Is there any way to permanently disable internet access on my laptop?

[HumanFemale]

To eliminate distractions when writing, I'd like to uninstall every app from my old netbook, except for Word and iTunes. I'd also like to permanently disable internet access. I don't want to just turn the internet off, but I want to make it so that I can literally never reconnect to the internet ever again, so long as this computer may live.

Is there any way to make this happen? Windows 7 is the OS. Also, I'd prefer not to have to physically take anything apart.

 

[gentledemands]

Oops. Oh. Never. Guess my first explanation (which I edited out here) won't help much. I'd say take it to a tech, but, why not just use a program to end it for say 2 hours at a time. Surely you have that much self control?

 

[johneb87]

You can also remove the drivers for your network adapters, both Ethernet and wireless.

 

[Euphony]

To eliminate distractions when writing, I'd like to uninstall every app from my old netbook, except for Word and iTunes. I'd also like to permanently disable internet access. I don't want to just turn the internet off, but I want to make it so that I can literally never reconnect to the internet ever again, so long as this computer may live.

Is there any way to make this happen? Windows 7 is the OS. Also, I'd prefer not to have to physically take anything apart.

Despite you saying "permanently" there really are degrees to which people refer.

If you simply want the ease of use, therefore the distraction, removed, killing off the drivers as suggested will certainly do the trick. Your machine will likely bitch about "unfound hardware" when you do that so you need to disable the device in device manager as well. Also, be aware., many versions of windows have the drivers built in and will "auto fix" the problem for you. Netbooks often use very popular wifi radios and such so they will be EASILY supported by windows.

As for a true extinction event, you need to physically cut the wires attaching the wireless radio to the motherboard which is inside the machine. No electricity = no radio. Soldering may fix it but it'd be labor intensive enough that its near extinction as can be without destroying the wifi card with a hammer.

Trouble is, netbooks are small form factor and even less likely than laptops to be able to be opened up and worked on. (open = easy. put it back together? Humpty dumpty)

Find out how your flavor of netbook windows turns off devices and do so. Then remove the drivers. That should slow someone down plenty.

If it has to be never ever ever again. Figure out if you can open the machine. If so, do so. Cut wireless radio connections to mobo. Break off some wiring and diods for good measure.

 

[HumanFemale]

Oops. Oh. Never. Guess my first explanation (which I edited out here) won't help much. I'd say take it to a tech, but, why not just use a program to end it for say 2 hours at a time. Surely you have that much self control?

I saw your original post before you edited. I thought MacFreedom looked like a perfect solution. I was reaching for my credit card, all set to buy it, until I saw that you could circumvent it just by turning your computer off and back on again. Not drastic enough. I'm afraid I don't have that much self control.

If only I could find an app exactly like that, but with no possible way to opt back in once I've locked myself out.

 

[GradeACdnBeef]

You could try what Johnebe suggested but I think windows might install a generic driver as soon as you reboot.

 

[johneb87]

You could try what Johnebe suggested but I think windows might install a generic driver as soon as you reboot.

Good point. But you should be able to turn that feature off.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/82137-drivers-turn-off-automatic-driver-installation.html

Edit: this may be better http://www.addictivetips.com/window...tomatic-driver-installation-in-windows-vista/

 

[HumanFemale]

Find out how your flavor of netbook windows turns off devices and do so. Then remove the drivers. That should slow someone down plenty.

Thanks. This has helped me find what I was looking for in the control panel. I'll uninstall the drivers, and hope that my computer doesn't try to "fix" them for me automatically.

 

[HumanFemale]

Good point. But you should be able to turn that feature off.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/82137-drivers-turn-off-automatic-driver-installation.html

Edit: this may be better http://www.addictivetips.com/window...tomatic-driver-installation-in-windows-vista/

But is there any way to PERMANENTLY disable auto updates? It seems like all I'd have to do is turn auto updates back on, and then my driver would update itself, and then I'd have internet again.

Is physical destruction of some little gizmo inside the computer really the only viable solution?

 

[johneb87]

But is there any way to PERMANENTLY disable auto updates? It seems like all I'd have to do is turn auto updates back on, and then my driver would update itself, and then I'd have internet again.

