Download missing COM components

This policy setting directs the system to search Active Directory for missing Component Object Model (COM) components that a program requires. Many Windows programs such as the MMC snap-ins use the interfaces provided by the COM components. These programs cannot perform all their functions unless Windows has internally registered the required components. If you enable this policy setting and a component registration is missing the system searches for it in Active Directory and if it is found downloads it. The resulting searches might make some programs start or run slowly. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting the program continues without the registration. As a result the program might not perform all its functions or it might stop. This setting appears in the Computer Configuration and User Configuration folders. If both settings are configured the setting in Computer Configuration takes precedence over the setting in User Configuration.

Download missing COM components

This policy setting directs the system to search Active Directory for missing Component Object Model (COM) components that a program requires. Many Windows programs such as the MMC snap-ins use the interfaces provided by the COM components. These programs cannot perform all their functions unless Windows has internally registered the required components. If you enable this policy setting and a component registration is missing the system searches for it in Active Directory and if it is found downloads it. The resulting searches might make some programs start or run slowly. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting the program continues without the registration. As a result the program might not perform all its functions or it might stop. This setting appears in the Computer Configuration and User Configuration folders. If both settings are configured the setting in Computer Configuration takes precedence over the setting in User Configuration.

Turn off Autoplay

This policy setting allows you to turn off the Autoplay feature. Autoplay begins reading from a drive as soon as you insert media in the drive. As a result the setup file of programs and the music on audio media start immediately. Prior to Windows XP SP2 Autoplay is disabled by default on removable drives such as the floppy disk drive (but not the CD-ROM drive) and on network drives. Starting with Windows XP SP2 Autoplay is enabled for removable drives as well including Zip drives and some USB mass storage devices. If you enable this policy setting Autoplay is disabled on CD-ROM and removable media drives or disabled on all drives. This policy setting disables Autoplay on additional types of drives. You cannot use this setting to enable Autoplay on drives on which it is disabled by default. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting AutoPlay is enabled. Note: This policy setting appears in both the Computer Configuration and User Configuration folders. If the policy settings conflict the policy setting in Computer Configuration takes precedence over the policy setting in User Configuration.

Turn off Autoplay

This policy setting allows you to turn off the Autoplay feature. Autoplay begins reading from a drive as soon as you insert media in the drive. As a result the setup file of programs and the music on audio media start immediately. Prior to Windows XP SP2 Autoplay is disabled by default on removable drives such as the floppy disk drive (but not the CD-ROM drive) and on network drives. Starting with Windows XP SP2 Autoplay is enabled for removable drives as well including Zip drives and some USB mass storage devices. If you enable this policy setting Autoplay is disabled on CD-ROM and removable media drives or disabled on all drives. This policy setting disables Autoplay on additional types of drives. You cannot use this setting to enable Autoplay on drives on which it is disabled by default. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting AutoPlay is enabled. Note: This policy setting appears in both the Computer Configuration and User Configuration folders. If the policy settings conflict the policy setting in Computer Configuration takes precedence over the policy setting in User Configuration.