How to disable Utility Manager (Windows Key + U)

Question

How do I disable the Windows + U hotkey in Windows XP? Alternatively, how do I stop the utility manager from being active? The two are related. The utilty manager is currently providing a potential security hole and I need to remove it^[1]. The system I'm developing uses a custom Gina to log in and start a custom shell. This removes most Windows Key hotkeys but the Win + U still pops up the manager app.

Update:

Things I've tried and don't work:

1. NoWinKeys registry setting - this only affects explorer hotkeys;
2. Renaming utilman.exe - program reappears next login;
3. Third party software - not really an option, these machines are audited by the clients and additional, third party software would be unlikely to be accepted.

Also, the proedure needs to be reasonably straightforward - this has to be done by field service engineers to existing machines (machines currently in Russia, Holland, France, Spain, Ireland and USA).

^[1] The hole is via the internet options in the help viewer the utility app links to.

Answer 1

Utility Manager is located in the WINDOWS\system32 directory. The file is utilman.exe. Just renaming the file to something else will stop it from being launched when Windows + U is pressed.

Answer 2

I've experience similar problems in the past - the best solution I have found is to alter the permissions of the utilman.exe so that no user has the rights to run it:

Right click - properties - security - Deny all.

Answer 3

Under C:\Windows\System32 you can rename utilman.exe to disable it.

This should cause the hotkey to become unresponsive as well. In case you want to take extra precautions for the hotkey you can remap it using AutoHotkey like so:

# & u::return

Win + u should no longer do anything.

Answer 4

There is a way to disable all Windows Key hotkeys, from the registry, according to this link. Maybe that will help.

Answer 5

A better way would be to remove all utilities instead. I don't remember the exact place in the registry though...

(Also, if I remember correctly, the Help menu is inactive when used from the login screen - or am I wrong?)

Answer 6

Renaming C:\WINDOWS\System32\utilman.exe, even with UtilMan processes stopped from within an XP Home SP3 session, appears not to get rid of this shortcut annoyance.

I've had success in getting the change to stick by accessing the XP hdd via a linux session and renaming the annoying exe that way - - no chance that any Win process can monitor your changes if it's not in charge at the time :-) Whether it's going to be hacked back with any new XP updates remains to be seen, however.
Most current linux distros are super flexible with writing to ntfs.

Don't know whether this will fix a Pro install. Good luck.

Answer 7

Updating my own post above: Ran the same hack on a visitors Win XP Pro SP3 portable just now. Success. The rename sticks after 5 reboots of XP. And the START+U shortcut is null. Moreover, the hack is reversible by renaming alone.

Extra to the security aspects noted by Skizz, that shortcut was always an annoyance for me, who uses existing shortcuts wherever possible -- hence uses START pause U then R or U for the shutdown options when working on others' setups, so does the same on own setups to avoid having to stop and think too much. Timing that pause is a royal annoyance with UtilMan ready to run.

Answer 8

If renaming the utility doesn't work, try deleting the util & replacing it with a null file, [cmd window]

Del utilman.exe
COPY nul utilman.exe
Attr utilman.exe +R

If that doesn't work, write a short do-nothing program to replace utilman.exe

Answer 9

Install AutoHotkey and new a file named AutoHotkey.ahk whthin My Documents and edit it:

1. Use ';' to uncomment the sample codes;
2. Add the codes

#u::
return

where # means the Windows key and #u means Win+u, and the :: following nothing except just a return means to do nothing.

Answer 10

A) Use NTFS permissons Or B) Use GPEdit Machine Policies to disallow to run utilman.exe

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/301422

Answer 11

Go to RUN enter regedit. When registry opens click on edit in top left the find. Enter utilities manager and press enter on keyboard. Wait while it searches and then delete all 3 utility entries. I did this and win logo+u does nothing now.There is no point in deleting utilman in "find" as it is a system protected file and just reappears. Something in windows system uses it so leave it be.

Answer 12

In Utility Manager properties I went to security tab and disabled access to all users (for administrators as well) and after doing that it does not run.

Answer 13

You can try and disable the C:\windows\system32\utilman.exe in group policy under:

Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Software Restriction Policies

Add a path rule to C:\Windows\System32\Utilman.exe and set it to Disallowed.