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System: Windows 7 64-bit

I need to stop programs from running, or ever running again. If I try to start the program, it'll be corrupted and unable to start.

How can I corrupt the program? Do I mess with the registry? The Program files?

edit: how about deleting the .dll's inside of the programs folder?

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Can you just delete the program, or some critical component of it? – pavium Jun 15 '11 at 2:54
do you want to prevent SOME programs to run or ALL programs to run? – kokbira Jun 15 '11 at 3:02
It seems like there are lots of possible ways to accomplish this. Perhaps there is some additional detail you can provide? – Kirk Jun 15 '11 at 3:04
I want to stop SOME programs from RUNNING ever again. maybe remove a component or whatever. – kb67 Jun 15 '11 at 3:15
The real answer depends on which programs. – KCotreau Jun 15 '11 at 3:28
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4 Answers

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Rename the executable file, it will be called something.exe, if you rename it to something.bak the operating system will not be able to execute it as an application. It will only be able to be run if it is renamed back to something.exe.

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I think this is the perfect choice, thanks. – kb67 Jun 15 '11 at 6:09
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Technically, this answer is incorrect – while you won't be able to execute a non-.exe file from GUI, you can do it just fine from Command Prompt (cmd.exe) or through any other program that uses CreateProcess(). (Memories of hiding a SSH client in Desktop.ini at school...) – grawity Jun 15 '11 at 7:40
This also assumes the program is an executable. – KCotreau Jun 15 '11 at 10:42
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Considering he said in his comment above he wants to disable AV, this is not even remotely a good way to do it. – KCotreau Jun 15 '11 at 10:45
@KCotreau, it's a perfectly cromulent way, any program, even AV will not run if the OS can't find the executable. – Hydaral Jun 20 '11 at 6:08
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up vote 6 down vote

well, you can use security options for that EXE or for its folder and uncheck "read and execute" for all users.

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does only "REEAD ONLY" work – kb67 Jun 15 '11 at 3:44
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No. Read only still allows access to and execution of the files. You need to actually change the permissions on the files so that all access is denied; use the Security tab on the Properties page of the files in question. – DragonLord Jun 15 '11 at 4:03
up vote 5 down vote

Open the .exe file in notepad and just add few characters here and there before saving again. Program busted.

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Haha great idea! – kb67 Jun 15 '11 at 6:09
up vote 2 down vote

There's no hard and fast way to totally disable a program - every program is different, and in any case, reinstalling it probably 'fix' whatever you did to disable it.

On the other hand you COULD set up the computer as you like it, and use a standard account (disabling what you don't want with autoruns )and use 'guest mode' to prevent changes from happening. You can also remove execute privileges to the folders with the software you want (rightclock, properties, security tab), to this account.

Unlike messing with things at a low level, should you need to undo these changes, it should be trivial, and a guest moded user account will be able to do almost nothing.

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