How to restrict users from accessing local drives

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January 9, 2016
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How to restrict users from accessing local drives of an RD Session Host server while using RemoteApp programs

 

Removing Favorites and Libraries

You must perform these modifications on the RD Session Host server. You can use the Registry to make these changes.

Using the Registry (applies to all users including the administrators)

Note: Back up the key first and take ownership of the ShellFolder before changing the value of Attributes.

1. For Favorites, the key is:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}ShellFolder]
“Attributes”=dword:a0900100
Changing a0900100 to a9400100 will hide Favorites from the navigation pane.

2. For Libraries, the key is:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}ShellFolder]
“Attributes”=dword:b080010d
Changing b080010d to b090010d will hide Libraries from the navigation pane.

Hiding/Preventing Access to Drives

You can use Group Policy settings to hide and restrict access to drives on the RD Session Host server. By enabling these settings you can ensure that users do not inadvertently access data stored on other drives, or delete or damage programs or other critical system files on drive C.

The following settings are located in the Group Policy Management Console under User ConfigurationPoliciesAdministrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsWindows Explorer:

  • Hide these specified drives in My Computer. You can remove the icons for specified drives from a user’s My Computer folder by enabling this setting and using the drop-down list to select the drives you would like to hide. However, this setting does not restrict access to these drives.
  • Prevent access to drives from My Computer. Enable this setting to prevent users from accessing the chosen combination of drives. Use this setting to lock down the RD Session Host server for users accessing it for their primary desktop.