Vista Tutorial - Taskbar and Start Menu Properties - Enable or Disable

**Brink** · **METHOD ONE:**

How to Enable or Disable the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties Window in Vista

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.

RELATED LINKS:

EXAMPLE: Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window

EXAMPLE: Error Message
NOTE: If disabled, this will be the error message that all users will get when they try to right click on the Taskbar or Start Menu and click Properties.

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 Home Basic and Home Premium editions.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

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

3. In the right pane, right click on Prevent changes to Taskbar and Start Menu Settings and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)

4. To Enable Taskbar and Start Menu Properties -
A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 5A)

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Disable Taskbar and Start Menu Properties -
A) Select (dot) Enabled and click on OK.

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

METHOD TWO:
Through the Registry

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 on the .reg file (on Desktop) and click on 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 on the Continue button in the UAC prompt.

4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

5. To Disable Taskbar and Start Menu Properties -
A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot above)

B) Type NoSetTaskbar and press Enter.

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

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

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

F) Go to step 7.

6. To Enable Taskbar and Start Menu Properties -
A) In the right pane, right click on NoSetTaskbar and click on Delete. (See screenshot above)

B) Click on Yes to confirm deletion.

7. Close regedit.

That's it,
Shawn