Vista - gpedit.msc for all Editions of Vista

**niemiro** · **Method 1:**

Please note: This release contains a serious bug, which is being worked on now. Do not use this hack until this bug has been fixed. 17/02/2010 Thanks go to Flavius for spotting this bug.

Information

By default, the Vista Home Basic and Home Premium do not include the Local Group Policy Editor, also known as gpedit.msc. This tutorial will show you how to modify your Windows Installation to allow you to use gpedit.msc under any version of Windows Vista. This includes both 32 bit(x86) and 64 bit (x64) installations.

Note

This process only installs 6 .dll files, 1 .msc files and 5 .adm files. The .adm files are the templates. No part of your registry is modified in any way in the process. Any current Windows file that is to be replaced is stored in a backup file so it can be restored if you ever decide to uninstall this modification.

Warning

This process is not supported by Microsoft. If you have a problem, Microsoft will not help you and accepts no liability for any loss or damage caused by this modification.

This process changes system files. If you ever run sfc /scannow these changes will show up as errors that cannot be corrected automatically. Do not worry about this.

RELATED LINK:

.

Method 1:
Recommended

1. Download setup.exe:

2. Double click on setup.exe and click Next. (See screenshot below)

3. Click Install. (See screenshot below)

4. Wait for the install to complete. Ignore the black command prompt. Click Finish. (See screenshot below)

5. Click the Start Orb and in search type "gpedit.msc" (without the quotes). (See screenshot below)

6. Right click on gpedit.msc under programs and select "Run as Administrator" (See screenshot below)

7. gpedit.msc is now working under Windows Vista Home Premium. (See screenshots below)

Method 2:
Manual

Note

A final version 1.1 can be downloaded at the bottom of the page, if you are feeling confident enough not to need step-by-step instructions (coming soon!)

1. Download and open gpedit.msc.zip

2. Extract the .zip file using Windows or your favourite program. (See screenshot below)

3. Extract the files to the directory of your choice using the browse button then click on extract. (See screenshot below)

4. Double click on Installer.exe and a batch file will open.

Note

This installer carries out a few checks then opens the correct batch file, x86 or x64. This application has no UI by default and will not notify you of success but will tell you of any errors. Although running the batch file directly will work it is far better to run installer.exe.

5. Confirm that the x86 or x64 at the top is correct and press enter. (See screenshot below)

6. Confirm that three successes are shown and then press enter. (See screenshot below)

7. Confirm that two successes are shown and then press enter. (See screenshot below)

8. Check for successes. The first time you install this modification, 0 files will be processed on this step. This is a success. Press enter. (See screenshot 1 below)
If files are processed, just confirm that there were no failures then press enter. (See screenshot 2 below)
Screenshot 1:

Screenshot 2:

9. Confirm that "1 File(s) copied" is displayed 6 times. If "0 File(s) copied" is displayed something has gone wrong. Press enter. (See screenshot below)

10. Confirm that "1 File(s) copied" is displayed 6 times. If "0 File(s) copied" is displayed something has gone wrong. Press enter. (See screenshot below)

11. Confirm that "1 File(s) copied" is displayed 5 times. If "0 File(s) copied" is displayed something has gone wrong. Press enter. (See screenshot below)

12. Check that regsvr32 returns 4 message boxes like the ones below. If the message box is small and blue, success! If however the message box is big and red, something has gone wrong!

13. Press enter to exit the batch file. (See screenshot below)

14. Click the Start Orb and in search type "gpedit.msc" (without the quotes). (See screenshot below)

15. Right click on gpedit.msc under programs and select "Run as Administrator" (See screenshot below)

16. gpedit.msc is now working under Windows Vista Home Premium. (See screenshots below)

Information

This modification has been tested on Windows Vista Home Premium x86 and x64. If you have any problems or have found any bugs, please tell me. I am currently working on V1.1 of this modification that makes installer.exe from Method 2 a bit more stable and has an uninstall feature. The current Windows files are backed up but I have not yet written the uninstaller. The setup.exe from Method 1 was written in the free Inno Setup 5. Link to the Inno site: Inno Setup

Does anyone have any suggestions about what I should work on now, as I want to do DreamScene and something else at the same time? Any ideas? Don't ask for domains, I cannot do it!

