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From: mangler@madnix.UUCP (Brian La Rose)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system
Subject: Re: Is there some way to make the System Folder 'read only'??
Summary: Maybe not read only but harder to write...
Keywords: read only, system, folder, cloaking
Message-ID: <1450@madnix.UUCP>
Date: 2 Aug 90 22:31:19 GMT
References: <9816@hacgate.UUCP>
Reply-To: mangler@madnix.UUCP (Brian La Rose)
Distribution: usa
Organization: ARP Software, Madison, WI
Lines: 39

Well... I have to keep the Macintosh computers in several of our
stores clean of 'problems' such as 40,000 new folders, unwanted CDEVs
and INITs and so on.  This is what I did:

1) Used ResEDIT to modify the Finder.  I did it in a rather klugey
way, but it works.  I modified the MENU resource so that everything in
the finder that would let you cause damage or create files (New
Folder, Duplicate, Erase Disk...) was turned into a separator line.  I
at the same time removed the command key equivelants from those
commands.

2) Then used ResEDIT to turn the System folder INVISIBLE.  It is very
difficult to put a file into a folder that you cannot see.
Unfortunately, anybody who is DETERMINED can still get in there using
MacTools or DiskTop or something of the like, but it keeps the casual
user from dumping every neat INIT into your system.

If you want to get real tricky, go thru with MacTools and set the LOCK
and PROTECT flags on everything in the system folder also.  Then they
can't trash your system (A favorite pasttime at computer stores...)

If you are uncomfortable with ResEDIT (I use vers. 2.0b2 right now
with relatively few crashes), you can use XTree Mac to make the folder
invisible.  I am not sure what otehr programs let you do this.

This method has worked very well for me.  I haven't had to replace a
trashed system in a very long time...

It may not be the orthodox method, it may not be pretty, but it works.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ naDev tlhinganpu' tu'lu' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Mangler - Brian La Rose   76366,2114 (CI$)  S0091 (AppleLink)
decwr!decvax!nicmad!madnix!mangler     Mangler1 (America On-Line)
 "...if I'm cut, I will always bleed 6 colors..."-Guy Kawasaki
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Duj tIvoqtaH ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DISCLAIMER: ARP Software, Madison, WI is NOT responsible for what I
say (I'm not even sure who they are... :-).  And if you trash your
system, please don't blame me... :-)