How to disable Utility Manager (Windows Key + U)

Posted by Skizz on Super User See other posts from Super User or by Skizz
Published on 2009-08-06T15:35:35Z Indexed on 2011/11/28 18:10 UTC
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How do I disable the Windows + U hotkey in Windows XP? Alternatively, how do I stop the utility manager from being active? The two are related. The utilty manager is currently providing a potential security hole and I need to remove it[1]. The system I'm developing uses a custom Gina to log in and start a custom shell. This removes most Windows Key hotkeys but the Win + U still pops up the manager app.

Update:

Things I've tried and don't work:

  1. NoWinKeys registry setting - this only affects explorer hotkeys;
  2. Renaming utilman.exe - program reappears next login;
  3. Third party software - not really an option, these machines are audited by the clients and additional, third party software would be unlikely to be accepted.

Also, the proedure needs to be reasonably straightforward - this has to be done by field service engineers to existing machines (machines currently in Russia, Holland, France, Spain, Ireland and USA).

[1] The hole is via the internet options in the help viewer the utility app links to.

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