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Where to purchase Centurion Guard?
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Where to purchase Centurion Guard?
9:23 PM EDT 7/22/07
Our library will be replacing a public access computer this fall. I want to install Centurion Guard software/lock on it. Where do we find it? I tried emailing the company several weeks ago but have not received a response.
Re: Where to purchase Centurion Guard?
11:39 AM EDT 7/23/07 as a reply to Teresa Pennington.
As far as I know, the only place to get these is directly through Centurion - http://www.centuriontech.com

But unless you are really committed to that particular product, I would recommend looking at <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/sharedaccess/default.mspx" target="blank">Microsoft's Steady State</a>. You can <a href="../do/DisplayContent?id=16953">read this article about it by Chris Peters</a>, and soon we'll have posted a more thorough 'how to' article.

Steady state does everything that the Centurion Guard does, plus it adds the ability to set the computer up for automatic updates, and to create locked-down public profiles. If you are familiar with the CG from the Gates pacs, SteadyState can recreate all of that setup. Andit even adds a simple session timer.

And the best thing is that it's free.

Dale
Re: Where to purchase Centurion Guard?
10:30 PM EDT 7/24/07 as a reply to Dale Musselman.
Does Steady State require partitioning the hard drive?

I suffered through two disastrous attempts at using the shared computer toolkit. I think that partitioning was part of the problem. After those experiences, I must say that I was looking forward to the added security of a physical lock.
Re: Where to purchase Centurion Guard?
11:30 AM EDT 7/25/07 as a reply to Teresa Pennington.
No it doesn't, that is one of the best improvements they made. I don't think they really understood at first what a bad idea it was in the original version to require that odd repartitioning.

I certainly understand your frustration, and originally I thought the same way about the physical lock. But the thing is that the only thing the lock does on the Centurion Guard is to signal the software whether to turn on or off (and on some of the Gates models there is also the DVD lock out). It just replaces the keystroke and password combination that most of these systems use. In fact Centurion sells an all software version that does the same thing.

Once I realized that the lock is really just a switch, and not a 'lock' in the sense of directly doing anything to the drive, I became less a fan of the extra expense and potential issues it brings.

Dale
Re: Where to purchase Centurion Guard?
10:01 AM EDT 7/26/07 as a reply to Teresa Pennington.
Hi
Have you tried a product called Deep Freeze?
Several of our libraries use Deep Freeze. http://www.faronics.com/ It's cheaper than Centurion guard and does essentially the same thing. Works great, is very simple to use, and you can get a trial version at their website. It does not require maintenance so far none of our libraries have needed it. It just works. When you restart, the computer automatically restores itself to the way it had been setup originally no matter what the user adds, downloads, installs, etc. Also, viruses, spyware and adware disappear on restart, although, they do run virus protection, etc. on the computers just in case.

Also try Tech Soup Stock for copies of security software for PACs.

Mala