Change folder options

[itgeek]

Hi I want to change folder options on all pc on our network, to stop Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) from opening documents in the IE window instead of using the document's regular application?. Please can somebody tell me how to do this on all pc on our network.

Thanks

[Michael]

So are you saying Word Documents are opening in Internet Explorer instead of its native application?

If this is the case, it's all to do with File Associations. Because Word places so many entries within the registry, realistically you have two options.

Re-install Word, which will re-create the association or alternatively, create a new profile for users with the correct association with Microsoft Word.

[itgeek]

Can this not be changed through group policy?. Thanks

[Michael]

Unfortunately not, it's one thing that isn't available to tweak using GPOs.

Unless Windows Server 2008 allows you to do this? I am not sure.

[srochford]

Pretty much everything which involves registry changes can be done with a group policy - some things need you to write your own ADM file, however.

I've used regtoadm before now - once you get the registry file you need you can just create an adm and deploy it.

This is the code we use in a machine startup script - it sets it for Word, Excel and PowerPoint

set oShell=createobject("wscript.shell")
'configure Browse in Same Window Through IE for Office Apps
oShell.regwrite "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Word.Document.8\BrowserFlags",8,"REG_DWORD"

oShell.regwrite "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Excel.Sheet.8\BrowserFlags",8,"REG_DWORD"
  oShell.regwrite "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Powerpoint.Show.8\BrowserFlags",8,"REG_DWORD"

[Michael]

I agree that creating your own ADM files is possible, but it certainly isn't easy at all. Scripts are definitely much easier to deploy and create (time wise).