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Disable Windows sounds by group policy

I want to set the Windows XP sound schema to: "No Sounds", for 100 workstations.

The only topic i could find here is pointing to a MS article that discribes to disable the sound device. I only want to disable ALL MS sounds, such a login/logout sound.

amoldkelkar

Do you want to shut off the 'windows startup sound' ?

-AK

Rick

ASKER

I want to diasble all windows sounds. Normally you can do that by selecting the No sounds scheme in de sound properties in the control panel.

bmkiernan

Hi hmengineer,

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\.Default]
@="Windows"
"DispFileName"="@mmsys.cpl,-5856"

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Names\.default]
@="Windows Default Scheme"

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bmkiernan

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Rick

ASKER

hi bmkiernan,

thanks for this amwser, i will try it on a local workstation, i will appreciate if you explain how ik can put this reg key into a vb logon script so i can let it work by group policy.

bmkiernan

Do you have a login script on your domain controller already?
if so just copy the .reg file to '\\domaincontroller\netlogon'

This line is for a batch file. not vbscript.
The chances are you have a batch file calling other vb scripts.
Get your login script to run:
________________________________________________
regedit.exe -i -s \\domaincontroller\netlogon\sounds.reg
exit
________________________________________________

If you dont' have a login script setup on your domain just let me know, il talk you through it.

SOLUTION

bmkiernan

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Rick

ASKER

thx bmkiernan,

i used this vbscript:

Set network = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Network")
Set fso = WScript.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set WshShell = Wscript.CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
fso.CopyFile "\\domaincontroller\netlogon\remsounds.reg", "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\"
WScript.Sleep 500
WshShell.run "regedit /S ""C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\remsounds.reg""",0,True
WScript.Sleep 1000
fso.DeleteFile "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\remsounds.reg"

And this registry key:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\.Default]
@="Windows"
"DispFileName"="@mmsys.cpl,-5856"

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Names]

This script diable the Windows sounds defined in the Sound scheme. After running this script it is NOT possible to go back to the original default Windows scheme. for me that is not a great problem, but may by you know how to script so the original schema wil be available.

bmkiernan

Hi,
just export the data from the two registry keys (below) on a machine you haven't run the 'remove' script yet.

add the data from one file to the bottom of the other & import (a simple double click) it on the machine you want to add the sound again.
you could script it just the same as we did above.
this time there will be alot more entries in the .reg file & no '-' in '[HKEY..' this means it will add data instead of remove it.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\.Default]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Names\.default]

hope this answers your question, if you need me to explain better just let me know.

Cheers,
Brian