Restrict Programs From Opening In Windows 7

Do you have a program on your computer that you would like Windows to block from opening?  With a few tweaks to the Windows 7 registry, you can force it to prevent nearly any program of your choice from opening, and the process is entirely reversible!

How To Disallow Programs From Running In Windows 7

Step 1

Hold down the Windows Key and Press R to open the run dialog.  In here Type regedit and then Press Enter.

Step 2

Browse to the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer

Step 3

Right-Click in the right pane of the Explorer key and Select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Rename the new DWORD to:

DisallowRun

Step 4

Right-Click the DisallowRun DWORD you just created and Select Modify.* Set the Value data to 1 and then Click OK.

*You can also just Double-Click the DisallowRun DWORD to modify it.

Step 5

Déjà vu!  We’re going to create another DisallowRun, but this time it is going to be a registry key.  Right-Click the Explorer key and then Select New > Key and name it DisallowRun.

Step 6

In the new DisallowRun key you just created, Right-Click in the right pane and Select New > String Value.  Name the new String anything you like, but for organizational purposes, it would be a good idea to call it something in reference to the program you want to block.

Step 7

Modify the new String and for the value data Type in the process name.  In my example, I’m going to block Internet Explorer, so I will disallow iexplore.exe from running.  No need to include the full file path, just the name of the .exe file will do.

Step 8

Restart your computer for changes to take effect.

Done!

Now the designated programs should no longer open while you are using Windows 7!  Groovy!