How to hide up a hard disk from the OS?

Peter Tsang · 22 Feb 2009 at 09:41

I have this MyBook eSATA hard drive installed. But for some reasons, I would like to make it disapper without disconnecting the cable or powering it off.

Is there any registry hack in Windows Vista where I can "hide" this hard drive up?

Katoom · 22 Feb 2009 at 09:52

Can you got to the device manger and 'disable' the drive?

Peter Tsang · 22 Feb 2009 at 09:56

What I want to do is that the D drive (i.e. MyBook) is not displayed when I open the My Compyter. So would your method work?

I thought a registry like "No D Dive" will be more secured...?

Katoom · 22 Feb 2009 at 09:59

The HDD won't show until you enable it again.
You can hide all your 'other' stuff on there

GeezerButler · 22 Feb 2009 at 10:03

I know that tou used to be able to do this is XP using tweakUI - you could hide the drive letter in explorer. Not sure about Vista though.

How about this: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/hide-drives-from-your-computer-in-windows-vista/

Peter Tsang · 22 Feb 2009 at 10:03

Hey folks,

I have found it after 30 minutes spent on Google search, it was tough though. It serves my entire purpose, maybe you folks will need it someday:

http://www.pcdrome.com/hide-disk-drives-from-my-computer/

Peter Tsang · 22 Feb 2009 at 10:04

Katoom said:
The HDD won't show until you enable it again.
You can hide all your 'other' stuff on there

I will try both Many thanks mate!!

Peter Tsang · 22 Feb 2009 at 10:26

Katoom, GeezerButler

Both methods work! Thanks!! I am using the disable method which is very good, teh drive is completely invisible from explorer and I believe it is not operational either so my data on that drive is now well protected.

Cheers!!!

Nanoman · 22 Feb 2009 at 13:09

Large porn collection?

kieves1 · 22 Feb 2009 at 13:23

Nanoman said:
Large porn collection?

Souns like it.Also sounds like his missus is learning how to use a computer

acrebo · 22 Feb 2009 at 13:50

Lol, this may come in useful... avoids the panic-run to the PC when the missus sits down to check her mail once in a blue moon!

Peter Tsang · 22 Feb 2009 at 18:31

You guys are so funny!

acrebo · 22 Feb 2009 at 18:37

Lol, I'm sure Michael McIntyre has done a comedy sketch on the PC panic run... quality.

Sin_Chase · 23 Feb 2009 at 01:25

For future reference you can just remove the drive letter from Disk management.

start > run > diskmgmt.msc > Right Click drive > Change Drive letters and paths > Remove

Peter Tsang · 23 Feb 2009 at 12:12

Remember I asked about SteadyState before? The recovery softwate by Microsoft?

The story begins when I realized that SteadyState doesn't support 64bit Vista. The Vista Ultimate box version contains both the 32bits and 64bits. So I took the advantage of the eSATA speed and MyBook 1TB storage, installed 32bits. Another reason is becaue AMD just released Catalyst 9.2 and I wanna to check it out because I am having screen flickering issue with 9.1. So I installed Catalyst 9.2, the whole system works flawlessly!

But then I noticed that the internal drive showed up and it is not protected by SteadyState! And that's why I asked about how to made it invisible.

Now if I boot from the inetrnal VelociRaptor, I have the MyBook disappeared even if it is powered on. When I boot from the MyBOok, I have the VelcoRaptor disappeared. So I am a happy man now!!

By the way, performance-wise, 32bits is not much different from 64bits!

4870 is really a beast, so far except from a stuborn Flight Simulation game Strike Fighter Project 1, all games I have had are performing extremely well!

vincent1989 · 23 Feb 2009 at 12:21

ahhh, the old porn drive disappearo trick, a classic if nothing else!

ScarySquirrel · 23 Feb 2009 at 12:42

I have been foiled by not disabling 'My Recent Documents' in the past. Schoolboy error!

Nick1881 · 23 Feb 2009 at 12:45

ScarySquirrel said:
I have been foiled by not disabling 'My Recent Documents' in the past. Schoolboy error!

Same here lol

sepulchre · 23 Feb 2009 at 14:14

you know when I read the OP I though - Porn drive

Good to know though for my 'ahem' sensitive documents

Peter Tsang · 23 Feb 2009 at 15:44

SO products like MyBook is designed for porn stuffs, now the industry is really desparte then! XD