Tag: Computer Configuration
Prevent IIS installation
“This policy setting prevents installation of Internet Information Services (IIS) on this computer. If you enable this policy setting Internet Information Services (IIS) cannot be installed and you will not be able to install Windows components or applications that require IIS. Users installing Windows components or applications that require IIS might not receive a warning that IIS cannot be installed because of this Group Policy setting. Enabling this setting will not have any effect on IIS if IIS is already installed on the computer. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting IIS can be installed as well as all the programs and applications that require IIS to run. “
Turn off the Windows Messenger Customer Experience Improvement Program
This policy setting specifies whether Windows Messenger collects anonymous information about how Windows Messenger software and service is used. With the Customer Experience Improvement program users can allow Microsoft to collect anonymous information about how the product is used. This information is used to improve the product in future releases. If you enable this policy setting Windows Messenger does not collect usage information and the user settings to enable the collection of usage information are not shown. If you disable this policy setting Windows Messenger collects anonymous usage information and the setting is not shown. If you do not configure this policy setting users have the choice to opt in and allow information to be collected.
Turn off Internet download for Web publishing and online ordering wizards
This policy setting specifies whether Windows should download a list of providers for the web publishing and online ordering wizards. These wizards allow users to select from a list of companies that provide services such as online storage and photographic printing. By default Windows displays providers downloaded from a Windows website in addition to providers specified in the registry. If you enable this policy setting Windows does not download providers and only the service providers that are cached in the local registry are displayed. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting a list of providers are downloaded when the user uses the web publishing or online ordering wizards. See the documentation for the web publishing and online ordering wizards for more information including details on specifying service providers in the registry.
Turn off Search Companion content file updates
This policy setting specifies whether Search Companion should automatically download content updates during local and Internet searches. When users search the local computer or the Internet Search Companion occasionally connects to Microsoft to download an updated privacy policy and additional content files used to format and display results. If you enable this policy setting Search Companion does not download content updates during searches. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting Search Companion downloads content updates unless the user is using Classic Search. Note: Internet searches still send the search text and information about the search to Microsoft and the chosen search provider. Choosing Classic Search turns off the Search Companion feature completely.
Turn off Internet File Association service
This policy setting specifies whether to use the Microsoft Web service for finding an application to open a file with an unhandled file association. When a user opens a file that has an extension that is not associated with any applications on the computer the user is given the choice to select a local application or use the Web service to find an application. If you enable this policy setting the link and the dialog for using the Web service to open an unhandled file association are removed. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting the user is allowed to use the Web service.
Turn off access to the Store
This policy setting specifies whether to use the Store service for finding an application to open a file with an unhandled file type or protocol association. When a user opens a file type or protocol that is not associated with any applications on the computer the user is given the choice to select a local application or use the Store service to find an application. If you enable this policy setting the “Look for an app in the Store” item in the Open With dialog is removed. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting the user is allowed to use the Store service and the Store item is available in the Open With dialog.
Turn off the “Publish to Web” task for files and folders
This policy setting specifies whether the tasks “Publish this file to the Web” “Publish this folder to the Web” and “Publish the selected items to the Web” are available from File and Folder Tasks in Windows folders. The Web Publishing Wizard is used to download a list of providers and allow users to publish content to the web. If you enable this policy setting these tasks are removed from the File and Folder tasks in Windows folders. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting the tasks are shown.
Turn off the “Order Prints” picture task
This policy setting specifies whether the “Order Prints Online” task is available from Picture Tasks in Windows folders. The Order Prints Online Wizard is used to download a list of providers and allow users to order prints online. If you enable this policy setting the task “Order Prints Online” is removed from Picture Tasks in File Explorer folders. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting the task is displayed.
Turn off Windows Update device driver searching
This policy setting specifies whether Windows searches Windows Update for device drivers when no local drivers for a device are present. If you enable this policy setting Windows Update is not searched when a new device is installed. If you disable this policy setting Windows Update is always searched for drivers when no local drivers are present. If you do not configure this policy setting searching Windows Update is optional when installing a device. Also see “Turn off Windows Update device driver search prompt” in “Administrative Templates/System” which governs whether an administrator is prompted before searching Windows Update for device drivers if a driver is not found locally. Note: This policy setting is replaced by “Specify Driver Source Search Order” in “Administrative Templates/System/Device Installation” on newer versions of Windows.
Turn off downloading of print drivers over HTTP
This policy setting specifies whether to allow this client to download print driver packages over HTTP. To set up HTTP printing non-inbox drivers need to be downloaded over HTTP. Note: This policy setting does not prevent the client from printing to printers on the Intranet or the Internet over HTTP. It only prohibits downloading drivers that are not already installed locally. If you enable this policy setting print drivers cannot be downloaded over HTTP. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting users can download print drivers over HTTP.