How to disable the Switch User in Windows Vista?

How to disable the Switch User in Windows Vista?

This feature was first started with Windows XP and now it is also available in Windows Vista and Windows 7. This is a very helpful feature of Windows, since you can easily switch with other users without having to log off your computer.  For some Administrator, they also want to disable it to restrict end-users. For Windows XP users, this feature can be easily disabled by using User Accounts Applet, in Control Panel. But for Windows Vista and Windows 7 users, it can be done using Group Policy Editor and also the Registry Editor.

Follow the methods below to disable Switch User option.

Method A.

Disabling Switch User option, by using Group Policy Editor:

• Click Start then type gpedit.msc on the search box and press Enter. This will open the Group Policy Object Editor window.
• Click and expand the following:
• Local Computer Policy>Administrative Templates>System>Logon
• Take a look at the right pane. Double-click the “Hide entry points for Fast User Switching” and then set it to Enabled.
• And you’re done! The Switch User option has been disabled.

Method B

Disabling Switch User Option using, Registry Editor:

Group Policy Editor doesn’t come with some editions of Windows Vista and Windows 7. So here is another method to disable Switch User option.

• Click Start, then type regedit on the search box ; then press enter. This will open the Registry Editor window.
• Click and expand the following:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem

• Take a look at the right pane. Create a new DWORD value HideFastUserSwitching and set the value to 1.

And you’re done! The Switch User option has been disabled.