Faronics Deep Freeze

Staff and veteran student workers at the SMDC are all probably familiar with the Deep Freeze program which is installed on all our computers here; laptops and desktop, Mac and Windows. I am writing this primarily for new student workers here and anyone who is unfamiliar with the program.

 

 

Deep Freeze Bear knows what you did last summer.

 

 

 Most users here at the SMDC won't even be aware that Deep Freeze is on the computer at all; despite the fact that its so essential to keeping our computers safe and secure (and uncluttered) its actually quite an illusive little creature. To catch a glimpse of it on a Windows machine, for instance, you need to click "show hidden icons" on the right of the main task bar. You'll know Deep Freeze is on the computer beacuse of the little bear face, identical to the one above.

 

And in fact, Deep Freeze does not really do anything while users are using the computer; thats not its job. Deep Freeze comes into play when the computer restarts. What Deep Freeze does, in laymans terms, is erase any changes made to the computer. Once Deep Freeze is installed, it is ordered to save the computers state at that time. The computer is now said to be frozen. Every element of the computer at time of Freezing will be saved. The Deep Freeze program will restore the computer to its Frozen state whenever the computer reboots.

 

 

Deep Freeze Bear is pictured here, protecting us all from the forces of darkness.

And clutter on the desktop. Deep Freeze Bear HATES clutter on the desktop.

 

 

In order to make permanent changes to the system that will last across restarts, such as installing the latest multimedia software, the administrators who set up the Deep Freeze must "thaw" the system by accessing Deep Freeze (wouldn't you like to know how?), entering a password, and unfreezing the system. Once changes are made, the system can be refrozen.

 

This makes sure nothing unwanted gets unto our computers; no viruses, malware, spyware...no unauthorized software to slow down our computers, no unsightly documents to violate the pristine order of our desktops...The righteous hand of Deep Freeze Bear cleanses them all.

 

When Deep Freeze Bear is not preventing the notorious hacker community of New Castle county Delaware from smuggling system destroying viruses into our library, he occupies the rest of his time frustrating the efforts of  humble UD students by devouring any work they might not have saved externally.

 

You want to know why hours worth of work is gone when you unwittingly restarted the computer? Blame Deep Freeze Bear. He laughs at your pain.

 

You should have brought a flash drive.