JSI Tip 2049. How do I hide the 'Active Desktop' item on the Windows NT 4.0 'Settings' menu?

Jerold Schulman

February 20, 2000

1 Min Read
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When you install IE5, an Active Desktop item is added to the Settings menu.

To hide the Active Desktop menu, navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer

Add a new Value Name of NoSetActiveDesktop.

Microsoft has conflicting statements as to the Data Type, but I would try a type REG_SZ first.

Set the data value to 1 to hide the Active Desktop menu. A data value of 0 will show it.

NOTE: If this doesn't work, after a restart, set the Data Type to a REG_DWORD.

NOTE: A visitor reports that navigating to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced

and setting the HideIcons value name, a type REG_DWORD, to 0 (False), worked.

See tip 1241 for IE4.01 /SPx.

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