Customizing the Desktop
You can use Group Policy settings or a combination of Group Policy settings to control access to the Start menu. Table 8.4 lists and describes each Group Policy setting that can affect the Start menu.
Other Group Policy settings you enforce can affect how the Start menu Group Policy settings work. For additional information, right-click the Group Policy setting, click Properties , and then click the Explain tab, or refer to the Group Policy Reference on the Windows 2000 Resource Kit companion CD.
The Group Policy settings listed in Table 8.4 are located in the Group Policy snap-in under Local Computer Policy\User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Start Menu & Taskbar.
Table 8.4 Group Policy Settings That Can Affect the Start Menu
Group Policy Setting |
Description |
|---|---|
Remove users folders from the Start Menu |
Hides all user-specific folders from the Start menu. Use in conjunction with folder redirection Group Policy settings. |
Remove common program groups from Start Menu |
Removes items in the All Users profile from the Programs menu on the Start menu. |
Remove Documents menu from Start Menu |
Hides the Documents folder from the Start menu. |
Remove Favorites menu from Start Menu |
Prevents users from adding the Favorites menu to the Start menu. |
Remove Help menu from Start Menu |
Removes the Help option from the Start menu, but does not disable Help files from running. |
Remove Run menu from Start Menu |
Removes the ability to execute programs from the Run option on the Start menu, Task Manager, or by pressing Application key + R . |
Add Logoff to the Start Menu |
Adds the Logoff option to the Start menu and prevents users from removing the Logoff option from the Start menu. |
Disable Logoff on the Start Menu |
Removes ability to log off from Windows from the Start Menu. |
Disable and remove the Shut Down command |
Prevents shutting down Windows using the standard shutdown user interface. |
Disable drag-and-drop context menus on the Start Menu |
Prevents users from modifying the Start menu by dragging and dropping items. Other methods of customizing the Start menu are still enabled. |
Disable changes to Taskbar and Start Menu Settings |
Removes the Taskbar & Start Menu item from the Settings submenu. |
Disable personalized menus |
All menus items appear in default Windows 2000 order. |
Disable user tracking |
Prevents the system from remembering the programs run, paths followed, and documents used. Usually used in conjunction with the Disable personalized menus Group Policy setting. |
Maximum number of recent documents |
Specifies the number of shortcuts displayed on the Documents submenu. |
Add Run in Separate Memory Space check box to Run dialog box |
Allows 16-bit programs to run in a dedicated Virtual DOS Machine (VDM) process. |
Gray unavailable Windows Installer programs Start Menu shortcuts |
Displays partially installed programs in gray text on the Start Menu. |