Today, I would like to share a tip with you on "How to make USB Storage Device Read-Only Mode?" I guess most of you are well know about USB storage device. (Here is the explanation in case some of you may not know about it. USB storage device is a peripheral unit that holds data such as disk, tape or flash memory card)

It is a very useful device for us. Especially for people like us(programmers). We may want to copy the unfinished coding or documentation into USB storage device and bring back home to continue on it. So, what is the reason of we want to make our USB storage device as Read-Only Mode??

It can be many reasons. One of the important reason is we may want to prevent people steal our important data/information from our PC when we are not around. Some of the company totally banned staff carry USB storage device during working hours in order to avoid people stole company important information.

Here is the step on How To Make USB Storage Device Read-Only Mode?

Step 1: Click on the Start->Run, type in Regedit and press Enter.

Step 2: In the registry windows, navigate through KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control.

Step 3: Right click on Control and select New and then Key. Call the new key StorageDevicePolicies.

Step 4: Right click on StorageDevicePolicies and select New and then Dword. Name the new dword WriteProtect.

Step 5: Right click on WriteProtect and select Modify. Set the value to '1′ and enter 'OK'. Now, the USB storage devices is been set to Read-Only Mode.

Additional step: Right click on WriteProtect and select Modify. Set the value to '0′ and enter 'OK'. Now, the USB storage devices is been reset to writable mode(original status/mode).

(Note: We only tested it on Windows XP environment and it works fine)



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Sorry i dont get it.....
Making the pendrive read-only means u cant save/write on the pendrive..
So how do u bring your work back to home to continue working?

It just a tip for us to prevent people steal our important data/information from our PC when we are not around.

FYI: Some company practise is totally disable the USB storage device feature.

I respect you for sharing this info with us, but I doubt that it's a self written guide.

yup, is tested by me:p.

This post has been edited by ah_fei78: Apr 4 2007, 03:08 PM

Nice tip...
But its too much hassle just for that purpose...
Logout is much easier

Thanks...never knew that. but nowadayds USB drive manaement tools are available in the market specifically to prevent USB storae device abuse. Highly useful when used to manage large coporation with USB data transfer policies and education line where students and lecturer like to plug USB storage devices everywhere.

good tip..thnks for sharing.