Windows 7 - "Found New Hardware" Balloons - Enable or Disable

   Information

This will show you how to enable or disable the Found New Hardware notification area balloons like Installing device driver software from displaying while a device is being installed in Windows 7 or Vista.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

1. To Enable "Found New Hardware" Balloons
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Enable_Found-New-Hardware_Balloons.reg

B) Go to step 4.

2. To Disable "Found New Hardware" Balloons

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Disable_Found-New-Hardware_Balloons.reg

B) Go to step 4.

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

4. Right click on the downloaded the .reg file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Yes (UAC-Windows 7) or Continue (UAC-Vista), Yes, and OK when prompted.

6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane, click on the arrow to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, System, then click on Device Installation. (see screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, double click on Turn off "Found New Hardware" balloons during device installation. (see screenshot above)

4. To Enable "Found New Hardware" Balloons

A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled. (see screenshot below step 6)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Disable "Found New Hardware" Balloons

A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below step 6)

6. Click on OK. (see screenshot below)

7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor.