| Removable Hard Disk Drives - Allow or Deny Read and Write Access
How to Deny or Allow Read and Write Access to Removable Hard Drives in Vista and Windows 7  Information This will show you how to deny or allow read and write access to all removable external Hard Disk Drives that are connected to your computer for all users.  Note By default, read and write access is allowed for these drives in Vista for all users. You can set to allow or deny only the read or write access, or you can allow or deny both read and write access.  Warning METHOD ONE
Through the Local Group Policy Editor 1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.
2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, System, and Removable Storage Access. (See screenshot below)
3. To Allow or Deny Removable Hard Drives Read Access A) In the right pane, right click on Removable Disks: Deny read access and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)
B) Go to step 5.
4. To Allow or Deny Removable Hard Drives Write Access A) In the right pane, right click on Removable Disks: Deny write access and click on Properties. (See screenshot below step 2)
5. To Allow Read and/or Write Access A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 6)
B) Go to step 7.
6. To Deny Read and/or Write Access A) Select (dot) Enabled and click on OK.
 
7. Close Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.
METHOD TWO
Using a REG File Download 1. To Allow Removable Hard Drives Read Access A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Allow_Removable_Disks_Read_Access.reg
B) Go to step 6.
2. To Deny Removable Hard Drives Read Access A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Deny_Removable_Disks_Read_Access.reg
B) Go to step 6.
3. To Allow Removable Hard Drives Write Access A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.Allow_Removable_Disks_Write_Access.reg
B) Go to step 6.
4. To Deny Removable Hard Drives Write AccessA) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.Deny_Removable_Disks_Write_Access.reg
6. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.
7. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.
8. Click on Run, Continue (UAC-Vista) or Yes (UAC-Windows 7), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
9. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
10. Restart the computer to apply changes.
METHOD THREE
Manually in Registry Editor 1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press Enter.
2. If prompted by UAC, then click on the Continue (Vista or Yes (Windows 7).
3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If RemovableStorageDevices is not there in the left pane, then right click on Windows and click on New and Key. Type RemovableStorageDevices and press Enter.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\RemovableStorageDevices
4. In the left pane, right click on RemovableStorageDevices and click on New and Key. Type {53f5630d-b6bf-11d0-94f2-00a0c91efb8b} and press Enter. (See screenshot below step 6B)
5. To Deny Removable Hard Drives Read Access A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value and type Deny_Read and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
B) Right click on Deny_Read and click on Modify. 
C) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
D) Go to step 8.
6. To Allow Removable Hard Drives Read AccessA) In the right pane, right click on Deny_Read and click on Delete. (See screenshot below step 5B)
B) Click on Yes to confirm delete.
C) Go to step 9.
7. To Deny Removable Hard Drives Write Access A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value and type Deny_Write and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
B) Right click on Deny_Write and click on Modify. 
C) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
D) Go to step 9.
8. To Allow Removable Hard Drives Write Access A) In the right pane of, right click on Deny_Write and click on Delete. (See screenshot below step 7B)
B) Click on Yes to confirm delete.
9. Close regedit.
10. Restart the computer to apply changes.
That's it,
Shawn |  Published by | | Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 29,548 | |
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Applies to | | All Vista Versions | | 64 Bit & 32 Bit | |
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