Naming removable drives

[Roger Fink]

Is it possible to give different removable media (flash drives) individual
names in the Windows Explorer tree? Whenever I rename a removable drive the
name gets carried over to whatever drive is inserted next to replace it.
This is true for SDHCs in separate readers as well as the flash sticks - the
computer gives them all the same name.

 

[John John - MVP]

Is it possible to give different removable media (flash drives) individual
names in the Windows Explorer tree? Whenever I rename a removable drive the
name gets carried over to whatever drive is inserted next to replace it.
This is true for SDHCs in separate readers as well as the flash sticks - the
computer gives them all the same name.

Try Uwe Sieber's USBDLM. http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbdlm_e.html

John

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

Is it possible to give different removable media (flash drives)
individual
names in the Windows Explorer tree? Whenever I rename a removable
drive the
name gets carried over to whatever drive is inserted next to replace
it.
This is true for SDHCs in separate readers as well as the flash
sticks - the
computer gives them all the same name.

I use an autorun.inf file to give a name and a custom icon to my
removable drives. You can do lots more with them as well, and best of
all it's free and easy. Here's an example of what it might contain:

[autorun]
label=MyDriveName
icon=\MyDriveIcon.ico

Just put the file in the root directory of the drive (along with the
icon file if used) and next time you plug it in it should show the
desired name and icon.

I just noticed I'm in a win2000 group, I have not checked to see if
this works in Windows 2000, but it does on XP and later. If you try
it on Windows 2000, report back with your results.

 

[John John - MVP]

Is it possible to give different removable media (flash drives)
individual
names in the Windows Explorer tree? Whenever I rename a removable
drive the
name gets carried over to whatever drive is inserted next to replace
it.
This is true for SDHCs in separate readers as well as the flash
sticks - the
computer gives them all the same name.

I use an autorun.inf file to give a name and a custom icon to my
removable drives. You can do lots more with them as well, and best of
all it's free and easy. Here's an example of what it might contain:

[autorun]
label=MyDriveName
icon=\MyDriveIcon.ico

Just put the file in the root directory of the drive (along with the
icon file if used) and next time you plug it in it should show the
desired name and icon.

I just noticed I'm in a win2000 group, I have not checked to see if
this works in Windows 2000, but it does on XP and later. If you try
it on Windows 2000, report back with your results.

Hi Zaphod,

I think that it works on Windows 2000 also but the problem with using
autorun files on removable media is that this has become a well known
method for spreading virus and malware, kids in schools and campuses are
often unwitting victims of this practice. Sort of like in the old days
when compromised floppies were propagate viruses like wildfire. If you
are certain that the USB sticks are only being used between your own
computers this is probably not a problem but as soon as you plug the
stick in another users computer you can't be sure that your stick is
still clean, and if you plug other peoples sticks in your computer then
you are at risk of infection. For these reasons many users have
disabled the autorun feature on almost all their drives.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/967940.mspx
Microsoft Security Advisory (967940): Update for Windows Autorun

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt...autorun+security+risk&fr2=sb-top&fr=yfp-t-501

John

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

Is it possible to give different removable media (flash drives)
individual
names in the Windows Explorer tree? Whenever I rename a removable
drive the
name gets carried over to whatever drive is inserted next to
replace it.
This is true for SDHCs in separate readers as well as the flash
sticks - the
computer gives them all the same name.

I use an autorun.inf file to give a name and a custom icon to my
removable drives. You can do lots more with them as well, and best
of all it's free and easy. Here's an example of what it might
contain:

[autorun]
label=MyDriveName
icon=\MyDriveIcon.ico

Just put the file in the root directory of the drive (along with
the icon file if used) and next time you plug it in it should show
the desired name and icon.

I just noticed I'm in a win2000 group, I have not checked to see if
this works in Windows 2000, but it does on XP and later. If you
try it on Windows 2000, report back with your results.

