Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer 7
Version: 7.0.5730.11CO
Update Versions: 0

Version: 7.0.5730.13IS (confirmed working)

Issue

The annoying Runonce linking to runonce.msn.com/runonce2.aspx either fails to start or you do not want it to start. There is no reasonable explanation as to the purpose of this link. All settings may be changed within the installation of itself without linking to Microsoft. I have found solutions for IE 7 Beta 2 and other versions which included registry keys that are not required for the Gold release and I discovered a key that is required, not mentioned anywhere else.

Resolution

To bypass IE7 Runonce, there are two registry keys that need to be updated and/or added. Here are several methods to achieve this one goal. Of course there are more methods. Any one of these will do the trick.

Method 1:
Create a REG (registry) file with Notepad with the following contents and save as RunOnceDone.reg. Double click on RunOnceDone.reg to import into the registry.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"RunOnceComplete"=dword:00000001
"RunOnceHasShown"=dword:00000001

Method 2:
Create a BAT/CMD file with Notepad with the following contents and save as RunOnceDone.cmd. Double click on RunOnceDone.cmd.

REG ADD HKCU"\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /v RunOnceComplete /t REG_DWORD /d 00000001 /f
REG ADD HKCU"\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /v RunOnceHasShown /t REG_DWORD /d 00000001 /f

Method 3:
Create a AU3 script using AutoIT.

RegWrite ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main", "RunOnceComplete", "REG_DWORD", "00000001")
RegWrite ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main", "RunOnceHasShown", "REG_DWORD", "00000001")

Method 4:
Create a AU3 script using AutoIT a little more elaborate application.

#NoTrayIcon

MsgBox(49, "Internet Explorer 7 Remove RunOnce Message v1.0", "This utility will remove the RunOnce Message by adding two " & @LF & _
"registry keys to: " & @LF & @LF & _
"[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main] " & @LF & @LF & _
" RunOnceComplete=dword:00000001" & @LF & _
" RunOnceHasShown=dword:00000001" & @LF & @LF & @LF & _
"Press OK to continue or CANCEL to cancel.")

RegWrite ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main", "RunOnceComplete", "REG_DWORD", "00000001")
RegWrite ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main", "RunOnceHasShown", "REG_DWORD", "00000001")

Method 5:
Download this compiled program. There is no graphical interface. Just click on the executable. Done.
Alert: (1/9/2011) Microsoft Forefront Client Security detects this as TrojanDropper:Win32/Dunik!rts with an Alert level of High. This is a generic trojan detection. It is NOT a trojan Dropper!!
MD5: 5D17C823ABC86D50A401F3769E0995A8

  IE7 RunOnce Fix (noGUI) (24.9 KiB, 22,593 hits)

Download this compiled program. This has a graphical interface and is compiled using INNO Setup. Just click on the executable and will guide you. Done.
MD5: 33BC4DEB30F787D3140A6644A93BD672

  IE7 RunOnce Fix (GUI) (277.6 KiB, 10,600 hits)

Notes

All versions of Internet Explorer 5.0 and later that are customized with Microsoft Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK) include one of the following strings after the version number when you click About on the Help menu: Microsoft

• IC = Internet Content Provider
• IS = Internet Service Provide
• CO = Corporate Administrator