How to Add or Remove Log Off from the Start Menu in Vista

   Information

This will show you how to add or remove Log Off from the Normal Start Menu and the Classic Start Menu for all user accounts on the computer.

EXAMPLE: Before and After Normal Start Menu

EXAMPLE: Before and After Classic Start Menu

METHOD ONE

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Through the Local Group Policy Editor

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

Option One

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For the Normal Start Menu

2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Start Menu and Taskbar. (See screenshot below step 3)

3. In the right pane, right click on Remove Logoff on the Start Menu and click on Properties. (See screenshot below)

4. To Add Normal Start Menu Log Off

A) Dot Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 5)

B) Go to step 10.

5. To Remove Normal Start Menu Log Off

A) Dot Enabled and click on OK.

B) Go to step 10.

Option Two

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For the Classic Start Menu

8. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Start Menu and Taskbar. (See screenshot below step 7)

9. In the right pane, right click on Add Logoff to the Start Menu and click on Properties.

10. To Remove Classic Start Menu Log Off

A) Dot Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 9)

11. To Add Classic Start Menu Log Off

A) Dot Enabled and click on OK.

12. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.

METHOD TWO

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Using a REG File Download

1. To Add Log Off to the Normal Start Menu

A) Click on the download button below to download the Add_StartMenu_LogOff.reg file.

B) Go to step 5.

2. To Remove Log Off from the Normal Start Menu

A) Click on the download button below to download the Remove_StartMenu_LogOff.reg file.

B) Go to step 5.

3. To Add Log Off to the Classic Start Menu

A) Click on the download button below to download the Add_Classic_LogOff.reg file.

B) Go to step 5.

4. To Remove Log Off from the Classic Start Menu

A) Click on the download button below to download the Remove_Classic_LogOff.reg file.

5. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

6. Right click the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

7. Click on Run, Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

9. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).

METHOD THREE

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Manually in Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit and press Enter.

2. If prompted by UAC, then click on the Continue.

3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (See screenshot below step 4C)
NOTE: If you do not have Explorer, then right click on Polices and click on New and Key, then type Explorer and press Enter.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

OPTION ONE:

4. To Remove Log Off from the Normal Start Menu

A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot below)

B) Type StartMenuLogOff and press Enter.

C) Right click on StartMenuLogOff and click on Modify. (See screenshot below)

D) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

5. To Add Log Off to the Normal Start Menu

A) In the right pane, right click on StartMenuLogOff and click Delete. (See screenshot below step 4C)

B) Click on Yes to confirm deletion.

C) In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

D) In the right pane, repeat steps 5A and 5B if StartMenuLogOff is there to.

6. Close regedit.

7. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.



OPTION TWO:

8. To Add Log Off to the Classic Start Menu
NOTE: Repeat steps 1 to 3 above in OPTION ONE.

A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot below)

B) Type ForceStartMenuLogOff and press Enter.

C) Right click on ForceStartMenuLogOff and click on Modify. (See screenshot below)

D) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

9. To Remove Log Off from the Classic Start Menu

A) In the right pane, right click on ForceStartmenuLogOff and click Delete. (See screenshot below step 9C)

B) Click on Yes to confirm the delete.

C) In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

D) In the right pane, repeat steps 9A and 9B if ForceStartMenuLogOff is there to.

11. Close regedit.

12. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

That's it,
Shawn

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