Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7

Remove Homegroup link from Start Menu

If you enable this policy the Start menu will not show a link to Homegroup. It also removes the homegroup item from the Start Menu options. As a result users cannot add the homegroup link to the Start Menu. If you disable or do not configure this policy users can use the Start Menu options to add or remove the homegroup link from the Start Menu.

At least Windows 2000

Remove Logoff on the Start Menu

This policy setting allows you to removes the “Log Off ” item from the Start menu and prevents users from restoring it. If you enable this policy setting the Log Off item does not appear in the Start menu. This policy setting also removes the Display Logoff item from Start Menu Options. As a result users cannot restore the Log Off item to the Start Menu. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting users can use the Display Logoff item to add and remove the Log Off item. This policy setting affects the Start menu only. It does not affect the Log Off item on the Windows Security dialog box that appears when you press Ctrl+Alt+Del and it does not prevent users from using other methods to log off. Tip: To add or remove the Log Off item on a computer click Start click Settings click Taskbar and Start Menu click the Start Menu Options tab and in the Start Menu Settings box click Display Logoff. See also: “Remove Logoff” policy setting in User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Logon/Logoff.

At least Windows 2000

Remove links and access to Windows Update

This policy setting allows you to remove links and access to Windows Update. If you enable this policy setting users are prevented from connecting to the Windows Update Web site. Enabling this policy setting blocks user access to the Windows Update Web site at http://windowsupdate. microsoft. com. Also the policy setting removes the Windows Update hyperlink from the Start menu and from the Tools menu in Internet Explorer. Windows Update the online extension of Windows offers software updates to keep a user’s system up-to-date. The Windows Update Product Catalog determines any system files security fixes and Microsoft updates that users need and shows the newest versions available for download. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting the Windows Update hyperlink is available from the Start menu and from the Tools menu in Internet Explorer. Also see the “Hide the “Add programs from Microsoft” option” policy setting.

Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP only

Remove user name from Start Menu

This policy setting allows you to remove the user name label from the Start Menu in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. If you enable this policy setting the user name label is removed from the Start Menu in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. To remove the user name folder on Windows Vista set the “Remove user folder link from Start Menu” policy setting. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting the user name label appears on the Start Menu in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional

Hide the notification area

This setting affects the notification area (previously called the “system tray”) on the taskbar. Description: The notification area is located at the far right end of the task bar and includes the icons for current notifications and the system clock. If this setting is enabled the user’s entire notification area including the notification icons is hidden. The taskbar displays only the Start button taskbar buttons custom toolbars (if any) and the system clock. If this setting is disabled or is not configured the notification area is shown in the user’s taskbar. Note: Enabling this setting overrides the “Turn off notification area cleanup” setting because if the notification area is hidden there is no need to clean up the icons.

At least Windows 2000

Remove access to the context menus for the taskbar

This policy setting allows you to remove access to the context menus for the taskbar. If you enable this policy setting the menus that appear when you right-click the taskbar and items on the taskbar are hidden such as the Start button the clock and the taskbar buttons. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting the context menus for the taskbar are available. This policy setting does not prevent users from using other methods to issue the commands that appear on these menus.