Version 1.1:
Beta

Note

This is a beta release. The manual install version is final, and the uninstaller works perfectly, however the setup is still in beta with one bug still left to fix. It is not recommended to use the setup.exe release yet. It is safe to install version 1.1 directly over the top of version 1.0

To install either of these versions, follow the intructions posted above. There may be small differences, but nothing big.

To uninstall the manual version, run uninstaller.exe. To uninstall the setup.exe install, download the manual version and run uninstaller.exe, then uninstall "gpedit.msc V1.1" from Add-Remove Programs and select the option to remove from the list.

Manual Install:

Setup Install:

Change log:
Latest Version: 1.1

Version 1.0:

Original Release

Version 1.1:

Uninstallers added
Fixed bug where Windows Update and Windows Media Player templates could not be accessed.

I hope you liked this tutorial. Any comments?

Richard

**pacinitaly** · 01-11-2010

thank you so much for this file.

is there someplace to read about how to use gpedit?

**niemiro** · 01-12-2010

Hi,

I was going to write a tutoral on this in the next couple of days if I found time, but now I know someone would read it, I definitly will.

Richard

P.S. I am no expert at gpedit.msc usage.

**pacinitaly** · 01-12-2010

Quote: Originally Posted by niemiro

Hi,

I was going to write a tutoral on this in the next couple of days if I found time, but now I know someone would read it, I definitly will.

Richard

P.S. I am no expert at gpedit.msc usage.

thanks, I will and I'm sure others will too.

**SIW2** · 01-12-2010

Great stuff Richard - thanks- I haven't had a chance to try it yet - but I intend to.

**Flavius** · 01-12-2010

Excelent work

!

Answering on your question:

Quote:

I am currently working on Windows DreamScene and a lite version of it works perfectly on 32bit Operating Systems. The 64bit version however is not yet finished. I will post links to the uninstaller and DreamScene when they are ready.

Does anyone have any suggestions about what I should work on now, as I want to do DreamScene and something else at the same time? Any ideas? Don't ask for domains, I cannot do it!

There is already on mydigitallife.com here:Enable DreamScenes in windows 7 and vista - My Digital Life Forums
made by @alfawaves DreamScene installer for Vista and Windows 7 (both x32 and x64) and it work great.I'm using it

.I even thought to add it for tutorials,unfortunately I don't have time last time.

**niemiro** · 01-12-2010

Quote: Originally Posted by Flavius

Excelent work

!

Answering on your question:

Quote:

I am currently working on Windows DreamScene and a lite version of it works perfectly on 32bit Operating Systems. The 64bit version however is not yet finished. I will post links to the uninstaller and DreamScene when they are ready.

Does anyone have any suggestions about what I should work on now, as I want to do DreamScene and something else at the same time? Any ideas? Don't ask for domains, I cannot do it!

There is already on mydigitallife.com here:Enable DreamScenes in windows 7 and vista - My Digital Life Forums
made by @alfawaves DreamScene installer for Vista and Windows 7 (both x32 and x64) and it work great.I'm using it

.I even thought to add it for tutorials,unfortunately I don't have time last time.

Hi Flavius,

Thanks for this link. I am sure you can download gpedit.msc off the web too. When I started this project, it was to see if I could get gpedit.msc to work all by myself. I have absolutely no use for gpedit.msc and do not use it at all! It was a challenge. It was for this reason that I did not search the web at all.

Thanks for that link though, it will probably help someone else, therfore a success!

