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Removing Games from Win2K

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11 replies

by klf

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I have 25 clients in 2 classrooms, all with Windows 2000 on them, deployed with ImageCast. After I deployed them, the students discovered that the Games were installed, so they all sit there and play Solitare and FreeCell all day. I've deleted the icons from the All Users profile, but the EXEs are still there. Problem is, every time I try to delete them, they re-appear in a few seconds. I know there's a feature in Win2K that is supposed to protect the OS files by putting them back if they get erased, but this is ridiculous. I don't know the name of the feature, so I can't research how to disable it. So, how do I delete these things?

BTW, Games do not appear in the Add/Remove Windows Components.

11 replies

by mcclenbw

I would look in to using group policies to not allow users to browser the hard drive, or at the least the system directory. Which is where the games reside. If that's not an option, set up the NTFS permission on the games to only allow Administrators access.

by shanghai sam

I do have Group Policies in effect for many settings, but the students need to be able to browse the local hard drive for some of their coursework.

See my solution posted to "cportman", thanks.

by cportman

I would modify the permissions on the executables.

Another option would be to disable the Start-Run command via group policy - and remove the shortcut to msdos prompt.

The component of windows is call Windows File Protection - i don't think you can disable it.

Good Luck
cp

by klf

Boy, I don't like this rating thing, and this points business is stupid. Who cares, anyway? Sheesh...

Anyway, you did help me, but I did figure out how to get the files deleted. The clue that was helpful was learning the name of the component, which is documented in the Resource Kit book.

The solution is to turn on ALL file viewing, even Protected Operating System files. There is a hidden folder in the System32 folder called "Dllcache" that has copies of the WFP files. If you erase the file in this folder FIRST, then erase it in the System32 folder, then WFP can't replace it, so it's permanently gone. I tried it, and it works! woohoo!!

Thanks!

by lordinfidel

This was an accepted answer that I gave to another such as yourself who was faced with the same dillema.

There are several ways to do this.

First and foremost is to go to
Start/Settings/Control Panel/Add remove programs/Add new programs andin the accessories location uncheck the games box.

Next will depend if you are in an 2K active directory domain. If not you will need to do this on each local machine.

If so this is easily done thru group policies.

start/run/type mmc press run.
Console/add snap in/ add group policy.
Save the group policy in the domain, name it disable add programs.

In the User Config/Admin Templates/control panel/Add remove programs.... Enable the hide add new programs page. Save the policy and then apply it to your users.

They will now be unable to install the programs.

Enjoy.

by jim.kam

It's quite simpe. First locate the file name-sysoc.inf in %systemroot%\inf folder and open the file using notepad and then serach for the line:

Games=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,games.inf,HIDE,7
which is in '; old base components' portion
delete the 'HIDE' from 'Games=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,games.inf,HIDE,7', after that try to go back to add/remove program and you will see game option is 'visible' for you to add or remove.

by the professor

The easiest solution if you are using the active drectory with win2kpro clients.

Create an OU in AD Users & Computers and put your users in it. Apply a group policy to the OU. Under User Configuration/Administrative Templates/System and configure "Do not run specified windows programs". Put the .exe files in the list and those programs will be disabled.

Alternatively, you could configure "Run only allowed Windows applications" and nothing except what you specify will run.

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