Windows 7 Disable Proxy via cmd - and put in effect

Question

Windows 7 (64-bit) Disable Proxy via cmd - and put in effect?

I have found the correct registry key to change, and have code to change it.

reg add    "HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /f /v ProxyEnable /t REG_DWORD /d 0

Found via

gpresults /h "%userprofile%\desktop\RSPO.html"

Running the 'reg add' does change the reg key, same key that changes, when I open IE (as admin) and turn off the LAN proxy settings manually.

However, when I do it manually, the desired effect happens - I no longer have proxy issues. But via my cmd script, the key changes but I still have proxy issues. When I open the LAN proxy settings in IE, it's still Enabled.

How do I change the reg key and put it into effect?

Tried changing a bunch of registry keys...

Current script...

reg add "HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /f /v ProxyEnable /t REG_DWORD /d 0
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /f /v ProxyEnable /t REG_DWORD /d 0

reg add "HKCU\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /f /v ProxyEnable /t REG_DWORD /d 0
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /f /v ProxyEnable /t REG_DWORD /d 0

Solution

Unfortunately, there is no easy way. As you’ve noticed, you’re missing the magic “read those settings now” command:

InternetSetOption(NULL, INTERNET_OPTION_SETTINGS_CHANGED, NULL, NULL)
InternetSetOption(NULL, INTERNET_OPTION_REFRESH, NULL, NULL)

Of course, you can’t just call a C function from cmd. There is, however, a (relatively) viable way to do it with PowerShell:

function Reload-InternetOptions
{
  $signature = @'
[DllImport("wininet.dll", SetLastError = true, CharSet=CharSet.Auto)]
public static extern bool InternetSetOption(IntPtr hInternet, int
dwOption, IntPtr lpBuffer, int dwBufferLength);
'@
  $interopHelper = Add-Type -MemberDefinition $signature -Name MyInteropHelper -PassThru

  $INTERNET_OPTION_SETTINGS_CHANGED = 39
  $INTERNET_OPTION_REFRESH = 37

  $result1 = $interopHelper::InternetSetOption(0, $INTERNET_OPTION_SETTINGS_CHANGED, 0, 0)
  $result2 = $interopHelper::InternetSetOption(0, $INTERNET_OPTION_REFRESH, 0, 0)

  $result1 -and $result2
}

Simply invoke it like this: Reload-InternetOptions. It will return True when successful.

Please note that this method dynamically creates some stuff each time you run it. It cannot be unloaded by PowerShell and will keep accumulating until you quit the PowerShell process that ran the method.

Comments

[mrdnk]

I'm running cmd as admin. After running the script I get "The operation completed successfully". And the registry key has changed.

[Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007]

Can you edit your question to include the actual registry location you're changing?

[mrdnk]

There you go, sorry - had Stack Exchange logged in on different machine.

[JSanchez]

Not sure if you've noticed, but you have REG_DWARD instead of REG_DWORD Could that be it?

[mrdnk]

Just a typo on Superuser, have actually pasted in the whole cmd now.

[JSanchez]

@mrdnk: Try to escape the backslashes in your script using the caret ^ symbol. Or use double backslashes. See if that solves your issue.

[JSanchez]

For reg, it is double backslashes: ss64.com/nt/syntax-esc.html

[mrdnk]

it's in quotes, and it is changing the value.

[JSanchez]

@mrdnk: You are running a 64-bit OS. Just realized that. ovidiupl.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/…

[mrdnk]

Interesting read. Still no joy, but it gives me something to look into a bit deeper.

[Butzke]

Possible duplicate of In Windows 7, how to change proxy settings from command line?

[mrdnk]

That's what I initally went for by I found this in the gpresults ... Policy Setting Winning GPO Make proxy settings per-machine (rather than per-user) Enabled TMG Proxy Settings Policy

[mrdnk]

And... Registry item (Key path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\Cu‌​rrentVersion\Interne‌​t Settings, Value name: ProxyEnable)

[Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007]

Ok, and as you say, it doesn't work. ;) Does it work as you want if you use the HKCU key instead?

[mrdnk]

Tried changing a bunch of keys, see edit.

[Th1sD0t]

Out of curiosity, how do you know that this event is needed to make the changes take effect?

[Daniel B]

@C4p741nZ Do you mean how to find out stuff like this? In the old days, you’d have to check the documentation. Nowadays you can just use Google. The trick is of course to find the right search terms.