How to disable cut, copy, paste, delete, rename, etc.. from Windows Registry ?

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Hello. I'm trying to create a software in VB.Net to disable the following from a Windows 7 pc.

- Cut, copy, paste, rename, delete, open, print, share, create shortcut, open with, send to, properties.

I want to give users the option of disabling them selectively/individually via checkboxes so those options will be disabled in the right-click of a mouse.

I'm aware that to do so I must disable them from the Windows registry.

My problem is I don't know which is the right key to disable as the registry is so huge & some keys are similiarly named.

Could anyone help me to say what are the exact key locations of the above-mentioned right-click functions in the Windows Registry ?

I'd be deeply grateful. Thank you.

Posted 21-Jan-12 5:46am

J0hn30

Updated 21-Jan-12 8:24am

Richard MacCutchan

v2

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Richard MacCutchan 21-Jan-12 14:33pm

I have to ask, why do want to do this anyway? It seems a very strange idea and I do not see what use it would be to anyone.

J0hn30 22-Jan-12 3:45am

I'm doing this because it's my final yr project in uni. A lecturer sort of gave the idea to me & said it was possible to disable each of those functions in the registry.

I've even used a freeware called RegScanner to search for those keys. Like if I input "copy", "paste", "rename" and all, it shows me hundreds of keys with those names...so It's difficult to break down which is the right key. There's even a tool I found (http://www.askvg.com/how-to-restrict-users-from-cut-copy-paste-and-delete-operations-in-windows/) available which can disable cut, copy, & paste.

So I assumed it was possible to disable each of those above-mentioned from the registry.

Philippe Mori 21-Jan-12 15:41pm

If such key exists, a log-off (or maybe a reboot) might also be required as Windows will probably read those keys only once. It would be very-time consumming to test.

By the way, it is really a bad idea to do this on other computers. Even if we would know how to do it, we will probably don't tell you because we don't want to help the creation of software we cannot approve.

By the way, even if the options really exists, there are probably only available in Professional (or Ultimate) version of Windows (and thus have no effect on Home Premium). And restriction are usually set with Group Policy.

J0hn30 22-Jan-12 3:46am

I see. The reason I ask is because it's my project in uni. A lecturer sort of gave the idea to me & said it was possible to disable each of those functions in the registry.

I've even used a freeware called RegScanner to search for those keys. Like if I input "copy", "paste", "rename" and all, it shows me hundreds of keys with those names...so It's difficult to break down which is the right key. There's even a tool I found (http://www.askvg.com/how-to-restrict-users-from-cut-copy-paste-and-delete-operations-in-windows/) available which can disable cut, copy, & paste.

So I assumed it was possible to disable each of those above-mentioned from the registry.

Dave Kreskowiak 22-Jan-12 14:10pm

Install that utility and make sure it's working. Then download Process Monitor from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645 and use that to monitor what the utility is doing to diable those functions.

J0hn30 22-Jan-12 15:15pm

Which utility are you referring to Dave...RegScanner ?

Dave Kreskowiak 22-Jan-12 16:22pm

There's even a tool I found (http://www.askvg.com/how-to-restrict-users-from-cut-copy-paste-and-delete-operations-in-windows/) available which can disable cut, copy, & paste

Brinda Lakhani 19-Feb-15 0:51am

hey, Also I have a same project. if you find the solution then please share with me.

3 solutions

Solution 2

You might want to look at Windows Rights Management Services. Any application that subscribe to RMS can restrict what information maybe copied and pasted etc. However, applications that don't subscribe to RMS aren't configurable. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd277323.aspx[^] is a link describing the implementation at MS itself.

The SDK can be downloaded from http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=15902[^].

Hope this helps

Edit:

Further to this, you can have a look at the source of Cybera Internet Cafe software at http://sourceforge.net/projects/cybera/files/latest/download[^]. It was written in VB6 and includes workstation lockdown. The workstation must be professional, it doesn't lock down Home Editions.

Posted 21-Jan-12 10:39am

Jan Steyn

Updated 21-Jan-12 11:02am

v2

Comments

J0hn30 22-Jan-12 0:48am

Hi Jan. Thank you, I'll definitely look into this. I'm using Windows 7 Professional however. Will it support it ?

