USB drives and access to all users

  • Thread starter Thread starter Natsman
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Natsman

I don't know if I'm in the correct group for an answer to this one, but
perhaps someone can help.

I administer a number of XP Pro machines, and have fitted a USB2 hub to each
so that users may plug in their own memory sticks.
If I plug in a memory stick as Administrator, the additional drive shows up
with the next available drive letter, and I am able to use it.

If I log in as a user, although Windows recognises the device is present, no
drive letter is issued or available.

I thought this may be something to do with Shares and Permissions, and so
created a share that everyone could use, and the drive became available.

Of course, once the drive was removed and the machine shutdown, next time it
was used I had to go through the whole rigmarole again.

Can anyone suggest how to make this facility permanently available to all
users (other than the Administrator) for any memory stick they choose to put
in the hub, please?

Chris
 
You mentioned a letter that is the first free when
you are logged on as admin. Does the users have a
network share on this letter?
Share letters are user specific and not visible in
the context of the system where Windows assingns
new letters.

If this is the case, change the letter of the user's
network share to a 'high' letter.
If this is no option, you could try to force a letter
for the USB drives using my USB drive letter manager.
http://www.uwe-sieber.de/umbpci_e.html

Greetings from Germany

Uwe
 
Thanks for your reply.

In order for a USB drive to work for a user, it appears necessary to
allocate a Share (other than the Administrator's share).

If a user starts one of these machines, and places a USB memory stick in the
hub, the device is recognised by Windows as a mass storage device, but is
not available in explorer as a drive. I have to go in as an Administrator
and allocate a drive letter to the memory stick, and then allocate a share
to all users before they can see it.

If someone else uses another memory stick, I have to go through exactly the
same process for that person.

It's a bit of a pain....

I will download your utility and give it a try. Thanks again



Chris
 
Natsman said:
If a user starts one of these machines, and places a USB memory stick in the
hub, the device is recognised by Windows as a mass storage device, but is
not available in explorer as a drive. I have to go in as an Administrator
and allocate a drive letter to the memory stick,
Click to expand...

Do you have to change an existing letter or
to allocate a letter at all?
Usually Windows allocates the first free
letter but this one maybe 'hidden' behind
a network share.


Uwe
 
When I go in as and Administrator, windows allocates a drive letter.

If I go in as a user, it doesn't.

Chris
 
Natsman said:
When I go in as and Administrator, windows allocates a drive letter.

If I go in as a user, it doesn't.
Click to expand...

That's very unusual. In the Disk Management, when you have
selected 'Change Drive Letter and Path...' is the appearing
list really empty? You use 'Add...' then, not 'Edit...'?

Uwe
 
As a User, you don't have authority to enter Disk Management - only
Administrators have that option...

Chris
 
CK said:
As a User, you don't have authority to enter Disk Management - only
Administrators have that option...
Click to expand...

Oops, yes.

He could start diskmgmt.msc by means of the runas
command which makes sense in this situation.

I still think that the users have a network share
on the first free local letter and the USB drive
gets exactely this letter and it appears only that
the drive got no letter. Therefore my question if
the letter is edited or added.


Uwe
 
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