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How to Disable or Enable Programs and Features in Vista Information | | This will show you how to enable or disable access of Programs and Features in the Control Panel to view, uninstall, change, or repair programs that are currently installed on the computer for all users. |  | WARNING | | This will not prevent a program from being uninstalled by a 3rd party program or manually from the program's uninstaller in it's C:\Program Files folder. |  | RELATED LINKS:EXAMPLE: Programs and Features Disabled
| METHOD ONE: |
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| 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, Control Panel, and Programs. (See screenshot below)
3. In the right pane, right click on Hide "Programs and Features" page and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)
4. To Enable Programs and Features - A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 5A)
B) Go to step 6.
5. To Disable Programs and Features - A) Select (dot) Enabled and click on OK.
6. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.
| METHOD TWO: |
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| Through the Registry |
NOTE | | This will work for all Vista versions. | | Through a Download:1. To Enable Programs and Features- A) Click on the download button below to download the
Enable_Programs_and_Features.reg file.
B) Go to step 3.
2. To Disable Programs and Features - A) Click on the download button below to download the
Disable_Programs_and_Features.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 on 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\Programs
NOTE: If Programs is not there, then right click on Policies and click on New and Key. Type Programs and press Enter. 
5. To Disable Programs and Features -A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and on DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot above)
B) Type NoProgramsAndFeatures and press Enter.
C) Right click on NoProgramsAndFeatures 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 Programs and Features - A) In the right pane, right click on NoProgramsAndFeatures and click on Delete. (See screenshot above)
B) Click on Yes to confirm deletion.
7. Close regedit.
That's it,
Shawn |  Published by | | Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 25,919
Rep Power: 150 | |
Tutorial Tools | | |
Applies to | | All Vista Versions | | 64 Bit & 32 Bit | |
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