Removing unauthorised components from Vista

[Paul Goodyear]

Hello,

We are starting to introduce Vista machines into our existing company
network of XP machines.

My company rules are that only authorised productivity software may be used
on our PCs - ie the OS, Microsoft Office 2003, and a couple of specific
company applications.

How can I remove all the accessories in Vista - in particular Windows Mail
and Windows Calendar (which could conceivably be misused in parallel with
Office 2003). But I also need to remove Sidebar, Media Player, and Gallery
as these are not considered as productivity applications. In Windows XP, it
was easy to remove Windows components using Control Panel, but this option
seems to have disappeared on Vista.

Ideally I would like to make the whole user experience on the new machines
the same as XP so there is seamless integration into the existing pool and
no productivity downtime. Is there an option to make Vista like XP? We
wanted to buy XP machines to avoid needless complications like the above
query, but unfortunately XP machines were no longer available at a
competitive price.

 

[Mamamegs [MS MVP]]

Hello,

We are starting to introduce Vista machines into our existing company
network of XP machines.

My company rules are that only authorised productivity software may
be used on our PCs - ie the OS, Microsoft Office 2003, and a couple
of specific company applications.

How can I remove all the accessories in Vista - in particular Windows
Mail and Windows Calendar (which could conceivably be misused in
parallel with Office 2003). But I also need to remove Sidebar, Media
Player, and Gallery as these are not considered as productivity
applications. In Windows XP, it was easy to remove Windows components
using Control Panel, but this option seems to have disappeared on
Vista.

Why don't you set up restriction policies in the Local Group Policy
editor? (Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings >
Software Restrictions)

Ideally I would like to make the whole user experience on the new
machines the same as XP so there is seamless integration into the
existing pool and no productivity downtime. Is there an option to
make Vista like XP? We wanted to buy XP machines to avoid needless
complications like the above query, but unfortunately XP machines
were no longer available at a competitive price.

I dare say that if users can find their way in XP, they'll find their
way in Vista. You can set the theme to Windows Classic if you like the
Windows 2000 look... ;-)

--
Mamamegs.
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Problemen met Windows Vista? www.vistabits.nl

Windows Vista Problems? www.vistabits.info

 

[Paul Goodyear]

Thank you for your reply - unfortunately my management insist that
peripheral components are entirely removed and that we just have OS and
productivity software on the machines. This is a strict company policy to
remove employee distractions from the machines, and is also company has a
strict "lean" ethos. Management don't want a bloated OS!

We have bought Vista Business edition - surely it is possible to strip out
time-wasting applications such as media-player from the Business edition?

It is a shame there is no XP "feel alike" option - I know employees are
going waste their own and my own time fiddling around getting to know the OS
for no benefit except to satisfy their curiousity.

 

[KDE]

you might want to investigate Microsoft's downgrade license options. I
believe a Vista license allows for an authorized downgrade to XP. If that is
the case you can make a Disk Image of a clean XP install, that is set -up
per your company requirements, and downgrade all the Vista PC's you just
purchased to XP.

 

[BigRedWingsFan]

Thank you for your reply - unfortunately my management insist that
peripheral components are entirely removed and that we just have OS and
productivity software on the machines. This is a strict company policy to
remove employee distractions from the machines, and is also company has a
strict "lean" ethos. Management don't want a bloated OS!

We have bought Vista Business edition - surely it is possible to strip out
time-wasting applications such as media-player from the Business edition?

It is a shame there is no XP "feel alike" option - I know employees are
going waste their own and my own time fiddling around getting to know the
OS for no benefit except to satisfy their curiousity.

Perhaps if you reduce their bread & water rations............

 

[Paul Goodyear]

Perhaps if you reduce their bread & water rations............

Very well run company thank you, employees paid very well because they work
hard and don't waste time! We just want a fast, lean OS plus productivity
software.

 

[Paul Goodyear]

you might want to investigate Microsoft's downgrade license options. I
believe a Vista license allows for an authorized downgrade to XP. If that
is the case you can make a Disk Image of a clean XP install, that is
set -up per your company requirements, and downgrade all the Vista PC's
you just purchased to XP.

Thanks, I will look into that option.

Meanwhile I will try to make a case for Vista to the powers that decide
these things. So far I haven't been able to find anything to recommend about
Vista on a corporate network - it is very slow to boot, has very intrusive
"security", comes with lots of unwanted permanently bundled applications,
and is not backwards compatible with some very useful and expensive software
(eg Adobe Professional 6.0 which is perfectly good software on XP). The
fancy graphics are just not wanted in a corporate environment either.

 

[NoStop]

Thanks, I will look into that option.

