Limit disk boot at startup - ComputerCraft Forums (archive)

GreenByteSoftware #1

127 posts

Location Kaunas, Lithuania

Posted 17 May 2014 - 05:53 PM

This is about that now anyone can go around computer's inside startup program, by creating the startup file in disk and then put to the computer what for example has password protection.
My idea is that user would be able to choose what to boot first, for example command in shell: "bootpriority computer" or "bootpriority disk", it would store it like labels are, when talking about labels if computer doesn't have label then bootpriority setting would be wiped after breaking the computer(like all the files).

Edited on 24 May 2014 - 05:28 PM

Zudo #2

Zudo's profile picture

1114 posts

Location UK

Posted 17 May 2014 - 06:17 PM

Oh crap! I disabled CTRL-T on startup, and now I can't use my boot disk to get back into the computer, on multiplayer!

Edit: :P/>

Edited on 17 May 2014 - 04:17 PM

GreenByteSoftware #3

127 posts

Location Kaunas, Lithuania

Posted 17 May 2014 - 06:25 PM

ZudoHackz, on 17 May 2014 - 06:17 PM said:
Oh crap! I disabled CTRL-T on startup, and now I can't use my boot disk to get back into the computer, on multiplayer!

Edit: :P/>

Well, by default it would still be able to boot from disk, and while in shell it would be able to change

Edited on 17 May 2014 - 04:27 PM

Zudo #4

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1114 posts

Location UK

Posted 17 May 2014 - 06:27 PM

thediamondgames, on 17 May 2014 - 06:25 PM said:
- snip snap -

Yes, but what if you had a program running in a loop?

GreenByteSoftware #5

127 posts

Location Kaunas, Lithuania

Posted 17 May 2014 - 06:41 PM

ZudoHackz, on 17 May 2014 - 06:27 PM said:
thediamondgames, on 17 May 2014 - 06:25 PM said:
- snip snap -

Yes, but what if you had a program running in a loop?

This would be your problem, you can always add password in startup file, then setup bootpriority to computer and after that you could run any program, you could be smart enough to create terminatable part if you want to boot something after startup without writing in shell and if it is your looped program you could terminate the process before entering loop program.

Edited on 17 May 2014 - 04:42 PM

Sebra #6

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724 posts

Posted 18 May 2014 - 06:44 AM

ZudoHackz, on 17 May 2014 - 06:17 PM said:
Oh crap! I disabled CTRL-T on startup, and now I can't use my boot disk to get back into the computer, on multiplayer!

1.Take responsibility for your actions.
2.Do not change boot sequence if you do not want it.
3.Make yourself new computer.

CometWolf #7

CometWolf's profile picture

1281 posts

Posted 18 May 2014 - 08:59 AM

This can easily be acheived by editing the rom startup file, but you'd need access to the server files to do that. I would indeed like to be able to disable this from in game.

GreenByteSoftware #8

127 posts

Location Kaunas, Lithuania

Posted 18 May 2014 - 10:01 AM

CometWolf, on 18 May 2014 - 08:59 AM said:
This can easily be acheived by editing the rom startup file, but you'd need access to the server files to do that. I would indeed like to be able to disable this from in game.

Yes, but if there would be an option for an individual user who doesn't have any access to server files. It would be loaded in like labels are - from specific for example "bootpriority.dat" file.

Wojbie #9

724 posts

Location Kinda lost

Posted 18 May 2014 - 12:32 PM

While i get what you are coming from i personally don't like any system that would allow end user to brick up their computers. Why you ask? While i get that if user was messing up with it and bricked it up ok his fault. But you have to take into consideration the malicious user. There are people who would brick all computers they can get to and laugh.

GreenByteSoftware #10

127 posts

Location Kaunas, Lithuania

Posted 18 May 2014 - 05:10 PM

wojbie, on 18 May 2014 - 12:32 PM said:
While i get what you are coming from i personally don't like any system that would allow end user to brick up their computers. Why you ask? While i get that if user was messing up with it and bricked it up ok his fault. But you have to take into consideration the malicious user. There are people who would brick all computers they can get to and laugh.

