Policy settings for the Start menu in Windows XP

This post provides descriptions of the registry entries for policies that you can apply to the Start menu in Microsoft Windows XP.

The settings on Start menu is controlled by the registry values under the registry key,
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Here, we can create a D-WORD registry value for a setting, that has values 1 (enable) or 0(Disable).
That is, for a setting such as, for Run in start menu, NoRun D-WORD is used. Setting its value to 1 will remove Run from Start menu, Task Manager etc. And setting the value to 0 will show Run in respective areas.

Below are the D-WORDs and its description.
All this D-WORDS must be created under the keyHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer (except in those case which has given its on path) to take effect.(you may need to restart)
To create a D-WORD, after getting to the above key, right click in an empty space and selectNew > DWORD Value.

Warning :
Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might result you to even reinstall your operating system. You must Export the key before you make any changes.Modify the registry at your own risk.

Policies and Description:

Policy:Disable the new simple Start MenuDescription:Disables the new simple Start menu and forces the classicStart menu.Registry Value:"NoSimpleStartMenu"

Policy:Remove pinned programs list from the Start menuDescription:Removes the pinned programs list from the Start menu. Alsoremoves the Internet and E-mail checkboxes from the Start menucustomization CPL.Registry Value:"NoStartMenuPinnedList" 

Policy:Remove frequent programs list from the Start MenuDescription:Removes the frequently-used programs list from the Startmenu.Registry Value:"NoStartMenuMFUprogramsList"

Policy:Remove More Programs list from the Start menuDescription:Removes the More Programs list from the Start menu.Registry Value:"NoStartMenuMorePrograms"

Policy:Remove common program groups from Start MenuDescription:Removes items in the All Users profile from the MorePrograms list on the Start menu.Registry Value:"NoCommonGroups"

Policy:Gray unavailable Windows Installer programs Start Menu shortcutsDescription:Displays partially installed programs in gray text on theStart menu.Registry Value:"GreyMSIAds"

Policy:Disable and remove links to Windows UpdateDescription:Removes the Windows Update link from the More Programs listin Start menu, from the Tools menu in IE, and blocks user access towindowsupdate.Microsoft.com.Registry Value:"NoWindowsUpdate"

Policy:Remove user folders from the Start MenuDescription:Removes all user-specific folders except My Documents (MyPictures, My Music, Favorites, and Recent Documents) from the Start menu.Also removes the corresponding checkboxes from the Start menucustomization CPL.Registry Value:This is a combination of the following:"NoStartMenuMyMusic", "NoSMMyPictures","NoFavoritesMenu","NoRecentDocsMenu"

Policy:Prohibit user from changing user folder pathsDescription:Prevents users from changing the path to the My Pictures,My Music, Favorites, and Recent Documents folders.Registry Value:"DisableMyPicturesDirChange", "DisableMyMusicDirChange","DisableFavoritesDirChange".

Policy:Remove My Documents folder from the Start MenuDescription:Removes My Documents folder from the Start menu andcorresponding checkbox from the Start menu customization CPL.Registry Value:"NoSMMyDocs"

Policy:Prohibit user from changing My Documents pathDescription:Prevents users from changing the path to the My Documentsfolder.Registry Value:"DisablePersonalDirChange"

Policy:Remove Recent Documents item from Start MenuDescription:Removes the Recent Documents folder from the Start menu. Alsoremoves the corresponding checkbox from the Start menu customization CPL.Registry Value:"NoRecentDocsMenu" 

Policy:Maximum number of recent documentsDescription:Specifies the number of shortcuts displayed on the RecentDocuments submenu.This policy exist under the following location in Group Policy:User Configuration \ Administrative Templates \ Windows ComponentsRegistry Value:"MaxRecentDocs" 

Policy:Clear history of recent documents on exitDescription:Deletes all shortcuts shown in the Recent Documents menu whenthe user logs off.Registry Value:"ClearRecentDocsOnExit"

Policy:Remove Favorites item from Start MenuDescription:Prevents users from adding the Favorites item to the Startmenu. Also removes the corresponding checkbox from the Start menucustomization CPL.Registry Value:"NoFavoritesMenu"

Policy:Remove My Computer from the Start MenuDescription:Removes the My Computer item from the Start Menu and thecorresponding checkbox from the Start menu customization CPL.Registry Value:"{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}" underHKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum.

