Remove or Disable Search Bar In Internet Explorer

[Guest]

Win2k3 SP1 Terminal Server running IE 6 SP1 being used for public kiosk so I
am trying to lock it down as much as possible. I can't figure out how to
disable the user from open the Search Bar by clicking on VIEW, EXPLORER BAR
and then SEARCH (or CTRL E).
I have applied all the GPO settings and registry hacks that disable the
search from Windows Explorer and also remove the Search BUTTON from IE, but
you can still get to it from the method described above. The main reason
from removing it is that the user can search my Active Directory for
computers or printers and I don't want them to see this. I have also already
removed Network Neighborhood, Network Favorites, etc but it is still
searchable from IE. Any ideas?

Brent

 

[Rob Parsons]

Hi again Brent. Still at it. Did you view my last message on this topic
suggesting to delete the Explorer Bar CLSID from the HKLM key for explorer
bars.

I must admit that I have a win2k machine and an XP removable disk that I
occasionally replace for testing so I have not tried this method myself.

I followed this link

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...n/Windows/2000/server/reskit/en-us/gp/701.asp

on msdn which advises that there is a Group Policy -

Search: Disable Find Files via F3 within the browser

that will achieve your required restriction. However when I view my GP
management console on my win2k machine there is no such entry! Agh! But I am
logged on a secondary administrative account, so maybe you have to log on as
administrator to view and manage these restrictions.

This link

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;823057

lists the following registry keys where you will find explorer restrictions

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


This suggests the registry value to flip is

NoFindFiles: Turns the F3 command and the Search bar.

I just tried this and it works, though it does not hide the menu option or
toolbar button

So open regedit and find the key

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions

and create a value named NoFindFiles

give it a value of 1.

 

[Guest]

Yes, I saw your last message and it managed to get rid of the FOLDERS option
under the Explorer bar so that solved one problem. Now I need to get rid of
the SEARCH option under the Explorer Bar. I have already set the group
policy item that disables the F3 search and I even added NoFindFiles=1 to the
registry like suggested. This disables F3 for searching, but CTRL-E still
works and you can also click on VIEW-EXPLORER BAR-SEARCH. So the suggestions
below did not work.
-Brent

 

[Guest]

I also have the same problem as you describe below!

I need to remove the control E and view>explorer bar>search option...

I pretty much think its impossible..... from what i have read etc....

but i still find it hard to beleive there is no reg hack for this...