Deep Freeze Playing Hide 'n Seek

[jpapier]

Hi All,

We're using PWB 2.08.02 (will soon upgrade to 2.09), Win XP Pro with all updates, McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.0.0, along with HideGUI,
all on new model Dells. On top of that we're using Deep Freeze 5 Professional Version.

The weird thing is that Deep Freeze has been playing hide and seek. At times the icon is there, in the system tray, letting us know the system is protected. At other times, the icon is gone, and even the keyboard command ctl-alt-shift-f6 won't bring Deep Freeze back up.

The problem is, when the icon is gone, we have found out that the PC is no longer protected, and patrons can write to the hard drive.

One or two reboots later, and the icon is back up, and the PC is again protected.

We know there's now a patch out which bypasses DF 5 (which is why we'll shortly be upgrading to the latest DF), but after close observation, I can say that this hide and seek is seemingly random, happening without patron intervention.

Deep Freeze doesn't know what to make of this. Is anybody else having this problem?

Thanks for any light you can shed,

JP

[spragers]

This is a shot in the dark, but it drove us mad here trying to figure out why VNC and our computer sign-up software would randomly ignore stations...

Does your DeepFreeze installation use a server station to control when stations are frozen / unfrozen / etc.? I found that with Windows XP SP2, the built-in firewall would randomly turn itself back on. We were using DriveShield (similar to DeepFreeze), and on random reboots, the machines would turn the firewall back on, which blocked VNC (so I couldn't troubleshoot) and our sign-up station. After rebooting, the stations would usually work, but eventually, it would happen again. I actually had to disable the firewall service as an administrator to take care of the problem.

May not apply to your situation, but might help elsewhere

- Ben

[Philip - Long Beach NY]

Hi All,

We know there's now a patch out which bypasses DF 5 (which is why we'll shortly be upgrading to the latest DF), but after close observation, I can say that this hide and seek is seemingly random, happening without patron intervention.

Deep Freeze doesn't know what to make of this. Is anybody else having this problem?

Thanks for any light you can shed,

JP

JP what is this patch you mentioned? An MS patch? Are you telling me that there is a way for people to bypass DF? If so let us know. I am also using DF 5 Professional and I haven't seen this behavior of the sys tray icon appearing and disappearing. Only thing I can mention is if your configuration of pc's is not controlled via a server setup, and if you imaged your Dell's and copied all the images to each machine, that might be giving you trouble - although Faronics informed me that with the release of version 5 and above that isn't a problem anymore. Surprised that they don't know what is causing it. I'd keep at it with them though, make them figure it out.

Phil

[jpapier]

Hi to both responders for your tips. I don't think our case falls under either of yours, alas.

Regarding the DF workaround, per Faronics, the version of DF Professional we're using can be breached via a patch. We're using 5.20.120.1119.

We weren't too happy we didn't receive any notices regarding this. It's true our maintenance contract had expired, but we sure do get email from them regarding new products, etc.

You might want to contact them to see if your specific version and level is okay.

Jeff

[jpapier]

The really weird thing is that only our new Dell PCs are affected by the Deep Freeze disappearance and reappearance.

We expanded our library in 2005, and now offer twice as many public pcs. When we first opened up again to the public in 11/05, we were worried that the old, clunker no-name pcs would give us the most headaches re maintenance, etc.

But it turns out that our new Dell Optiplex GX280 models, while much faster, are the only machines on which DF acts strangely.

The only difference in software between the no-names and the Dells is the motherboard drivers, and the drivers for the hardware. That's it.

Anybody want to take a shot at this?

Thanks,

JP

[Philip - Long Beach NY]

I'm using a more recent version than yours. I suggest you update your maintenence package and let Faronics deal with the headaches.

Phil

[jpapier]

I agree. An update is in the works, as soon as we get the funds! JP

[sjrodriguez]

We had the same thing, and Faronics told us it was an issue they were going to patch. We just downloaded the patch yesterdaytand will be installing it tommorow. I don't think it was PWB causing it.

[jpapier]

Wow, someone else actually had this problem too????
At times we thought we were the only ones....

I emailed Faronics, but since our contract was up, I never got an answer. However, with the new Enterprise edition we purchased a few months ago, things are working very well.

One exception: a computer seemingly went into maintenance mode at random today, and was therefore unusable. However, a reboot solved the problem. That also used to happen to us all the time. Hopefully this was an isolated incident. We'll be downloading the absolutely latest version, incorporating bug fixes, very shortly. Perhaps that will help with any maintenance mode issues.

Cheers,

Jeff Papier

[Joseph Stude]

Jeff,

We've been using Deep Freeze and PWB together here in various combinations for quite some time and have never had a problem with it disappearing or vanishing like that. We're currently running version 5.30.020.1181. Did you manage to finally get this resolved?

[jpapier]

With the upgrade to DF Enterprise, the problems have largely gone away. No more hide and seek, and only occasionally the lapse into maintenance mode. Twice in a few months.

I haven't had time to download the very latest version, but perhaps all the problems will vanish when I do.

In any case, so far things have been much better than they were.

JP

[Philip - Long Beach NY]

Glad to hear it Jeff.......Now if I can just get my SAM Time Management software to work with this darn Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit, I'll be all set