Note: See How do I customize my WinZip MSI? for more complete descriptions of the listed property configurations in this article.
| When installing a WinZip upgrade, please keep in mind that some policies you may try to set may be negated by individual user settings from the previous version saved in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Nico Mak Computing\WinZip\[subkey]. To avoid this issue, you can delete the WinZip subkey and String Values from all HKEY_USERS keys. They will then be recreated when WinZip is run by the user and values you have set will be propagated. |
When the WinZip MSI file has been customized; either directly, by use of a transform, or through the use of a command line install; registry String Values will be created in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE during installation. Administrator level policies will be written only to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, while others will be default settings that users can change. These latter ones will be written to HKEY_CURRENT_USER as well.
Properties that do not create registry settings
Some MSI properties will cause Windows Installer to prevent certain files from being installed. These properties do not create registry settings, since the removal of the files also removes the feature involved. Please refer to the following table.
Property |
Description |
|---|---|
| ADDDESKTOPICON | 0 = WinZip shortcut on the Desktop will not be created |
| ADDMENUGROUP | 0 = WinZip group at Start -> All Programs will not be created |
| ADDSTARTMENU | 0 = WinZip shortcut at the top of the Start menu will not be created |
| DISABLEBACKGROUNDTOOLS | 1 = Background tools are not installed or enabled and no Tools tab in WinZip Options |
| INSTALL[*cloud service] | 0 = the named cloud service files will not be installed (BOX, CLOUDME, DROPBOX, FTP, GOOGLEDRIVE, MEDIAFIRE, SKYDRIVE, SUGARSYNC, and ZIPSHARE; example: INSTALLZIPSHARE) |
| INSTALLEXPRESSEXPLORER | 0 = WinZip Express for Explorer will not be installed |
| INSTALLEXPRESSOFFICE | 0 = WinZip Express for Office will not be installed |
| INSTALLEXPRESSPHOTOS | 0 = WinZip Express for Pnotos will not be installed |
| INSTALLFAH | 0 = File Association Helper will not be installed |
| INSTALLJOBFILES | 0 = preconfigured job files will not be installed |
| INSTALLPREVIEWER | 0 = WinZip file preview feature for Explorer will not be installed |
| INSTALLSCANNER | 0 = demo system scan will not be installed |
Note: SKYDRIVE is used for backward compatibility. It is the original name for what is now Microsoft OneDrive.
Default policies
By default, string values concerning WinZip policies will be created in the registry subkey HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Nico Mak Computing\WinZip\Policies. Users that do not have permissions to edit HKLM will not be able to change these settings.
String Value |
Description |
|---|---|
| DisableCloudServices | Default=NONE, all cloud services enabled; other options are ALL; BOX, CLOUDME, DROPBOX, GOOGLEDRIVE, MEDIAFIRE, SKYDRIVE, SUGARSYNC, and/or ZIPSHARE |
| DisableConversions | Default=NONE, all conversion features enabled; other options are ALL; IMAGERESIZE, DOCTOPDF, and/or WATERMARK |
| DisableGetMoreAddons | Default=0, Get More Add-ons button on the Tools tab works; on=1 |
| DisableNotificationServices | Default=NONE, all Social Media and Instant Messaging options enabled; other options are ALL; FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN, TWITTER, GTALK, FACEBOOKCHAT, JABBER, and YAHOOMESSENGER |
| DisableRecentArchives | Default=0, recently used archives are recorded; on=1, not recorded |
| DisableRecentJobs | Default=0, recently used jobs are recorded; on=1, not recorded |
| DisableSplashScreen | Default=0, splash screen explaining WinZip 19's new default view displays; on=1, no splash screen |
| DisableUpgrade | Default=0, Upgrade tab displays for WinZip Standard multi-user licensed copies; on=1 |
| DisableZipAndShare | Default=0, Zip and Share (WinZip Express) context menu entry and the Zip and Share button on the Tools tab enabled; both disabled=1 |
| EncWipeDelete | Default=0, A caution message will display when certain files cannot be wiped, they are then deleted normally; on=1 (the caution message is suppressed, files of this type will be deleted only) |
| HideRegInfo | Default=0, this property is off, the link in the About WinZip dialog for multi-user license copies that opens a webpage showing registration information will display; on=1 |
| NoProductAdvUpdates | Default=0, Advertisements pertaining to sharing services will download periodically and display when setting default share service; on=1 |
Note: SKYDRIVE is used for backward compatibility. It is the original name for what is now Microsoft OneDrive.
