How do I disable/enable a USB drive?

Safely remove it. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...a-fd44b9cec369

Hello @margrave55,

You could probably achieve this using a Script with Diskpart commands, but that would probably involve hard coding specific parameters. I did a bit of investigating for you and found this which might be useful . . .

> 5 Ways to Remount Ejected or Safely Removed USB Device Without Unplug and Reinsert

Additionally, from what I have read, it might also depend on whether or NOT it is powered by AC/DC.

I hope this helps.

There's some scripting guidance on software methods that avoid physically removing-reconnecting your device in
Reset Hub - any command line or powershell equivalent - TenForums
Devcon - SS64
Using DEVCON to manage devices and drivers - RobvdW
How Do I Force Windows to Remove and Redetect a USB Device - National Instruments
Download the Windows Driver Kit (WDK) - MSLearn


Best of luck,
Denis

The only problem I have with USB devices being disabled rather that unplugged is that the OS no longer knows about them, haven't found a better way than physically replugging that works on whatever computer I'm working on.

I agree with RickC. NirSoft USBDeview is also a good method. I imagine that it would also require less study & effort than the DevCon methods I posted about earlier.
Disable-enable USB device from command-line on Windows - NirSoft


Best of luck,
Denis

I just tried the NirSoft USBDeview tool and it worked.

I checked these before starting, after disabling & again after re-enabling the USB stick:
File explorer - check access to the drive then select a different drive to make sure the test drive was left free before issuing any commands that affected it. Similarly, I closed all applications that might access it.
Device mgr - check it is shown [as normal device when enabled & hidden device when disabled]
Registry entry - accessed by right-clicking on its InstanceID cell in the USBDeview results table & selecting Open in RegEdit

1.1 I ran USBDeview to get the InstanceID, which was USB\VID_05DC&PID_A81D\AA5Y3C390RITMT0N
1.2 I tested it before starting:
File explorer - The drive was shown and I had access to it. I then selected a different drive to make sure the test drive was free.
Device manager - The USB stick appeared as a 'normal' device
Registry - The "ConfigFlags" entry was 00000000


2.1 In an elevated cmd window, I ran this cmd (C:\Tools\External\NirSoft\USBDeview is where I happen to keep this tool stored)

Code:

C:\Tools\External\NirSoft\USBDeview\USBDeview.exe /disable "USB\VID_05DC&PID_A81D\AA5Y3C390RITMT0N"

2.2 I tested it whilst disabled:
File explorer - The drive was no longer shown so no access was possible
Device manager - The USB stick now only appeared as a Hidden device { as expected}
Registry - The "ConfigFlags" entry had changed to 00000001


3 In an elevated cmd window, I ran this cmd (C:\Tools\External\NirSoft\USBDeview is where I happen to keep this tool stored)

Code:

C:\Tools\External\NirSoft\USBDeview\USBDeview.exe /enable "USB\VID_05DC&PID_A81D\AA5Y3C390RITMT0N"

3.1 I tested it again after re-enabling it:
File explorer - The drive was once again shown and I had access to it
Device manager - The USB stick once again appeared as a 'normal' device
Registry - The "ConfigFlags" entry had changed back to 00000000



Is it possible that you accidentally ran the command in a non-elevated command prompt window? No, that doesn't fit with your comment about seeing it was "disabled" ["it says that it's now disabled" - you did not mention where you saw this entry i.e. what "it" was.]


Is it possible that you had the device selected in File explorer or another application before you started and that state preserved your access to it [which would indicate that the disabling procedure requires free access to the device to properly disable it]?



All the best,
Denis