NANY 2010 Release: Create Dummy File

[limelect]

NANY 2010 Entry Information

Application Name	Create Dummy File
Version	1.0.0.3
Short Description	Create Dummy File
Supported OSes	Windows
Web Page	www.limelect.com
Download Link	Create_Dummy_File.zip (590.32 kB - downloaded 4730 times.)
System Requirements	None
Version History	ver 1.0.0.0 ver 1.0.0.1 ver 1.0.0.2 ver 1.0.0.3
Author	www.limelect.com
Screencast	https://www.donation...reatedummyfiles.html YouTube: http://www.youtube.c.../watch?v=UzvZrL9SYAY

Description
Create ,any size, any amount, of dummy files

Features
See help file

Screencast

Planned Features
None

Screen shots
None

Usage
Installation
Just open zip in a directory

Using the Application
Help is included

Uninstall
Just delete Application

Known Issues
none

[Cyeb]

https://www.donation...l/index.html#BigByte

How is it different from BigByte? 

[f0dder]

https://www.donation...l/index.html#BigByte

How is it different from BigByte? 

-Cyeb (December 21, 2009, 05:58 PM)

Apparently BigByte works by copying files together... which is an amazingly bad way of doingthings. The fsutil app that lanux128 refers to in that thread is probably a much much faster way of achieving the same.

Btw this application does more than just generating a single dummy file - and comes with a wonderfully 1990'es-visualbasic-style GUI

[limelect]

Well you can do so many thing
just down load and see the help

P.S I am professional programmer needed of such a program
and was not satisfied with other programs luck of features 
(Programed it in 2 days)

[mouser]

seems work as promised -- i think the idea of filling up all the free space on a usb drive to avoid any malware getting onto it, while perhaps not foolproof, is pretty clever.

[mouser]

I think if i had any suggestions it would be to simplify this and focus on the one unique use of it -- filling up the free space on a removable drive.  if the program was focused on that, the interface could be made quite a bit simpler and i think more easily grasped by novice users.

i also think it would be nice to explain what the read only usb setting actually does.

[limelect]

I see that the "read only usb setting" Is not understood.
What this feature dose is to switch ON/OFF a registry flag
On XP when this flag is on the computer where this key is on
WILL NOT WRITE TO A USB DRIVE.

[mouser]

you mean once that's set, windows will not write to ANY usb drive?

if so -- you really need to make that information very clear and give a warning to the user.
i can see how people might try your program once, set that setting, and then not realize that it could cause a lot of problems later that they might not realize.

doesnt sound like a very useful option to set to me, and could cause a lot of problems if people don't realize what it is doing -- i think you should remove it or at least really warn user against it.  it could really cause frustration and confusion in an otherwise safe program.

[limelect]

Ok Correct So i will release an update with
1.Make a red label
2. OK Message for acknowledge

[mouser]

sounds good -- and have the message tell them clearly what will happen.

[limelect]

updated to ver 2
I put a red message that will enable to procedure
By default it is disabled so no push acidently
and further more when press to activate a warning message
Also big message in Help file

As for the feature
I was asked by a professional friend "are you sure that a virus will
not penetrate even if the USB disk is full ?"
Well i could not say "YES i am sure" since the virus people are so
clever now a days.
So the only way that is seems to be OK,may be, is to disable writing the USB disk on the PC and the registery is the way to go.

[mouser]

Forgive me for harping on this but i don't think the current user interface for this function is sufficient.

It's just not at all understandable from using the program what is going on -- either what the function does, or how to undo it.  the new checkbox just confuses things more.

It is my opinion that any time you have a function that can make such serious changes to the person's registry, you have a very heavy responsibility to warn them and be careful.

If you release the program as is, you are going to have people posting about how all of a sudden their computers can no longer write their usb drives.  and they may only discover this AFTER they have uninstalled and deleted your program!!

I suggest you remove this function completely from your program - maybe make a separate program for changing this registry setting so at least users know what they are getting into.

If you insist on having this function in your program, you need to change the user interface.
Maybe show a message on the screen telling user the CURRENT state of their registry, for example:
"Your registry is currently set to allow ALLOW USB drive writing (normal)" vs "Your registry is currently set to BLOCK usb drive writing completely";

And a BUTTON to change the setting, which says on it "DISABLE ALL USB DRIVE WRITING FOR ALL PROGRAMS" or "RE-ENABLE USB DRIVE WRITING FOR ALL PROGRAMS"

And when the press the button a big bold warning has to come up saying
"WARNING!!!!
If you choose to block usb drive writing, your system registry will be changed and will block all usb drive writing by any program.  This setting will stay in place even after a reboot, and even if you uninstall this program.  To re-enable usb drive writing you need to run this program again and re-enable it."


I'm sorry to be so serious about this but i think you are really asking for trouble and going to have people complaining to you if you leave this function as is.

[limelect]

I will make the changes as advised no problem.
Although i do not agree, i see this function important to stop viruses writing to USB drive, i will make the changes as advised.

[mouser]

Sometimes there are features i want to add to my programs.. but i know that so many people will use it without thinking too much about it, that it will cause too many problems, and it's just not a good idea.

Whenever you add a feature like that, you need to reallly make a scary clear warning, that will stop people from just clicking on something and forgetting.

[f0dder]

Sorry, but isn't it a bit pointless trying to stop viruses this way?

First, it wouldn't be hard for a virus to change the registry setting - if a virus is designed to spread through USB infection, it might very well do this.

Second, on your home computer you'll obviously have disabled autorun for USB drives and you might even be running antivirus software - you should't be infected in the first place, and even if your USB drive gets nasties while elsewhere, it won't bite you when at home.

Third, "when elsewhere" you probably won't be on an account with administrative privileges, and thus can't flip the registry switch... and probably shouldn't...

[limelect]

OK i surrender

[limelect]

Done
The original is with me if someone wants it

[cranioscopical]

OK i surrender

-limelect (January 04, 2010, 04:25 AM)

To me, the fact that there are some concerns doesn't detract from appreciation of your effort. Thanks for participating in this!