GPO to block Windows search of Network/My Network Places

[ryrae]

I am looking for a way to block users from using the standard Windows search feature to search Network drives and/or anything in "My Network Places". We have had users mistakenly run a search for a file that exists on a file server and delete it thinking it was saved locally on their machine. All clients are running Windows XP...DCs are all Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2 x64. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

A+, Network+, MCP

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

***PLEASE TEST BEFORE ROLL OUT***
under UserConfig/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Windows Explorer...
enable No "Computer Near Me" in My Network Pleaces
enable No "Entire Network" in My Network Places
enable Remove Search Button from Windows Explorer
under UserConfig/Administrative Templates/Start Menu and Taskbar...
enable Remove My Network Places icon from Start Menu
enable Remove Search menu from Start Menu

This will be a good start for you. You may also need to look at the shares you do not want these users to search. If you don't want them to search, then you really don't need them seeing (read access) the files and folders as well. Tweak your share access (permissions) to prevent this as well.