# How-To-Make-Existing-System-App-Do-Nothing.ps1

# Provide variables
$hive="REGISTRY::HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\WORDPAD.EXE"
$key="(default)"
$value="C:\Windows\dummy.exe"
$defaultValue="C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\WORDPAD.EXE"

# Dummy-File-Creator.ps1
$dummyFile="C:\Windows\dummy.exe"
$output = new-object byte[] 1; (new-object Random).NextBytes($output);
[IO.File]::WriteAllBytes($dummyFile, $output);
if ($output -ne $null) {
    Write-Host ("$dummyFile has been successfully created");
    }else{
        "Failed to create $dummyFile";
        }

# Set registry key
Set-Itemproperty -path $hive -Name $key -value $value

# Verify result
$command="(get-itemproperty '$hive').'$key'"
Invoke-Expression $command;
Invoke-Expression $value; # It should now do nothing
# Change it back
Set-Itemproperty -path $hive -Name $key -value $defaultValue
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