Local Policy Editor removing Control Panel Icons

[pecco]

I've found a problem with Windows XP Pro Local Policy Editor that
causes SMS icons to be removed from the Control Panel. To remove the
Firewall from the Control Panel I used the Local Policy (Local Computer
Policy-->User Configuration-->Administrative Templates--> Control
Panel-->Hide specified Control Panel applets). After specifying
FIREWALL.CPL and running GPUPDATE /FORCE I noticed all my SMS icons
were removed from the Control Panel.

I've search all over and have had no luck finding and supporting
documentation relating to my problem. Has anyone else come across this
problem?

 

[Steven L Umbach]

Can't say that I have ever heard of that. You may also want to post in the
Group Policy newsgroup. If there is no known solution you may just need to
leave firewall.cpl in Control Panel. Why do you want to remove it anyhow?
There may be another workaround for your need to remove that. --- Steve

 

[pecco]

The reason I want to remove it is to prevent users from turning it on.
I've disabled the service but if a user gets ambitious and thinks it
will help they may turn it on. I'm just more curious to know why when
you remove firewall.cpl it removes the SMS applets.

 

[Steven L Umbach]

OK. I don't know why the SMS applets are disappearing. However there are
several ways to enable/manage the Windows Firewall when users are local
administrators also and removing the Windows Firewall applet would probably
be of little value. If possible do not have the users be local
administrators. If that is not an option try using Group Policy to disable
the firewall ideally at the domain level but it can also be done for non
domain computers via local Group Policy [gpedit.msc] by going to computer
configuration/administrative templates/network/network connections/Windows
firewall and set protect all network connections to disabled under standard
or domain profile as the case may be. A knowledgeable user that is a local
administrator could change that setting if it is enforced by local Group
Policy but it is a lot less likely than using other means to try and hide
access to firewall settings. --- Steve

 

[pecco]

Thanks for your input. At this point I'm not to concerned with users
turning it on or off. If they turn it on and break their connection,
they'll know for next time not to mess around. I'm just really curious
to know why the SMS applets are being removed along with the firewall.
it's not of huge importance, more of a minor annoyance.

OK. I don't know why the SMS applets are disappearing. However there are
several ways to enable/manage the Windows Firewall when users are local
administrators also and removing the Windows Firewall applet would probably
be of little value. If possible do not have the users be local
administrators. If that is not an option try using Group Policy to disable
the firewall ideally at the domain level but it can also be done for non
domain computers via local Group Policy [gpedit.msc] by going to computer
configuration/administrative templates/network/network connections/Windows
firewall and set protect all network connections to disabled under standard
or domain profile as the case may be. A knowledgeable user that is a local
administrator could change that setting if it is enforced by local Group
Policy but it is a lot less likely than using other means to try and hide
access to firewall settings. --- Steve

The reason I want to remove it is to prevent users from turning it on.
I've disabled the service but if a user gets ambitious and thinks it
will help they may turn it on. I'm just more curious to know why when
you remove firewall.cpl it removes the SMS applets.

 

[Steven L Umbach]

I understand. You might try posting in the Group Policy newsgroup also to
see if anyone there has ever seen this an knows a resolution. It could be
one of those quirks of the operating system that no one really knows
y. --- Steve

Thanks for your input. At this point I'm not to concerned with users
turning it on or off. If they turn it on and break their connection,
they'll know for next time not to mess around. I'm just really curious
to know why the SMS applets are being removed along with the firewall.
it's not of huge importance, more of a minor annoyance.

OK. I don't know why the SMS applets are disappearing. However there are
several ways to enable/manage the Windows Firewall when users are local
administrators also and removing the Windows Firewall applet would
probably
be of little value. If possible do not have the users be local
administrators. If that is not an option try using Group Policy to
disable
the firewall ideally at the domain level but it can also be done for non
domain computers via local Group Policy [gpedit.msc] by going to computer
configuration/administrative templates/network/network
connections/Windows
firewall and set protect all network connections to disabled under
standard
or domain profile as the case may be. A knowledgeable user that is a
local
administrator could change that setting if it is enforced by local Group
Policy but it is a lot less likely than using other means to try and hide
access to firewall settings. --- Steve

The reason I want to remove it is to prevent users from turning it on.
I've disabled the service but if a user gets ambitious and thinks it
will help they may turn it on. I'm just more curious to know why when
you remove firewall.cpl it removes the SMS applets.



Steven L Umbach wrote:
Can't say that I have ever heard of that. You may also want to post in
the
Group Policy newsgroup. If there is no known solution you may just
need
to
leave firewall.cpl in Control Panel. Why do you want to remove it
anyhow?
There may be another workaround for your need to remove that. ---
Steve


I've found a problem with Windows XP Pro Local Policy Editor that
causes SMS icons to be removed from the Control Panel. To remove
the
Firewall from the Control Panel I used the Local Policy (Local
Computer
Policy-->User Configuration-->Administrative Templates--> Control
Panel-->Hide specified Control Panel applets). After specifying
FIREWALL.CPL and running GPUPDATE /FORCE I noticed all my SMS icons
were removed from the Control Panel.

I've search all over and have had no luck finding and supporting
documentation relating to my problem. Has anyone else come across
this
problem?