Windows 7 - USB Storage Device - Enable or Disable Connecting

   Information

This will show you how to allow or prevent all users from being able to connect a USB storage device and be installed in Windows 7, Vista, and XP.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Note

When disabled (prevented), Windows will not recognize or allow read and write access to all USB storage devices for all users.

This only affects USB storage devices like a USB thumb drive or a external USB HDD. It does not affect wireless keyboard/mouse USB adapters, wireless USB modems, etc.....

1. To Disable Users Connecting a USB Storage Device

A) If you have not ever already done so, you must connect a USB storage device (ex: USB flash drive) to the computer now, and wait until Windows installs it and displays it in the Computer window with an assigned drive letter.
NOTE: This only has to be done once with any USB storage device to add the registry entries in step 5 of OPTION TWO below.

B) When finished connecting as above, disconnect the USB storage device.

C) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Disable_Connecting_USB_Storage_Devices.reg

D) Go to step 3.

2. To Enable Users Connecting a USB Storage Device
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Enable_Connecting_USB_Storage_Devices.reg

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Continue (UAC-Vista) or Yes (UAC-Windows 7), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

1. If you have not ever already done so, you must connect a USB storage device (ex: USB flash drive) to the computer now, and wait until Windows installs it and displays it in the Computer window with an assigned drive letter.
NOTE: This only has to be done once with any USB storage device to add the registry entries in step 5 below.

2. When finished connecting as above, disconnect the USB storage device.

3. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press Enter.

4. If prompted by UAC, then click on Continue (Vista) or Yes (Windows 7).

5. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\USBSTOR

6. To Enable Users Connecting a USB Storage Device
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) In the right pane of USBSTOR, right click on Start, and click on Modify. (see screenshot below step 5)

B) Type in 3 and click on OK. (see screenshot below)

C) Go to step 8.

7. To Disable Users Connecting a USB Storage Device

A) In the right pane of USBSTOR, right click on Start, and click on Modify. (see screenshot below step 5)

B) Type in 4 and click on OK. (see screenshot below step 6B)

8. Close regedit.

9. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.