Windows 10: How to set Internet options without UI ?

Hello there !
I try to configure Internet options (inetcpl.cpl) for my computer and I would like to do it with command lines, PS scripts or registry tweak... Actually, without any user interaction, only by scripting !

Here is what I know :
- it is possible to remove or block some tabs of the Internet options by writting in HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel (or HKLM for all users) [link] [link]
- it is possible to open a specific tab of Internet options by running RunDll32.exe Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL InetCpl.cpl [link]
- it is also possible to clear navigation data by running RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess [link]

Is there a way to set values, to check boxes, to uncheck boxes by running RunDll32.exe or by changing registry ? I don't know anything about DLLs and entrypoints.. So your help would be very useful ! Or maybe with a VBscript ?

Here is what I would like to configure in the "General" tab :
- change the home page (picture 1)
- check "Delete history when exiting the browser" (picture 1)
Then, in "settings" :
- change the frequency and the value of Internet Temporary cache (picture 2)
- change the duration of history saves (picture 3)

Screenshots (french) :
Picture 1 :



Picture 2 :



Picture 3 :




Thank you very much ! *Smile

Govi

:)

 

Open links

Hi ¡Firedog,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Community.

The option “Always in Internet Explorer on the desktop” says that all links will be opened in the desktop version of Internet Explorer.

The default setting is “Let Internet Explorer decide”, how it opens links. So in this case sometimes IE may open with the Modern UI and sometimes on the desktop, depending on the app or program that is accessing it.

If you want to set Internet Explorer as the default browser and want all your links to open always in Internet Explorer, then select the “Always in Internet Explorer” option.

Keep us informed to help you further.

 

Internet Explorer in Windows 10: Choose how you open links.

Hello Jim,

If you want to set Internet Explorer as the default browser and want all your links to open always in Internet Explorer with the Metro UI, select the
Always in Internet Explorer option. It's best to use this option if you normally browse the internet and open link using Internet Explorer.

The Let Internet Explorer option, decides how it opens links. So in this case, sometimes Internet Explorer may open with the Metro UI and sometimes on the desktop, depending on the app or program that is accessing it.

While the Always in Internet Explorer on the Desktop option allows you to launch links in the desktop environment.

The Open Internet Explorer tiles on the Desktop option automatically launch Internet Explorer tiles on the desktop.

You may also check the helpful links below regarding Choose how you open links feature in Internet Explorer:

• Launch Options for Internet Explorer
• To change whether the Internet Explorer tile on the Windows
  

We look forward to your response.

Regards.

 

Hello, I doubt anyone is going to write you a script, but I will give you just one possible hint if you want to explore this further yourself.

Basic question- how do you find out what changes in the registry? (if that's where these changes are made).

Get yourself a copy of a program called Regshot (free) - it lets you create a snapshot before and after and compare them. Thus you may be able to work out what changes. However, if the content of the key is extensive or obscure, even with this it can be very hard to do that.

Another angle: Whilst Autohotkey (free scripting tool) allows manipulation of Windows dialogues such as you describe, success with that also depends on being able to adequately identify the elements of the dialogue with which you wish to interact.

 

Hello Dalchina,
thank you for your answer. Indeed, I managed to do some stuff with RegShot, which is a very nice tool. Thank you !
Here is what I acheived, maybe it can help people :

Check the "Clear browsing history on exit" box :
--> set 1 to HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit
Code: reg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Privacy" /v "ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000001 /f[/quote]
Temporary Internet files (cache) : choose which frequency to check latest version
--> This is controlled by the key : HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\SyncMode5
Actually, setting the key in the registry doesn't change the checkbox, but I guess it changes anyway.
- Each visit of the web page : Code: reg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /v "SyncMode5" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000003 /f[/quote] - Each launch of IE : Code: reg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /v "SyncMode5" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000002 /f[/quote] - Automatic : Code: reg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /v "SyncMode5" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000004 /f[/quote] - Never : Code: reg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /v "SyncMode5" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000000 /f[/quote] Maybe the value 1 stands for something..? Mystery.


Space to use on the disk for cache :
When I change the value, these 2 keys change :
- HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\Cache\ContentLimit
- HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\Cache\Content\CacheLimit
The first is exactly the number we choose in the UI (in hexadecimal notation)
I don't know what the second key does, but it changes and the value is coherent (when I change twice, the value is the same).
Here is the code when we set to 8 Mo :
Code: reg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\Cache" /v "ContentLimit" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000008 /freg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\Cache\Content" /v "CacheLimit" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00002000 /f[/quote] Again, setting these keys in the registry database doesn't change the value displayed in the UI, but I guess it changes anyway.


History : days to keep the visited webpages
Here it is very simple, and setting the key changes the displayed value.
The key : HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Url History\DaysToKeep
To set 0 :
Code: reg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Url History" /v DaysToKeep /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000000 /f[/quote]
Start page :
This is the point I didn't suceed. I guess this key does something :
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Start Page
but changing it doesn't directly change the startpage : it displays a message at IE launch : "An unknown program tries to set your start page to Google. [change] [don't change]"



Maybe there are other things to see in HKLM or in other keys (RegShot shows that several keys are affected, but it is difficult to make a logical link).


Hope it can help ! *Wink