Solution 3

i have a little Software that restrict cut, copy and paste option.
after Run this softwear you Run regscanner software who show you a changing in registry files and now will get files you want.
and other way(may be) you will disable these option by gpedit.msc and run regscanner.
you need a software plz mail me i will send you little software in reply
[Email Removed]

Posted 24-Jan-12 3:38am

wasimnizami

Updated 24-Jan-12 4:03am

v3

Comments

fjdiewornncalwe 24-Jan-12 10:05am

Please don't put your email address in your answer. Any response from the OP to your answer will be emailed to you through the email you used to create your CP account. Cheers.

wasimnizami 24-Jan-12 13:02pm

ok, thanks

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Richard MacCutchan · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-21T05:55:00

Solution 1

I am not sure that you can disable these by using the Registry. In particular cut, copy and paste are handled by applications directly so you would have to get the applications to check some value first; not something that is very likely. Also you should not change values in the registry unless you are certain that you know what you are doing and it will not have any adverse side effects. Many registry keys are not very well documented outside Microsoft so changing them can have severe consequences, not something most users would be happy with.

Posted 21-Jan-12 5:55am

Richard MacCutchan

Comments

J0hn30 21-Jan-12 12:00pm

Hello Richard. Thanks for your response.

I have been told by some friends that it is possible to disable them from the registry & I am aware of its risks. Is it not possible to disable the cut, copy, paste that appear when you right-click on the desktop ?

Would you know the exact location of any those keys above-mentioned in a Windows 7 registry or have any ideas of how I can go about locating them ?

Thank you.

Richard MacCutchan 21-Jan-12 12:09pm

1. Don't listen to friends; if they say it's possible then get them to explain exactly how to do it.
2. Sorry, but I do not know the relevant keys, it would take quite a lot of time to find them and even then I would not trust myself to do what you are asking.

Philippe Mori 21-Jan-12 15:42pm

If you are aware of the risk, then why would you take the risk anyway?

J0hn30 22-Jan-12 3:47am

I'm doing this because it's my project in uni. A lecturer sort of gave the idea to me & said it was possible to disable each of those functions in the registry.

I've even used a freeware called RegScanner to search for those keys. Like if I input "copy", "paste", "rename" and all, it shows me hundreds of keys with those names...so It's difficult to break down which is the right key. There's even a tool I found (http://www.askvg.com/how-to-restrict-users-from-cut-copy-paste-and-delete-operations-in-windows/) available which can disable cut, copy, & paste.

So I assumed it was possible to disable each of those above-mentioned from the registry.

Richard MacCutchan 22-Jan-12 4:58am

I just took a look at this link and some of the suggested 'fixes' that the article refers to. If you really want some fun then try them all; but don't come back here asking how to fix it when your system will not run.

J0hn30 22-Jan-12 5:03am

haha...I won't I promise. I just got to try whatever I can. I'm not going to give up. My honours degree & future is on the line.

Richard MacCutchan 22-Jan-12 5:24am

I cannot see how such a task could gain you an honours degree; but then even in the UK you can get a degree for not doing much.

J0hn30 22-Jan-12 6:18am

I agree with you on that...it's just a need to accumulate grade points to achieve a good honour's class.

J0hn30 21-Jan-12 12:15pm

I see. Thank you very much Richard for your feedback. I really appreciate it.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 21-Jan-12 14:08pm

My 5. Sometime it looks like the main goal of many inquirers is to screw up the system beyond repair. :-)
--SA

J0hn30 21-Jan-12 14:20pm

I'm still open to any feedback from anyone that might help me by the way. Thank you.

Richard MacCutchan 21-Jan-12 14:31pm

Considering open.
In the registry every file extension type (doc, txt, pdf, cs, cpp, xls, java, ... ) has an entry, and each entry has a key for the open function, so you would have to go through and disable them all, and the chances are very high that from that point on your system would not work at all.

J0hn30 22-Jan-12 0:43am

Oh I see

J0hn30 22-Jan-12 0:44am

Seems like my task is impossible.

Dave Kreskowiak 21-Jan-12 20:15pm

You cannot disable all of this stuff in the registry. Most of that stuff doesn't even have a registry value to do anything with.

Why do you want to do this??

J0hn30 22-Jan-12 0:43am

Hi Dave. I see. I'm doing this because it's my project in uni. A lecturer sort of gave the idea to me & said it was possible to disable each of those functions in the registry.

I've even used a freeware called RegScanner to search for those keys. Like if I input "copy", "paste", "rename" and all, it shows me hundreds of keys with those names...so It's difficult to break down which is the right key.

There's even a tool I found (http://www.askvg.com/how-to-restrict-users-from-cut-copy-paste-and-delete-operations-in-windows/) available which can disable cut, copy, & paste. So I assumed it was possible to disable each of those above-mentioned from the registry.

Dave Kreskowiak 22-Jan-12 16:22pm

There's even a tool I found (http://www.askvg.com/how-to-restrict-users-from-cut-copy-paste-and-delete-operations-in-windows/) available which can disable cut, copy, & paste