Drive Blocker Instruction Manual

Drive Blocker is a software program for Windows XP computers that allows you to password protect all access to removable drives (such as flash drives) and drives with removable media (floppies, CDs, etc.). It does not work on Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, or NT computers. If you are trying to install this program on a Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, or NT computer, please click on the Cancel button now. If you wish to install Drive Blocker on an XP computer, click on the Install button now.

Once Drive Blocker is installed, all removable drives are disabled as soon as you connect them to the computer or insert a disk into a permanent disk drive player such as a CD player. To access removable drives, you must view the main Drive Blocker screen by clicking on the Drive Blocker icon on the system tray, inputting a password (selected by you when you install Drive Blocker), and clicking on the "Unlock Drives" button. You can then access the removable drives freely until you lock the removable drives again using Drive Blocker. Note: You unlock drives BEFORE you attach a removable drive or insert a disk into a drive. Once a removable drive has been disabled, you must detach it and reinsert it before you can use it. Once a removable media has been inserted into a drive with Drive Blocker blocking drives, that drive is disabled until you either reboot the computer or exit Drive Blocker entirely.

Initializing Drive Blocker

When you first run Drive Blocker, it will ask you to set an administer password. Once you set the administer password, it will ask you to set a supervisor password. The administrator password is required to uninstall Drive Blocker. The supervisor password can be used to temporarily turn off Drive Blocker. Note: Passwords are case sensitive. This means, for example, that "Good" is not the same as "good" or "GOOD". Be sure to remember the EXACT password you select, including capitalization.

Accessing Drive Blocker

Once Drive Blocker is installed, its icon (which looks like a CD with an X across it) will appear on the Windows system tray in the lower right corner of the screen. Click on this icon to display the main Drive Blocker screen.

Registering Drive Blocker

From the time you first run Drive Blocker, you have a 30-day trial period to evaluate it. During that time, Drive Blocker will be fully functional. If you decide you like Drive Blocker, you should register and pay for it ($20). At the end of the trial period, if you do not pay for Drive Blocker and input the unlock code you receive, Drive Blocker will be deactivated. That is, it will no longer block access to removable drives. It will be reactivated when you input the unlock code, which you will receive when you pay for Drive Blocker.

There are several ways to pay for Drive Blocker. The easiest way to register a single copy is to go to the LeithauserResearch.com site. From there, you can go to the payment page (links are in the third paragraph on the home page). Scroll down the page to the place where Drive Blocker is listed. Input the serial number that appears on the registration screen for Drive Blocker (the screen that asks you to register and input your unlock code) and then click on the "PayPal buy now" button. You will be sent the unlock code by email. You will normally receive this code within a day, although it may take a little longer under unusual circumstances (Internet problems, etc.).

You can also pay for Drive Blocker by clicking on the Print button to print a form. You can then mail this form to the address given on the form or fax it to the fax number given on the form. You can pay by enclosing a check or by filling out the credit card information on the form. You can also pay by phone using your credit card. The number to call is 386-410-6769.

Volume discounts are available. Call 386-410-6769 or send an email to [email protected] with information on how many copies you want to license for a price quote.

Main screen

The main screen (which you display by clicking on the Drive Blocker icon on the system tray) always displays the current Drives status (either locked or unlocked).

When removable drives are locked, the main screen has a text box for you to input a password, a button that reads "Unlock Drives", and a check box labeled "Conceal Password". In order to unlock (allow access to) removable drives, you must type a password (either the administrator or supervisor password) in the text box and then either click on the "Unlock Drives" button or press the "Enter" key on the keyboard. Note: The password is case sensitive. This means, for example, that "Good" is not the same as "good" or "GOOD". Be sure to use the EXACT password you selected when you set up the password, including capitalization. If the "Conceal Password" box is checked, the characters you type in the text box will be displayed as asterisks. This is useful to prevent someone from seeing the password as you type it.

Once you input the correct password and press the "Unlock Drives" button, The password box will disappear and the button on the main screen will read "Lock Drives". You may now connect removable drives or insert disks into drives. Note: You must do unlock drives BEFORE you attach a removable drive or insert a disk into a drive. Once a removable drive has been disabled, you must detach it and reinsert it before you can use it. Once a removable media has been inserted into a drive with Drive Blocker blocking drives, that drive is disabled until you either reboot the computer or exit Drive Blocker entirely.

When removable drives are unlocked, the main screen will display only the button, which will be labeled "Lock Drives". Clicking on this button will lock (block access to) removable drives again. You do not need a password to lock removable drives.

There are also some menus at the top of the screen, which will be explained below.

The Files menu

There are two options under the Files menu.

Uninstall Drive Blocker. If you select this option, Drive Blocker will ask for the administrative password. If you provide the correct password, Drive Blocker will be totally removed from your computer. You should only use this option if you have decided that you do not want to use Drive Blocker ever again. This is the ONLY way to uninstall Drive Blocker. Please do not try to uninstall Drive Blocker by manually deleting files or using Windows Add/Remove Program options. Doing so will not only not uninstall Drive Blocker, it will make it very hard to actually uninstall.

The second option under the Files menu is to exit Drive Blocker. This deactivates Drive Blocker controller, and stops Drives blocking. You must input the supervisor password or administrative password to do this.

The Security menu

Under the Security menu, there are two options. These are:

1) Change Administrator password - This lets you change the administrator password. If you select this option, it will first ask you for the current administrator password. Note: The administrator password is case sensitive. This means, for example, that "Good" is not the same as "good" or "GOOD". Be sure to use the EXACT password you selected when you set up the password, including capitalization. Once you input the correct current administrator password, it will ask you to select a new administrator password.

2) Change Supervisor password - This lets you change the supervisor password. If you select this option, it will first ask you for the current supervisor password. Note: The password is case sensitive. This means, for example, that "Good" is not the same as "good" or "GOOD". Be sure to use the EXACT password you selected when you set up the password, including capitalization. You can input either the supervisor or administrator password here. This allows the administrator to change the supervisor password if necessary. Once you input the correct password, it will ask you to select a new supervisor password.

The Register menu

If you have not yet registered Drive Blocker, this option will appear on the top of the window. Clicking on it will display the registration screen, which also appears when you first run Drive Blocker until it is registered.

Bug reports, help requests, suggestions

If you need help with this program, have found a bug, or have a request for additional feature, please contact Leithauser Research. The best way is to send an email to [email protected]. You can also call Leithauser Research at 386-410-6769 .

If you are suggesting an additional feature or other improvement, we will make these changes and release a new version soon if we believe these improvements would have broad appeal. You will be notified when the new version is released. If we feel that the changes you suggest are not commercially viable, we can still create a custom version of Drive Blocker for you for a fee. Contact Leithauser Research if you are interested in this.

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