Stop a Computer from being reimaged

[Migration User]

I realize this has nothing to do with Ghost but I was wondering if anyone had some input...

 

We use Ghost32 on the GhostPE for our imaging.

 

We do not use the console or any other part of ghost.

 

 

A client of mine has several workstations in litigation and needs to make sure they never get reimaged..

 

Is their a way via software to do this..

 

 

Any input is welcome..

 

Thanks

 

[Migration User]

Hi, 

 

This is an interesting question. But once you boot to WinPE, there is no way of asking Ghost not to image it. On the other hand, even if you block overwriting it from one application, it may not work for others (for example running diskpart and clean the disk or using a different imaging product).

 

I think one option is to limit the bootability from devices. Most of the BIOSs allow you to specify the boot sequence to boot only from the hard disk as well as not to display the boot menu even if F12/F8 is pressed. Depending on your situation, you may use a Administrative password also in BIOS so that these cannot be changed without authority. Since OS always protect the system drive, it should be safe.

 

I too would really like to hear if there are other ideas. 

 

 

Krish

 

[Migration User]

I think Kish has some excellent points, one comment I wanted to add was to just ensure that access to the CD Rom, USB and FDD are all restricted so that it is not possible to reimage from these 'bootable' devices.  Hope this helps. 

[Migration User]

are you talking harddrive specific? because anything you setup on a computer means nothing if i take it out of the computer and re-image the drive on another pc. I think it is impossible because i could always just completely bit-to-bit format the drive (ereasing any software on it) then re-image it.

[Migration User]

i just got to thinking again, you could get creative and use some old tools that allow you to edit the blocks hex. you could intentionally corrupt a block, still allowing the os to boot but would force ghost to fail in the image process but you would have to remember which 0 you change to a 1 for future refrence.