Is there a way (GPO preferred) to disable the "Take a tour of Windows XP" balloon/popup when a new user logs in for the first time?
1 Answer
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Tour\RunCount
The registry key's value is REG_DWORD type, setting it to "0" will disable the pop-up.
You can set this value in GPO using a logon script or, preferably, Client-Side Preferences. A logon script would look something like:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Tour" /v "RunCount" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311489
Edit: Here's an ADM that should perform the same function, if you're into that kinda thing.
CLASS USER
CATEGORY "Software Settings"
CATEGORY "Microsoft"
CATEGORY "Windows"
POLICY "Windows XP Tour Pop-up"
KEYNAME "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Tour"
EXPLAIN "Display the Windows XP tour icon in the system tray."
VALUENAME "RunCount"
VALUEON NUMERIC 1
VALUEOFF NUMERIC 0
END POLICY
END CATEGORY
END CATEGORY
END CATEGORY
Per @natxo's comment below, the above will disable the pop-up on a per-user basis. You can use this to target specific user groups/OUs if you want. Should you wish to disable the pop-up on a per-computer (all users) basis, change "HKCU" to "HKLM" in the script or change "USER" to "MACHINE" in the ADM. This is detailed in the Microsoft Support link above.
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1As a side note, the popup will run 3 times if a user dismisses the prompt. Once it runs 3 times, it won't run again. Sep 14, 2010 at 14:22
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and if you change hkcu for hklm then no one will be annoyed (system wide solution from the same kb article you indicated) Sep 14, 2010 at 14:36
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@natxo: I'm in a K-12 environment. We were asked to disable the pop-up for student users only, not staff for whatever reason. I will update my answer to clarify the link's content.– jscottSep 14, 2010 at 14:40
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Depending on the version in the GPO under User Configuration, Preferences, WIndows Settings, Registry you can put in registry values to set or replace existing values.– ShialSep 14, 2010 at 16:28