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How-To: Disable and Re-enable USB Storage Devices

Monday, 11 February 2008, 10:06 | hacking, hacks, How-To, Microsoft, Technology, Tips, Tools, Tricks, Tutorials, Windows | 149 Comments | Read 2100 Times
by Vaibhav Pandey

The motivation behind writing this post came when over the weekend, i got a chance to meet a few friends who happen to work with an IT Giant here in Bangalore. After a cup of coffee and usual discussions, one of them pointed out that they have an interesting situation in their office, wherein the System Admin team has disabled access to the USB Port thereby leaving their iPods, Digi cams, USB Sticks useless in workspace environment.

USB Storage disabled

As per the Microsoft knowledge base article 823732 which contains instructions on how to disable USB storage access for a certain group of users this diabling and re-enablement of USB ports is based on a simple registry entry.

To disable the access to USB port, in windows XP and 2000, follow the steps below
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.

To re-enable a disabled port, follow these steps below

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 3, click Hexadecimal (if it is not already selected), and then click OK.
6. Quit Registry Editor.

However, there can be other ways too to bypass this issue, one of the easiest is to invest in a PS2 to USB port convertor.

Also read: How not to get Phished,Learn from Phil the Fish

Bluetooth hacking: Essential tools.

Spoofing Explained : Another attempt to cover Hacking fundas

Learn to Hack :)

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Cheers

Vaibhav Pandey



Follow me on Twitter at @vaibhav1981

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  • HR

    Admin is using Symantec Endpoint Protection to Disable the USB devices on my system. How do i enable Pendrive access?

    editing the registry does not help, as symantec blocks access to pendrive after the computer detects it. Please help on how to deactivate symantec endpoint protection.

    Note: I have adminstrator rights on my PC, but certain settings of symantec endpoint protection cannot be changed, would be grateful if anyone help

  • Abdul baree

    I tried with windows xp service pack 3
    My USB port is disabled. By default the value in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UsbStor
    start is 3.
    But still it is not enabled. Could be please help me to get the USB port enabled?

    also i try above solution in administrator ? .. still problem

    Thanks

  • http://CapturedTech.com Steve

    Stop the Symantec services that are running on your desktop and then insert the USB device. The Endpoint application will not be running. Remove the device and restart the computer when finished.

  • ganesanm

    really speaking, wonderful guidelines, for the layman like me ; I have recently downloaded a free trial version of USB Block software to see that how it works. However, I have uninstalled after a few trails within a couple of day. By it doesn’t allow me to utilize my USB port to read. Based on your guidelines , I have gone inside registry and changed the value into 3(enable). Thanks a lot!!!!
    01/08/2010

  • nidhi

    hi all
    can any 1 of u plz help me in disabling/blocking BLUETHOOTH in windows through code in c++/vc/MFC..
    thanks..

  • SARATH S R

    Dear sir,
    My company has blocked the usb in a manner that we cant copy anything from system to any storage media…
    this is through a software…and when try to copy it shows that its locked.
    please help.

  • Basiru

    I tried to re-enable a disabled port, but it cannot work can you please help me

  • Basiru

    my usb port into my computer is block. Can you please help me.

  • Loubenia

    I just bought a Seagate 160 gb external drive, my old dell computer I think is about to crash and I want to secure my music,pictures and documents, I connect it to all the USB ports and nothing happens but the port where I connect on recognizes it and says it is working properly, I don’t know how to find it (the seagate) to drag and drop the files, it does not appear on my computer as an external drive and can’t find it any were to make an icon to open it. any ideas what am I doing wrong??……………Thanks

    Luly

  • datta

    tis trick not work on my computer plz tell me another trick

  • http://hotmail.com sarah

    i’ve just read the article. and i’ve tried it in our office but it doesn’t work. and my friend told me that when i tried to enable the usb port it will be registered in our administrator. is it true.??? i’m coz my boss will get mad at me if he know that i enable the usb port

  • balu

    i dont understand how a PS2to USB converter will help us to access the data and transfer it to pen drive. Can you pls explain that

  • kadam

    Thanks Vaibhav…, giving the permissions did work..!!