Policy:Remove Network Connections from the Start MenuDescription:Removes the Network Connections item from the Start menuand the corresponding checkbox from the Start menu customization CPL.Registry Value:"NoNetworkConnections"

Policy:Remove Network Places from the Start MenuDescription:Removes the Network Places item from the Start menu and thecorresponding checkbox from the Start menu customization CPL.Registry Value:"NoStartMenuNetworkPlaces"

Policy:Do not add shares of recently used documents to Network PlacesDescription:Remote shared folders are not added to Network Places wheneveryou open a document in the shared folder.Registry Value:"NoRecentDocsNetHood"

Policy:Remove Help item from Start MenuDescription:Removes the Help item from the Start menu, but does notdisable Help files from running.Registry Value:"NoSMHelp"

Policy:Remove Search item from Start MenuDescription:Removes the Search item from the Start menu and disables someWindows Explorer search elements.Registry Value:"NoFind"

Policy:Remove Run item from Start MenuDescription:Removes the ability to execute programs from the Run optionon the Start menu, Task Manager, or by pressing Winkey + R. Also removesthe corresponding checkbox from the Start menu customization CPL.Registry Value:"NoRun"

Policy:Add "Run in Separate Memory Space" check box to Run dialog boxDescription:Allows 16-bit programs to run in a dedicated Virtual DOSMachine (VDM) process.Registry Value:"MemCheckBoxInRunDlg"

Policy:Do not use the search-based method when resolving shell shortcutsDescription:Prevents the system from conducting a comprehensive search ofthe target drive to resolve a shortcut.Registry Value:"NoResolveSearch"

Policy:Do not use the tracking-based method when resolving shell shortcutsDescription:Prevents the system from using NTFS features to resolve ashortcut.Registry Value:"NoResolveTrack"

Policy:Force Logoff to the Start MenuDescription:Forces the Logoff button to the Start menu and prevents usersfrom removing the Logoff option from the Start menu.Registry Value:"ForceStartMenuLogoff"

Policy:Disable Logoff on the Start MenuDescription:Removes the "Logoff" button from the Start menu and preventsusers from adding the Logoff button to the Start menu.Registry Value:"StartMenuLogoff"

Policy:Disable and remove the Turn Off Computer buttonDescription:Removes the "Turn Off Computer" button from the Start Menu andprevents shutting down Windows using the standard shutdown user interface.Registry Value:"NoClose"

Policy:Disable and remove the Undock PC commandDescription:Removes the "Undock PC" button from the Start Menu andprevents undocking of the PC (laptop).Registry Value:"NoStartMenuEjectPC"

Policy:Disable drag-and-drop menus on the Start MenuDescription:Prevents users from modifying the Start menu by dragging anddropping items. Other methods of customizing the Start menu are stillenabled.Registry Value:"NoChangeStartMenu"

Policy:Disable changes to Taskbar and Start Menu settingsDescription:Removes the Taskbar & Start Menu item from the ControlPanel, and removes the Properties item from the Start menu (and button)context menu.Registry Value:"NoSetTaskbar"

Policy:Disable user trackingDescription:Prevents the system from remembering the programs run, pathsfollowed, and documents used.Registry Value:"NoInstrumentation"

Policy:Remove user name from Start MenuDescription:Removes the user name from the Start menu.Registry Value:"NoUserNameInStartMenu"

Example: For the above policy (Remove user name from Start Menu) , create a D-WORD and name it NoUserNameInStartMenu. Set its value to 0 for showing and to 1 for hiding the User name in Start menu.