Question Can someone here test something on Win11 24H2 for me please?

[mikeymikec]

I have a registry file that I've been using flawlessly for many years on Win10 and Win11 and for the first time has thrown an error ("either a process has those registry keys open or you don't have sufficient permissions", persisted after a reboot) on a clean install of Win11 that I upgraded to 24H2 via the official Win11 24H2 ISO file, then ran Windows Update to catch the latest updates.

Here's the contents of the reg file:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Disable web searching on Start menu
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search]
"CortanaConsent"=dword:00000000
"BingSearchEnabled"=dword:00000000

; Disable blur on sign-in screen
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System]
"DisableAcrylicBackgroundOnLogon"=dword:00000001

It does what the comments say it does. The "Disable blur" reg key isn't an issue, I applied it to the laptop on its own without issue. I haven't tested 'CortanaConsent' separately on this laptop because I think since MS EOL'd Cortana then it's irrelevant anyway, but I tried 'BingSearchEnabled' as a separate reg key which threw the error. Permissions in the HKCU Search key apparently aren't a problem so MS / this install is cockblocking me for some reason. I've got a new desktop that I'm upgrading to 24H2 imminently so I'll try this reg file on that setup too, but something strange is up and I'd like to know if MS is doing this intentionally. Why on earth would they try to block key changes in HKCU though, I can't even add any key by hand in 'Search'... the permissions on that key look identical on 23H2 and this laptop's install of 24H2 so it's not permissions-related seemingly.

- edit - On the problematic laptop, I can create a subkey ("folder") in 'Search', but I can't delete it, or edit any other keys in that 'folder'.

- edit 2 - same issue on the desktop after installing 24H2 (I didn't try it before 24H2 in case it muddied the waters, though in hindsight I don't see why I couldn't have tried it then removed the registry keys before updating then try again). On the desktop, I then booted into safe mode + command prompt and applied the reg file fine. I suspect that MS doesn't want people disabling Start menu Bing searches any more.

 

[Iron Woode]

I decided to see about each one individually for win 11:

Disable web searching on Start menu

Go to: "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows"

Right click on "Windows" and press "New" -> "Key"

Name it "Explorer"

Then right click on it and press "New" -> "DWORD (32-bit) Value".

Name it "DisableSearchBoxSuggestions". (Name it EXACTLY this. Capitalization is IMPORTANT!)

Double click it.

Change value from "0" to "1".

Restart your PC. (Done)

--------------------------------------------------------

Steps to disable blur:

1. Open the Registry Editor: Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the key: Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System.
3. Create the DWORD value:
   • If the System key doesn't exist, create it.
   • Right-click in the right pane and select "New" > "DWORD (32-bit) Value".
   • Name the new DWORD value DisableAcrylicBackgroundOnLogon.
4. Set the value: Double-click the DisableAcrylicBackgroundOnLogon DWORD and set its value data to 1.
5. Restart: Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

 

[mikeymikec]

What an odd time for MS to enforce no changes to the 'Search' key structure, combined with the fact that the key still works if added in safe mode. I'd understand it more if say the reg file threw an error for all 24H2 systems. Thanks, I'll give your registry change a try on my next build.

 

[mikeymikec]

@Iron Woode I inserted "DisableSearchBoxSuggestions" into my reg file which has done the trick, thanks!