Disabling Buttons in the Windows NT Security Dialog Box

ID: Q174840

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information on how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" online Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" online Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

You cannot disable the Lock Workstation, Change Password, or Task Manager buttons when you press CTRL+ALT+DELETE.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" online Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

After you apply the hotfix, perform one of the following:

Run Regedt32.exe and add the following value(s) to the registry:
- To disable the LOCK WORKSTATION button, create the following value in the registry:
  
  NOTE: The System key may need to be created.
  
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion \Policies\System\ DisableLockWorkstation = 1 (DWORD Hexadecimal value)
  
  NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for readability.
- To disable the CHANGE PASSWORD button, create the following value in the registry:
  
  NOTE: The System key may need to be created.
  
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion \Policies\System\ DisableChangePassword = 1 (DWORD Hexadecimal value)
  
  NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for readability.
- To disable the TASK MANAGER button, create the following value in the registry:
  
  NOTE: The System key may need to be created.
  
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion \Policies\System\ DisableTaskMgr = 1 (DWORD Hexadecimal value)
  
  NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for readability.
-or-

Copy the updated version of Winnt.adm to the %SystemRoot%\Inf folder and then perform the following steps:
1. Start System Policy Editor (Poledit.exe).
2. On the file menu, click open registry, and then double-click Local User.
3. Double-click Windows NT System.
4. The new options appear as:
  - Disable Lock Workstation
  - Disable Change Password
  - Disable Task Manager

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4.

Additional query words: poledit

Keywords : NT4SP4Fix ntdomain kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00.sp4
Version : WinNT4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug