Group Policy Settings vs. Registry Entries

In the Microsoft Windows operating system, when you make settings in the group policy (gpedit.msc), the settings will also create registry entries in the registry database.

The table below tells you where to look for the key when the settings in the group policy are applied.

Group Policy Settings	Registry Entries
Computer Configuration	HKLM\Software\Policies, Or HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
User Configuration	HKCU\Software\Policies, Or HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

For example:

In the local group policy editor, when you enable “Lock the Taskbar” setting under User Configuration\Administrative Template\Start Menu and Taskbar, you also create a registry entry referenced to “Lock the Taskbar” in HKCU\\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer].

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"LockTaskbar"=dword:00000001

This value 1 means “LockTaskbar” is enabled, while the value 0 means “LockTaskbar” is disabled.  You can either enable or disable “Lock the Taskbar” group policy setting by just changing the value of the “LockTaskbar” registry entry.