Preventing App (IE) from opening

[JBeardNC]

When I'm updating Flash or Java for example, I am closing IE for the user beforehand and IE must remain closed as to not interfere with the install. I'd like to see if there is a (better) way to prevent them from opening IE during the middle of the update. Currently, I launch a separate process/script that simply does a While loop and every 50 ms, it checks for IE using WinExists and if it finds it, kills the process. But what ends up happening is if it closes the process at the right moment, the user will get a message that looks like a permissions error or an error like the IE shortcut doesn't exist and prompts the user to remove the shortcut and its causing some confusion. It may be because I have the 50 ms interval too small but I wanted to reach out and see if there is a better way to block an application from opening temporarily while something finishes, in this case, block IE while Java or Flash install completes. I tried using If ProcessExists and got the same results. Here's the script I'm using. Any better ideas? I just need to block IE from opening for about 30 seconds. If it has a notification (like the toast pop-up I added), that's even better but its not required. 

#include <toast.au3>

$sMsg  = "Adobe Flash is being updated on your computer." & @CRLF & @CRLF & "Internet Explorer will open once the update is complete."

sleep (2000)

While ProcessExists ("AdobeFlashUpdate.exe")
    sleep(50)
    If WinExists ("Internet Explorer") Then
        WinClose ("Internet Explorer")
        OpenToast()
    EndIf
WEnd

Func OpenToast()

    _Toast_Set(5, 0xFFFF33, 0x000000, 0xCC0000, 0xFFFFFF, 10)
    $aRet = _Toast_Show(0, "Please wait...", $sMsg, 10, False)
    ;_Toast_Hide()

EndFunc

Run ("C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe")

Exit

[rudi]

Hi.

A group policy setting could be used to temporary disallow starting iexplore.exe:

gpedit.exe

- Computer configuration

-- windows settings

--- security settings

---- software restriction policies --> new software restricion policies

 

activate prior you launch your upate, remove afterwards.

 

Users will receive a message like "your admin disallowed ..."

 

Regards, Rudi.

[JohnOne]

gpedit.msc

User config -> Admin Templates -> System -> Don't run specified applications -> show.

Add iexplore.exe

[JBeardNC]

Thanks for the idea but that won't work. It only needs to prevent it from opening for around 30-40 seconds while Flash or Java install. Plus, I don't want the user to receive any error message. If anything, I'd like for them to just see a message that another application is installing and IE will open when its complete.

[JohnOne]

Then your first approach is best, but use ProcessExists and ProcessCloae, instead on the Win funcs.

[BrewManNH]

BlockInput might also be an option to think about.