HOw i disable access to pen drive

silicon_fusion · 30-09-2009, 03:44 PM

I am using win xp & i want to disable access to pen drive ,when anyone put pen drive in usb port..Is this possible.??

Xeno · 30-09-2009, 04:52 PM

Yep its possible, here's how :

Open Registry Editor. (Start > Run > Regedit)

See the below screenshot

If you cant see the image then,
Link to Image ( click here )

Text version

Navigate to:-
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR

Locate the field "REG_DWORD" with "Start" as name.
Default value is "3", make it "4" to disable USB Mass storage devices.
Revert back to "3" to enable again.

Note:
-Any USB disk which is active while you apply this change will not stop functioning and will work like normal. Other USB disks inserted after the change will not be detected.
-Will not disable any other USB devices like mouse/ keyboard etc.

**asingh** · 30-09-2009, 04:57 PM

^^ Wow Xeno..something I learnt today....!

But one word of advice..since this is a registry edit, it is adviced to take a back-up of the registry before making changes.

Suggestion:
@Xeno : make a regedit file and post it here....! Should not take that long...!

Xeno · 30-09-2009, 04:59 PM

Done.
Learnt this cause my college had a restriction on pendrives ...

just reversed it when i wanted to use the disks and revert it back.

Oh and to the thread starter, don't let anyone else see this

and like asigh said, its always good to backup the files (export them as .reg files) and store it somewhere else (not on the pc you'r making the change)

However this registry edit is quite minor so it doesnt even require a restart.

:EDIT: why doesnt the forum have an option to upload zip files

?
Upload link >> USB-registry keys << (check if its working or not

)