Meanwhile I will try to make a case for Vista to the powers that decide
these things. So far I haven't been able to find anything to recommend
about Vista on a corporate network - it is very slow to boot, has very
intrusive "security", comes with lots of unwanted permanently bundled
applications, and is not backwards compatible with some very useful and
expensive software (eg Adobe Professional 6.0 which is perfectly good
software on XP). The fancy graphics are just not wanted in a corporate
environment either.

Do what *SMART* companies are doing in the face of the Vista release. Go
with an Open Source solution. Check out Ubuntu. Save the company many many
thousands of dollars, gain stability, security and productivity for the
company and get out from under the Microsoft juggernaut.

http://www.ubuntu.com

Cheers.

--
Frank's Brain Activity Plotted (watch the red line):
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i4/Astronomy2/PreformanceMonitor.jpg

Frank's Corporate Headquarters: Business Sign on his Bedroom Door ...
http://www.gneil.com/images/products/1slN1455.jpg

Frank - seek help immediately! Visit ...
http://www.binsa.org/

 

[Frank]

NoStop wrote:

SPAMMER!!!

This ng is not for sale!
Frank

 

[Alias]

NoStop wrote:

SPAMMER!!!

This ng is not for sale!
Frank

What makes you think that *anyone* thinks this news group is for sale?
I, for one, will continue to spread the good news about Ubuntu here for
the benefit of those who are fed up with Vista and all its intrusive
crap and there's NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT except, of course, continue
to make a fool out of yourself with your lies, insults, profanity and
bluster.

Alias

http://www.ubuntu.com/
http://www.microscum.com/

 

[Frank]

Thanks, I will look into that option.

Meanwhile I will try to make a case for Vista to the powers that decide
these things.

Why bother? You seem to have already eliminated the use of Vista completely.

So far I haven't been able to find anything to recommend

about Vista on a corporate network - it is very slow to boot,

It boots faster than XP...I guess you haven't really booted up Vista yet
right?

has very

intrusive "security",

If you're an IT (you are an IT right?) you'll be able to control all
security aspects of Vista.

comes with lots of unwanted permanently bundled

applications,

Again, if you are an IT, you can control the services that are allowed
in Vista. Applications and utilities not needed need not be accessed by
employees. You did say the company is strictly run so I take it that
means the employees strictly follow company policy right?

and is not backwards compatible with some very useful and

expensive software (eg Adobe Professional 6.0 which is perfectly good
software on XP).

Someone has been misleading or misinforming you cause you can run PS6 in
compatibility mode on Vista.

The fancy graphics are just not wanted in a corporate

environment either.

Are you sure you are an IT? All of the potential pitfalls you've
mentioned are totally controllable in Vista...if you know what you're doing.
Frank

 

[norm]

Why bother? You seem to have already eliminated the use of Vista
completely.

So far I haven't been able to find anything to recommend

It boots faster than XP...I guess you haven't really booted up Vista yet
right?

has very

If you're an IT (you are an IT right?) you'll be able to control all
security aspects of Vista.

comes with lots of unwanted permanently bundled

Again, if you are an IT, you can control the services that are allowed
in Vista. Applications and utilities not needed need not be accessed by
employees. You did say the company is strictly run so I take it that
means the employees strictly follow company policy right?

and is not backwards compatible with some very useful and

Someone has been misleading or misinforming you cause you can run PS6 in
compatibility mode on Vista.

The fancy graphics are just not wanted in a corporate

Are you sure you are an IT? All of the potential pitfalls you've
mentioned are totally controllable in Vista...if you know what you're
doing.
Frank

Why would an IT want to mess with an os that includes potential,
controllable pitfalls if there are solutions that offer only what is
wanted and needed, and not bloated with the potential, controllable
pitfalls that will consume time and effort apart from the real tasks at
hand? One might not have to be an IT to use common sense.

 

[Frank]

What makes you think that *anyone* thinks this news group is for sale?

Lying, trolling spammers like you seem to think it is? You're promoting
a non-MS product in an MS ng. Is that too difficult for you to
comprehend? You been asked numerous times in the past to stop.

I, for one, will continue to spread the good news about Ubuntu here for
the benefit of those who are fed up with Vista and all its intrusive
crap and there's NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT except, of course, continue
to make a fool out of yourself with your lies, insults, profanity and
bluster.

Alias

http://www.ubuntu.com/
http://www.microscum.com/

Now we see the real alias. The lying, trolling POS loser who cares only
about himself. You are a clueless, classless and arrogant hate filled
despicable person and you say your a Buddhist? You think the Bagwan
would approve of your doings? Is this an example of your good karma?
You really need to get some help.
You are pathetic!
Frank

 

[Paul Goodyear]

Thanks for your help - particularly the tip about PS6 - I will look into
that.

