Say “it’s my Windows”

Today everyone need to hide or secure data from generic user. Here, I have three simple tricks to hide and restrict use of drive. Windows Vista having option to preform this as well as Windows XP too.

(I) Using Group Policy
(II) Using Windows Registry Trick.
(III) Using Disk Management – An easy & innocent way

(I) Using Group Policy

Run Group Policy: Type gpedit.msc in Run dialog box or in Start Search in Window Vista n hit the enter key.

HIDE DRIVES
Now navigate to: Local Computer Policy >> User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Windows Explorer
look for “Hide these specified drives in My Computer” n double click and set the state “Enabled” n pick one combination to hide specified drives.

NOTE: You can access these drive by typing path or drive letter in Run dialog box or in address bar.

RESTRICT ACCESS
It’s same as above but it restrict access instead of hide a specified drive.
Run Group Policy: Type gpedit.msc in Run dialog box or in Start Serach in Window Vista n hit the enter key.
Now navigate to: Local Computer Policy >> User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Windows Explorer
look for “Prevent access to drives in My Computer” n double click and set the state “Enabled” n pick one combination to hide specified drives.

NOTE: We can hide and restrict specified drive or combination of drives

(II) Using Windows Registry Trick

Its perform the same as above but We can hide or restrict any specified drive or group of drives.
Run Registry Editor and Type regedit.exe” in Run dialog box or in Start Serach in Window Vista n hit the enter key.

HIDE DRIVES
Now navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Right click on right side pane and create a new DWORD value and name it NoDrives

All drives will be visible as long as its value is set to 0. Now set the value of NoDrives in decimal (make sure you have selected decimal not hexadecimal)
Set the value of NoDrives according to following list.

Drive        Value
A        1
B        2
C        4
D        8
–        –
–        –
Z        33554432
All drives    67108863

To hide multiple drives, just add drives value. For example we want to hide B: and D: drives, the NoDrives value should be 2+8=10. Logoff or restart the system to take effect.

RESTRICT ACCESS
Now navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Right click on right side pane and create a new DWORD value and name it NoViewOnDrive

All drives will be visible as long as its value is set to 0. Now set the value of NoViewOnDrive in decimal (make sure you have selected decimal not hexadecimal)
Set the value of NoViewOnDrive according to following list.

Drive        Value
A        1
B        2
C        4
D        8
–        –
–        –
Z        33554432
All drives    67108863

To restrict multiple drives, just add drives value. For example we want to hide B: and D: drives, the NoViewOnDrive value should be 2+8=10. Logoff or restart the system to take effect.

(III) Using Disk Management – An easy & innocent way

It is the simplest way among all three. We can assume that today anyone that have knowledge in Windows Administration; can  remove security. But it’s new and easier. The advantage of this trick is that there is no access via typing path in Run Dialog box or address bar.

Run Disk Management: Right click on Computer or My Computer >> Manage
Now navigate to: Disk Management and select the drive that to be hide and secured. Right click on specified drive n click on Change Drive Letter and Paths. Here click on “Remove” button n “OK” and then “Yes” to commit changes.

DONE !

NOTE: No need to Restrat or Log off Windows. System partition or contain pagefile of Windows partition can’t be hide n secured.

TO COME BACK: REMOVE ALL REG SETTING AND ASSIGN DRIVE LETTER.

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