[RESOLVED] Remove "Research" Button

[RobDog888]

I need to remove or disable the Research button/toolbar in IE. I am currently customizing the IE profile and toolbars/buttons for use profiles but they want this lame button removed too but there s no option for it in the GPO Editor.

Any ideas?

[drivenbywhat]

I get to help a super moderator! Go to TOOLS > INTERNET OPTIONS > PROGRAMS > MANAGE ADD ONS

In the list that shows up, look for RESEARCH on the left hand column and then simply disable it.

[zynder]

Are you on a domain or simply changing your PC settings?

[RobDog888]

I have a client with a domain. I manage all of its security with Group Policies. One of my policies is to configure Internet Explorer settings and policies. I dont allow customizations and installation of toolbars like google and yahoo toolbars, remove allot of the bulk crappy buttons that really arent needed or used, disable changing internet options, home page, brand the browser with company name etc.

There is no entry option for disabling the Research button as drivenbywhat has shown its an addon. I'll check for the option of disableing/removing certain addons too. If its in there then we are good, if not then we still need to search.

* logging into remote client to test *

[RobDog888]

Found two policies. Enable/disable all addons. Or Enable/Disable a list of addons.

En/Disable List of Addons:

This policy setting allows you to manage a list of add-ons to be allowed or denied by Internet Explorer.

This list can be used with the 'Deny all add-ons unless specifically allowed in the Add-on List' policy setting, which defines whether add-ons not listed here are assumed to be denied.

If you enable this policy setting, you can enter a list of add-ons to be allowed or denied by Internet Explorer. For each entry that you add to the list, enter the following information:

Name of the Value - the CLSID (class identifier) for the add-on you wish to add to the list. The CLSID should be in brackets for example, ‘{000000000-0000-0000-0000-0000000000000}’. The CLSID for an add-on can be obtained by reading the OBJECT tag from a Web page on which the add-on is referenced.

Value - A number indicating whether Internet Explorer should deny or allow the add-on to be loaded. To specify that an add-on should be denied enter a 0 (zero) into this field. To specify that an add-on should be allowed, enter a 1 (one) into this field. To specify that an add-on should be allowed and also permit the user to manage the add-on through Add-on Manager, enter a 2 (two) into this field.

If you disable this policy setting, the list is deleted. The 'Deny all add-ons unless specifically allowed in the Add-on List' policy setting will still determine whether add-ons not in this list are assumed to be denied.

So it looks like I have to find the clsid of the stupid research button/pane and enter 0 for its value. Hmm...

[RobDog888]

I'm using this clsid and its not working. I logged off and back on but research is still there and working.

{FF059E31-CC5A-4E2E-BF3B-96E929D65503}

I just checked and there is a Inprocserver folder with an id of "{00021493-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}". Maybe this one is the one to use?

[schoolbusdriver]

You've probably found out by now it's installed with Office. Just checked up on mine and the CLSID is

{92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263}

which lead me to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions\{92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263}

where there's a few options.

[schoolbusdriver]

Thinking about it, is there an option in Office to disable/uninstall it ? (REFIEBAR.DLL)

[RobDog888]

I'll check up on that clsid as I found mine in the HK Classes key. Yes, its an Office addin but Im off to bed now. I am installing Vista on another system this weekend and Office too so I can test it out to see but to permenantly unilinstall that feature may be be acceptable as the optional selection with a GPO to enable/disable it is preferred.

Themain reason behind this is that the research sources may bring back non-business appropriate content and they dont have anything to filer it with so better be safe then sorry. Sure you can configure it to 3 different levels of safty but the client isnt satisified with that and doesnt want to buy any content filtering service.

[schoolbusdriver]

Just for general info, on my PC that CLSID (which will probably vary with the version of office) appears in:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions\{92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions\CmdMapping
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263}\iexplore
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions\CmdMapping
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions\CmdMapping
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-842925246-117609710-1801674531-1003\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions\CmdMapping
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-842925246-117609710-1801674531-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263}

A regedit dump of the seemingly relevant key is:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions\{92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263}]
"ButtonText"="Research"
"BandCLSID"="{FF059E31-CC5A-4E2E-BF3B-96E929D65503}"
"Icon"="D:\\PRINT-~1\\MICROS~1\\OFFICE11\\REFBAR.ICO"
"Default Visible"="Yes"
"HotIcon"="D:\\PRINT-~1\\MICROS~1\\OFFICE11\\REFBARH.ICO"
"CLSID"="{E0DD6CAB-2D10-11D2-8F1A-0000F87ABD16}"

and the dump for the DLL entry:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FF059E31-CC5A-4E2E-BF3B-96E929D65503}]
@="&Research"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FF059E31-CC5A-4E2E-BF3B-96E929D65503}\Implemented Categories]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FF059E31-CC5A-4E2E-BF3B-96E929D65503}\Implemented Categories\{00021493-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FF059E31-CC5A-4E2E-BF3B-96E929D65503}\InprocServer32]
@="D:\\PRINT-~1\\MICROS~1\\OFFICE11\\REFIEBAR.DLL"
"ThreadingModel"="Apartment"

EDIT: You're going to bed ? I've got do dig up a tree stump, in the rain

[drivenbywhat]

You can try this link to read some more about this:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883256

[RobDog888]

Thanks for the info guys. I am using GPOs with the "Add-on List" option to specify which are enabled and which are disabled. I think the clsid is wrong here maybe.

Tried these two but still nothing:
{FF059E31-CC5A-4E2E-BF3B-96E929D65503}
{E0DD6CAB-2D10-11D2-8F1A-0000F87ABD16}

Heres the reg export:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions\{92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263}]
"ButtonText"="Research"
"BandCLSID"="{FF059E31-CC5A-4E2E-BF3B-96E929D65503}"
"Icon"="C:\\PROGRA~1\\MI1933~1\\OFFICE11\\REFBAR.ICO"
"Default Visible"="Yes"
"HotIcon"="C:\\PROGRA~1\\MI1933~1\\OFFICE11\\REFBARH.ICO"
"CLSID"="{E0DD6CAB-2D10-11D2-8F1A-0000F87ABD16}"


Just got it to work with:
{92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263}

:woot:

Now when ever a user logs into any system on the domain it will remove the Research button.

Also, tested to make sure that when a user uses Word, for ex, the research pane does function normally

Thanks guys.