How to Disable the Active Desktop By Default for New Users

ID: Q190499


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows 98


SUMMARY

When you install Internet Explorer 4.01 or Internet Explorer 4.01 Service Pack 1, there is no way to specify that the Active Desktop be initially disabled for new users who log on to the computer.

This article describes how to configure a Windows NT 4.0-based or Windows 98-based computer so the Active Desktop is disabled by default for users who log on to the computer for the first time.


MORE INFORMATION

To disable the Active Desktop by default when a user logs on to the computer for the first time, follow the appropriate steps:

Windows NT

  1. If you have not already done so, install Internet Explorer with the Windows Desktop Update component.

    NOTE: To install Internet Explorer on a computer running Windows NT 4.0, you must have administrative privileges on that computer.


  2. Using a text editor (such as Notepad), open the Ie4uinit.inf file located in the %systemroot%\system32 folder, where %systemroot% is the folder in which Windows NT 4.0 is installed.


  3. Add the following line to the [AddReg.Misc] section of the Ie4uinit.inf file (this line removes the check mark from the View As Web Page command):
    HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer", "ShellState",3,1c,00,00,00,a2,08,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,0a,00,00,00
    NOTE: This line should be typed as a single line. It has been wrapped in this article for readability purposes.


  4. Save and then close the Ie4uinit.inf file.


If you want to later enable the Active Desktop by default (the View As Web Page command is selected, which is the default behavior), change the line you added in step 3 to the following line:
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer", "ShellState",3,1c,00,00,00,e2,08,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,0a,00,00,00
NOTE: This line should be typed as a single line. It has been wrapped in this article for readability purposes.

Window 98

  1. If you have not already done so, install Internet Explorer with the Windows Desktop Update component.


  2. Using a text editor (such as Notepad), open the Ie4uinit.inf file located in the %systemroot%\system folder, where %systemroot% is the folder in which Windows 98 is installed.


  3. Add the following line to the [AddReg.Misc] section of the Ie4uinit.inf file (this line removes the check mark from the View As Web Page command):


  4. HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer", "ShellState",10,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
    NOTE: This line should be typed as a single line. It has been wrapped in this article for readability purposes.

  5. Save, and then close the Ie4uinit.inf file.


If you want to later enable the Active Desktop by default (the View As Web Page command is selected, which is the default behavior), change the line you added in step 3 to the following line:
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer", "ShellState",1c,00,00,00,e3,0f,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,0a,00,00,00
NOTE: This line should be typed as a single line. It has been wrapped in this article for readability purposes.

Additional Notes

  • This entry only works the first time a new user logs on to a Windows NT 4.0-based or Windows 98-based computer on which Internet Explorer is installed. After the initial logon, the administrator can change the Ie4uinit.inf file, but the state of the View As Web Page command does not change for subsequent logons.


  • Changing the Ie4uinit.inf file affects all users (administrative and non-administrative) who log on to the computer.


  • The Ie4uinit.inf file is installed by Internet Explorer.


  • The setting for the View As Web Page command is stored in a registry location that is inaccessible by non-administrative users.


Additional query words:

Keywords : kbenv msient
Version : WINDOWS:4.01
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbinfo


Last Reviewed: August 16, 1999
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