Windows tweaks 2

51. Display the Windows version on the Desktop
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\Desktop\PaintDesktopVersion
In Windows 2000, a DWORD value of 1 will display the Windows version on the desktop. A value of 0 does not display it.
52. Change Location of Windows Setup Files
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Setup\SourcePath
This REG_SZ or String Value key stores the path to the location of the installation files.
53. Internet Explorer Context Menu Items
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MenuExt
These are menu items that appear in the Right-Click menu of Internet Explorer
54. Internet Explorer Tools Menu Items
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions
Each subkey of these keys define an addition to IE's Tools menu
55. Restrict Users from Using GIFs and JPGs as Desktop Wallpaper
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop\NoHTMLWallPaper To restrict users from using GIFs and JPGs as wallpaper (restrict them to BMP images) create or set this value to 1. A value of 0 will allow users to use all 3 types of images.
56. Restrict Users from Changing Desktop Wallpaper
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop\NoChangingWallpaper This DWORD value 1 will stop people from being able to change their desktop wallpaper. A value of 0 will allow users to change the wallpaper.
57. Clear Internet Explorer Address Bar Auto-complete Entries
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TypedURLs
(Win9x)
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21...\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TypedURLs
(WinNT/2000)
When you type a URL in Internet Explorer (IE), the system automatically completes known entries with data stored in this registry key. Each time you type in a URL and press the Enter key or the Go button, that URL is stored in this location.
58. Restrict Users from Logging Off
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoLogOff This DWORD value set to 1 will remove the "Log Off User" option in the Start Menu. A value of 0 will show it. 59. Remove Background Tab from Appearing in the Display Applet
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\NoDispBackgroundPage This DWord value set to 1 will stop the Background page of the Display applet from appearing. Setting it to 0 will cause it to appear.
60. Scroll Start Menu or View Multiple Columns
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\StartMenuScrollPrograms This String entry in the registry can be created if it doesn't exist. If you set it to FALSE it will make the start menu run into multiple columns. This works with IE5. You have probably noticed that if your Start Menu is too long, you get a little arrow at the top or bottom of the Programs menu telling you that you need to scroll to see what else is there. You can change this to behave the way Windows 95 used to.
61. Remove Browser Branding
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar\BrandBitmap
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar\SmBrandBitmap
If you downloaded IE from ZDNet, Tucows, or any other major site, it is probably "branded", meaning that it probably has its own logo in the upper-right corner and in the title bar it says the branded name. These 2 registry settings should be deleted if you want to remove the branded logo. This will set it back to the default IE globe. http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q176/7/13.ASP
62. Internet Explorer Window Title
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Window Title
This is where you can change the browser name that appears in the Internet Explorer window title. You can change it to anything you want.
63. Smooth Scrolling in Microsoft Word
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Options\LiveScrolling
This features allows you to have smooth scrolling in Word 97. When you use the scroll bars in Word 97, you can't see the document as it scrolls by until you let go of the scroll bar. Adding this LiveScrolling setting and setting it to 1 will allow you to see document scroll by.
64. Remove Desktop Icons
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Eexplorer\Desktop\NameSpace A lot of programs install themselves and add an icon to the desktop. The problem is, this isn't just a shortcut that can be deleted. These are permanent links to certain
programs/features. In order to delete them, you need to navigate to this registry key and delete any entries you do not want.
65. Start Menu Delay
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\MenuShowDelay
This registry entry will control how fast each menu sub-level appears and how fast the taskbar will appear if you have autohide set up. The number that you enter will be the time in milliseconds the operating system will pause. 1 second would need an entry of 1000. I usually set mine at 0 so that it appears as quick as it can.
66. Sort the Start menu
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder This registry key is where you would go in Windows 98 and Windows 95 with the windows update installed to fix your menu order. Maybe you haven't noticed, but the menu items in the Start Menu and in the Favorites folder don't have to be in alphabetical order. By dragging them, you can put them in any order you want. The problem is, once you have changed one, you can never get it back to alphabetical order without fixing it in the registry.
From the MenuOrder key, choose which sub key you want to edit, the Start Menu or the Favorites. You will see more sub keys that are called Menu. You can either delete that key, or delete the binary Order listing in the right hand pane. You can search through all of the sub keys for the same thing and reset any of them that you want.
If you don't like working in the registry, there is a PC Magazine utility available called MenuZap that you can download which does all of this automatically for you. Visit http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/ and do a search for MenuZap to find it.
