Getting Past Software Restriction Policies

Those schools with a good IT background (has FTP for students e.g.) would usually set Software Restriction Policies on the computers to limit students (in forms of Games, malicious software or hacking). The main thing that students get irritated at is the inability to play games on the school computers. Of course, when you are supposed to do work, you'd better do so. There is also the frustration of not being able to run productivity applications (e.g. notepad++). Then there are also offices which have them. I shall not elaborate, as I am a mere student. The troubles are, however, still similar.

I will demonstrate a generic method to get past the SRP, and some short cuts and tips to improve speed and efficiency. I AM NOT LIABLE FOR YOUR USE OF THIS INSTRUCTABLE

UPDATE: For speedy tips, go to step 4.

Step 1: Checking Restriction Type

The first thing you should do is to check how far you are restricted. If you are restricted too far, even this instructable may not help you.

1) If you are in school, and there is a IT subject that they have there, check if they are learning a programming language that involves executables (e.g C++, Basic, Batch) . Ask one of the students of there is a certain filename that enables them to run the program that they compiled, and where does the special filename work (e.g in the computer labs only).

I had the luck (~whatever~ *rolls eyes*) of learning C++, and we needed to name the compiled file "cpp1.exe" (where 1 could be another 1 digit number) to be able to run it. Unfortunately, that only worked in a particular computer lab, and I had to change the program name everytime I ran it. It was troublesome...

2) If the above does not work, or that you feel it is not the best solution like me, what you should do an elementary check of is whether you can run from the temporary directory. The simplest way to do this is to get a standalone program (one that does not need DLLs or Binaries to run) and send it to a zipped archive. Then try to run it directly from the .zip file. If it works, you are in luck and most likely on the way to running full programs on the computers.

3) If all tests do not work, sorry, I have not met the circumstances to be able to help you. This instructable will be of no help to you. Sorry. (Even better, write to the admins)

Now you know which method to use. If it is the first, goodbye. I won't be helping you. If it is the second, carry on.

Step 2: Initalising Your Program Files

Now you know you can run your program from the temporary directory. What next? Firstly, make sure your program files are not all over the place. You need them quickly. If you have a whole folder with all the files, don't worry. Who I am directing the above to is those who have programs which share some files, and you don't want to be copying extra stuff.

With that settled, you have one more thing to do. Zip an executable like for the test, and don't close it or any warning messages that appear due to missing runtime files. If you do not have one handy, just open Notepad, type "PAUSE" and save it as a batch file (extension .bat) and zip it. Once the program is running, go to Explorer, type %TMP% in the address bar and go. This is your temporary folder. If you have "Show Hidden Files and Folders" activated in Folder Options, you will see a directory named "Temporary Directory n for x" where n is just a number (usually 1) and x is the name of your zip which you ran the program from. If you cannot see it, just type it directly into the address bar. We will thus call this folder "tmpdir"

Ok, for those who really need to see pictures, here they are. The zip is out.zip (from previous step).

Step 3: Run! (no, Not Literally)

Yay! You are almost there! Now it is almost done. Now, copy all your DLLs, runtime files etc into tmpdir. Also, you must check if is the main program in the original program folder, as some programs have a "Program" directory with all the programs in it, and thus everything else needs to be one folder up in the folder hierarchy (in this case, copy it into the %TMP% directory).

Now, either take the risk and close the error, quickly run the program and pray for everything to fall into place; or run the main exe in tmpdir and wait for it to finish loading, then close the error.

If all the above went well, then congrats! You can now run your favourite program (whether productivity apps or games) in either school, office or elsewhere.

For an even shorter method that I just found out, go on.

Step 4: A Shortcut

Actually, you could have just copied everything into the %TMP% folder. Why bother with tmpdir?

Well, I had a few reasons for using the tmpdir for so long and not experimenting with it. It was because tmpdir is good for emergency plug outs: the folder is destroyed once the exe is closed. This is good when you want to go stealth.

So, there is your warning, but of course you can choose to ignore.

NOTE: I may have edited this, but there may still be updates. Come back in about another week.