Well, crafting a new computer need really small amount of stuff, the user should be smart enough to protect his pc in couple ways: 1st option - setup password at startup first and after that change the bootpriority, 2nd option - hide the computer, 3rd option - probably easiest if you were soooo stupid to don't put password(or don't know how to program), change bootpriority and it has some important files is to set label and put it to inventory. Anyways, protection always can brick the system, the user fault is to forget putting some software protection to protect from trols who can brick users' systems

Geforce Fan #11

1029 posts

Location Missouri, United States, America, Earth, Solar System, Milky Way, Universe 42B, Life Street, Multiverse, 4th Dimension

Posted 18 May 2014 - 07:24 PM

"Dangit, someone hacked my computer, changed the startup program to a virus, then turned off the ability to boot from a floppy!"
if you remove the ability to boot from a floppy, you're going to need to add a way to access a computer's storage remotely. Like, take out the HDD

Edited on 18 May 2014 - 05:25 PM

Sebra #12

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724 posts

Posted 18 May 2014 - 08:27 PM

wojbie, on 18 May 2014 - 12:32 PM said:
There are people who would brick all computers they can get to and laugh.

Now they can break instead. Is it any better?

awsmazinggenius #13

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995 posts

Location Canada

Posted 19 May 2014 - 12:21 AM


shell.run("bootpriority computer")
print("You have been hacked!")
os.pullEvent = os.pullEventRaw
sleep(2^32)
os.reboot()

Edited on 18 May 2014 - 10:22 PM

theoriginalbit #14

7508 posts

Location Australia

Posted 19 May 2014 - 02:31 AM

I see where you're coming from, and I definitely do not agree. If you're really concerned about it place your disk drive on the top of the computer (and hide it), its the first place the bios checks. This means your disk will take priority over any others and your startup will run, not others.

Sebra #15

Sebra's profile picture

724 posts

Posted 19 May 2014 - 02:55 PM

awsmazinggenius, on 19 May 2014 - 12:21 AM said:


shell.run("bootpriority computer")
print("You have been hacked!")
os.pullEvent = os.pullEventRaw
sleep(2^32)
os.reboot()

Computer is cheap, information is important.Delete all files and computer is almost a brick.
Nothing can protect computer from malicious bomber, this suggestion ask for information protection.
No external means would protect computer from loosing info except complete isolation.

CometWolf #16

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1281 posts

Posted 19 May 2014 - 03:58 PM

Sebra, on 19 May 2014 - 02:55 PM said:
Computer is cheap, information is important.Delete all files and computer is almost a brick.
Nothing can protect computer from malicious bomber, this suggestion ask for information protection.
No external means would protect computer from loosing info except complete isolation.

Block protection would protect the computer. And i have to ask, wtf do you people keep on your cc computers that is so important?

awsmazinggenius #17

awsmazinggenius's profile picture

995 posts

Location Canada

Posted 19 May 2014 - 07:09 PM

For me, nothing. It all sits in my Google Drive and gets copied over automatically. Other people, well, I have no idea…

GreenByteSoftware #18

127 posts

Location Kaunas, Lithuania

Posted 20 May 2014 - 11:40 AM

Wow, I didn't think that there will be similar amount of people on both sides…

GreenByteSoftware #19

127 posts

Location Kaunas, Lithuania

Posted 24 May 2014 - 06:31 AM

Actually what is better?
1. Anyone can get in to your computer, read files then delete them
2. Bootpriority option which if you have a strong password program enabled at pc startup and you have a small chance to get computer bricked unless you keep it turned on.

Edited on 24 May 2014 - 04:31 AM

Saldor010 #20

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598 posts

Location The United States

Posted 24 May 2014 - 01:08 PM

thediamondgames, on 24 May 2014 - 06:31 AM said:
Actually what is better?
1. Anyone can get in to your computer, read files then delete them
2. Bootpriority option which if you have a strong password program enabled at pc startup and you have a small chance to get computer bricked unless you keep it turned on.

Well, the way you phrased number 1, you're trying to make it sound like it's the worst option here, when in reality it might not be.
Let's rephrase these options so that they aren't so biased.

1. No bootpriority
2. Yes bootpriority

Now let's look at number 1 first. Number 1 is what we have right now, regular CC. The most we can really do (without encrypting all of our files), is create some sort of login system to prevent "evil doers" from getting our files. Sadly, all they have to do is just put a disk into our drive, and our computer is "hacked". Not good.