67. Remove Uninstall Items from the Add/Remove Programs Applet
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
This registry key contains all of the sub keys for programs that can be uninstalled. When you want to uninstall, always use the uninstall program that came with the program or use the Add/Remove Programs applet of the Control Panel. This registry key can be useful when you have done that, but the program still comes up in the Add/Remove Programs listing. When you click on it it says "Can't find this file." Well, of course it can't, it has been uninstalled. It is just that the registry listing hasn't been removed.
To remove it, just visit this key, and then scroll down until you see the culprit. You might have to click on the sub key once so that the real name shows up in the right hand pane. Sometimes the sub key names don't make a lot of sense.
68. Edit Windows Registration Information
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
This registry key will allow you to change to information you inputted about who Windows was registered to. You can change the company, persons name, the registration key, etc.
69. Edit Windows Installed User Information
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MS Setup (ACME)\User Info
Have you noticed that when you install programs, it quite often automatically knows your name and your company name? That information does not come from the registry key mentioned above this one. It is found in this one. If you have gotten a used computer from someone or have changed companies and want to change those names, then visit this key.
70. Change Windows Startup Items
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
This registry key will help you when there are programs starting up that you don't want running. When you install something like Norton Utilities or an antiviral program, they load up at start up and put a small icon in the system tray. You probably want most of these programs running, but lets say that you don't want it running. How do you get rid of it. There should be an option in the program setup, but if you just can't find it, you can go to this key, or any other that starts with RUN and delete the listing in the right hand pane.
For instance, Power Management is installed by default by Windows, even if you go into the power settings and tell it you want the computer on all the time, there is still a line in the RunServices key. It wasn't doing any harm because the power profile was set so that everything was on all the time, but why even have the profile in there is I don't use it. So I deleted it.
71. Disable the mapped-drive reconnect warning
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Network\RestoreDiskChecked
If you have mapped a network share to a drive letter, you can automatically remap it each time your computer starts. If the network share isn’t available anymore, then you a window pops up telling you this and asks you if you’d like to remap the drive again next time. This can get annoying. This DWORD set to 0 will disable the warning. Changing it to 1 will re-enable the warning.
72. Turn off printer announcement broadcasts
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\ DisableServerThread
This DWORD value set to 1 will prevent your computer from sending out announcements that it has printers shared. Setting it back to 0 renews the broadcasts.
This will prevent printers from appearing when browsing the network, but the printers are still available as long as their share name is known.
73. Fix EXE Association Problems
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Classes \ Exefile \ Shell \ Open \ Command
Do you ever get the error “Windows cannot find PROGRAM.EXE. This program is needed for opening files of type 'Application’”?
If so, then go to this registry key and make sure that it has the value:
"%1" %* (exactly as shown).
74. Turn off Passport Reminder
(Windows XP)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MessengerService\PassportBalloon
When this value is set to 0a, you won’t have the Passport reminder popup anymore.
75. Stop Windows Messenger from Starting with Microsoft Outlook Express
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Outlook Express\ Hide Messenger
This DWORD value set to 2 will stop Windows Messenger from starting with Microsoft Outlook express.
76. Logging Windows Installer activities in Windows 98
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer\Logging
Windows Installer can log its activity. Give this String value a value of voicewarmup and you’ll get full logging.
The value may appear a little unusual, but each letter turns on a separate logging feature (the letters can be entered in any order):
i - Status messages
w - Non-fatal warnings
e - All error messages
a - Start up of actions
r - Action-specific records
u - User requests
c - Initial UI parameters
m - Out-of-memory or fatal exit information
o - Out-of-disk-space messages
p - Terminal properties
v - Verbose output
+ - Append to existing file
! - Flush each line to the log
"*" - Wildcard, log all information
except for the v option.
To include the v option, specify "/l*v".
77. Run Defrag without Problems
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Defrag\Settings\Disable loadqm.exe
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Defrag\Settings\ Disable loadwc.exe
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Defrag\Settings\ Disable ScreenSaver
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Defrag\Settings\ Disable Wkdetect.exe
(Windows 9x/ME)
Set each of these values to YES to disable these programs while Defrag is running
LOADWC.EXE (Windows Update Checker), LOADQM.EXE (Query Manager), and WKDETECT.EXE (Update Checker for Microsoft Works).
78. Run Scandisk without Problems
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Scandisk\Settings\ Disable loadqm.exe
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Scandisk\Settings\ Disable loadwc.exe
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Scandisk\Settings\ Disable ScreenSaver
(Windows 9x/ME)
Set each of these values to YES to disable these programs while Defrag is running
LOADWC.EXE (Windows Update Checker), LOADQM.EXE (Query Manager), and WKDETECT.EXE (Update Checker for Microsoft Works).