Richard

**pacinitaly** · 01-12-2010

Thank you so much niemiro (Richard) I love it and all my friends that read this forum thank you too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was wondering if HP(home Prem) would ever have this option like XP

**Flavius** · 02-17-2010

Unfortunately there are bugs in patched gpedit.msc

1.You've used gpedit.msc from XP not from Vista,very easy to recognize the data (2001 year) and apperance,please pay attention on left up corner icon and right window in snap.

Name: gp1.jpg
Views: 6468
Size: 47.5 KB

up image:gpedit.msc in XP and from your patch;down image:gpedit.msc from Vista Ultimate

Consequences?I suspect some new templates only available in Vista are not present in your patched gpedit.msc

Example:Computer Configuration>>Administrative Templates>>System

in gpedit.msc from XP and in your patch:
Name: gp2.jpg
Views: 6474
Size: 47.5 KB

in original gpedit.msc from Vista
Name: gp4.jpg
Views: 6461
Size: 43.2 KB

As you can see Vista have in System much more templates than XP.I don't understand why don't you want to use gpedit.msc from Vista only this ancient one from XP

Please also note some templates common from XP and Vista are in different places.If any person want to check documentation to set any restriction in policy then someone have dylema which ducumentation to check? for XP or for Vista

Example:Turn off Autoplay (global)

XP and your patch:

Computer Configuration>>Administrative templates>>System>>Turn off Autoplay

original in Vista

Computer Configuration>>Administrative Templates>>Windows Components>>AutoPlay Policies>>Turn off Autoplay

2.The second bug is much serious than mentioned in point 1.Some settings are not set in the registry correctly.Example

Turn off Autoplay (global)

original in Vista it looks:

Name: grU1.jpg
Views: 6454
Size: 61.3 KB

Name: grU1.jpg
Views: 6454
Size: 61.3 KB

strings entered to registry through your gpedit.msc

Name: grU3.jpg
Views: 6469
Size: 57.8 KB

As you can see your gpedit.msc never create

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
NoDriveTypeAutoRun=0xb5

but string HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policies Object\<long number>Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
"NoDriveTypeAutoRun"=0xb5

Only exist if gpedit.msc is opened,when you close gpedit.msc this key disappear.Normally in system if set this restriction this key exist independendly gpedit.msc is closed or opened

Similar for other restrictions
"Disable command prompt"

original in Vista
Name: grU2.jpg
Views: 6426
Size: 54.1 KB

Name: grU2.jpg
Views: 6426
Size: 54.1 KB

by using your patch
Name: grU4.jpg
Views: 6411
Size: 37.7 KB

in this case also string

HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
"DisableCMD"=2

is not created,but key in GPO also only exist iwhen gpedit.msc is opened.

I found (or rather should say my friend did it) this bug is very old -it was documented on XP as well.Read thoroughly this:Kilian's Guide: Install Group Policy in WinXP HE

I can confirm example from this blog if set policy "Disable registry tool" in your patched gpedit.msc ,still you can run regedit!

You have to correct these bugs especially the second one.
---------------------------------------------------------
Tutorial for DreamScene is ready:http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...sta.html?ltr=D

**niemiro** · 02-17-2010

Thank you Flavius. I will correct this as soon as possible. I have also noticed that the guide you have linked to has 6 templates, wheras I only have 5!

I don't actually have Ultimate, so a friend sent me the files! I had not noticed that he sent me XP files. I will get the Vista files as soon as possible!

I will link to the Dreamscene tutorial from my tutorial now.

Thanks again,

Richard

EDIT: Have updated the tutorial to link to the Dreamscene tutorial and notify potential users of the bug.

