PassWord Protected CD/DVD's

[Bios Computers]

Hi guys ... been looking all day for the right software. I accidently left a CD in a clients computer (and who among us hasn't) that has software and info that clients should not be privy too. I warned them not to run the cd for the potential damage some of the software could do to their computer and to please return it..

I paid a healthy price for the software on that cd and I don't like just giving it away for free to others. I have all the original software to make another disk, so that is not a problem just don't like the public at large getting their hands on my stuff that took a long time to compile.

This prompted a search for DC/DVD password protection software ... tons of it out there, but far more involved then I am looking for. I just want to password protect my CD/DVD's and the contained software and when the password in entered it will continue with the autorun software contained on the cd/dvd.

It is imperative it boot on startup as well for the software I have on the cd/dvd that is designed to run at boot, can also run right after the password has been entered.

The software I have tried so far is far more involved then I want to be just for a such a simple thing...

So to that end, has anybody came across software that won't require a college course to use and will provide the solutions I/we/you/ are looking for ???

Greatly appreciated as always...

Jon, Bios Computers

 

[phaZed]

Winzip has a feature for you to make an installation from zip files and you could password those.

 

[Ccomp5950]

Tools like UBCD4WIN have this option built into it already but judging by the fact you paid for it I hope it isn't UBCD4WIN (it's free, well minus your licensed copy of XP + Install disks)

Another option: some boot disk software has is to expire the CD but that is using the system clock and is vulnerable to people setting the date back a month or so.

If you are talking about password protecting any CD that could either be very simple or very very complicated for boot CD's what it would require is something like grub built as the main boot "agent" in the CD and a chain loader that after entering in a password finishes booting the original CD.

I haven't looked into the CD/DVD boot process enough to know if chain-loading is even possible or not but I imagine it is.

---Ninja Edit---

A quick google search later about grub and this is my findings.

http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/legacy/grub.html#Making-a-GRUB-bootable-CD_002dROM

and

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1369019

For password protection.

 

[Xander]

Truecrypt.

Free and easy.

 

[Velvis]

Why would a client of yours have any interest in a technicians disc?

Does is really matter that you paid for software and you left a disc behind?

I'm guessing whatever software it is, its available somewhere for free regardless of you leaving it behind.

Why not just go back and grab your disc?

Seems to me your worries and concerns could be used in more useful places.

 

[Martyn]

I use Zalmans. for most things but I suppose I have the same issue in that I could leave that at a clients. If you use a usb device you could always connect your car keys to it as I used to in my last company.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Truecrypt.

Free and easy.

+1 on that.

Fast easy and has Win/Mac/Nix versions.