Jump Drives

[shtick]

Does anyone know how to modify the registry in Windows XP professional so that when a USB jump drive or other USB device is inserted, windows doesn't automatically assign the drive letter f: to it? Living in a novell environment with approx. 500+ users is a nightmare now that more and more users are acquiring flash drives.
Thanks a million for any help!!!

 

[TheLumberingAdmin]

I don't know if its possible through a registry edit. But I think you should be able to change it through the disk management console (Start:Run:diskmgmt.msc). Most USB flash drives show up there. Just right click on it in the console, and there should be an option to change drive letter or path. That works on individual machines... but if you wanted to push it via a group policy or similar... I don't know where to point you (I'm still a relative n00b to XP myself; been a Win2k man for the past few years).

 

[shtick]

Thanks for your reply.
Changing the drive letter in the management console only lasts while that session of windows is active. That change has to be made every time the pc is rebooted. Microsoft has acknowledged the problem but hasn't offered a fix yet. Usually forums like this one offer fixes long before microsoft does.
Keep your eyes/ears open and let me know if a fix becomes available.

 

[Moonspell]

hmm odd. i have a flash drive and when i changed the drive letter on my pc at work it *always* goes back to this letter......

 

[shtick]

Moonspell,
Are you running windows XP prof w/all svc packs? I don't have this problem on my win2k pro machines, only XP.

 

[SCFROMDC]

Maybe there is a way......first, install the drive on a pc(im assuming you have the same os on all)
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MOUNTED DEVICES
Scan it well......each drive has a unique identifier.
Im thinking maybe a logon script could merge the entry...
maybe...

 

[shtick]

scfromdc,
Thanks for the tip. I'll attempt to find the key and make the change.

 

[Moonspell]

sorry been away from pc for a while. yes, xp pro with all patches and sp1 on a corp lan. just seems to work.