How to Restrict Hard Drives in Windows 7 for User Accounts

You can restrict access to a hard drive in Windows 7 for other user accounts in the same computer. This is useful if you have files on a hard drive that you do not want anyone else to access. Only specified user or Administrator will be able to access these. You can also change other settings, such as only allowing a user to view a file and not change it.

Steps to Follow :

  • Log on to your computer with an account with Administrator rights. Click “Start,” type “user” (without quotes) in the automatically selected “Search programs and files” search box and click “User Accounts.” Click “Manage another account.”

     

  • Click “Create a new account,” if you need to create a user account for other people that will be using the computer. If you already have another account set up, go to the next step. You need to have at least your user account and another one set up to restrict access to a drive. Type a name for the user and click “Create Account.”

  • Click “Start” and “Computer.” Right-click the name of the hard drive you want to restrict access to. Click “Properties.”

  • Click the “Security tab” in the “Properties” window that opened. Click “Edit…” and “Add…” in the “Select Users or Groups” window that opened.
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  • Type the name of the other user account on your computer or you can click “Advanced” and then “Find Now”, then select your user account. Click “OK.” Uncheck the boxes to the left of any options that you do not want the user to have available. Check the “Deny” box for “Full control” to disable all control from the user for files on the hard drive.
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  • Click “OK,” “Yes” and “OK.” Close any open windows. Click “Start,” log off of your account and log on as the other user to test your settings.

  • Click “Start,” “Computer” and double-click the name of the hard drive you restricted access to. A window indicating that “Access is denied” is shown. Close the window and log off the computer.

And you are done.

41 Comments

  1. I think this is one of the most important info for me.
    And i am glad reading your article. But wanna remark on some general things, The web site style is wonderful,
    the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers

    Reply

  2. I have been searching for this for so long. I already set up an account before starting this procedure. You could have alerted us before the first step about what the following steps are all about. I jumped right away and boy! I tried and tried but never messed with the ‘Find Now’ Button. I don’t have to deny permissions each time I leave the computer for others to use. Thanks a lot again!

    Reply

    1. Hi Kush Sharma. I successfully hide drivers for the other… But when I try to allow its showing errors… I don’t know what mistake I have done… Please help me to find solution… I am unable to access my drivers from administrator account.. please help me

      Reply

  3. So I accidentally restricted access to my D: to the wrong account (My administrator account). Is there any way to reverse this?

    Reply

  4. Very informative posts!
    I run computer literacy classes for kids, & I want a win 7 ‘group policy’ limit for all ‘users’ accounts (except administrators) to only save in their specific ‘my documents’ folders.

    Reply

  5. hello sir this is anil i have read your article that are really good but i have a problem when i acess with administrator account the drive not open plz help me

    Reply

    1. You right click my computer then you see the manage then you click to open the window when you click the storage option then you click the hide drive click the new volume the drive is formatted and open the hard drive. This the 2nd option

      Reply

  6. How to limit size access to users
    Description: Let us assume, three users are created in computer i.e,. Administrator and two users.
    Administrator has access to use drives and users should have limit to use drive like drive size is 100gb then i want permit user to access upto 80gb only. please help me out

    Reply

  7. I am trying to set up a student lab for a literacy center. Students should be able to run any program installed but not save anything on the hard drive but could use a USB drive. Also don’t want them to make any changes to computer nor download anything. But there are some programs that need to be updated: Adobe Flash, JAVA, Windows, AVAST antivirus. Any suggestions?

    Thank you.

    Reply

  8. So I accidentally restricted access to my D: to the wrong account (My administrator account). Is there any way to reverse this?

    Reply

  9. I did as per u directed …before a month it worked properly ….right now my administrator account says incorrect password or username even I typed the same credential ….please help me out Yarr ….much imp documents r der …plzzz

    Reply

  10. Great instructions – a lot of other geek sites say it can’t be done with windows 7 home but it does work.
    One small point however:-
    I am the Administrator. I wanted to restrict access to a Standard account holder for an external hard drive E.
    For it to work, after unchecking the drive E for allow I needed to check the equivalent boxes for deny. If you don’t do this then the instruction does’t register. I can only assume there are other conflicting permissions. By using the deny boxes, these will override the allow permissions.

    Reply

  11. I tried to restrict access to data only to SYSTEM and to Administrators for an external drive in Windows 7; but, now it is telling me that Access to the Drive is Denied, even though I am logged in as Administrator. Please help! Thanks.

    Reply

  12. i have a problem.i want to block a drive of a server pc’s to a client pc in a network.but at a time that server pc’s drive will access to other pc.can u give a solution for this..??
    pleasee…

    Reply

  13. Its great but I block the access to user as well as me too. I can’t even retrieve data as a administrator so again I install operating system with out losing data. Kindly asks ,does you know retrieve process? If you know the process you will send me the my mail I’d ‘kvmdsmile@gmail.com’

    Reply

  14. This seems great but it did not mention that it would have a pop up that says “Setting security information on:” and scan the entire drive what seems like every file for a long time setting it on each one. Its still running and with 1.79 TB used, might take a while. Is this right? I will see if it actually works maybe tomorrow when it is done. You might mention in the article to expect this, if it is supposed to do it. Hoping it works as it seems it should. Thanks

    Reply

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