"Found New Hardware" Balloons - Enable or Disable

How to Enable or Disable "Found New Hardware" Balloons During Device Installation​

   Information

When a PnP device is first connected to a run-time image, the run-time image typically displays a Found New Hardware balloon pop-up that reports detection of the device and, when applicable, begins the driver installation process.

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 Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

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

EXAMPLE: "Installing device driver software" notification area balloon message

OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable "Found New Hardware" Message using REG File

1. To Enable "Found New Hardware" Balloons
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Enable_Found-New-Hardware_Balloons.reg


Download


2. To Disable "Found New Hardware" Balloons
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Disable_Found-New-Hardware_Balloons.reg

Download


3. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

4. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

5. Click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC-Windows 7/8) or Continue (UAC-Vista), Yes, and OK when prompted.

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

OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable "Found New Hardware" Message using Group Policy

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 of Device Installation, double click/tap 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, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 6)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.
5. To Disable "Found New Hardware" Balloons
A) Select (dot) Enabled, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 6)
6. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Change the Device Driver and Information Installation Settings in Windows 7
• Turn Off Windows 7 Automatic Driver Installation
• How to Hide or Show System Icons and Notifications in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Enable or Disable Balloon Notifications in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Change How Long Notifications Stay Open in Windows 7
• How to Change How Long Notifications Stay Open in Windows 8

 

[Brink]

Nar, the other tutorial should only prevent Windows from automatically installing updates using Windows Updates if any are available from Windows Update.

 

[alex1002]

Thank you