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CD Burn rights in XP for non-admin users - Last Modified 2008-09-21 04:30 UTC - Created 2008-09-21 04:30 UTC

I found a way to allow Power Users or Interactive Users to burn CD/DVD discs without administrator rights.

Microsoft has instructions at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb540662(VS.85).aspx that detail the steps you need to take.

I tested with Nero DiscSpeed and was able to successfully erase discs as a regular user. I could not burn images with that program though since it uses some low-level commands that bypass Windows.

I then downloaded InfraRecord to burn an ISO image, and it worked perfectly without admin rights.

If the Microsoft link isn't working here is a summary of the steps:

  1. Run gpedit.msc as an admin
  2. Local Computer Policy
  3. Computer Configuration
  4. Windows Settings
  5. Security Settings
  6. Local Policies
  7. Security Options
  8. Devices: Allowed to format and eject removable media
  9. Set the value to "Administrators and Interactive Users"
  10. Devices: Restrict CD-ROM access to locally logged-on user only"
  11. Set the value to "Enabled"
  12. Reboot

I tested this on a Windows XP PRO 64-bit SP2 machine with a SATA DVD burner.