Internet Explorer Restrictions

The following is in collaboration with jstolz from The Windows Registry Guide

Backup the registry and/or export the following keys: go to Start>Run, type regedit. Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft

Right-click on the Microsoft key, choose new>Key, name it Internet Explorer, right-click on the Internet Explorer key, choose new>Key, name it Restrictions. Then you'll need to right-click on the Restrictions key and type in the following DWORD values. Right-click on each one you create, choose modify and type in the number 0. Now export the entire Restrictions key. Now you have an easy way to undo the restrictions when you need to do maintenance on the machine. No go back, right-click on each and type in the number 1 to enforce the restriction.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbars\Restrictions
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel

The same applies to this key. If the keys are not present, add them as shown above.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Infodelivery\Restrictions

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

These additionad settings also control some various Internet Explorer restrictions. The scenario as show below resticts the History, Favorites, Mail, Edit, Discussions,Encoding, and Media buttons. The value of 00000002 hides the button. NOTE: SpecifyDefaultButtons must be set to 00000001 to be effective.

Remember, some settings require Windows be restarted before they take affect.