How to remove Network Setup Wizard & New Connection Wizard from Network connections?

Question

How to remove Network Setup Wizard & New Connection Wizard from Network connections?

Answer 1

Why would you want to do that? I think it's a good idea to keep the connection wizards.

Answer 2

Using Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 in a Managed Environment

Appendix H: Internet Connection Wizard and Network Connection Wizard

In Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4) you connect to the Internet with the Internet Connection Wizard. The primary way to make this type of connection is through the Network Connection Wizard in Network and Dial-up Connections.

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Overview: Internet Connection Wizard and Network Connection Wizard

Controlling the Use of Network Connection Wizards

Overview: Internet Connection Wizard and Network Connection Wizard

Administrators or users with administrative credentials can use the Network Connection Wizard to create any type of network connection including Internet, incoming, dial-up, virtual private network (VPN), and direct connection. In the Network Connection Wizard, if an administrator or user clicks Dial-up to the Internet and Next, the Internet Connection Wizard appears.

Administrators or users can create a new connection through Settings\Network and Dial-up Connections. When you click Make New Connection, the Network Connection Wizard guides you through this process.

When a user clicks on any program for the first time that requires an Internet connection, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, the Internet Connection Wizard appears. In a highly managed network environment you might want to prevent administrators as well as users from creating new connections.

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Controlling the Use of Network Connection Wizards

There are various ways you can block access to network connection wizards using Group Policy. You can block administrators and users from making any kind of new connection through the Network Connection Wizard by configuring Group Policy. In User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Network\Network and Dial-up Connections, you configure the policy setting Prohibit Access to the Network Connection Wizard. This policy setting does the following:

• It determines whether users can use the Network Connection Wizard, which creates new network connections.



• When this policy setting is enabled, the Make New Connection icon does not appear in the Start menu or in the Network and Dial-up Connections folder. As a result, users cannot start the Network Connection Wizard.



• It does not prevent users from using other programs such as Internet Explorer to bypass this policy setting.



Using Group Policy you can remove Network and Dial-up Connections from the Start menu. In User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Start Menu & Taskbar, you can configure the following policy setting: Remove Network & Dial-up Connections from Start Menu. This policy setting does the following:

• It removes Network and Dial-up Connections from Settings on the Start menu and prevents users from running Network and Dial-up Connections.



• Network and Dial-up Connections still appears in Control Panel and in Windows Explorer, but if users try to start it, a message appears explaining that a policy prevents the action.



You can also disable only the Internet Connection Wizard. In User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer, configure the policy setting: Disable Internet Connection Wizard. This policy setting does the following:

• It prevents users from running the Internet Connection Wizard.



• When you enable this policy setting, the Setup button on the Connections tab in the Internet Options dialog box appears dimmed and cannot be selected.



• Users will also be prevented from running the wizard if they click the Connect to the Internet icon on the desktop, or if they click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to Communications, and then click the Internet Connection Wizard.



This policy setting overlaps with the Disable the Connections page policy setting (located in \User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Control Panel), which removes the Connections tab from Internet Explorer (click Tools and then click Internet Options). Removing the Connections tab, however, does not prevent users from running the Internet Connection Wizard from the desktop or the Start menu.

For additional information about controlling access to Internet Explorer, see the section in this white paper titled "Internet Explorer 5.01 SP4."

For information about using the Group Policy Object Editor, see Appendix B, "Resources for Learning About Group Policy."