Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut: . 2. Thawing the System Once the login dialog appears:
For decades, Faronics' Deep Freeze has been the default solution in schools, libraries, and internet cafes for "securing" public computers. The pitch sounds perfect: install it, freeze the system, and every reboot magically resets the PC to a pristine, untouched state, vaporizing any malware, clutter, or user errors. For V6.20, however, the reality has become a brittle, outdated, and infuriating burden. The promised "set it and forget it" solution has devolved into a source of constant friction.
Deep Freeze installs a low-level device driver ( FrzState.sys or similar, depending on the exact build) that sits between the file system file structure and the hard disk sub-system. When the system is in a "Frozen" state, this driver intercepts all write requests directed to the hard drive. Instead of committing these writes to the actual disk sectors assigned to the operating system, it writes them to a dynamically managed allocation table or a cache file on a hidden sector.
If you are managing a system and have lost the Customization Code or password, Faronics generally recommends a full reformat of the workstation, as they do not provide "backdoor" passwords for security reasons. Fuck Deep Freeze V6.20
Hold down the key and double-click the Deep Freeze icon in the system tray (lower-right corner of the screen).
If you have lost the password or cannot access the control panel to unfreeze the machine, you are effectively "locked out" of making changes. Here are the methods for dealing with this, often discussed in forums when users search for ways to "bypass" the software: 1. Re-run the Installer
While modern endpoint protection relies on complex AI behavior monitoring and cloud telemetry, Deep Freeze V6.20 was the sledgehammer of simplicity. It turned the hard drive into a block of ice. You could delete system files, download viruses, or fill the desktop with goat memes, and with a single reboot, the machine returned to its pristine, frozen state. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut:
Since this version (v6.20) is nearly 15 years old, modern security systems and newer versions of Deep Freeze have long since patched these exploits. However, for historical or educational context, here is a write-up on how these tools functioned. ❄️ What was Deep Freeze V6.20? Deep Freeze was a popular system recovery solution.
For IT admins with a mischievous streak, V6.20 was the ultimate prop. It enabled a specific brand of "entertainment" known as the Safe Prank. An admin could flip the screen orientation, change the mouse speed, or fill the desktop with terrifying icons, wait for the user to panic, and then simply whisper, "Just restart." This created a "Groundhog Day" dynamic in offices. The computer had no memory, but the users did. It was a shared joke between the IT department and the hardware.
Attempting to kill the Persi0.sys driver or the FrzState2k.exe process usually results in a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) because the software is designed to protect its own processes. Official Support The pitch sounds perfect: install it, freeze the
The Deep Freeze icon should now appear with a red 'X' or be completely disabled, indicating the system is permanently thawed. You can now run the official Deep Freeze installer file and select "Uninstall." Method B: CMOS Clock Manipulation (The Historic Glitch)
Getting Deep Freeze V6.20 installed properly is surprisingly difficult. Error code 0x00000004 appears when the installer can't write configuration files—caused by antivirus interference, insufficient disk space, permission issues, or corrupted installer files.
Sometimes, strangers arrived trembling with a need to be absolved. They came because they had heard rumors: of a house that could teach people their own names again, of a place where one could place a regret on a table and watch it dissolve. They would stand in the doorway and ask to be let in, and I would decide which of their stones I could carry and which they had to hold for themselves. The house never refused them; it simply held their stories until they were willing to hold them back.
: Use the central management console to push a "Thaw" command to the workstation.
If you are struggling with a locked workstation or looking to manage this specific version, here are the primary methods for interaction and removal: 1. Standard Management & Access