This article discusses two methods that you can use to prevent users from connecting to a USB storage device on a Windows XP-based computer.
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To Disable the Use of USB Storage Devices in Windows XP
To disable the use of USB storage devices in Windows XP, use one of the following procedures, as appropriate to your situation:
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If a USB Storage Device Is Not Already Installed on the Computer
If a USB storage device is not already installed on the computer, assign the user or the group Deny permissions to the following files:
• | %SystemRoot%/Inf/Usbstor.pnf |
• | %SystemRoot%/Inf/Usbstor.inf |
When you do so, users cannot install a USB storage device on the computer. To assign a user or group Deny permissions to the Usbstor.pnf and Usbstor.inf files, follow these steps:
1. | Start Windows Explorer, and then locate the %SystemRoot%/Inf folder. |
2. | Right-click the Usbstor.pnf file, and then click Properties. |
3. | Click the Security tab. |
4. | In the Group or user names list, click the user or group that you want to set Deny permissions for. |
5. | In the Permissions for UserName or GroupName list, click to select the Deny check box next to Full Control, and then click OK. |
6. | Right-click the Usbstor.inf file, and then click Properties. |
7. | Click the Security tab. |
8. | In the Group or user names list, click the user or group that you want to set Deny permissions for. |
9. | In the Permissions for UserName or GroupName list, click to select the Deny check box next to Full Control, and then click OK. |
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If a USB Storage Device Is Already Installed on the Computer
WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. If a USB storage device is already installed on the computer, set the
Start value in the following registry key to 4:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Services/UsbStor
When you do so, the USB storage device does not work when the user connects the device to the computer. To set the
Start value, follow these steps:
1. | Click Start, and then click Run. |
2. | In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK. |
3. | Locate, and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Services/UsbStor
|
4. | In the right pane, double-click Start. |
5. | In the Value data box, type 4, click Hexadecimal (if it is not already selected), and then click OK. |
6. | Quit Registry Editor. |
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