At 02:55 AM 05/05/2001 Michael Rubin wrote:
>Hi,
>I teach high school and for security reasons always lock my computer with a
>key when away from the box. I just built a new computer based on the Abit
>VP6 motherboard and could not find a staked header for a manual key lock.
>The predecessor board BP6 had the connection and I am lost without it. Is
>there a work around so that I can splice or rig some sort of a key switch
>to kill all input functions?


Michael

Your post isn't quite clear; do you shut down the system or keep it running
but secure the input devices? Are you on a network? What operating system
do you use?

If you shut down the system (Power Off), you can do one (or all) of the
following:

        1. Put in a Supervisor Password in CMOS.
           Lock the case so they cannot clear CMOS.

        2. Connect the case's keylock switch to
           the Reset Switch pins (or, perhaps, the
           Soft Power pins on the motherboard --
           this I have NOT tried).

        3. Splice in your keylock switch into the
           "Power Good" wire from the Power Supply to
           the Motherboard (careful... and use larger
           gauge wire instead of the thin keylock wire).

        4. Use a Power Strip and lock up the On/Off Switch,
           the plugs and access to the power cord in the
           back of your case.

If you leave the system running, you can:

        5. Lock your workstation, switch to Windows NT/2000;

        6. Use 3rd party password protection software; or

        7. Get a lockable keyboard/mouse drawer.

Caveats: #2 and #3 may not work with all power supplies and/or
motherboards... If you do any wiring, make sure that you know what you're
doing (or have a electrician to it) and that your parts are up to the task
(i.e., a good case, keylock switch, power supply, etc).

Personally, I think you deserve your own lockable office, since you teach
High School.

Regards,

John Chin

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