Neat registry hack allows USB Mass Storage mode, direct loading of media on Windows Phone 7

Reading time icon 1 min. read


Readers help support MSPoweruser. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Tooltip Icon

Read the affiliate disclosure page to find out how can you help MSPoweruser effortlessly and without spending any money. Read more

wp7usb0

WPCentral has revealed an interesting hack on the desktop side which allows full access to the media libraries on on a Windows phone 7 device.

The instructions are as follows:

  1. Open the registry editor on your PC by typing regedit in your Start menu
  2. go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB; search forZuneDriver

Now you will modify three entries (note, if you have multiple WP7 phones, you have to do it for each one)

  • Change ShowInShell from 0 to 1
  • Change PortableDeviceNameSpaceExcludeFromShell from 1 to 0
  • Change EnableLegacySupport from 0 to 1

The device, and folders for music, video and images should now show up in explorer, and to enable modifying the files the Zune desktop software simply needs to be closed.

Other files can also be placed there, but will not be accessible on the device, allowing the use at least of the smartphone as a USB drive.

Via WPCentral.com

Thanks Mark for the tip.

More about the topics: hack, usb mass storage, windows phone 7