Remove Outlook Express 3

[campyracr]

Need:
I'd like to remove the Outlook Express icons from the start menu and task bar for all users.

Background:
We are using Exchange and Outlook, however I have a number of users who mistakenly open OE for their mail, then wonder why it doesn't work right. We use a standard w2K image which includes a .bat file to remove the icons, but that's a manual process.

I've looked in the registry for a key but I've been unsuccessful thus far.

 

[electronicsfreak]

Go to add/remove programs, then click windows components, uncheck it there and click next, that will remove the shortcuts and links.

 

[campyracr]

Yeah that does it one time. However each time a new user logs in the icons will be there again.

I was hoping for a registry change that would be global and cover all users.

 

[nogarap]

You might have a look at:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q235557

I'm running the rem-oe.vbs, the script mentioned in the MS article. I run it under logon scripts in the user part of my standard user policy GPO. It works intermittently. We mostly run pn remote support so we we want things a ssimple as possible. Our workstations have had msimn.exe removed, but the icon still appears sometimes. As the requestor said, you can delete the icon, but any new users will still get it. Normally, this s/cut would live in %userprofile%\application data\microsoft\internet explorer\quick launch. This shortcut doesn't exist in the default user or all users profiles, so heaven only knows where it gets it from. I spent time on this last year, and posted on here about it at the time, but with no real resolution. We had some $1500/day guys in here for something different, nad they couldn't make it stay away either, which cheered me up a bit. If anyone can fix this satisfactorily, I'll buy them a drink as well.

 

[fl1pp3r]

Hi,
If've been experiencing the same problem, and looking for a solution I found this post.
If been doing a little research (I monitored a deinstallation of outlook express via the control panel)and I came up with the following sollution which works fine for me on W2k SP4 Security rollup update installed/IE6 SP1:

Change the following key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\>{881dd1c5-3dcf-431b-b061-f3f88e8be88a}\IsInstalled = 0
The default Value is 1.

 

[fl1pp3r]

Hi,
I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but the solution I mentioned above did'nt work. I thought it worked, but then I had my Outlook express Icons back .

Now i have found out a scripted sollution which works:
%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,OCInstall HideOE

this commandline "uninstalls" Outlook express, like you normally would do with the control panel add/remove windows components.

 

[bcastner]

1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Programs.

2. Click Configure Programs.

NOTE: This button appears in the Add/Remove Programs dialog box when you install SP3 or higher for Windows 2000.

3. Click to clear the Show this program check boxes of the programs that you want to hide. For example, to hide Outlook Express, click to clear the Show this program check box under Choose a default e-mail program.

4. Click OK.

 

[campyracr]

Two issues:
1) We use W2k SP4 and the option listed above "configure programs" does not appear.

2) The goal here would be something that could be pushed out to all current users via SMS, and changed during the installation of the OS, hence the attempts via the registry.

 

[bcastner]

Issue #1: "Configure Programs" is there. In SP4 it was renamed to "Set Program Access and Defaults." But it is there. Look on your Start Menu, or Control Panel / Add or Remove Programs on the left panel. Microsoft has included the new configuration pane in SP3 called Configure Programs as a result of its antitrust settlement with the Department of Justice and nine states. From the MSFT SP3 press announcement: "Users will now be given the option to override Microsoft defaults and select a custom Web browser, e-mail client, media player, instant messenger, and Java virtual machine. The pane will also feature an option to hide integrated Windows components such as Outlook Express, Internet Explorer or Windows Media Player."

Issue #2:

General deployment discussion: support.microsoft.com/?kbid=327931

Existing Users:

. Registry entries involved:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...ogrammersguide/shell_adv/setprogramaccess.asp

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...rogrammersguide/shell_adv/registeringapps.asp

. I would likely set it once and export this key for use as a registry import:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Clients

Note:[/b[ as an HKLM it effects all users of the machine.


Installation of the OS:
When you perform a "slipstream" installation of the Service Pack files into a Windows 2000 installation point, you can specify the installation options for Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, and Windows Media Player from an unattended installation file (Unattend.txt). To remove access to Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, and Windows Media Player in an unattended installation file, add to the file a [Components] section that contains the following options:
IEACCESS=OFF
OEACCESS=OFF
WMPOCM=OFF

For Sysprep, add as well the following command line to the [GuiRunOnce] section of Sysprep.inf:

[GuiRunOnce]
sysocmgr /U:unattend.txt /Q /R /C /X

 

[tlcscousin]

You could also edit the permissions on the msimn.exe and remove all users from the permissions (it might be a pain to go to each machine and edit but it should stop the ability to even open it). (MSIMN.EXE is outlook express executable) this way they dont have rights to open it.

 

[fl1pp3r]

to bcastner:
I also implemented a "splistreamed" installation of w2k sp4 (dutch).
This all worked fine, but after I installed the security rollup update (dutch version), outlook express icons were turned on again.

%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,OCInstall HideOE

turns them off again in a "unattended" way.

This commandline modifies registry entries you mentioned:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Clients\Mail\Outlook Express etc.

In these registry keys you can also find the commands for installing/uninstalling OE.

 

[bcastner]

Thank you fl1pp3r.

I always am a little hesitant when it comes to rundll32 based commands (as they can disappear as the OS matures), but I guess we can now assume that feature set to be stable with Win2k!

Thank you for your note.

Best,
Bill Castner

 

[campyracr]

bcastner, fl1pp3r, tlcscousin

Thanks for yourpatience guys.

Bill, thanks for the MSDN articles, I didn't look there.

 

[bryantakana]

Here's the registry key you need to delete to remove Outlook Express shortcuts for all future profiles on an existing installation of Windows 2000:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}\Stubpath