As per the Microsoft knowledge base article 823732 which contains instructions on how to disable USB storage access for a certain group of users this disabling and re-enabing of USB ports is based on a simple registry entry.
Important: Windows Registry is a weak link in the operating system’s stability and robustness. It’s remarkably easy to damage, but very difficult to repair... Backup your registry before you start modifying the registry entries. Read my other article to know how to backup the registry.
To disable the access to USB port, in windows XP and 2000:
- Click Start, and then click Run.
- In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
- Locate, and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet \ Services \ UsbStor
- In the right pane, double-click Start.
- 5. In the Value data box, type 4, click Hexadecimal (if it is not already selected), and then click OK.
- Quit Registry Editor.
To re-enable a disabled port:
- Click Start, and then click Run.
- In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
- Locate, and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ UsbStor
- In the right pane, double-click Start.
- In the Value data box, type 3, click Hexadecimal (if it is not already selected), and then click OK.
- Quit Registry Editor.
However, there can be other ways too to bypass this issue, one of the easiest is to invest in a PS2 to USB port convertor.
