Use the AutoSave feature if your job requires you to leave your computer unattended on occasion. Kind of a PITA while you are working but it is a godsend for the kinds of situations you seem to be confronted with.

Laptop thefts and security are paramount in most IS shops, and administrators are pressured from the top brass to install all sorts of software designed to alleviate these issues. The downloads are mandatory...nothing you can do about it.

I try to keep most unneeded software off my laptop except corporate-compliant applications, so when loads do occur, I don't have to worry about much contention with third party software...keep iTunes, Yahoo Messenger (a real hog btw), and other stupid stuff off the machine!

I have my own personal machines for that sort of thing. The laptop belongs to them, so why gripe about what they want to put on it?

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car