Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Beta
How to remove Windows 7 Send Feedback, Watermark text
by Brad Linder Jan 22nd 2009 at 3:00PM
Windows 7 Beta may be available as a free download, and it may run pretty well right now. But it's still beta software. And that means that:
- Microsoft wants to remind users that they're looking at beta software.
- The company is hoping to solicit feedback to make the operating system better before the final version is released.
If you have valuable feedback to send Microsoft, you should totally click that button. But you can also send feedback by clicking the "Send Feedback" button that Windows 7 automatically installs on your desktop, or you can just type "feedback" into the Windows search box.
So if you don't need the constant reminder, or if you have no intention of sending feedback, read on to find out how to disable the link. And we'll tell you how to get rid of the "For testing purposes only" watermark while we're at it.
First up, let's get rid of that watermark. All you need to do is download and run a utility called Remove Watermark. You can find the download links at My Digital Life. Once you download the file, just unzip it, and right click the executable program and select "run as administrator." Make sure you choose the 32 bit version if you're using the 32 bit edition of Windows 7 and the 64 bit version for, well, the 64 bit version.
To get rid of the Send Feedback link, you'll want have to edit a Windows registry value:
If you don't feel like plodding through the Windows registry on your own, you can also download a registry file from The How To Geek which will let you remove the feedback link with just a few clicks and a reboot.
When all is said and done, your system should look less like the image above, and more like this:
To get rid of the Send Feedback link, you'll want have to edit a Windows registry value:
- Open up the Start Menu
- Type "regedit.exe" (without quotes) into the search box and hit enter
- Navigate to "HKEY_Current_User\Control Panel\Desktop
- Locate the key on the right side that says FeedbackToolEnabled
- Double Click on FeedBackToolEnabled
- Change the value from 3 to 0
If you don't feel like plodding through the Windows registry on your own, you can also download a registry file from The How To Geek which will let you remove the feedback link with just a few clicks and a reboot.
When all is said and done, your system should look less like the image above, and more like this:
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LethAL said 3:29PM on 1-22-2009
Does the watermark patch here also break compatibility mode? With Orbit_30's patch, any program I launch in compatibility mode instantly crashes, and it could be the same here.
Reply
Mike said 4:01PM on 1-22-2009
I'll try when I get home, but I think you're using the older version of Orbit's patch...
Blake Gripling said 8:48AM on 1-25-2009
Apparently, it does. It also showed the same symptoms on my W7 setup... Dunno if it's possible to restore compatibility mod functionality without reinstalling the whole OS...
kingabraham3 said 3:34PM on 1-22-2009
no need to reboot, just log off and back on, or even simply restart explorer.
Reply
Drew Green said 4:01PM on 1-22-2009
I understand wanting to get rid of the watermark but I think that the Send Feedback link is good. Everyone should send feedback be it good or bad. MS will build on the good, and fix the bad (hopefully).
Reply
Mike said 4:02PM on 1-22-2009
For me, its just a hindrance on small windows when I want to drag them. Using the desktop link if I have anything to say is much more convenient.
Brent Schmidt said 4:04PM on 1-22-2009
Or you can do it in one click using that genuine activation patch thing that was posted a couple weeks ago, which had these options separately.
http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4635976/Windows_7_Beta_Genuine_Activation_Patch
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ryzza007 said 5:38PM on 1-22-2009
Hehe - why don't we send MS feedback on the placement of their feedback link :o)
Reply
Eric said 8:47PM on 1-22-2009
Does the send feedback link actually do anything? I know on Windows XP, when a program crashed, I would always send an error report - until one day when I wasn't connected to the Internet and clicked it out of habit - and somehow it magically was sent successfully.
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Peter said 8:48PM on 1-22-2009
Eric - They claim they use those error reports to decide which things to fix going forward. If 80% of the crashes are due to the same issue, then that issue will definitely get resolved in the next service pack or next Windows version. Trying to send the error report when you aren't online just queues it until you are.
Bryan Price said 10:52PM on 1-22-2009
They sent me a one liner to fix the crashing during installs. So they are paying attention on that Send Feedback.
Reply
Catalin Bocanu said 11:47AM on 1-23-2009
A related article on Windows 7 tweaking without the need to manually edit registry keys: 12 Automatic Tweaks For Windows 7 Beta: SetteMaxer
http://www.downloadtube.com/blog/2009/01/23/12-automatic-tweaks-for-windows-7-beta-settemaxer/
Reply
Aalaap said 3:30PM on 1-25-2009
I'm a little more interested in what values 1 and 2 do for FeedbackToolEnabled, but I'm too lazy to restart twice to see what's changed. Anyone try this?
Reply
Robin said 8:34AM on 1-31-2009
Well setting FeedBackToolEnabled to 0 diables both the watermark and the Feedback link, My guess is it will enable one or the other or both?
Robin.