79. Account Settings
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Account Manager
Your Outlook Express Email Account settings are stored in this registry setting.
80. Mail Rules
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities
You'll find all the information about mail rules and other per-identity settings here, stored in sub-keys identified by your unique ID string. It will look something like this:
{36553740-2BAC-11D3-95B1-00A0C993DADF}
If you are importing information for the same user that you had when you exported this key, all will be fine. If you have recreated this user, or created a new one, the unique ID will be different, and so you will a bit of work to make it work.
81. Set Temporary Internet Files Path
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings/Cache/Paths/Path1-4
This registry setting will show you where your Temporary Internet Files are stored.
You can delete the sub-paths, but not the main Paths key. You can also change the location of these paths.
If you delete the Paths1-4, and set the value of Directory to a location, then you will have only 1 path (and no sub-paths).
82. Clear Temporary Internet Files when Exiting Internet Explorer
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Persistent
This REG_DWORD key when set to 0x00000000 (0) will clear your Temporary Internet Files folder when you exit Internet Explorer. This value set to 0x00000001 (1) will not clear it.
83. Change the Temporary Internet Files Cache Size
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet
Settings\5.0\Cache\Content\CacheLimit
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet
Settings\Cache\Content\CacheLimit
Change the Base to Decimal and enter the amount of space you want to use for temporary Internet files (in kilobytes)
84. Disable Balloon Tips
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\ EnableBalloonTips
(Windows XP)
This DWORD value set to 0 will disable the balloon tips. The value of 1 will enable the tips.
85. Decide whether you want dial-up passwords saved
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services \RasMan\Parameters
Add a value named DisableSavePassword
This REG_DWORD set it to 1 will stop Dial-Up Networking from saving the password. A setting of 0 will save the password.
86. Display Customized Message When Windows Starts
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\MicrosoftWindows\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\ LegalNoticeCaption
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\MicrosoftWindows\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\ LegalNoticeText
These strings will display a small window when a computer first starts up. The caption is the name of the window. The text is the message itself in the window.
87. Suppress the Windows Tour Prompt
(Windows XP)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Tour\ RunCount
This DWORD value set to 0 will stop the Windows Tour from appearing
88. Disable The Getting Started Screen
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoWelcomeScreen This REG_DWORD value set to 1 disables the Getting Started screen. 0 enables it.
89. Add TLDs To IE’s Autosearch
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\UrlTemplate
For Value Name, enter the next number available. This REG_SZ value will be setup the same way the existing ones are (www.%s.TLD, with TLD being .com, .edu, .biz, etc.)
90. Refresh Windows Explorer Windows Immediately
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Update\UpdateMode
This DWORD value set to 00 will force Windows to refreshe windows quicker
91. Disable the Personalized Favorites Menu feature in IE 5.0 or later
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FavIntelliMenus
Set this value to “no” (without the quotes).
92. Disable IEs HTML Source Editor Check
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\CheckDocumentForProgID
This String value set to “no (without the quotes) will stop Internet Explorer from changing the program that you can use to edit a current web page.
93. Disabling File Shares On Servers
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver\Parameters\ AutoShareServer
This REG_DWORD value set to 0 will remove the default file shares
94. Delete Page File When You Shut Down Windows
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\CONTROL\SESSIONMANAGER\MEMORYMANAGEMENT\ClearPageFileAtShutdown This value set to 1 will clear the paging file when a computer is shut down
95. Minimize Outlook to the System Tray
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Preferences\MinToTray
This REG_DWORD value set to 1 will minimize Outlook 2002/XP to the system tray rather than to the task bar.
96. Realigning Dropdown Menus
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\MenuDropAlignment
This String value set to 1 will cause menus to drop down from the right rather than the left.
97. Display Start Menu Items in Alphabetical Order
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
MenuOrder
Delete this key and the menu will be reset to be in alphabetical order.
98. Set Windows Explorer Toolbar Wallpaper
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar\BackBitmapShell
This String value contains the location of the bitmap (BMP) image that you would like to use as the toolbar wallpaper.
99. Enable Notification for Missed Scheduled Tasks
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SchedulingAgent\NotifyOnTaskMiss
This DWORD value set to 1 will enable missed tasks notification. Setting this value to 0 will disable notification.
100. Turn off Low Disk Space Notification
(Windows XP)
HKEY_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\ NoLowDiskSpaceChecks
This DWORD value set to 1 will disable the low disk space notification. 0 will enable it.