How to Allow or Prevent Changing Sounds in Windows 7 and Windows 8

   Information
This will show you how to allow or prevent all or specific users on the computer to add, remove, or change the current system sound scheme in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

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


EXAMPLE: Sounds in Personalization
NOTE: This is Sounds changes allowed (left screenshot below) and prevented (right screenshot below) in Personalization.
Sounds - Allow or Prevent Changing-allowed.jpg

Sounds - Allow or Prevent Changing-prevented.jpg

EXAMPLE: Sound settings window
Sounds - Allow or Prevent Changing-sound_allowed.jpgSounds - Allow or Prevent Changing-sound_prevented.jpg





OPTION ONE

Allow or Prevent Changing Sounds using a REG File Download


1. To Allow Changing Sounds for All Users
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.
Allow_Changing_Sounds.reg
2. To Prevent Changing Sounds for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Prevent_Changing_Sounds.reg


Download

3. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

5. Click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted.

6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to completely apply.

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





OPTION TWO

Allow or Prevent Changing Sounds in Group Policy


1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and Personalization. (See screenshot below)
Sounds - Allow or Prevent Changing-group_policy.jpg
3. In the right pane, double click/tap on Prevent changing sounds to edit it. (See screenshot above)

4. To Allow Changing Sounds
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, and go to step 6 below. (See screenshot below step 6)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.
5. To Prevent Changing Sounds
A) Select (dot) Enabled, and go to step 6 below. (See screenshot below step 6)
6. Click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below)
Sounds - Allow or Prevent Changing-edit.jpg
7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.
That's it,
Shawn