Hi Zaphod,

I think that it works on Windows 2000 also but the problem with
using autorun files on removable media is that this has become a
well known method for spreading virus and malware, kids in schools
and campuses are often unwitting victims of this practice. Sort of
like in the old days when compromised floppies were propagate
viruses like wildfire. If you are certain that the USB sticks are
only being used between your own computers this is probably not a
problem but as soon as you plug the stick in another users computer
you can't be sure that your stick is still clean, and if you plug
other peoples sticks in your computer then you are at risk of
infection. For these reasons many users have disabled the autorun
feature on almost all their drives.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/967940.mspx
Microsoft Security Advisory (967940): Update for Windows Autorun

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt...autorun+security+risk&fr2=sb-top&fr=yfp-t-501

John

Understood, John, but disabling Autorun does not stop Windows from
processing the autorun.inf and assigning the label and icon, but it
does stop the auto*play* feature that is used to spread malware. Try
it, and you'll see. I have NoDriveTypeAutoRun set to FF, and XP still
happily shows the desired label and icon.

--
Zaphod

Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster: A cocktail based on Janx Spirit.
The effect of one is like having your brain smashed out
by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick.

 

[John John - MVP]

Is it possible to give different removable media (flash drives)
individual
names in the Windows Explorer tree? Whenever I rename a removable
drive the
name gets carried over to whatever drive is inserted next to
replace it.
This is true for SDHCs in separate readers as well as the flash
sticks - the
computer gives them all the same name.


I use an autorun.inf file to give a name and a custom icon to my
removable drives. You can do lots more with them as well, and best
of all it's free and easy. Here's an example of what it might
contain:

[autorun]
label=MyDriveName
icon=\MyDriveIcon.ico

Just put the file in the root directory of the drive (along with
the icon file if used) and next time you plug it in it should show
the desired name and icon.

I just noticed I'm in a win2000 group, I have not checked to see if
this works in Windows 2000, but it does on XP and later. If you
try it on Windows 2000, report back with your results.

Hi Zaphod,

I think that it works on Windows 2000 also but the problem with
using autorun files on removable media is that this has become a
well known method for spreading virus and malware, kids in schools
and campuses are often unwitting victims of this practice. Sort of
like in the old days when compromised floppies were propagate
viruses like wildfire. If you are certain that the USB sticks are
only being used between your own computers this is probably not a
problem but as soon as you plug the stick in another users computer
you can't be sure that your stick is still clean, and if you plug
other peoples sticks in your computer then you are at risk of
infection. For these reasons many users have disabled the autorun
feature on almost all their drives.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/967940.mspx
Microsoft Security Advisory (967940): Update for Windows Autorun

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt...autorun+security+risk&fr2=sb-top&fr=yfp-t-501

John

Understood, John, but disabling Autorun does not stop Windows from
processing the autorun.inf and assigning the label and icon, but it
does stop the auto*play* feature that is used to spread malware. Try
it, and you'll see. I have NoDriveTypeAutoRun set to FF, and XP still
happily shows the desired label and icon.

I understand, but I've permanently disabled the autorun.inf files by way
of the "@SYSoesNotExist" registry entry. I just tried with your
example on a flash drive and it is effectively disabled on my systems.
Of course others might not have this locked down as tightly as I have.

John

 

[Roger Fink]

Is it possible to give different removable media (flash drives)
individual
names in the Windows Explorer tree? Whenever I rename a removable
drive the
name gets carried over to whatever drive is inserted next to replace
it.
This is true for SDHCs in separate readers as well as the flash
sticks - the
computer gives them all the same name.

I use an autorun.inf file to give a name and a custom icon to my
removable drives. You can do lots more with them as well, and best of
all it's free and easy. Here's an example of what it might contain:

[autorun]
label=MyDriveName
icon=\MyDriveIcon.ico

Just put the file in the root directory of the drive (along with the
icon file if used) and next time you plug it in it should show the
desired name and icon.

I just noticed I'm in a win2000 group, I have not checked to see if
this works in Windows 2000, but it does on XP and later. If you try
it on Windows 2000, report back with your results.

Never tried this before, so perhaps that explains the lack of results.
Compared the contents:

[autorun]
label=POPULAR

with two autorun.inf files already on the hard drive to see if they were set
up similarly, which they seemed to be. So I'm not sure if it's Win2K or me
that is the problem, but what I'm trying to solve is really small potatoes
in the overall scheme of things. Color coding the drives, which I've done,
is nearly as effective, so I think I'll just leave it be. Thanks to you and
John for responding.