No Computers Near Me in Network Locations

This policy setting allows you to remove computers in the user’s workgroup and domain from lists of network resources in File Explorer and Network Locations. If you enable this policy setting the system removes the “Computers Near Me” option and the icons representing nearby computers from Network Locations. This policy setting also removes these icons from the Map Network Drive browser. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting computers in the user’s workgroup and domain appear in lists of network resources in File Explorer and Network Locations. This policy setting does not prevent users from connecting to computers in their workgroup or domain by other commonly used methods such as typing the share name in the Run dialog box or the Map Network Drive dialog box. To remove network computers from lists of network resources use the “No Entire Network in Network Locations” policy setting.

Request credentials for network installations

Prompts users for alternate logon credentials during network-based installations. This setting displays the “Install Program As Other User” dialog box even when a program is being installed from files on a network computer across a local area network connection. If you disable this setting or do not configure it this dialog box appears only when users are installing programs from local media. The “Install Program as Other User” dialog box prompts the current user for the user name and password of an administrator. This setting allows administrators who have logged on as regular users to install programs without logging off and logging on again using their administrator credentials. If the dialog box does not appear the installation proceeds with the current user’s permissions. If these permissions are not sufficient the installation might fail or it might complete but not include all features. Or it might appear to complete successfully but the installed program might not operate correctly. Note: If it is enabled the “Do not request alternate credentials” setting takes precedence over this setting. When that setting is enabled users are not prompted for alternate logon credentials on any installation.

Maximum allowed Recycle Bin size

Limits the percentage of a volume’s disk space that can be used to store deleted files. If you enable this setting the user has a maximum amount of disk space that may be used for the Recycle Bin on their workstation. If you disable or do not configure this setting users can change the total amount of disk space used by the Recycle Bin. Note: This setting is applied to all volumes.

Turn off shell protocol protected mode

This policy setting allows you to configure the amount of functionality that the shell protocol can have. When using the full functionality of this protocol applications can open folders and launch files. The protected mode reduces the functionality of this protocol allowing applications to only open a limited set of folders. Applications are not able to open files with this protocol when it is in the protected mode. It is recommended to leave this protocol in the protected mode to increase the security of Windows. If you enable this policy setting the protocol is fully enabled allowing the opening of folders and files. If you disable this policy setting the protocol is in the protected mode allowing applications to only open a limited set of folders. If you do not configure this policy setting the protocol is in the protected mode allowing applications to only open a limited set of folders.

Remove the Search the Internet “Search again” link

If you enable this policy the “Internet” “Search again” link will not be shown when the user performs a search in the Explorer window. If you disable this policy there will be an “Internet” “Search again” link when the user performs a search in the Explorer window. This button launches a search in the default browser with the search terms. If you do not configure this policy (default) there will be an “Internet” link when the user performs a search in the Explorer window.

Remove Hardware tab

Removes the Hardware tab. This setting removes the Hardware tab from Mouse Keyboard and Sounds and Audio Devices in Control Panel. It also removes the Hardware tab from the Properties dialog box for all local drives including hard drives floppy disk drives and CD-ROM drives. As a result users cannot use the Hardware tab to view or change the device list or device properties or use the Troubleshoot button to resolve problems with the device.

Hides the Manage item on the File Explorer context menu

Removes the Manage item from the File Explorer context menu. This context menu appears when you right-click File Explorer or My Computer. The Manage item opens Computer Management (Compmgmt. msc) a console tool that includes many of the primary Windows 2000 administrative tools such as Event Viewer Device Manager and Disk Management. You must be an administrator to use many of the features of these tools. This setting does not remove the Computer Management item from the Start menu (Start Programs Administrative Tools Computer Management) nor does it prevent users from using other methods to start Computer Management. Tip: To hide all context menus use the “Remove File Explorer’s default context menu” setting.

Remove Shared Documents from My Computer

This policy setting allows you to remove the Shared Documents folder from My Computer. When a Windows client is in a workgroup a Shared Documents icon appears in the File Explorer Web view under “Other Places” and also under “Files Stored on This Computer” in My Computer. Using this policy setting you can choose not to have these items displayed. If you enable this policy setting the Shared Documents folder is not displayed in the Web view or in My Computer. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting the Shared Documents folder is displayed in Web view and also in My Computer when the client is part of a workgroup. Note: The ability to remove the Shared Documents folder via Group Policy is only available on Windows XP Professional.

Remove “Map Network Drive” and “Disconnect Network Drive”

Prevents users from using File Explorer or Network Locations to map or disconnect network drives. If you enable this setting the system removes the Map Network Drive and Disconnect Network Drive commands from the toolbar and Tools menus in File Explorer and Network Locations and from menus that appear when you right-click the File Explorer or Network Locations icons. This setting does not prevent users from connecting to another computer by typing the name of a shared folder in the Run dialog box. Note:This setting was documented incorrectly on the Explain tab in Group Policy for Windows 2000. The Explain tab states incorrectly that this setting prevents users from connecting and disconnecting drives. Note: It is a requirement for third-party applications with Windows 2000 or later certification to adhere to this setting.

Do not move deleted files to the Recycle Bin

When a file or folder is deleted in File Explorer a copy of the file or folder is placed in the Recycle Bin. Using this setting you can change this behavior. If you enable this setting files and folders that are deleted using File Explorer will not be placed in the Recycle Bin and will therefore be permanently deleted. If you disable or do not configure this setting files and folders deleted using File Explorer will be placed in the Recyele Bin.