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carlosdl
63,580 pts.
 Disabling USB flash drive use via group policy
Group Policy, Security, USB Flash drives, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows XP
Do you know of a way to effectively disable USB flash drives while permitting other USB devices on client computers through a group policy? Our systems administrator has tried a couple of alternatives, but some of them completely disable the USB ports, and others just block some specific types or models of flash drives. The servers are running Windows Server 2003, and the clients are XP and Vista. Thanks.

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ASKED: April 30, 2009  6:07 PM
UPDATED: April 19, 2013  2:02 PM
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Hi Carlos, this post on Petri's site is a step by step guide to do it. Hi Sir, It didnt work for me..i have not seen Custom Policy Settings>Restrict Drives in my GPO Hope you help me with this... Thanks It’s possible to simply disable USB ports support in PC BIOS in order to prevent and forbid computer user from using USB removable flash drive or mass storage device (portable hard disk drive) to copy and transfer data and files. However, disabling USB ports totally also shutdown the ability for system to use USB based keyboard, mouse, webcam, printer, scanner and etc, which has become a common connectivity norm in modern computer. As a workaround, use the following registry hack to stop USB Mass Storage Device drivers from starting when the system boots up. Run Registry 1. Editor (regedit). Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesUsbStor 2. 3. In the right pane, double click on the Start value name. Storage Economics Paper IDC Paper- Drive Down Overall Cost of Storage Infrastructure. www.HDS.com FTDI Embedded USB Host IC Vinculum - new range of easy to use USB Host Chips from FTDI www.Vinculum.com Disable USB Removable Mass Storage Devi
Last Wiki Answer Submitted:  April 19, 2013  2:03 pm  by  Michael Tidmarsh   14,015 pts.
All Answer Wiki Contributors:  Michael Tidmarsh   14,015 pts. , Petermasamba   30 pts. , Admin89   85 pts. , alessandro.panzetta   9,695 pts.
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Thanks Alessandro.

We will give it a try.

carlosdl
 63,580 pts.