This article shows you how to prevent an application from running on a computer running Windows. A program from running can be prevented by directly editing the Windows Registry. This procedure can be performed on any computer with the operating system manufactured by Microsoft.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Access the Registry Policies Key
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop.
You will need to perform this step using the user account of the person who you do not want to be able to run the application or program under consideration
Step 2. Type in the keywords regedit
Windows will search your computer for the "Registry Editor" program.
Step 3. Select the regedit icon
It is characterized by a blue cube formed by the collection of smaller cubes. It should have appeared at the top of the "Start" menu.
Step 4. Press the Yes button when prompted
This will bring up the Registry Editor user interface.
If you are not using a computer administrator user account, you will not be able to access the registry
Step 5. Open the "Policies" folder
Follow these instructions:
- Double-click the "HKEY_CURRENT_USER" key. It is visible in the upper left of the window;
- Double click the "Software" folder. It appeared after you expanded the "HKEY_CURRENT_USER" section of the tree menu;
- Double-click the "Microsoft" folder;
- Double click on the "Windows" item;
- Access the "CurrentVersion" key by double clicking on it.
Step 6. Select the "Policies" folder with a single mouse click
It is contained within the "CurrentVersion" key. In this way the keys and values stored inside will be displayed in the right part of the window.
Part 2 of 3: Creating Blocked Program Keys
Step 1. Enter the Edit menu
It is visible in the upper left of the Registry Editor window. A small drop-down menu will appear.
Within the menu, you will see the options relating to the currently selected folder or registry key
Step 2. Choose the New option
It is the first item on the menu Edit starting from the top. This will bring up a submenu.
Step 3. Select the Key item
It is the first option in the submenu that appeared starting from the top. A new directory will be created under the "Policies" folder, visible in the left sidebar of the window.
Step 4. Type the name Explorer and press the Enter key
A new folder named "Explorer" will be created under the "Policies" key.
Step 5. Select the "Explorer" folder
Click it with the mouse. It is located inside the left sidebar of the window.
Step 6. Enter the Edit menu
It is visible in the upper left of the Registry Editor window.
Step 7. Choose the New item, then choose the option DWORD (32-bit) value.
A new item will be created inside the "Explorer" folder.
Step 8. Type the name DisallowRun and press the Enter key
The new element just created will be renamed with the words "DisallowRun".
Step 9. Select the DisallowRun value with a double mouse click
The "Edit 32-bit DWORD Value" dialog box for the "DisallowRun" element appears.
Step 10. Change the value assigned to the "DisallowRun" element
Type the value 1 into the "Value data" field, then press the Enter button.
Step 11. Select the "Explorer" folder again
The key in question is visible in the left bar of the window under the heading "Policies".
Step 12. Create a new key
Access the menu Edit, select the item New one and choose the option Key.
Step 13. Type the name DisallowRun and press the Enter key
This will create a new folder inside the "Explorer" key called "DisallowRun".
Part 3 of 3: Adding Programs to Block
Step 1. Select the "DisallowRun" key
Click with the mouse the one you just created inside the "Explorer" folder visible in the left sidebar of the window.
Step 2. Create a new value of type string
Access the menu Edit, choose the option New one and select the item String value.
Step 3. Type the character 1 and press the Enter key
The new element just created will be renamed with the word "1".
Step 4. Edit the value of the newly created string
Select the item
Step 1. with a double click of the mouse to open the "Edit string" window.
Step 5. Enter the name of the application to block
Type the name of the program you want to prevent from running, then add the.exe extension. Use the "Value data" text field.
- For example, if you need to block the Windows "Notepad" program from running, you will need to type the following text notepad.exe into the indicated field.
- To find the name of the executable file associated with a program or application, select the relative icon in the "File Explorer" or "Explorer" window, access the tab Home, choose the option Property and press the button Open file path, finally take note of the highlighted file name.
Step 6. Press the OK button
This way the changes made to the edited item will be saved. The newly created string value is used to prevent the program it is associated with from running.
If you need to add other programs, create their string values by naming them in numerical succession (for example "2", "3", "4", etc.)
Step 7. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer
At the end of the restart procedure, by logging into the system using the same user account that you used to modify the Windows registry you will not be able to run the programs in question.
Advice
- If you are using the Pro or Enterprise version of Windows 10, you can block a program from running using the Group Policy Editor. If you need more details on this, you can consult this page of the Microsoft website.
- Be very careful when editing the Windows registry. Incorrectly changing the value of any of the keys not specifically mentioned in the article or accidentally deleting an item in the Windows registry can damage the operating system or programs installed on your computer.
