When you open Internet Explorer 8 the first time, you’ll see the Set Up Windows Internet Explorer 8 screen asking you to configure the search and accelerator settings. After configuring the settings, a new tab window opens automatically, redirecting to Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 Website. This article tells you how to disable the Internet Explorer 8 Tour (Set up & Welcome screen) for all user accounts.
Method 1
1. Use the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) and navigate to the following branch:
2. Create registry values as per the table below:
| Value Name | Data | Type |
| IE8RunOnceLastShown | 1 | REG_DWORD |
| IE8RunOncePerInstallCompleted | 1 | REG_DWORD |
| IE8RunOnceCompletionTime | (empty) | REG_BINARY |
| IE8TourShown | 1 | REG_DWORD |
| IE8TourShownTime | (empty) | REG_BINARY |
| IE8RunOnceLastShown_TIMESTAMP | (empty) | REG_BINARY |
3. Exit the Registry Editor.
To automate the above, use the REG file that I created. Download ie8-tour-disable.zip, unzip and run the file ie8-tour-disable.reg. Note that the setting only effects the current user account. To apply the change to every other users, you may deploy this REG file via registry RunOnce or using Group Policy.
Method 2
1. Use the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) and navigate to the following branch:
Note: The above branch does not exist by default, and have to be created manually or by running the REG file available at the end of this article.
2. Create a REG_DWORD value named DisableFirstRunCustomize
3. Double-click DisableFirstRunCustomize and set its value data to 1.
4. Exit the Registry Editor.
To automate the steps in Method 2 above, download gpo-ie8-tour-disable.zip, unzip and run gpo-ie8-tour-disable.reg. To reverse the changes made in Method 1 & Method 2, run the file Undo.reg enclosed within the zip file.
Using Group Policy Editor
If your version of Windows includes the Group Policy Editor, you can modify this setting using these steps:
1. Launch the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
2. Expand the following branch:
3. Double-click Prevent performance of First Run Customize Settings
4. Set it to Enabled, and select Go directly to home page.
5. Click Apply, close the dialog and exit the Group Policy Editor.
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QUOTE: lynneeve
said this on Sunday, August 22nd 2010 7:37 pm
Does anybody know why Windows doesn’t simply offer, “Do not show this again?”
Oh Lynneeve. That would be too simple. Much better to hand the non-comp-whiz (I’m talking about MYSELF here, no one else, so no insult to anyone is intended) an incomprehensible list of Things To Do when as you say, the “Do not show this again?” would be a simple thing for Windows to offer.
After reading that list of Things to Do, I begged for a simply-written process and was assured that the list IS simple.
Wrong.
Does anybody know why Windows doesn’t simply offer, “Do not show this again?” Peculiar as all heck, besides unbearably annoying. It’s like having to read a book, “How to tie your shoe” every morning before being allowed to get dressed.
Will this work on Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit?
So, after enabling these regedits, what settings will IE use (for accelerators, search engines…) on new user profiles created? I don’t want it to default to using the accelerators…
@Dave: It’s because the .zip and/or .reg file type association is broken in your system. Get the appropriate fixes from http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/file-asso-fixes-for-windows-7/