How to allow restricted users to burn CD's with Windows XP inbuilt burning Facility.

Question

Why are network users unable to write CD's?

Symptoms

The option to burn files to CD is disabled.

This article talks about Windows XP inbuilt CD writing capability possible limitations and provides solutions and workarounds the problem.

Cause

To facilitate CD recording, Windows uses a staging area to store the data for recording. The staging area is located in the following hidden folder:

 
<Driveletter:>Documents and SettingsusernameLocal SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftCD Burning

Windows copies the information in the staging area to a monolithic disc image file before you record the data. By default, this file is named "CD burning stash file.bin" and is located in the root folder. You can change the location of the file in the CD recorder Properties dialog box.

 

When a network user logs onto an NT based machine they are by default only a guest user. Guest users are unable to add/remove hardware, install software and in addition have limited access to the local hard drives files. This includes copying or writing files into protected areas of the local hard drive like the c:\windows folders.

 

This restriction affects what facilities Windows can provide the user and as a result the CD burning is disabled.

Resolution

There are a number of ways to resolve this issue. One way would be to edit the user's registry, however this would entail work on each individual user and machine. The other alternative(s) would involve registry edits which affect multiple users as seen in the instructions set below.

You will need to either edit the registry to change the Windows staging location to a location which is accessible by secure users or if you use Nero CD writing software; download Nero's solution.

Instructions

IMPORTANT:

This document contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs.

 

Log on as an administrator. Create a folder for the user which will act as a 'staging location' for the files to be written on CD.

 

1: Editing the Client's Registry Keys:

Locate the HKEY's: HKEYCURRENTUSERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerShell Folders



HKEYCURRENTUSERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerUser Shell Folders

and edit the string 'CD Burning' to a value of your choice.

 

2: Editing the preshellNT.rrg file:

Locate the preshellNT.rrg file and add the lines as shown above and in the examples below, place this information at the bottom of the file under the 'Misc Registry Values' section

e.g.

HKEYCURRENTUSERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerUser Shell Folders
"CD Burning" "h:CDBurning"

HKEYCURRENTUSERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerShell Folders
"CD Burning" "h:CDBurning"

Where in this example the 'CDBurning' is a folder on the user's h: drive.

 

3: Using the Rgrregup.exe merge method

You will need to create a registry merge file using the registry entries as in section 2 above.

 

4. Non recommended alternative method

The other, less desirable alternative, is to increase the user's local privilege; normally achieved by either adding the domain user group into a higher privileged local group or by finding the directory used by windows as a temporary storage for burning CD's and granting special write file permissions for the domain user group.

This method will also mean that the user will need to have access to the c: drive in Ranger's security settings if they wish to see the files about to be copied to the CD.

 

5. Nero's Solution

If you have Nero software download the patch from Nero's web site and follow the installation instructions at www.nero.com/en/NeroBurnRights.html.

Testing

Try to write a file on CD whilst logged on as a secure user