Prevent removable media source for any installation
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Policy overview

Key metadata and intent for this policy.

User
Category
Windows Components > Windows Installer
Supported on
At least Windows 2000

Supported OS tags: Windows10, Windows10RT, Windows11, Windows2000, Windows7, Windows8, Windows81, WindowsRT, WindowsRT81, WindowsServer2003, WindowsServer2008, WindowsServer2012, WindowsServer2012R2, WindowsServer2016, WindowsVista, WindowsXP

This policy setting prevents users from installing any programs from removable media. If you enable this policy setting, if a user tries to install a program from removable media, such as CD-ROMs, floppy disks, and DVDs, a message appears stating that the feature cannot be found. This policy setting applies even when the installation is running in the user's security context. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, users can install from removable media when the installation is running in their own security context, but only system administrators can use removable media when an installation is running with elevated system privileges, such as installations offered on the desktop or in Add or Remove Programs. Also, see the "Enable user to use media source while elevated" and "Hide the 'Add a program from CD-ROM or floppy disk' option" policy settings.

Internal name
DisableMedia
Policy ID
bb7a6380be84
Elements
0

Registry values

How enabled and disabled states update the registry.

ScopeRegistry locationTypeEnabled valueDisabled valueCopy
User
Path
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer
Value name
DisableMedia
REG_DWORD
HKCU
1
HKCU
0
Registry location
Type REG_DWORD · User
Path
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer
Value name
DisableMedia
Hive
HKCU
Enabled value
1
Disabled value
0

Policy elements

Inputs and configuration options exposed by this policy.

This policy has no additional user input fields.