Taskbar and Start Menu Properties - Enable or Disable

Information

This will allow (enable) or prevent (disabled) the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window from opening when users on the computer right clicks on a empty space on the Start Menu or Taskbar and clicks Properties.

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Properties_Window.jpg

Error_Message.jpg

NOTE

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

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
3. Click Continue for the UAC prompt.
4. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Start Menu and Taskbar. (See screenshot below)
5. In the right pane, right click on Prevent changes to Taskbar and Start Menu Settings and click Properties.

Group_Policy.jpg

6. To Enable Taskbar and Start Menu Properties -

A) Dot Disabled or Not Configured and click OK. (See screenshot below)
B) Go to step 8.

7. To Disable Taskbar and Start Menu Properties -

A) Dot Enabled and click OK.

Properties.jpg

8. Close Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.

NOTE

This method will work for all Vista versions.

Through a Download:
1. To Enable Taskbar and Start Menu Properties -

A) Click on the download button below to download the Enable_Taskbar_StartMenu_Properties.reg file.
B) Go to step 3.

2. To Disable Taskbar and Start Menu Properties -

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

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.
4. Right click the .reg (On Desktop) file and click Merge.
5. Click on the Run button for 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 the Continue button for the UAC prompt.
4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Reg1.jpg

5. To Disable Taskbar and Start Menu Properties -

A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot above)
B) Type NoSetTaskbar and press Enter.
C) Right click on NoSetTaskbar and click Modify. (See screenshot below)

Reg2.jpg

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

Modify.jpg

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

Reg3.jpg

F) Go to step 7.

6. To Enable Taskbar and Start Menu Properties -

A) In the right pane, right click on NoSetTaskbar and click Delete. (See screenshot above)
B) Click Yes to confirm deletion.

7. Close regedit.