cyrnel

Yep, that policy setting (NoSMBalloonTip) affects the start menu balloon tips but not the others. (and if you're reading on XP Home, gpedit.msc isn't included)

Notification area tips can be controlled with EnableBalloonTips
Popup folder info bubbles with FolderContentsInfoTip
Icon description bubbles with ShowInfoTip

There are half a dozen other hand-holders but they can be controlled with tweakui or built-in windows controls.

It's often easiest (and safer than regedit) to just merge preferred registry settings from a template file. i.e. custom settings.reg:

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There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195