Images Prevent Installation Of Programs From Removable Media Source In Windows

Sometimes we use removable media such as CD-ROMs, floppy disks, and DVDs to install new programs to Windows. This is a common phenomenon and I think everyone using Windows is familiar to it. But what if anyone else installed some programs to your Windows without your permission, and which compromised your Windows? In such case your Windowsinstallation may get ruined.

Using the concept of old saying that “prevention is better than cure“, if we configure Windows in such a way that it should not permit unknown media installation from removable source, then it will help us to safeguard our Windows fromunknown installations, thus achieving high safety. In this article, I’ll show you the way to prevents users from installing programs from removable media. If a user tries to install a program from removable media, a message appears, stating that the feature cannot be found.

Disable media source for any install using Local Group Policy Editor

1. Press Windows Key + R combination, type put gpedit.msc in Run dialog box and hit Enter to open the Local GroupPolicy Editor.

2. Navigate here :

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Installer

3. In the right pane, look for the setting named Prevent removable media source for any installation and double click on it. You’ll got this:

4. In the above window, select Enabled in order to prevent users to install from removable media source. That’s it! Reboot to get results.

Disable media source for any install using Registry Editor

1. Press Windows Key + R combination, type put Regedt32.exe in Run dialog box and hit Enter to open the RegistryEditor.

2. Navigate to this registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer

3. In the right pane of this location, create a DWORD named DisableMedia using Right Click -> New -> DWORD. Double click on the DWORD so created to modify it, you’ll see this:

4. In the Value data section of above box, input the value equal to 1. Click OK. Close the Registry Editor and reboot to see the results. That’s it!

Hope this helps!