Is physical destruction of some little gizmo inside the computer really the only viable solution?

You could probably disable it from the registry, but that's getting pretty advanced. You have to make sure you are removing the right registry key or you could break your whole OS.

 

[Noira]

MacFreedom is really great, though. Honestly, rebooting is such a pain in the ass, I reboot my laptop every few months at most, I probably could permanently lock myself out with it.

Why not just try uninstalling all your web browsers, the chat programs, turn off the wifi? Then in order to get onto the internet you'd have to get an install file over to the computer.

Now, if you really don't have that kind of self control, could I recommend... a typewriter? A pen? An AlphaSmart (a lot of people who do Nanowrimo love them, apparently)? How about something ancient, a 386 running Windows 3.0. Use an iPod or something for your music, and write on something that simply doesn't have internet to tempt you, if you really don't have the self control to not turn on and off your computer again I honestly think "writing on something not a computer" really is the only answer.

 

[Saxon_Hart]

But but but....there's still porn to be seen. Oh...You're not talking about my lap top.

 

[SamScribble]

Am I missing something? Or is there a good reason why you don't just log off from your internet connection? Your iTunes Cloud connection might protest but, hey, so what?

 

[oggbashan]

I have the solution on my old laptop.

The wireless connection has failed. It won't connect to the net without plugging in a wire or a dongle. I can write without interruptions and Windows 98 NEVER updates, nor does any other software.

I never link it to another computer. I transfer files either as 3.5 floppies or as CDs.

 

[PennLady]

To eliminate distractions when writing, I'd like to uninstall every app from my old netbook, except for Word and iTunes. I'd also like to permanently disable internet access. I don't want to just turn the internet off, but I want to make it so that I can literally never reconnect to the internet ever again, so long as this computer may live.

Is there any way to make this happen? Windows 7 is the OS. Also, I'd prefer not to have to physically take anything apart.

Do you have another machine that does have access? Or do you intend to never have those files leave the machine?

I have to say, to get a Win7 machine and disable what is a pretty integral part of the system seems a little overkill. I understand the distraction, but I wonder if there isn't a less dramatic way to do things.

I can't remember the names of them, but there are programs out there that will "cover" your desktop and similar things so that you can't see the other icons that might distract you. Yes, you can still turn it off and get back to things but at some point you need to have a little discipline. Which is tough when there's so much out there to distract yourself with.

 

[glynndah]

Why not use the Parental Control program? Set up an account using an "impossible to remember" password and then block all programs but the ones you like. You can still ask for permission to log onto those programs but since you will not have the password, you'll have to just go back to figuring out how to get Mitzi back with Duke without his wife finding out.

 

[Noor]

Don't have any internet service?
Use an old computer that won't connect?

 

[Saxon_Hart]

Delete the networking drivers?

 

[Noor]

Avoidance rarely works long term, just saying...

 

[Tyro999]

Low-tech solution - unplug the cable connecting your laptop to the Internet. Plug it in again when you want to access the internet.

[An oh-no moment of temporary senility. Sigh.]

 

[InternetAlias]

You can disable it at the software level or the hardware level. Hardware level would be physically unplugging or hobbling the adapter but as mentioned this will require some tech ability. Frankly it's also a waste of a working device and, considering it's a netbook, limits your recovery options if something were to go wrong with the software installation.

If you can get into your BIOS at the start of the boot process you might be able to disable the network adapter there.

Otherwise:

Control panel
Device manager
find your networking adapter
Right-click, properties
Driver tab, disable.

It should stay disabled until you explicitly re-enable it, unlike simply uninstalling drivers.

If this is not enough to prevent you re-enabling it, the suggestion about setting up a restricted user account from an admin account with an awkward password is probably a fairly bulletproof option IF you set up the account properly before 'misplacing' your password. You could probably also use this admin account idea to restrict your ability to re-enable the hardware in Windows.

Overally, it's probably a good idea to retain the option to get the connection back. Without software updates, you should be cautious plugging USB sticks etc in because the netbook will obviously fall behind the times security-wise.