How to disable Group Policy?

Unfortunately, regular windows users can't do the suggested steps in the original post.

You have to have Windows Professional or better to what is outlined...

I think it's absolutely wrong that companies like Microsoft, Symantec and Adobe think it's perfectly acceptable to turn on group policy on machines where the owner can't look at, modify or remove those policies.

You see, you need GPEDIT.MSC in order to view or modify group policies. Even further, you CAN NOT run GPEDIT.MSC on a windows box that isn't Professional or better, as it has that MSC blocked via policy. Worse yet, not only can those companies now gain access to your PC without your permission via the group policy network access, but so too can hackers and computer criminals who have the tools to use GP IP Sec network access.

(Disclaimer: Do not attempt this suggestion unless you have a alternative firewall on your machine, or are using a firewall on your internet router (i.e. Cable or DSL) from your ISP. The disabling of group policy also stops the windows firewall from working).

(Note: When opening REGEDIT to do the instructions in the original post, right click on the Regedit.exe in the start menu and choose "Open as Administrator").

1. Follow the instructions in the original post until step 3 of the original post. Do the following steps and return to step 3.
2. Right click on the GPEDIT entry noted in the original post.
3. Go into permissions.
4. In the permissions dialog, click on "Advanced"
5. Click on the "Owner" Tab.
6. Click on your ID in the list below the current owner and check the "Replace the owner on subcontainers and objects" then click "OK"
7. At this point you need to add yourself in and give yourself permission to edit the key. Click on "Add" below and to the right of the user list.
8. Click on "Advanced"
9. Click on "Find Now"
10. Scroll down the list until you find your user name, click on it to select it and click "OK".
11. Click "OK" to exit the "Select Users or Groups"
12. You name should now be in the "Group and User names" area, click on it to select it.
13. Now click on the "Allow" Check box to the right of "Full Control"
14. Click "Ok" To exit permissions.
15. Goto Step #3 in the original Post, you should now be able to edit it and save the setting.

I did try that, but I couldn't understand it.  Guess I'm stuck with not being able to act on notifications.

Michael,

TechNet is where you will need to go to get that issue solved. Any registry modification information is best dispersed from there.

Eddie B.

I have the same problem, on a local PC.  I am unable to change the value of "Start," and cannot access gpedit.msc.  technet is way over my head.  Any further suggestions?