s about installing Win10
s about installing Win10
I looked for a definitive response but found nothing clear. My university assignments require me to install Respondus Lockdown Browser. It restricts access and alters your system settings when active, which is problematic. From what I understand, this behavior resembles malware. I’m not arguing about the program itself, just seeking a workaround. I tried setting it up in a virtual machine using all available methods, but it blocked me completely. Instead, I partitioned a drive and installed Windows 10 there, booting only when necessary. This keeps the rest of my PC clean. For a 50GB partition during the semester, is that sufficient? I’m aware Windows can behave unpredictably with smaller storage. Any red flags about the drive or its performance? The free space is nearly 2TB, but I don’t want to slow it down because it’s a mechanical drive.
I considered it but I’m not as tidy as I think I should be. I don’t want to lose the USB, so I’m saving it on an installed drive. I prefer a neat setup with no cables plugged in and everything working smoothly. Sadly, all my USB ports are taken. I might search for a hub and organize things together. I’m also on a budget of $99. My wife and kids rely on my paychecks. My hardware is fairly old—just got a Ryzen 1600X after the 2000 announcement and prices fell. I have USB 3.0 and one USB-C port, but the C side is taken by my Oculus. Do they make type C hubs? I could try one and use an external drive that supports type C, keeping them separate so there’s no conflict.
I believe a type-C hub isn't really practical unless they actually produce them. I'm unsure if you'll choose a Thunderbolt alternative because you're budget-conscious. To keep things simple and avoid mess, you might still use a freed partition on one of your current drives. For me, I'd prefer the USB external flash drive option first. It ensures you won't interfere with your existing setup and keeps everything safe. You can always wipe everything if needed. I use an external bootable drive for PCs with important data to protect. Your decision is up to you.
Windows 11 needs a bare minimum of 64GB. Windows 10 can technically run on 32GB, but 64GB is safer for smooth updates. Aim for at least a 128GB drive if you have more than 1TB available. This provides enough room for Office plus OneNote (be aware Office may treat dual boot as separate devices, possibly using extra licenses—ideally keep five PCs with free Office 365 student licenses; iPad, iPhone, Android tablets/phones count as devices too). For a web browser with cache space, Spotify, and small apps, you’ll need ample storage to avoid frustration. Having plenty of free space prevents Windows from slowing down, avoids defragmentation issues, supports updates and rollbacks, and keeps your system stable for school use. After installation, you can activate a security mode similar to S Mode by selecting "Microsoft Store only" under Settings > Apps panel.
I set up Windows 10 on the 50GB drive I created. I downloaded the required lockdown browser and tried to restart, but there were no options to shut down or restart. I realized this was malicious software and compared it to others who didn’t think much of it. I had to install NVIDIA drivers to fix display issues. The worst part was that the malware prevented me from switching to my preferred main display—my three remaining ones are centered, while my center remains unused. It also blocked any other restarts or shutdowns. This is 100% malware, and I’m relieved it was in a separate partition.
I just installed 50GB on the new OS and had to add NVIDIA drivers for all three displays to function properly. I also set up the browser and examined it closely. It’s clearly malware—it’s trying to send everything it can to its source and making harmful registry changes. It seems to want full access to my system. This program is sending all my data to its servers, which is unacceptable. I’m really glad it’s already installed. Please be aware of how dangerous this is. Do not install it on your main drive. This is extremely suspicious, and I’ll wipe it after each semester.
I consistently follow a routine to ensure stability when I think about potential virus or malware threats. First, I use a clean external drive for storage only, keeping all my necessary files there. Then I disconnect all connected drives from the motherboard. Next, I install a 64-bit OS thumb drive along with reliable antivirus and anti-malware programs. After that, I move all my important files to the drive I just placed them on. While offline, I scan the entire drive for any infected files. Once done, I disconnect everything and wipe the drive clean. After that, I reinstall everything from scratch, restarting the system and applying all security updates. I also install my firmware and apps post-update, then verify the system is virus-free before restoring the drive. This process has proven effective over more than a decade of experience setting up and maintaining my own hardware. Good luck!
My main worry is how the program interacts with the registry. I managed to work around the issue by isolating a partition and preventing access to other drives. I use this program 4 to 6 times a year, which makes me feel okay about sacrificing 50 gigabytes to keep everything secure. I don’t really enjoy the fix, but it functions for my needs. Will I be satisfied? Probably not. I’ll likely live with it and perform a complete drive wipe later.