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How to Limit Access of CD/DVD ROM to Locally Logged-On Users Only in Windows 7?

By Codrut Nistor

Posted in How-to, Windows-7

By default network users can access almost any drive on the system using Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path and if the drive is protected by administrative share it can be accessed by typing the UNC path followed by $ using administrative privileges. This configuration is applicable on CD/DVD ROM as well. However in some cases say in typical network environments administrators may want to restrict this feature for various security reasons. As an administrator if you want to configure this setting on your Windows 7 computer unique to follow the steps given below:

  1. Logon to the computer with administrator account.
  2. Click on Start button.
  3. At bottom of start menu in search box type gpedit.msc command and press enter key.
  4. On Local Group Policy Editor snap-in under Computer Configuration expand Windows Settings and then expand Security Settings.
  5. Expand Local Policies and click on Security Options.
  6. From the right pane double click on Devices: Restrict CD-ROM access to locally logged-on user only and on the opened box select Enabled radio button.
  7. Once done click on Ok button and close Local Group Policy Editor snap-in.
  8. Open Command Prompt and in command window type gpupdate /force to update here computer policy with latest configuration.
  9. Close Command Prompt.