why not just use this: ;Remove StartBalloonTip [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer] "NoSMballoonTip"=dword:00000001 this is the only one that worked for me, none of the other regtweaks about setting 'StartButtonBalloonTip' to 1, 2, 0 has ever worked for me. and as you say, this key doesnt exist at "starters", if you know what I mean(bad english here;) )