GPO to disable F1 Help etc

[ihaveaproblem]

From my searching there doesnt seem to be a GPO to do this. I can remove the help link from the start menu, however there's still lots of ways to get into help through explorer windows or by pressing F1 for example.

I was thinking a software policy to disallow C:\Windows\winhlp32.exe from running would do the job. I've done this and I can still access help.

 

Any ideas?

 

Win 7, Server 2008 R2

[Arthur]

The help system in Windows 7 uses HelpPane.exe (located in %SystemRoot%).

 

Winhlp32.exe isn't included with Windows by default any more (from Vista onwards).

[ihaveaproblem]

The help system in Windows 7 uses HelpPane.exe (located in %SystemRoot%).

 

Winhlp32.exe isn't included with Windows by default any more (from Vista onwards).

 

Thanks, so do you think setting a rule to prevent helppane.exe from running will stop help?

The strange thing is my Winows 7 Enterprise does have winhlp32 in c:\windows (I've not placed it there) and if I double click on it opens the help feature.

Anyways i'll try blocking helppane.exe

[Techdw]

Use software restriction to disable ''HelpPane.exe'' from starting, but search the whole PC C:\ for WinHlp32.exe and add any path which the search finds.

[Arthur]

The strange thing is my Winows 7 Enterprise does have winhlp32 in c:\windows (I've not placed it there)

It was probably installed by some third-party software in order to open old HLP files.

[ihaveaproblem]

Software restriction did the job

Arthur, Not sure why i've got the winhlp32 because machine i'm testing GPO's on is a clean win7 build. Maybe a windows update added it. Anyways it's blocked now so it doesnt really matter!

Thanks all=]

[XP1]

Rename or delete "%WINDIR%\HelpPane.exe".

 

Works on Windows Vista.

 

Run "Disable help.bat" as administrator:

takeown /f "%WINDIR%\HelpPane.exe"
icacls "%WINDIR%\HelpPane.exe" /grant Administrators:F
ren "%WINDIR%\HelpPane.exe" "HelpPane.exe.bak"

takeown /f "%WINDIR%\winhlp32.exe"
icacls "%WINDIR%\winhlp32.exe" /grant Administrators:F
ren "%WINDIR%\winhlp32.exe" "winhlp32.exe.bak"

[enjay]

You can disable the F1 key - have a hunt for some of the threads about disabling spell checkers for exam accounts, and you should find the instructions. Let me know if you can't find them, and I'll dig my notes out...

[lafleur1977]

Software restriction did the job

Arthur, Not sure why i've got the winhlp32 because machine i'm testing GPO's on is a clean win7 build. Maybe a windows update added it. Anyways it's blocked now so it doesnt really matter!

Thanks all=]

 

Hello, I have been trying to stop users opening help and support via the start menu > all programs with no success. I have tried adding c:\windows\HelpPane.exe & %SystemRoot%\HelpPane.exe to software restriction policy and disallowing them but users can still open it. Can you tell me the exact path you specified in SRP?

 

Thanks

[ihaveaproblem]

Hello, I have been trying to stop users opening help and support via the start menu > all programs with no success. I have tried adding c:\windows\HelpPane.exe & %SystemRoot%\HelpPane.exe to software restriction policy and disallowing them but users can still open it. Can you tell me the exact path you specified in SRP?

 

Thanks

 

Hi,

I believe in the end I set it up to use a Hash rule instead of a file path. I will check and let you know:)