  • rishi

    Hi Vaibhav,

    Our office has actually done a clever thing and not disabled the USB drives but they have restricted access to any usb, hard drives, cameras, etc using Trend Micro. Anyway of disabling that?

    Thanks for your help.

    Rishi

  • http://ittechsolution.com Tech solution

    Is this fix applies for system which Symantec end point protection ?

  • ankit namdev

    ur tip is not working in my collage . they handle all pc by a server ..
    and they do not permit the usb storage devices.
    what can i do for this problem
    help yaar vaibhav

  • http://www.lombrices.cl JP

    Hi, I need help, my company has Mcafee Host Intrusion and they decided lock my usb ports, I have administrative rights but I don’t know how unlock my USB Ports.

    Thanks in advance

  • http://www.psdconverted.com Liza Gonzalês

    I have worked with couple of companies but recently I came across this company http://www.psdconverted.com and was pleasantly surprised with the kind of response they gave at times of sales and while developing my project. I would recommend more people to use their services.

  • subhash sharma

    hi i hear somebody told me about this pendrive is disable but i dont no how can i do it ….but when i follow ur rules after that i did it …

    thanks for ….thank you

  • Sandy

    Freiends, I have a situation here. While connecting the USB pen drive on the port its recognizing the device & installing the driver software. But next then Symentec Endpoint Solution blocked it. As system admin made some policy to block the device. But I can use the port for USB mouse & keyboard. Already tried for regedit but its not working..

    Is there any way to enable it.

  • Razor

    How to bypass USB Block Software?

    Dear all, my computer administrator has blocked the USB ports using a software named “USB Block” version 1.3.0. when i insert the usb the same is recognized, and even i could see my usb in the “MY COMPUTER” but when i double click it, it says that the drive is not accessible and access denied.

    Please help me, im badly in need of it please help.

  • http://www.superoldcars.com Old cars

    Thanks for this useful tips. It works for me.

  • http://nil vinay

    are u using windows 7

  • Hawran

    u00a0It works only on already installed storages. Read Microsoft knowledge base article 823732 for full usb stroage block

  • Jeevan

    My USB is write protected. u00a0Above techniques not helped for me. u00a0I am trying this to enable from past 6 months. Many people gave ways to enable.. but no one has worked.. u00a0……. u00a0 u00a0jeevantpt22@gmail.com

  • Jeevan

    also i am using WinXP – SerPack-2u00a0

  • Nagigundala

    My pendrive not working , and it is showing access deniednwhat i want to don

  • jaklin

    I had done all the steps for reopen the usb port by the computer send me this message:ncan not edit start:Error writting the values new contents.nplease help me in solving problem.n

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_M2ZMSKXTBP7LJZ7WDWRLT7BUDQ Datct

    My USB has protected by Kapersky and i’not admin. what should i do to enable/ disable my’ USB

  • Deachix

    Fisher Capital Management

    I would like to hear more information from your side.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_D6YMGD5DQ73XDXRKO22MI6HL5M Lucia Twain

    Fisher Capital Management Warning News
    Thanks a ton for spending some time to detail this all out for us. It truly is a great help!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WZ7QKTIBDVXRFTYLHGKJYWFOQU Kim Reynolds

    Just another tip to you is that you should introduce any Translator Application for your Global Readers .
    Fisher Capital Management

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TRITRIG44E5OU3B6IAXDDPIABE Mariahn Lewit

    Very nice, i suggest webmaster can set up a forum, so that we can talk and communicate.
      Fisher Capital Management Warning News

  • Anonymous

    I am constantly searching for good info on this topic. It can be difficult to find sometimes. Thanks!. I will check back on your site from time to time for more information. fisher capital management

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  • Dhaneshramakrishnan

    Thank  you very much

  • http://blackhawkmines-online.com/ mil
  • Salim Alismaili

    i want unblock usb port

  • Theza_deleon

    how about if the run is also disabled?

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