Password policies
| Password policies and settings require a WinZip Pro license. |
WinZip Password Policy registry string values will be created in the same subkey as the default policies; HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Nico Mak Computing\WinZip\Policies. These string values are only created if the default value has been changed. To prevent users from changing your password policies, you should consider including the passwordrestrict String Value set to 1 as this will remove access to the Passwords tab in WinZip Options.
String Value |
Description |
|---|---|
| alwaysencrypt | Default=0 (FALSE); TRUE=1 |
| encryptionrestrict | Default=No string value and no restrictions; ZIP20, AES128, AES256 (use any combination, separated by a comma to remove particular encryption strengths) |
| passwordlength | Default=8; any number from 1 to 99 can be used |
| passwordreqlower | Default=0 (FALSE); TRUE=1 (at least one lower case letter required) |
| passwordreqnumber | Default=0 (FALSE); TRUE=1 (at least one number required) |
| passwordreqsymbol | Default=0 (FALSE); TRUE=1 (at least one symbol required) |
| passwordrequpper | Default=0 (FALSE); TRUE=1 (at least one upper case letter required) |
| passwordrestrict | Default=0 (FALSE); TRUE=1 (Password tab removed from WinZip Options eliminating user access to changing policies) |
Other settings
A variety of additional settings are controlled by string values created in other subkeys. If no WinZip settings currently exist in each user hive, these will be propagated. Otherwise, the WinZip subkey in each user hive should be deleted or these settings should be specifically created in the corresponding subkey for each user hive.
The following table displays string values that are created in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Nico Mak Computing\WinZip\WinZip.
| Email string values require a WinZip Pro license to affect users. |
String Value |
Description |
|---|---|
| AutoOpenDocs | Default=1, Zip files containing a single Microsoft Office file will automatically cause the file to open in that application; off=0 |
| DefaultCloudService | Default=DEFAULT, no cloud service set to be the default; specify the name of a supported cloud service to be the default |
| DefaultShareService | Default=DEFAULT, no cloud service set to be the default; specify the name of a supported share service to be the default |
| DisableAOD | Default=O, users have access to the auto-open for Office files check box in WinZip Options; on=1 |
| JobPromptOnRun | Default=1, WinZip backup files (.wjf) will display a prompt before running; off=0 |
| NoEditMailAccts | Default=0, users can edit email accounts; on=1 |
| NoInternalEmailer | Default=0, the WinZip emailer is available for use with email features of WinZip; on=1 |
| NoUserCloudDefault | Default=DEFAULT (off), users can specify a default cloud service; TRUE=users cannot specify a default cloud service |
| ShowTips | Default=1, Tip of the Day displays when WinZip opens empty; off=0 |
- Alternate Association
A string value named AltAssoc1 can be created in the subkey HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Nico Mak Computing\WinZip\AltAssoc. The value of this string will set an alternate extension to be used for Zip files when needed.
When creating an alternate extension, you must also inform WinZip that it needs to use that extension. To do that, create a string value named UseAltExten with a value of 1 in the subkey HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Nico Mak Computing\WinZip\AltAssoc.
- Statistics
By default, WinZip collects statistics data and tansmits that to a WinZip server. The two string values controlling this feedback are Collect and UsageCollectLock. By default, Collect is set to 1 to gather and transmit information regarding the ways in which WinZip is used on your computer. No personally identifiable information is collected. Configuring this string with the value 0 turns data collection off. In either case, individuals will continue to have the ability to turn data collection on or off by clicking the Collect and report statistics box in the Miscellaneous tab of WinZip Options. The option to change the setting can be removed by giving the UsageCollectLock string the value of 1.
- Check for Updates
If desired, the Check for Updates feature in WinZip can be completely disabled. To do so, the NoUpdateChecking string in the subkey HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Nico Mak Computing\WinZip\UpdateCheck must have a value of 1. As explained above with other values, if steps are taken to insure values will be propagated from the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE hive, you can and should make this change to the same string in the subkey HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Nico Mak Computing\WinZip\UpdateCheck.
If you have any questions about this information, please email Technical Support.
Related Articles:
How do I customize my WinZip MSI?
How do I completely disable "Check for Updates"?
Password Policy for Encryption
My email provider does not allow Zip files as attachments. What can I do?
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