HELP!!! Can't find gpedit.msc

[Catswold]

I just reinstalled Win 7 RTM. I decided that since I had ordered the Home Pro version, I would do a clean install (I have been running Ultimate).

I am running an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 and have been using the shutdown "fix" posted some while ago. I have never had any difficulty in using this fix in any of the versions of RC-1 nor have did I have any problem with RTM Ultimate.

Now suddenly, when I attempt to run gpedit.msc to get to the scripts, I am getting a "can't find" error.

Is this a phenomenon of Home Pro vs. Ultimate or is it just a re-install glitch?

Edit: When I do a search I find the file in C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft-g... and C:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-m..., but when I attempt to run it I get a messge "MMC could not create the snap-in."

I believe it should be in the Windows\System32 directory...but it ain't.

 

[Tews]

It should be in your system32 folder..

 

[Antman]

Group Policy Editor not available in that edition.

 

[Catswold]

Group Policy Editor not available in that edition.

Well ain't that the s#!t$...AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!:mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2:

Oh yeah, thanks for the information.

 

[cudspan]

It should be illegal to ship Windows 7 without gpedit. All I want to do is turn off the stinking taskbar thumbnails. Do I own this computer or don't I? Apparently not... Either that, or I have to be a Windows 7 guru (or MS employee) BEFORE I buy a machine so I can possibly know which OS version to buy BEFORE I load my software and try to get to work.

This is an unacceptable burden on the buyer. I wish my clients were smart enough to not use Windows, because that would certainly be my choice. Windows 7 is a police state, with lot's of advertisements thrown in to make us feel good.

 

[Jonathan_King]

cudspan, try this tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52265-taskbar-thumbnail-previews-enable-disable.html

 

[cudspan]

And let me get this one straight... My mother in law has to go to regedit to find out what version of Windows she's running?!?! Now there's a good idea. They must be paying their designers huge bonuses just to keep the best and the brightest.

Surely there's some other way to get this information!!!

 

[cudspan]

Jonathan... Thanks. Tried setting NumThumbnails to zero, but no... Didn't work. It looks like turning off Aero might do the trick. Who needs all these gee-gaws anyway? Now, if only I can remember where they hid that option...

BTW, running Windows 7 v6.1, build 7600 (found that in regedit... Isn't an ABOUT box considered de rigeur?)

 

[Jonathan_King]

Go to Control Panel>System.



You can also type winver into the start menu and press enter.

It will also be displayed on the Welcome screen when she reboots.

 

[ccatlett1984]

You can copy gpedit.msc from a win7 pro or ultimate pc to your system32 folder and it should run just fine.

 

[cudspan]

No... Turning off Aero won't do it either. Why in the name of all that's digital did MS force these thumbnails upon unsuspecting users? They consume resources and are an utter nuisance. Sigh... So much for property -- I don't own my own computer. Didn't get media. Can't control which unnecessary features consume *my* memory and *my* processing resources. Can't buy the computer I want without loads of cr*pware. Is this the free market, or what?

Sorry -- just venting a little.

 

[Jonathan_King]

The thumbnail previews, while annoying to some, are helpful to most. I personally appreciate them greatly.

As for the performance decrease, Aero will not run if it determines the hardware is not powerful enough. Even on my desktop, 4GB RAM, dual core processor, when I run programs that use a lot of resources, it will turn off Aero.

Bottom line is that you should never see a performance decrease from having Aero on. It will turn off before then.

 

[cudspan]

Thanks all... I'm trying to calm down now. I've spent far more than the price of the OS trying to reduce the OS to something I can use for useful work. Now I have to get to work...

This forum looks very useful -- just Googling lands me on answers like use regedit to find out my Windows version.

If I can figure out how to add rep points on this forum, will do.

 

[Jonathan_King]

See this thread: http://www.sevenforums.com/chillout-room/79106-reputation-badges-2-a.html

 

[Bill2]

cudspan,

Download this tiny utility 7 Taskbar Tweaker - RaMMicHaeL's home page. It comes in a 32-bit and 64-bit version, so make sure you download the right one.

Open it, then simply check the Disable box at the bottom right under Thumbnail preview.

 

[cudspan]

A final wrapup I found out for this issue. Indeed, if you turn off Aero, you can get rid of the thumbnails. But Aero has at least two ways to be turned on/off (that I know of) -- there's the Aero control at the bottom right of the desktop -- you can turn Aero for that feature on or off. But also, by default Win 7 gives you Aero as your overall desktop style. You need to personalize your windows, and choose Basic Windows or something similar. When I did that, thumbnails finally went away.

Yes, I'm struggling with the new Win version. No, I'm not a computer novice. I use the computer for work, and want to strip down all but the essentials. I'm sure there are lots of nice things in Win 7. I want to know what's essential, and the choice to strip away what is not. Is that to much to ask? Probably...

But thanks all for helping me out. This is a very useful forum.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Check out this tutorial if you haven't already: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html

 

[cudspan]

BTW, Bill...

I appreciate the pointer to Taskbar Tweaker, but I think I'll pass. First, turning off all of Aero is more like what I want. Second, I'm not anxious to use 3rd-party utilities at the OS level. I'd rather know what's happening down there, and a utility that magically makes changes isn't appealing to me. If Windows doesn't give me the controls to do it, then how does the utility do it? (Probably many registry settings... Which ones?) I try to avoid faith-based computing.