Deny access to display settings

What is the simplest way to deny access to others from Display settings within the Control Panel without using a tweaking application?

try THIS

... or you could set file permissions on desk.cpl.

c:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\desk.cpl

Thanks for the replies guys both seemed plausible but for some reason niether one seemed to be fool proof. The first suggestion didn't appear to work either by the way. Deleting the desk.cpl files and rebooting did the trick nicely. Ofcourse should I need it back again I can always extract the file.

Straight forward, simple, no reg hacks, no software utility to download. Bottom line no display properties available unless you have the CD. :D

Hi!

I'm a bit late suggesting this but it may still be of interest:
Deleting the .cpl file is perhaps a little drastic. You can do what you want using Group Policy:
Run gpedit.msc and then navigate to:
User Configuration - Administrative Templates - Control Panel - Display. There's an option there you can enable called "Disable Display in Control Panel".
Of course outside a domain environment that is going to disable access to it for you too until you remove the policy setting and refresh policy!

Another option for you perhaps is to move the .cpl file to another folder that only you have permission to. I've not tried that but I suspect it will work ok.

Best wishes,

Andrew

That's very slick for this problem and lots of others.

A question - is accessible any more convenient way? I mean, a way I'm more likely to remember? I tried finding it through administrative tools, control panel, etc. Or, is it only a command line capability?

Thanks

Just curious since I haven't tried it before, does disabling desk.cpl in Control Panel also disable the ability to access the display properties by right clicking the desktop?

KV

kv: I'm not sure about disabling it but deleting sure does. :D

BTW I found my answer ages ago thank you all for the replies. This is why I'm asking for the thread to be closed.