How do I block access to my external drive for standard user accounts?

[eatingscabs]

I am running Windows 7 Ultimate. The external drive is a Seagate, if it matters. I have someone coming to visit, and I set up a user account for them. I noticed that that user account can still access my external drive. Is there a way to change this? I'd prefer for them to not even see it as an existing drive, but keeping him blocked from accessing the drive is the main goal.

Thank you!

 

[Layback Bear]

Unplug your external drive and put it in a safe place.

 

[eatingscabs]

Unplug your external drive and put it in a safe place.

LOL. I kinda knew that answer would come up at some point.

Seriously, though. Is there no relatively easy way to do it otherwise?

 

[Golden]

Hi,

To hide it, simply remove the drive letter in Disk Management - however it will be invisible to all users. You can assign it back later if you need to.



Another option is to modify a registry key, but I've never used that method - be more cautious with this:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/hide-drives-from-your-computer-in-windows-vista/

You can also protect the contents of the drive by:

1. Right-click on the external drive
2. Click the Security tab
3. Select the user and deny them any permissions



Regards,
Golden

 

[Layback Bear]

If I may ask a question.
If one stops the external drive from being seen on usp port number 1 and the quest just plugs the external drive into another usb port number 2 will the external drive be seen by the guest?

 

[edee]

The easiest thing to do is like Layback Bear said before, unplug the drive and put it away until your guest leaves. The next easiest thing to do is to Google for a file / folder hider software, I use free hide folder, you can hide as many folders as you want with password protection, the external drive will still show with the volume you have taken up on it but you will not be able to see the files / folders you have hid. Of coarse you can get around software like this by selecting "show all hidden files" in folder and search options.

I don't know what it is that you are trying to hide from your guest, I can only speculate , if whatever it is that is on that drive that has brought you here to ask that question ......... just unplug it and put it away until your guest leaves, that is the ONLY sure fire way of them not seeing what is on it, if you leave it plugged in, everything else has a work around to get to the files, just depends how computer savy your guest is.

 

[Golden]

If I may ask a question.
If one stops the external drive from being seen on usp port number 1 and the quest just plugs the external drive into another usb port number 2 will the external drive be seen by the guest?

No, I dont think so...the hiding is based on drive letter assignment, not USB port number.

 

[Layback Bear]

Thank you Golden for the info.