Yes, I am aware that the "security" features of Vista are controllable
(after an afternoon wasted googling UAC and DEP). But so far I have invested
a great deal of my time trying to smooth the integration of Vista into our
XP network, and I haven't uncovered a single killer benefit to a corporate
user. I am happy to invest time in understanding productivity orientated
software - but an OS should be just an OS - not a half-baked software suite.

 

[Paul Goodyear]

By the way, you are correct that I am not an "IT professional", whatever
that may mean. I am just an employee who has been asked to procure and set
up a few new computers on a network. If Vista was a decent, simple, stable
OS why should it require an "IT professional" to set it up? Do you think a
company should employee "professional drivers" every time somebody needs to
go on a business trip by car?

As a business user we don't want a bulky software suite - we just want a
platform to install productivity software. Seems Vista is not the OS for us.

 

[Frank]

By the way, you are correct that I am not an "IT professional", whatever
that may mean.

Oh, sorry about that. It sounded like you were an IT pro looking to do a
large "rollout" of Vista.
Like 50+ seats or something like that.

I am just an employee who has been asked to procure and

set up a few new computers on a network. If Vista was a decent, simple,
stable OS why should it require an "IT professional" to set it up?

Well it doesn't? Vistas not at all that complicated to setup and run.

Do

you think a company should employee "professional drivers" every time
somebody needs to go on a business trip by car?
No.

As a business user we don't want a bulky software suite - we just want a
platform to install productivity software.

Vista is the future and the future is now. Why spend money on the past?

Seems Vista is not the OS for

us.

Maybe not!
Frank

 

[thetruthhurts]

Thanks, I will look into that option.

Meanwhile I will try to make a case for Vista to the powers that decide
these things. So far I haven't been able to find anything to recommend about
Vista on a corporate network - it is very slow to boot, has very intrusive
"security", comes with lots of unwanted permanently bundled applications,
and is not backwards compatible with some very useful and expensive software
(eg Adobe Professional 6.0 which is perfectly good software on XP). The
fancy graphics are just not wanted in a corporate environment either.

OH MY GOD. A voice of reason. This guy is the antithesis of Frank,
hence we shall annoint him Village King.

 

[zachd [MSFT]]

Stripping out judged-to-be peripheral components wasn't supported in XP
either... this should not be a new concern or problem for management. The
"chopped up" version of XP was Windows XP Embedded.

You can use the Group Policy Editor to lock down access to components: I
would suggest using the Set and Lock Skin policy for Windows Media Player to
lock down access to the player, for example.

 

[Paul Goodyear]

OK, but why not make it nice and simple like it was in XP - just uninstall
everything we didn't need?

I can see I am going to have to invest a fair bit of time learning how to
shut down these unwanted bundled apps when really I could be doing better
things with my time.

 

[zachd [MSFT]]

I don't know what components you were referring to as uninstallable in
Windows Vista that aren't in XP. You mentioned Windows Media Player - that
wasn't uninstallable in any supported fashion in Windows XP. If you're
asking why the hack methodology to do such is now harder to access, I would
speculate that probably because it's relatively important for a Microsoft
system to be relatively stable, and there's no fleet of testers that is
working on verifying that each particular variant Frankenstein's Monster
system is going to perform excellently. =)

As Mamamegs already pointed out, there's policies to limit or turn off
access to pretty much everything you mentioned. This provides you your
solution ("employees can't access N") while giving me my solution ("N still
works for me") on the same system, while still enabling the greatest amount
of test coverage on the same common set of Windows components. Every
particular supported variant install or configuration of Windows "gets" to
be tested extensively - your corporate stripped version would then compete
with John's stripped version versus Bubba's stripped version for testing
time, leaving the aggregate coverage less than through the clean and
actually fairly excellent management call not to randomize or divert
resources in order to accomplish minimal savings. Disk space is relatively
cheap, lost time because Tester Y didn't have adequate time to cover Case
436 is expensive. You want Windows to work, I want Windows to work. We
don't get to that point most effectively when you randomize people.

It should take you about five minutes to learn how to shut down these
'unwanted bundled apps'-
* launch gpedit.msc (Group Policy Editor)
* Computer Configuration : Administrative Templates : Windows Components
That's everything but the WMP setting, now you just need to deploy. This
should be pretty straight-forward.

If you're seriously interested in your own really personalized version of
Windows, that's what Windows Embedded is for, more or less. That's a bunch
of people who are dedicated to providing the interesting Frankenstein's
Monster versions of Windows powering various specific scenarios. This
provides the people who really need it their specific solution while not
confusing people about what exactly a "Windows Vista" system experience
would be like. =)

Anyways, I think you get it. The Group Policy Editor should give you what
you're looking for here.

Cheers,
-Zach