Tweaking settings – Part2
In my previous blog post about tweaking settings I had mentioned that tweaking just the registry key info that held the User Interface Core check box information was not sufficient to effect changes to some of the desktop and Start menu settings. I will post a few more articles detailing other registry keys that can be tweaked in order to change some of the most common settings and policies. In this post I’ll be concentrating on Start menu policy settings…
All of the settings I list below can also be changed using Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc). However, this editor or the appropriate administration templates may
not have been included in your runtime. In this case you can make changes directly in the registry if you have included regedit (remember to be very careful when working in the registry, taking care not to corrupt your image).
Most of the settings are stored in the following reg key (where the reg key is different it has been noted):
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Policies\ Explorer
A value of 1 is enabled, 0 is disabled.
The setting change will be applied on the next reboot. Note that these settings icons are visible in “Classic” view by default only- to view icons on the Start menu in XP Luna view involves additional registry keys…a topic for another post.
Description:Disables the new simple Start menu and forces the classic Start menu.
Registry Value:"NoSimpleStartMenu"
Description:Removes the frequently-used programs list from the Start menu.
Registry Value:"NoStartMenuMFUprogramsList"
Description:Removes all user-specific folders except My Documents (My Pictures, My Music, Favorites, and Recent Documents) from the Start menu. Also removes the corresponding checkboxes from the Start menu customization CPL.
Registry Value:This is a combination of the following:
"NoStartMenuMyMusic", "NoSMMyPictures","NoFavoritesMenu","NoRecentDocsMenu"
Description:Removes My Documents folder from the Start menu and corresponding checkbox from the Start menu customization CPL.
Registry Value:"NoSMMyDocs"
Description:Prevents users from changing the path to the My Documents folder.
Registry Value:"DisablePersonalDirChange"
Description:Removes the Recent Documents folder from the Start menu. Also removes the corresponding checkbox from the Start menu customization CPL.
Registry Value:"NoRecentDocsMenu"
Description:Deletes all shortcuts shown in the Recent Documents menu when the user logs off.
Registry Value:"ClearRecentDocsOnExit"
Description:Prevents users from adding the Favorites item to the Start menu. Also removes the corresponding checkbox from the Start menu customization CPL.
Registry Value:"NoFavoritesMenu"
Description:Removes the My Computer item from the Start Menu and the corresponding checkbox from the Start menu customization CPL.
Registry Value:"{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}" under
HKCU\Software\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Policies\ NonEnum
Description:Removes the Network Connections item from the Start menu and the corresponding checkbox from the Start menu customization CPL.
Registry Value:"NoNetworkConnections"
Description:Removes the Search item from the Start menu and disables some Windows Explorer search elements.
Registry Value:"NoFind"
Description:Removes the ability to execute programs from the Run option on the Start menu, Task Manager, or by pressing Winkey + R. Also removes the corresponding checkbox from the Start menu customization CPL.
Registry Value:"NoRun"
Description:Forces the Logoff button to the Start menu and prevents users from removing the Logoff option from the Start menu.
Registry Value:"ForceStartMenuLogoff"
Description:Removes the "Logoff" button from the Start menu and prevents users from adding the Logoff button to the Start menu.
Registry Value:"StartMenuLogoff"
Policy:Disable and remove the Turn Off Computer button
Description:Removes the "Turn Off Computer" button from the Start Menu and prevents shutting down Windows using the standard shutdown user interface.
Registry Value:"NoClose"
Description:Prevents users from modifying the Start menu by dragging and dropping items. Other methods of customizing the Start menu are still enabled.
Registry Value:"NoChangeStartMenu"
Description:Removes the Taskbar & Start Menu item from the Control Panel, and removes the Properties item from the Start menu (and button) context menu.
Registry Value:"NoSetTaskbar"
Description:Removes the user name from the Start menu.
Registry Value:"NoUserNameInStartMenu"
- Lynda