[BoulderDash]

Hey there,
From time to time, friends/family start using my account (OS X 10.3.1 Panther). Is there a way to hide my drives (Desktop Icons)? That way, if they want to surf, I can open up Safari from the Dock and walk away knowing they won't be getting into anything by clicking on drives, etc.

Thanks,
BD

[xi_hyperon]

Finder menu > Preferences > Show these items on Desktop (uncheck Hard Disks)

Be aware however, that clicking on the Finder icon in the dock can bring up a window which will display your drives. You can change this in the Finder Preferences too (although it doesn't seem to always work - I set mine so that new Finder windows should always open in the Home directory, but they still periodically open at the root level. )

[Jan Van Boghout]

Or…

[shameless plug]
http://www.macrabbit.com/deskshadeplus/
[\shameless plug]

[Chuckit]

I think this is why God gave us Fast User Switching.

[gorickey]

Originally posted by Chuckit:
I think this is why God gave us Fast User Switching.

You are sorely mistaken...he gave us that for when people are surfing inappropriate sites at work and need to change users when the boss enters the room...

[BoulderDash]

Thanks for the ideas guys,
One route would be to have a "Guest" account, but then I'd have to be there when someone wants to sit down and use it. Jan, with DeskShade Plus (which looks great), it's requirements say:

- DeskShade Plus runs on Mac OS 10.2


Is it 10.3 friendly? Also, how about incorporating ScreenSavers (not just movies) into DeskMovie (like xBack)? Just a thought.

Thanks again,
BD

[Toyin]

Originally posted by BoulderDash:
Thanks for the ideas guys,
One route would be to have a "Guest" account, but then I'd have to be there when someone wants to sit down and use it. Jan, with DeskShade Plus (which looks great), it's requirements say:

- DeskShade Plus runs on Mac OS 10.2


Is it 10.3 friendly? Also, how about incorporating ScreenSavers (not just movies) into DeskMovie (like xBack)? Just a thought.

Thanks again,
BD

Why would you have to be there? Set up a guest account with a simple password that everyone can remember (or no password). Make it a standard user with limited abilities (ie can only use mail, sherlock, safari)

[chabig]

One route would be to have a "Guest" account, but then I'd have to be there when someone wants to sit down and use it.

Why do you say that? There is no reason you'd have to be there. Just make sure there is no password for the guest account.

Chris

[JKT]

Or via FUS, simply log into the guest account when you leave the computer and leave your account running in the background.

[BoulderDash]

Well,
It's simple: I'll be working, take off to get something to eat, and return to find someone on my machine (and that is why). Yes, I know I can set up a User account with a simple password for Guest. I suppose I can just show 'em all how to use the pull-down for Fast User Switching.

In any case, I got the icon question sorted for those times I'm not there. And, no, I don't see me locking my machine with the ScreenSaver.

Thanks,
BD

[Toyin]

Originally posted by BoulderDash:
Well,
It's simple: I'll be working, take off to get something to eat, and return to find someone on my machine (and that is why). Yes, I know I can set up a User account with a simple password for Guest. I suppose I can just show 'em all how to use the pull-down for Fast User Switching.

In any case, I got the icon question sorted for those times I'm not there. And, no, I don't see me locking my machine with the ScreenSaver.

Thanks,
BD

I think you need to make up your mind as to how much access you intend to give your other users. Removing the icons from the desktop may decrease the chance that something may go awry but far from eliminates it. If you don't trust them with complete access to your machine then I would lock the machine when you leave and force them to switch users if they need to use the machine. Though OSX makes it hard for you to make your system unstable, destruction of important data is only a few keystrokes or mouse clicks away.

[BoulderDash]

Fair enough (just looking to decrease accidental double-clicks into the system).

Thanks,
BD

[Powaqqatsi]

Originally posted by gorickey:
You are sorely mistaken...he gave us that for when people are surfing inappropriate sites at work and need to change users when the boss enters the room...

No that's what Exposé is for. Try that F11 button

[Jan Van Boghout]

Originally posted by BoulderDash:
Thanks for the ideas guys,
One route would be to have a "Guest" account, but then I'd have to be there when someone wants to sit down and use it. Jan, with DeskShade Plus (which looks great), it's requirements say:

- DeskShade Plus runs on Mac OS 10.2


Is it 10.3 friendly? Also, how about incorporating ScreenSavers (not just movies) into DeskMovie (like xBack)? Just a thought.

Thanks again,
BD

The next version 1.2 is done but I still have to make a site for it. You can download it temporarily at http://www.macrabbit.com/deskshadeplus/DSPlus.dmg if you want. It fixes the Panther-related bugs that popped up with 1.1. As for screensaver support, it would be a cool kind of thing but also a very nice pool of bugs, plus I'd need to make my own screensaver displaying system, because apps like XBack just use the built in ability of the ScreenSaver Engine to run on the desktop. DS+ would need to be able to run it on top of them too.

[BoulderDash]

Cool, thanks for the info. Just one minor detail though. If you look at xBack's release notes:

...

v2.5
- No longer uses Apple Screen Saver Engine
- Added screen menu to xBack menu for choosing backdrop screen on multiple monitor systems
- Permission issue with CD/DVD media when running has been fixed

...

It doesn't use the ScreenSaver engine anymore.

See ya,
BD

[chabig]

It's simple: I'll be working, take off to get something to eat, and return to find someone on my machine (and that is why).

So you'd rather get something to eat and find them not only working on your machine, but working in your account too?

It still doesn't make sense to me.

Chris

[BoulderDash]

Have you never stepped away from your machine for a few minutes? That was just an example. The machine I'm talking about is one that's used by a few people here. Just picture one of the myriad TV commercials where one person steps away from the machine and another's like "hey, I guess I'll use it now."

If I walk away, I don't want to have to either log out or switch users every single time. Hiding the icons was just something that I thought would help people from getting into my folders... I have no problems with them using it for Safari when I walk away for an undetermined amount of time.

And if it came down to eating or never leaving... yeah, I'd go to the kitchen. But that;s not the only reason I'd "unplug" for a few minutes. Fast User Switching is the best way since I have the luxury of Panther.
BD

[Toyin]

Originally posted by BoulderDash:
Have you never stepped away from your machine for a few minutes? That was just an example. The machine I'm talking about is one that's used by a few people here. Just picture one of the myriad TV commercials where one person steps away from the machine and another's like "hey, I guess I'll use it now."

If I walk away, I don't want to have to either log out or switch users every single time. Hiding the icons was just something that I thought would help people from getting into my folders... I have no problems with them using it for Safari when I walk away for an undetermined amount of time.

And if it came down to eating or never leaving... yeah, I'd go to the kitchen. But that;s not the only reason I'd "unplug" for a few minutes. Fast User Switching is the best way since I have the luxury of Panther.
BD

Fast-user is definitely the easiest, secure way. It literally takes about 5 seconds to switch back and forth between users. It's also nice because you can finally have your history, bookmarks, address book...etc preserved. You don't have to worry that someone might change some of your settings or add superfluous stuff. Good luck.

[TribeLeader]

Originally posted by xi_hyperon:
Finder menu > Preferences > Show these items on Desktop (uncheck Hard Disks)

Love that search feature! That's exactly the advice I was looking for! Thanks!