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WinXPTutor's XP Resources

Windows XP Tips, Illustrations and registry edits

Pop-up Blocker option is missing under the Tools menu in Internet Explorer

When you click Tools menu in Internet Explorer in Windows XP SP2, the Pop-up Blocker option may be missing. This is due to a restriction set in the registry or via Group Policy Editor in Windows XP Professional. To get the Pop-up Blocker menu ( and the Pop-up Management functionality ) back, try this:

  • Open Registry Editor and navigate to the following keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Internet Explorer \ Restrictions

-and-

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Internet Explorer \ Restrictions

  • In the right-pane, double-click NoPopupManagement if exists, and set it to 0
  • Close Registry Editor

Via Group Policy Editor in Windows XP Professional

  • Click Start, Run and type GPEDIT.MSC
  • Navigate to this path:

Computer Configuration \ Administrative Templates \ Windows Components \ Internet Explorer

  • Double-click the setting Turn-off pop-up management
  • Set it to Not Configured

More Information about this policy

If you enable this policy setting, the Control Panel information relating to pop-up management will be unavailable (grayed out) and all other pop-up manager controls, notifications, and dialog boxes will not appear. Pop-up windows will continue to function as they did in Windows XP Service Pack 1 or earlier, although windows launched off screen will continue to be re-positioned onscreen.

If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the popup management feature will be functional.