Prevent copying of files to USB drive
There are times when you want to prevent others from copying your data but you still need them to be able to view it on your computer. The following tip will help you do exactly that.
As always it is the registry that comes to your rescue. Open the Registry Editor by typing regedit in RUN (WIN+R) dialog (more keyboard shortcuts). Go to th key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\
StorageDevicePolicies
Create a new DWORD named WriteProtect (Right Click on right pane and select New»DWORD). Edit the value and make it 1. Just restart Windows explorer and you are done. Next time somebody tries to copy data to the external storage device they will see
If you need to copy something just make the stored value of WriteProtect to 0
**Tips : to restart Windows Explorer take Shutdown. Click Cancel while holding down SHIFT+CTRL+ALT, this will close Windows Explorer. Now take TASK MANAGER by pressing ALT+CTRL+DEL take File>>New Task>> [ explorer ] and press Enter. **
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Tags: Admin, Error, File, Registry
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You helped me a lot through this code, Could you please tell me the thing that how can i prevent copy even from the USB.
Thnx
Hi Vishwa,
as far as data copying is concerned I cannot tell any specific ways. The only thing practical is disable USB from hardware manager. Or there is an option to disable drives from registry. Please read this to know how to prevent access to drives in Registry.
Hi, this key works fine in XP PRO, but how do i make this work in windows2000 professional
Hi Anand,
thanks for the comment. I haven’t seen a system with Windows 2000 in ages since I am a student. So I do not have a clear cut solution.
Although I tried searching.. I couldn’t find it.
But, I will try to get you an answer by this week. So don’t be disappointed.
BTW please try the following method I had posted earlier.
Setting Access permission to folders in Windows - Linux style
Hi Ajith,
Thanks for the quick reply, i will await your response with respect to win2k tweaking.
Regards, Anand
Hello Ajith: Any good news!
Hi Anand..
Good news and bad news..
I found a way.. but I couldn’t try it on any Win 2000 system..
The method is through management of removable devices.. I will post about it tomorrow..
Hi Ajith:
any Luck?
Hi Ajith: Just following on the Win2K disabling?
Dear Ajith: Any Luck? Tried few tricks it did not work.
Regards, Anand
Well Anand it is real hard to find out something for 2000. I couldn’t even get my hands on one 2000 machine yet… sorry
ajith,you are supercool mate.My problem is that somebody has restricted copying of files from my dvd drive and from usb drives.please help me .
Hi Rajat..
Can you send me some screen shots of errors shown when you try to sopy something from USB. Send them to ajithonly at gmail.com
any lock on vista (no pun intended); should work tho’ since vista is just an XP SP4 - my hdd is basically a server for all the lazy guys who come to rip me off my hard day’s job downloading all kinds of stuff.
Please put your real email if you like to get replies to your mail also
can we apply this to individual folders?
Hi G O please try the method mentioned here
http://www.exnol.com/windows/get-access-to-all-folders-in-windows-like-linux
You can also use this method to prevent access to a folder… Please contact me if you have any problem with this method