Windows tip: Manage networking restrictions with registry changes

February 3, 2009

There are general restrictions you can make in Windows Networking. These restrictions can be managed with changing some parameters in Windows registry file. Start Regedit Go to HKEY_Current_User / Software / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Policies Create a new key under Policies called Network You can then add DWORD values set to 1 in the appropriate keys To re-enable them, either delete the key or set the value to 0 DisablePwdCaching = Password Caching HideSharePwds [hex] =Shared Passwords NoEntireNetwork =Entire Network NoNetSetup =Network applet NoNetSetupIDPage =Network Identification tab NoNetSetupSecurityPage =Network Access tab NoFileSharing =Network File Sharing button MinPwdLen = set Minimum Password Length (integer number: 0 - 99) NoPrintSharing =Network Print Sharing button NoWorkgroupContents =Network Workgroup WARNING: It is dangerous to make changes in the system registry unless you know what they do. This tweak is for advanced users only!