01-11-2010
pacinitaly VISTA home prem 32bit SP2 / XP Pro SP3 32bit / Win7 HP 64bit 1,172 posts	Re: gpedit.msc for all Editions of Vista thank you so much for this file. is there someplace to read about how to use gpedit?
My System Specs

01-12-2010
niemiro Vista Home Premium x86 SP2 1,482 posts	Re: gpedit.msc for all Editions of Vista Hi, I was going to write a tutoral on this in the next couple of days if I found time, but now I know someone would read it, I definitly will. Richard P.S. I am no expert at gpedit.msc usage.
My System Specs

01-12-2010
pacinitaly VISTA home prem 32bit SP2 / XP Pro SP3 32bit / Win7 HP 64bit 1,172 posts	Re: gpedit.msc for all Editions of Vista Quote: Originally Posted by niemiro Hi, I was going to write a tutoral on this in the next couple of days if I found time, but now I know someone would read it, I definitly will. Richard P.S. I am no expert at gpedit.msc usage. thanks, I will and I'm sure others will too.
My System Specs

01-12-2010
SIW2 VISTA HOME PREMIUM X64/ 7 x64 / 7x86 2,517 posts	Re: gpedit.msc for all Editions of Vista Great stuff Richard - thanks- I haven't had a chance to try it yet - but I intend to.
My System Specs

01-12-2010
Flavius Vista Bussiness x64 PL 1,919 posts	Re: gpedit.msc for all Editions of Vista Excelent work ! Answering on your question: Quote: I am currently working on Windows DreamScene and a lite version of it works perfectly on 32bit Operating Systems. The 64bit version however is not yet finished. I will post links to the uninstaller and DreamScene when they are ready. Does anyone have any suggestions about what I should work on now, as I want to do DreamScene and something else at the same time? Any ideas? Don't ask for domains, I cannot do it! There is already on mydigitallife.com here:Enable DreamScenes in windows 7 and vista - My Digital Life Forums made by @alfawaves DreamScene installer for Vista and Windows 7 (both x32 and x64) and it work great.I'm using it .I even thought to add it for tutorials,unfortunately I don't have time last time.
My System Specs

02-17-2010
Flavius Vista Bussiness x64 PL 1,919 posts	Re: gpedit.msc for all Editions of Vista Unfortunately there are bugs in patched gpedit.msc 1.You've used gpedit.msc from XP not from Vista,very easy to recognize the data (2001 year) and apperance,please pay attention on left up corner icon and right window in snap. up image:gpedit.msc in XP and from your patch;down image:gpedit.msc from Vista Ultimate Consequences?I suspect some new templates only available in Vista are not present in your patched gpedit.msc Example:Computer Configuration>>Administrative Templates>>System in gpedit.msc from XP and in your patch: in original gpedit.msc from Vista As you can see Vista have in System much more templates than XP.I don't understand why don't you want to use gpedit.msc from Vista only this ancient one from XP Please also note some templates common from XP and Vista are in different places.If any person want to check documentation to set any restriction in policy then someone have dylema which ducumentation to check? for XP or for Vista Example:Turn off Autoplay (global) XP and your patch: Computer Configuration>>Administrative templates>>System>>Turn off Autoplay original in Vista Computer Configuration>>Administrative Templates>>Windows Components>>AutoPlay Policies>>Turn off Autoplay 2.The second bug is much serious than mentioned in point 1.Some settings are not set in the registry correctly.Example Turn off Autoplay (global) original in Vista it looks: strings entered to registry through your gpedit.msc As you can see your gpedit.msc never create HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer NoDriveTypeAutoRun=0xb5 but string HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policies Object\<long number>Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer "NoDriveTypeAutoRun"=0xb5 Only exist if gpedit.msc is opened,when you close gpedit.msc this key disappear.Normally in system if set this restriction this key exist independendly gpedit.msc is closed or opened Similar for other restrictions "Disable command prompt" original in Vista by using your patch in this case also string HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System "DisableCMD"=2 is not created,but key in GPO also only exist iwhen gpedit.msc is opened. I found (or rather should say my friend did it) this bug is very old -it was documented on XP as well.Read thoroughly this:Kilian's Guide: Install Group Policy in WinXP HE I can confirm example from this blog if set policy "Disable registry tool" in your patched gpedit.msc ,still you can run regedit! You have to correct these bugs especially the second one. --------------------------------------------------------- Tutorial for DreamScene is ready:http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...sta.html?ltr=D
My System Specs

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