Refresh HKLM Key from Group Policy

Hi There,

I am wondering is there a way to refresh the HKLM registry key -
specifically this one -- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies -- without
logging off ? I have a software restriction in place disabling MSN
Messenger. I also have a reg file to enable it. But once enabled, the only
way for the software policy to NOT take place is to log off. Hitting the F5
key does nothing either.

Ben

I beleive that you have to reboot to refresh HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

You can kill and restart explorer.exe to refresh HKEY_CURRENT_USER without
rebooting.

But you can try this anyway.

To kill explorer and restart it.

Open the Task Manager...
Ctrl + Shift + Escape | Click on the Processes tab | Locate and highlight
explorer.exe | Right click explorer.exe | Click End Process | Click
Yes to the Task Manager Warning that pops up | Click File on the Toolbar |
Click New Task (Run...) | Type in: explorer | Click OK

End Process on explorer.exe will make your Desktop, Taskbar and all programs
disappear. This can be startling. Restarting explorer will bring
everything back.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:2BFEAD9C-A294-42E5-BB9F-25F966E102B1@microsoft.com,
B. Cheung <BCheung@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> Hi There,
>
> I am wondering is there a way to refresh the HKLM registry key -
> specifically this one -- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies -- without
> logging off ? I have a software restriction in place disabling MSN
> Messenger. I also have a reg file to enable it. But once enabled, the
> only way for the software policy to NOT take place is to log off.
> Hitting the F5 key does nothing either.
>
> Ben

"B. Cheung" <BCheung@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2BFEAD9C-A294-42E5-BB9F-25F966E102B1@microsoft.com...
> Hi There,
>
> I am wondering is there a way to refresh the HKLM registry key -
> specifically this one -- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies -- without
> logging off ? I have a software restriction in place disabling MSN
> Messenger. I also have a reg file to enable it. But once enabled, the
> only
> way for the software policy to NOT take place is to log off. Hitting the
> F5
> key does nothing either.
>
> Ben

Try the GPUPDATE command.

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d...us/refrgp.mspx


--
Colin Nash
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

Hi Colin,

This only works if you remove via the policy. I actually went into the
registry and changed the 0 to 1. So once I do that, I want to pull the
laptop off the domain and be able to run the required program.

"Colin Nash [MVP]" wrote:

>
> "B. Cheung" <BCheung@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:2BFEAD9C-A294-42E5-BB9F-25F966E102B1@microsoft.com...
> > Hi There,
> >
> > I am wondering is there a way to refresh the HKLM registry key -
> > specifically this one -- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies -- without
> > logging off ? I have a software restriction in place disabling MSN
> > Messenger. I also have a reg file to enable it. But once enabled, the
> > only
> > way for the software policy to NOT take place is to log off. Hitting the
> > F5
> > key does nothing either.
> >
> > Ben
>
> Try the GPUPDATE command.
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d...us/refrgp.mspx
>
>
> --
> Colin Nash
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Shell/User
>
>
>

You could try:

RUNDLL32.EXE user32.dll,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters

Though I'm not sure if this refreshes HKLM parameters.

<quote>
38. Activate registry changes in HKEY_CURRENT_USER without logging off
(Windows 2000 and later):

RUNDLL32.EXE USER32.DLL,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters ,1 ,True

Credits: Pete Smith.
Batch files - RUNDLL and RUNDLL32
<quote>
http://www.robvanderwoude.com/rundll.html



--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:BE679F35-7DF9-40B0-8D51-34C46BAFD6EE@microsoft.com,
Ian <Ian@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> You could try:
>
> RUNDLL32.EXE user32.dll,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters
>
> Though I'm not sure if this refreshes HKLM parameters.

Wesley - but if it is a Group Policy from the domain, then it would reside in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

"Wesley Vogel" wrote:

> <quote>
> 38. Activate registry changes in HKEY_CURRENT_USER without logging off
> (Windows 2000 and later):
>
> RUNDLL32.EXE USER32.DLL,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters ,1 ,True
>
> Credits: Pete Smith.
> Batch files - RUNDLL and RUNDLL32
> <quote>
> http://www.robvanderwoude.com/rundll.html
>
>
>
> --
> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>
> Wes
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>
> In news:BE679F35-7DF9-40B0-8D51-34C46BAFD6EE@microsoft.com,
> Ian <Ian@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> > You could try:
> >
> > RUNDLL32.EXE user32.dll,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters
> >
> > Though I'm not sure if this refreshes HKLM parameters.
>

That post was in reply to...

This command only refreshes the HKEY_CURRENT_USER -

RUNDLL32.EXE USER32.DLL,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters ,1 ,True.

I need a way to do the HKLM which is a Computer Configuration policy.

Not that I am aware of. You might look at using user configuration SRP so
that it applies only to users that you want it to apply to and not every
user that logs onto a domain computer.

Steve


"B. Cheung" <BCheung@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2BFEAD9C-A294-42E5-BB9F-25F966E102B1@microsoft.com...
> Hi There,
>
> I am wondering is there a way to refresh the HKLM registry key -
> specifically this one -- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies -- without
> logging off ? I have a software restriction in place disabling MSN
> Messenger. I also have a reg file to enable it. But once enabled, the
> only
> way for the software policy to NOT take place is to log off. Hitting the
> F5
> key does nothing either.
>
> Ben

Reboot!

