Disable cftmon from startup

[Grake]

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\CTF] 
"Disable Thread Input Manager"=dword:00000001

Thought i'd share.

[Nerwin]

Hey cool, Thanks... I hate that stupid process.. its just a useless process to me!

[spriditis]

Actually it is responsible for Language bar, so it may be needed as not all programs will handle those shortcuts correctly / IME might not work correctly.

But i agree that it is buggy.

Before IE8, I usually just removed all keyboard layout except default, so ctfmon.exe does not start automatically.

But unfortunately with "Install files for East Asian languages" checked, even with just a single keyboard layout both IE8 and Wordpad always start ctfmon + Language bar (somewhat incorrectly - shows grayed/disabled or contains no layout list) - so you need to go to Regional Settings - add some layout, Apply, Remove it, Apply - then it fixes it and closes.

Eventually i just got tired of this and made batch file that renames dllcache\ctfmon.exe and ctfmon.exe so apps won't load it.

Now, from time to time when i need to use Japanese or other layout i just run batch again so restores both exes + launches intl.cpl..

[foolios]

Actually it is responsible for Language bar, so it may be needed as not all programs will handle those shortcuts correctly / IME might not work correctly.

But i agree that it is buggy.

Before IE8, I usually just removed all keyboard layout except default, so ctfmon.exe does not start automatically.

But unfortunately with "Install files for East Asian languages" checked, even with just a single keyboard layout both IE8 and Wordpad always start ctfmon + Language bar (somewhat incorrectly - shows grayed/disabled or contains no layout list) - so you need to go to Regional Settings - add some layout, Apply, Remove it, Apply - then it fixes it and closes.

Eventually i just got tired of this and made batch file that renames dllcache\ctfmon.exe and ctfmon.exe so apps won't load it.

Now, from time to time when i need to use Japanese or other layout i just run batch again so restores both exes + launches intl.cpl..

Could you share your batch file please?

[spriditis]

Well, nothing special really, just WinXP builting commands --> so no dependences like choice.exe or other.

Toogle_CTFMON.bat

@Echo off

IF EXIST "%SystemRoot%\System32\ctfmon.exe"     echo #STATUS: 	Enabled
IF NOT EXIST "%SystemRoot%\System32\ctfmon.exe" echo #STATUS: 	Disabled
echo.

Echo Restore	[1]
Echo Disable	[2]
Echo Exit	[Any other]
echo.
set /p usr_choice=Toogle Status? [1,2]: 
echo.

IF [%usr_choice%] == [1] (
  ren "%SystemRoot%\System32\ctfmon.exe_old"          ctfmon.exe
  ren "%SystemRoot%\System32\dllcache\ctfmon.exe_old" ctfmon.exe

  Echo CTFMON.EXE restored..
  intl.cpl,1
)
IF [%usr_choice%] == [2] (
  ren "%SystemRoot%\System32\dllcache\ctfmon.exe" ctfmon.exe_old
  ren "%SystemRoot%\System32\ctfmon.exe"          ctfmon.exe_old

  Echo CTFMON.EXE disabled..
  echo. & Echo # Click Cancel button in "Windows File Protection" dialogbox #
)

set usr_choice=
pause

If ctfmon.exe was disabled and someone has tried replaced original file -> both ctfmon.exe_old and ctfmon.exe will exist - ren command would fail, but I left it on purpose, so i would notice it.

Of course the are legit utilities that could do that: SFC /scannow, Office setup, etc.

Edited February 28, 2010 by spriditis