Show or Hide Drives in My Computer

There are times when I want to hide one or more of my Windows drives because of security reasons (children getting up on the system and messing up everything or if the computer is in use by multiple people). For theses reasons, I would just prefer to hide my data in a safe place .. and if one of my drives is full of sensitive information, I would rather hide the drive from My Computer.
There are two ways of doing it, one from the group policy editor and the second from registry editor. I will explain both of them here:
1-Hiding drives using Group Policy Editor
Go to Start –> Run –> gpedit.msc
The group policy editor will open. Go to the following node:
User Configuration –> Administrative Templates –> Windows Components –> Windows Explorer
Now go to the right hand window and double click the value “Hide these specified drives in My Computer”, select enable and select the drives from the drop down menu.
This is restrictive in the sense that it only specifies drives up to D drive. Or all the drives can be hidden.
2-Hiding the drives using Registry Editor
To open the registry editor
Go to Start –> Run –> regedit
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer

In the right hand pane, right click –> new –> DWORD Value
Rename it to “NoDrives”
(without quotes)
To calculate the value, add together the numbers for the drives you want to hide, using the formula: A=1, B=2, C=4, D=8, E=16, F=32, G=64, H=128, I=256 and so on. Put the result in the NoDrives key value. Remember to select decimal instead of HEX from the NoDrives key. For Example if I want to hide C and F drives, C+F = 4+32 = 36. Put the value 36 in NoDrives key.
Alternatively, you can use this online tool for calculating the drive values. It’s a lot easier than calculating by hand.
Note: Always use the registry editor with caution because, if used inappropriately, it can mess up the whole system. I recommend creating a restore point before getting your hands on the registry editor.


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Comments

15 responses to “Show or Hide Drives in My Computer”

  1. chiaw

    hi.. i trying to hide my driver.. but i think i have pressed wrong things. now i cannot right click on my windows.. can help me solve it? tq

  2. chiaw

    oh. is ok i fix it already..

  3. Sanix

    Cheers Chiaw!! glad that you fixed it yourself .. keep visiting.

  4. weilee

    hi.. thanx for the information.
    and now i have a question in my mind,
    how should i do, if i want to hide drives only for some users/groups not all of them?
    thanx in advance.

  5. kavi

    thank you experts, this Adware XP Antivirus 2008 and Vista Antivirus 2008 has done lots of damage,more from them i could repair except getting back C Drive in MY COMPUTER, which i got back with the help of Technize Experts only. Thank you Team, Thank you Sanix

  6. LadySusi

    My D: drive is showing in my computer it is a USB My Book.
    It will not open……..say’s to contact Computer Administrator, and that would be me.
    I’m not sure how to open it.
    I never set it not to open.
    Could you tell me how I can get it open.
    I can boot into safe mode and open it but not in wondows.
    Thanks,
    Susi

  7. khubilal menaria

    sir please help me..i could not show hidden files and folders in view-folder options in the tools. In the tools folder options has been show but i can’t show hidden files and folders..pls help me.. i m waiting for your reply.

  8. khubilal menaria

    sir please help me..i will not show hidden files and folders in view-folder options in the tools. In the tools folder options has been show but i can’t show hidden files and folders..pls help me.. i m waiting for your reply.

  9. GueS

    Boss plz help me
    how should i do,Using Group Policy Objects to hide specified drives for other users/groups
    Thankz

  10. GueS

    weilee :hi.. thanx for the information.and now i have a question in my mind,how should i do, if i want to hide drives only for some users/groups not all of them?
    thanx in advance.

  11. Guest

    If I hide a drive from other users from my work computer does that set off a red flag when my company scans my computer for inappropriate content or will it be hidden from them too.

  12. ganesh

    hi guys.. then how to enable the C: drive ?

  13. Karanarjun

    My computer dos not show any drive,when i open my computer only show Shared document & presnol document.How to show……A,B,C,d and removel drive.   

  14. mg

    good day everyone…
    i tried to hide all my drives in gpedit and it works but
    when i try to “do not restrict all drives” and i try to open each drive
    it say “Restriction(This operation has been cancelled due to restriction in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator. ”
    Please Help me.. Thanks

  15. Suni

    hi…Guys…I also try to enable the D: drive….but I m not success….
    plz help me….