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

[RTS]

This is the official Microsoft Information for Windows 2003 Server. Windows 2000 documentation is nearly identical.

http://technet2.microsoft.com/Window....mspx?mfr=true

Editing the Registry
Updated: March 28, 2003


Most users never need to edit the registry. You can configure most system services by using the programs provided with Windows (such as Computer Management, Control Panel, and Group Policy), or by using the administrative tools that install with optional services (such as WINS Manager and Internet Service Manager).

Using the Registry Editor
If you need to view the registry or to change a value that can be changed only in the registry directly, use Regedit.exe, the registry editor installed with Windows Server 2003. An alternative registry editor, Regedt32.exe, which is included in Windows 2000 and earlier, is not included in Windows Server 2003, although many of its functions appear in the Windows Server 2003 version of Regedit.exe.

Caution

• Do not experiment with the registry or change any settings if you do not understand them completely. The vast majority of registry settings are maintained automatically, and many can only be maintained correctly by the operating system itself. Changing these settings can produce unexpected, contradictory, or uninterpretable instructions in operating system and application programs. Editing registry settings can also degrade the performance of your system, obscure the location of essential files, or invalidate your Windows licensing agreement. Before making any changes, be sure to back up the registry by using one of the methods described in Backing Up and Restoring the Registry. After you make changes, be sure to test them before returning your computer to normal operation.


To start Regedit.exe, click Start, click Run, and then type Regedit.

Regedit.exe does not display the registry directly. Instead, it constructs a virtual database from several sources of data. These sources include some of the files in %systemroot%\System32\config. Regedit.exe does not display some portions of the registry that are particularly sensitive and that should never be edited, such as a subtree related to performance counters. For more information about Regedit.exe, see Registry Editor in Help and Support Center for Windows Server 2003, or see Help in Regedit.exe.

Making Registry Changes Effective
When you use an administrative tool to change the configuration of a system feature or service, the change usually takes effect either immediately or soon.

However, if you make the same change by editing the registry, for the change to take effect you might need to log off and log on again, restart the service, or restart Windows.

In general, if you change the value of any entry in the CurrentControlSet subkey, you must restart the computer for the changes to take effect. Also, if you use the registry editor Regedit.exe to change values for most entries in HKEY_CURRENT_USER, you must log off and log on again for the changes to take effect.

When a change to the value of an entry is not immediate, the description of the entry contains an Activation Method, which describes what you need to do to make the change effective.

This is the sysinternals documentation on how changes are applied to the hive log and the hive file. Specifically read the section titled Stable Storage on page 209 and 210. In my experience with regional options when using Regedit the lazy writer makes changes to the ntuser.dat.log file but does not make changes to the ntuser.dat file. Whereas changes through the Regional options applet in the control panel does make the changes all the way to the ntuser.dat file.
http://download.sysinternals.com/Fil...s-Chapter4.pdf

Hope this helps.

[RTS]

This is the official Microsoft Information for Windows 2003 Server. Windows 2000 documentation is nearly identical.

http://technet2.microsoft.com/Window....mspx?mfr=true

Editing the Registry
Updated: March 28, 2003


Most users never need to edit the registry. You can configure most system services by using the programs provided with Windows (such as Computer Management, Control Panel, and Group Policy), or by using the administrative tools that install with optional services (such as WINS Manager and Internet Service Manager).

Using the Registry Editor
If you need to view the registry or to change a value that can be changed only in the registry directly, use Regedit.exe, the registry editor installed with Windows Server 2003. An alternative registry editor, Regedt32.exe, which is included in Windows 2000 and earlier, is not included in Windows Server 2003, although many of its functions appear in the Windows Server 2003 version of Regedit.exe.

Caution

• Do not experiment with the registry or change any settings if you do not understand them completely. The vast majority of registry settings are maintained automatically, and many can only be maintained correctly by the operating system itself. Changing these settings can produce unexpected, contradictory, or uninterpretable instructions in operating system and application programs. Editing registry settings can also degrade the performance of your system, obscure the location of essential files, or invalidate your Windows licensing agreement. Before making any changes, be sure to back up the registry by using one of the methods described in Backing Up and Restoring the Registry. After you make changes, be sure to test them before returning your computer to normal operation.


To start Regedit.exe, click Start, click Run, and then type Regedit.

Regedit.exe does not display the registry directly. Instead, it constructs a virtual database from several sources of data. These sources include some of the files in %systemroot%\System32\config. Regedit.exe does not display some portions of the registry that are particularly sensitive and that should never be edited, such as a subtree related to performance counters. For more information about Regedit.exe, see Registry Editor in Help and Support Center for Windows Server 2003, or see Help in Regedit.exe.

Making Registry Changes Effective
When you use an administrative tool to change the configuration of a system feature or service, the change usually takes effect either immediately or soon.

However, if you make the same change by editing the registry, for the change to take effect you might need to log off and log on again, restart the service, or restart Windows.

In general, if you change the value of any entry in the CurrentControlSet subkey, you must restart the computer for the changes to take effect. Also, if you use the registry editor Regedit.exe to change values for most entries in HKEY_CURRENT_USER, you must log off and log on again for the changes to take effect.

When a change to the value of an entry is not immediate, the description of the entry contains an Activation Method, which describes what you need to do to make the change effective.

This is the sysinternals documentation on how changes are applied to the hive log and the hive file. Specifically read the section titled Stable Storage on page 209 and 210. In my experience with regional options when using Regedit the lazy writer makes changes to the ntuser.dat.log file but does not make changes to the ntuser.dat file. Whereas changes through the Regional options applet in the control panel does make the changes all the way to the ntuser.dat file.
http://download.sysinternals.com/Fil...s-Chapter4.pdf

Hope this helps.