set one machine up, upload the image to the fog server, plug the rest of the machines in to the network and tell them to restore the image.

Title: Re: Looking for software like DeepFreeze, CleanSlate, etc
Post by: patio on October 21, 2016, 09:37:06 AM

That's a sweet setup Cameron...

Great idea.

But how are drivers handled if the 20 rigs aren't identical ? ?