Vista Tutorial - Display Settings - Enable or Disable Changing

**Brink** · **METHOD ONE:**

How to Enable or Disable Changing Display Settings in Vista

Information

This will enable or disable the ability to change the Display Settings for all users on the computer. The Display Settings include DPI size, screen resolution, screen refresh rate, and color depth.

NOTE

Changing the Display Settings is enabled by default in Vista.

RELATED LINKS:

EXAMPLE: Display Settings and DPI link in the Personalize window
NOTE: You will see this window by right clicking on a empty space on the desktop and click Personalize, or opening the Control Panel (Classic View) and click on the Personalization icon.

EXAMPLE: Changing the Display Settings and DPI size are Disabled Message
NOTE: These are the messages you get when you click on the links boxed in red above when changing the Display Settings is disabled.

METHOD ONE:
Through the Local Group Policy Editor

NOTE

This method is only available for the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions. See Method Two below for the Vista Basic and Home Premium editions.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and Display. (See screenshot below step 5)

3. In the right pane, right click on Hide Settings tab and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)

4. To Enable Changing the Display Settings -
A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 7)

B) Go to step 8.

5. To Disable Changing the Display Settings -
A) Select (dot) Enabled and click on OK.

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

METHOD TWO:
Through the Registry

NOTE

This will work for all Vista versions.

Through a Download:
1. To Disable Changing the Display Settings -
A) Click on the download button below to download the
Disable_Display_Settings.reg file.

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Enable Changing the Display Settings -
A) Click on the download button below to download the
Enable_Display_Settings.reg file.

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

4. Right click on the .reg file (on Desktop) and click on Merge.

5. Click on the Run button in the Security Warning pop-up.

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

7. When done, you can delete the .reg file (on Desktop).

The Manual Way:
1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.

3. Click on the Continue button in the UAC prompt.

4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
NOTE: If you do not have System, then right click on Polices and click on New and Key. Type System and press Enter.

5. To Disable Changing the Display Settings -
A) In the right pane of System, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. Type NoDispSettingsPage and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

B) Right click on NoDispSettingsPage and click on Modify.

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

D) The registry will now look like this. (See screenshot below)

E) Go to step 7.

6. To Enable Changing the Display Settings -
A) In the right pane of System, right click on NoDispSettingsPage and click on Delete. (See screenshot above)

B) Click on Yes to confirm delete.

7. Close regedit.

That's it,
Shawn

charukesi · 08-08-2008

Thanks. It worked great.

**Brink** · 08-08-2008

Your welcome Charukesi, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

di_dong · 08-16-2008

Hi, Brink.
I have 2 files names nodispbackgroundpage and nodispscrsavpage in the field System of Policies. I think that's why my desktop background option and screen saver option disabled. I tried to delete them. But whenever I deleted them and log off then log in, they appeared again. I don't know why!
Please kindly help me soon!
Thank you so much!

**Brink** · 08-16-2008

Hello di_dong, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Delete them again in this area of the registry, but also check to see if they are at this location to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Policies\Explorer

If so, delete them from here to and restart the computer to apply.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

di_dong · 08-17-2008

Hi Brink,
Thanks for your reply. However, I found out that my problem is because of a virus which has just been deleted so my computer's okay now. Anyway, thank you very much for your help. I bookmarked this forum and found it great!Many thanks again!

**Brink** · 08-17-2008

Di_Dong,

I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted out. Thank you for posting your results.

Shawn