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Can i make a Drive / USB Flash Drive READ ONLY?

Hi i was wondering is it possible to make the root directory and like where no part of the whole solid state drive can be written on.

It be a READ ONLY!

this way no virus can get on it.

I want to be able to like add certain things to it then lock it so when i take from computer to computer nothing can write to it only read the way a CD or DVD is :)

How can i do this ?

Thanks in advance.
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Thekiddotus
Asked:
Thekiddotus
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2 Solutions
 
LVL 24
andrew_aj1Commented:
There is no way to do this with a flash drive that dose not have a write protection switch. The only way would to buy a new one with this feature such as this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820183084

I hope this helps. Good luck.
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LVL 66
johnb6767Commented:
Registry Hack to Disable Writing to USB Drives
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/registry-hack-to-disable-writing-to-usb-drives/

You can create a .reg file to enable, and one to Disable.....

Dont know if a virus can get past it though.....
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ThekiddotusAuthor Commented:
that one USB device you said about on newegg is no longer sold =(
Be nice if there was way to do with anyone i had.


And as for other guy who had a aregistry hack thanks.

That helps some but not quite what i am looking for.

Cause that hack wont work on other computer. Only ones i did it to.

I asking cause i want a way to put on to the USB flash drive virus software and tools etc.

And have a way to transfer files from one GOOD computer to the BAD one that has virus this way when doing it it wont affect the good one.

Cause you know how some virus dont let you update or get tools i can do it with the usb drive.

but then by doing it  someitmes it can affect the good one =o(
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LVL 66
johnb6767Commented:
You can mark them all as Read only manually, on the drive.....

Best thing to do is to use a BartPE/Ultimate BootCD.... They have pluings for most apps, so that you have protected files when trying to clean a system. Plus theyre bootable. Higher chance of removing files/registry entries when they are not locked by the OS....

Can even keep an ISO and mount it in Windows, using a VCDControl or similar....

What is the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows?
http://www.ubcd4win.com/

Bart's Preinstalled Environment (BartPE) bootable live windows CD/DVD
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/
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ThekiddotusAuthor Commented:
So far that one that suggest that one USB drive with a switch that make it read only and then switch back to make it writable again was best one.
Unfortunately they dont have anymore of those and i can not get them.
The others are not going to work for me either see.

This is why i have to install all this stuff on each computer to make this usb thing work.
I will be using this flash usb drive for many computers putting it in and out of many computer 100's this why i want to protect it cause i dont want it to get a virus it self.


I use this drive to install necessary file for other infected computers i dont have time to install more so if the computers are not working correctly all this barts stuff.

So does anyone know of a USB drive that i can but that has a switch and are still for sale ?


Thanks./
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LVL 24
andrew_aj1Commented:
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LVL 66
johnb6767Commented:
Guess you didnt like the registry mode? Can easily deploy it in a matter of moments, even without AD...... As long as you have a user account on the target PC's with rights to the registry.....

PSEXEC can do this with no problem, if that was a fear of yours.....

PsExec
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897553.aspx
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LVL 1
TiCpuCommented:
Just for your information, the registry key modified for this read-only trick will affect all other USB Mass Storage device inserted in the affected computer, which means no one will ever be able to write to USB until reverted.
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