I have a 128mb AVB USB 2.0 Flash Drive that I just bought and I want
to figure out a way to make it like a key for my Windows XP machine. 
Basically, when the drive is plugged in, the computer functions
normally.  But as soon as the USB drive is removed, the computer locks
and awaits the key to be replaced into the slot.  Is there any
research out there on this already?  Is there software out there that
supports this?  Any links would be greatly appreciated.

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Request for Question Clarification by supermacman-ga on 27 Sep 2003 22:53 PDT

The security of such devices is always limited because it requires the
loading of USB drivers before such a device would function as
intended.

I don't know of any way to make the USB drive the key, but there are
products similar to what you want:

A USB lock may be purchased from Targus:
http://www.targus.com/ca/accessories_security.asp
... specifically: http://www.targus.com/ca/product_details.asp?sku=PA460C

If you are looking at physical locking mechanisms, consider the
following products:
http://www.kensington.com/html/1434.html

For a cheap solution to limit software access to your laptop, you can
hit Control-Alt-Delete which would bring up a settings menu. Select
"Lock Workstation"; the workstation would then be locked and you will
need to re-enter your password before it can be used. Alternately, you
can logout of your Windows XP session to lock your machine.

Let me know if this is satisfactory as an answer. ;-)

- supermacman

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Clarification of Question by nitr0gen-ga on 29 Sep 2003 18:23 PDT

Sorry, not literally a key, but an electronic key.  Kinda like when
you start a car, you must put the key in to do so.  Well, that but for
a laptop, for the computer to run, you must have the USB "key" in so
it identifies you as the owner and key holder.

You might want the USB fingerprint key from Sony:

It's a memory stick that also doubles as a key for your comptuer. 
Without proper fingerprint ID, you can't access the comptuer, or the
information on the memory stick.

I only know about it from the following article I just read a few
hours ago:

http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2003Oct/gee20031002022024.htm

_Carl.

I have a 128 meg USB drive that came with a program called "PClock"
that does exactly that. You run it from the USB drive, it runs for a
time of your choosing, up to 12 hours, and when you put the drive back
in it turns off again.

It's a sony brand USB drive. If you want, I can email you the program,
although I can understand if you don't trust a total stranger sending
you programs. I also don't know if it works with other USB drives, so
if you do decide to try it, set it to a low setting, in case you can't
turn it off again :)

Here's the one, and it talks about PClock:
http://www.sony.net/Products/Media/Microvault/1-2d.html

sorry if this is an old/dead topic, found this while searching for the
same thing as the user above.

if your computer supports booting from usb, you could select that, and
write a OS loader (like lilo) to your usb stick.

this would take some work, but it would fulfil what you're talking
about. aside from that, I'm not sure how you could make it so that
when you remove it, the computer locks down or whatever. I'm sure you
could do this in linux pretty easily, but I don't know about windows.

While I was searching for a similar thing I came across this web site
that has software that allows you to use a usb flash drive or
smartcard, etc. as a key, the site is: http://www.dekart.com/  The
program is: Dekart Logon, the description of this program as follows:

Dekart Logon - is a software program designed to add the strong
authentication and convenience to the standard Windows logon
procedure. It allows to access Windows driven computers and domains in
an easy, fast and secure way by using different types of hardware
keys. The login and password of the user are entered automatically
once the hardware key is connected to the computer. Users gain the
flexibility to select from different smart cards, hardware tokens, as
well as USB flash drives and other types of removable media to provide
fast and convenient two- or three-factor authentication within their
Windows environment

Hope this helps!