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Disable Write Access to USB Hard Disk and Flash Key Drives

There is a registry hack that able to disable the USB drive access to USB mass storage device such as flash drive, USB key, thumb drive, pendrive and portable hard disk while keeping the USB hardware device such as webcam, mouse, keyboard, printer and scanner connected to USB ports working as usual. However, the hack disable the USB access to disk drive completely. User cannot copy data to the USB disk storage, nor able to read any files and documents from the USB drive.

For user who just want to disable write access to the external removable USB mass storage disk drive, there is another registry hack of WriteProtect in StorageDevicePolicies registry key that able to restrict Windows system from writing to the USB disk drive, and hence effectively user to copy any sensitive or private data from the PC to USB key stick. The trick works in a similar way to write-protect feature used in floppy disk and backup tape which make the disk read-only, only that in this case, it’s system wide implementation that block any writing and recording of data to USB mass storage device.

To disable writing access to USB drives and make all USB drives has only read-only access, follow these steps:

1. Run Registry Editor (regedit).
2. Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control
3. Create a New Key named as StorageDevicePolicies.
4. Highlight StorageDevicePolicies, and then create a New DWORD (32-bit) Value named as WriteProtect.
5. Double click on WriteProtect, and set its value data to 1.

4 Responses to "Disable Write Access to USB Hard Disk and Flash Key Drives"
April 11, 2009 at 8:42 AM
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along.A very good information. Thanks for sharing. I like this topic as I am also interested anything related to computer, internet and software. Keep on posting.

Regard
Vik said :
April 12, 2009 at 11:19 PM
Nice informative post. I like your writing style .

Enjoy Blogging :)
Harrison said :
April 14, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Related to USB drives check out this site I read about called portableapps.com You can run Mozilla and a bunch of other stuff on a USB drive then remove it from the computer when you're done. Maybe it's not new but new to me. Cool to use at work.
Anonymous said :
June 19, 2009 at 12:27 AM
good blog

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