Now let's look at number 2. If CC had bootpriority, then we could just set bootpriority to our computer, then people wouldn't be able to "hack" our computers using floppys! Yay! But wait, what if somehow, your login system had a bug? A bug that allowed the evil doer to get to the shell? Or what if

awsmazinggenius, on 19 May 2014 - 12:21 AM said:


shell.run("bootpriority computer")
print("You have been hacked!")
os.pullEvent = os.pullEventRaw
sleep(2^32)
os.reboot()

Now our computer, with all of our important files, has not only lost them to the hacker, but has also bricked itself in the process. Let's just use a floppy to get the virus off of my compute… Oh…

Now if you have made sure that your login system is completely secure, good for you, but that doesn't mean everyone else has.

I believe it should be easier to compare this suggestion to old CC with these 2 scenarios.

Edited on 24 May 2014 - 11:09 AM

Sebra #21

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724 posts

Posted 24 May 2014 - 02:39 PM

1. You have no chance to protect your data and no chance to brick your comp.
2. You have chance to protect your data and can brick your comp beyond repair.

It seems second scenario still better.

logsys #22

logsys's profile picture

162 posts

Posted 24 May 2014 - 03:35 PM

Idea:, when a computer is placed and opened by the first time, craftOS would ask for a password which would be saves somewhere in ROM(like sending a request to store). When changing physical stuff(still inside computercraft, not real life) , it would require a password. That password should match with the previously set in first boot. That way, a virus couldn't change boot priority and change labels e.g.. But as always, staff should consider all options before changing computercraft working method

GreenByteSoftware #23

127 posts

Location Kaunas, Lithuania

Posted 24 May 2014 - 03:59 PM

logsys, on 24 May 2014 - 03:35 PM said:
Idea:, when a computer is placed and opened by the first time, craftOS would ask for a password which would be saves somewhere in ROM(like sending a request to store). When changing physical stuff(still inside computercraft, not real life) , it would require a password. That password should match with the previously set in first boot. That way, a virus couldn't change boot priority and change labels e.g.. But as always, staff should consider all options before changing computercraft working method

Yes, exactly! I will finish my "BIOS Settings" concept and put in this topic link, entering setup would require password and booting to shell would require password, with setup you could clear startup program and other stuff(going to do this in upcoming few days)

datminecrafter #24

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7 posts

Posted 24 May 2014 - 04:38 PM

I really support this idea, also if it would include BIOS Setup about which TheDiamondGames said, it would be perfect

logsys #25

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162 posts

Posted 24 May 2014 - 06:52 PM

take the I love it and the i hate it off the poll, it confuses everybody and messes with the voting

GreenByteSoftware #26

127 posts

Location Kaunas, Lithuania

Posted 24 May 2014 - 07:29 PM

logsys, on 24 May 2014 - 06:52 PM said:
take the I love it and the i hate it off the poll, it confuses everybody and messes with the voting

Just took it out

Sebra #27

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724 posts

Posted 24 May 2014 - 08:19 PM

thediamondgames, on 24 May 2014 - 03:59 PM said:
…entering setup would require password and booting to shell would require password, with setup you could clear startup program and other stuff(going to do this in upcoming few days)

Too complicated imho.
Custom ROM via crafting is better.

Edited on 24 May 2014 - 06:20 PM

GreenByteSoftware #28

127 posts

Location Kaunas, Lithuania

Posted 30 May 2014 - 07:30 PM

But still more people want it and don't care compared to who doesn't want it

apemanzilla #29

apemanzilla's profile picture

1610 posts

Posted 30 May 2014 - 08:02 PM

thediamondgames, on 30 May 2014 - 07:30 PM said:
But still more people want it and don't care compared to who doesn't want it

Just because people want something doesn't mean it will happen. I'm sure a lot of people would love to get two thousand dollars from their government for nothing, but that doesn't mean the government will do that.

CometWolf #30

CometWolf's profile picture

1281 posts

Posted 30 May 2014 - 08:41 PM

Gotta agree with Sebra, i would love custom ROM crafting. It's not really any of us' call though. It all comes down to wether Dan wants it or not.

sk8mn #31

sk8mn's profile picture

26 posts

Posted 01 June 2014 - 01:50 AM

Also if you wanted to disable copying quickly you just do
Edit copy
Some random stuff
This should then bring up an error message every time you attempt to copy a file over and you can do the same for edit edit

Edited on 31 May 2014 - 11:51 PM