Internet Explorer Tips

Disable Internet Explorer First Run Welcome Screen Pop Up

When you install Internet Explorer 8 or IE9 and launch it for the first time (or even when you reset the settings), you might have noticed the Set Up Windows Internet Explorer 8 (applies to Internet Explorer 9 as well) screen (Tour and RunOnce) appears asking you to go through a few steps to change the configuration of the search and accelerator settings.
You might not want to see this popup every time you install IE (IE8 or IE9) or reset settings in IE. Unfortunately Microsoft hasn’t made it easier to disable this initial set up. However there are workarounds to achieve the same.


Using Group Policy Editor:

• If you are using Professional, Ultimate or Enterprise versions of Windows 7 or Vista, you can tweak Group Policy Editor (gpedit) to disable the initial set up for Internet Explorer 8/9.
• Press Start button + R and type “gpedit.msc” in the text field and press Enter to launch the Group Policy Editor.
• In the left pane, expand User Configuration, then find and expand Administrative Templates, next find Windows Components under it and expand it. Then finally find “Internet Explorer”, click on it.
• So the path would be: User Configuration> Administrative Templates> Windows Components> Internet Explorer
• On the right pane, find “Prevent performance of First Run Customize settings
• Set the value to “Enabled” and then go for the options section. You will have two options from the dropdown menu:
• Go directly to “Welcome To IE” page
• Go directly to home page
• Select the first option to skip the IE first run Customize Settings and go directly to your home page.
• Select the second option to skip the IE first run Customize Settings and and go to the “Welcome to Internet Explorer” page directly.
• Click Apply to save the settings then click OK and close the Group Policy Editor window.