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1. Registry Guide for Windows

What is the Registry?

The Registry is a database used to store settings and options for the 32 bit versions of Microsoft Windows including Windows 95, 98, ME and NT/2000. It contains information and settings for all the hardware, software, users, and preferences of the PC. Whenever a user makes changes to a Control Panel settings, or File Associations, System Policies, or installed software, the changes are reflected and stored in the Registry.

The physical files that make up the registry are stored differently depending on your version of Windows; under Windows 95 & 98 it is contained in two hidden files in your Windows directory, called USER.DAT and SYSTEM.DAT, for Windows Me there is an additional CLASSES.DAT file, while under Windows NT/2000 the files are contained seperately in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Config directory. You can not edit these files directly, you must use a tool commonly known as a "Registry Editor" to make any changes

The Structure of the Registry

The Registry has a hierarchal structure, although it looks complicated the structure is similar to the directory structure on your hard disk, with Regedit being similar to Windows Explorer.

Each main branch (denoted by a folder icon in the Registry Editor, see left) is called a Hive, and Hives contains Keys. Each key can contain other keys (sometimes referred to as sub-keys), as well as Values. The values contain the actual information stored in the Registry. There are three types of values; String, Binary, and DWORD - the use of these depends upon the context.

There are six main branches, each containing a specific portion of the information stored in the Registry. They are as follows:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT - This branch contains all of your file association mappings to support the drag-and-drop feature, OLE information, Windows shortcuts, and core aspects of the Windows user interface.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER - This branch links to the section of HKEY_USERS appropriate for the user currently logged onto the PC and contains information such as logon names, desktop settings, and Start menu settings.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE - This branch contains computer specific information about the type of hardware, software, and other preferences on a given PC, this information is used for all users who log onto this computer.

HKEY_USERS - This branch contains individual preferences for each user of the computer, each user is represented by a SID sub-key located under the main branch.

HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG - This branch links to the section of

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE appropriate for the current hardware configuration.

HKEY_DYN_DATA - This branch points to the part of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, for use with the Plug-&-Play features of Windows, this section is dymanic and will change as devices are added and removed from the system.

Each registry value is stored as one of five main data types:

REG_BINARY - This type stores the value as raw binary data. Most hardware component information is stored as binary data, and can be displayed in an editor in hexadecimal format.

REG_DWORD - This type represents the data by a four byte number and is commonly used for boolean values, such as "0" is disabled and "1" is enabled. Additionally many parameters for device driver and services are this type, and can be displayed in REGEDT32 in binary, hexadecimal and decimal format, or in REGEDIT in hexadecimal and decimal format.

REG_EXPAND_SZ - This type is an expandable data string that is string containing a variable to be replaced when called by an application. For example, for the following value, the string "%SystemRoot%" will replaced by the actual location of the directory containing the Windows NT system files. (This type is only available using an advanced registry editor such as REGEDT32)

REG_MULTI_SZ - This type is a multiple string used to represent values that contain lists or multiple values, each entry is separated by a NULL character. (This type is only available using an advanced registry editor such as REGEDT32)

REG_SZ - This type is a standard string, used to represent human readable text values.

Other data types not available through the standard registry editors include:

REG_DWORD_LITTLE_ENDIAN - A 32-bit number in little-endian format.

REG_DWORD_BIG_ENDIAN - A 32-bit number in big-endian format.

REG_LINK - A Unicode symbolic link. Used internally; applications should not use this type.

REG_NONE - No defined value type.

REG_QWORD - A 64-bit number.

REG_QWORD_LITTLE_ENDIAN - A 64-bit number in little-endian format.

REG_RESOURCE_LIST - A device-driver resource list.

Create a Shortcut to Regedit

This can be done by simply right-clicking on a blank area of your desktop, selecting New, then Shortcut, then in the Command line box enter "regedit.exe" and click Next, enter a friendly name (e.g. 'Registry Editor') then click Finish and now you can double click on the new icon to launch the Registry Editor.

Using Regedit to modify your Registry

Once you have started the Regedit you will notice that on the left side there is a tree with folders, and on the right the contents (values) of the currently selected folder.

Like Windows explorer, to expand a certain branch (see the structure of the registry section), click on the plus sign [+] to the left of any folder, or just double-click on the folder. To display the contents of a key (folder), just click the desired key, and look at the values listed on the right side. You can add a new key or value by selecting New from the Edit menu, or by right-clicking your mouse. And you can rename any value and almost any key with the same method used to rename files; right-click on an object and click rename, or click on it twice (slowly), or just press F2 on the keyboard. Lastly, you can delete a key or value by clicking on it, and pressing Delete on the keyboard, or by right-clicking on it, and choosing Delete.

Note: it is always a good idea to backup your registry before making any changes to it. It can be intimidating to a new user, and there is always the possibility of changing or deleting a critical setting causing you to have to reinstall the whole operating system. It's much better to be safe than sorry!

Importing and Exporting Registry Settings

A great feature of the Registry Editor is it's ability to import and export registry settings to a text file, this text file, identified by the .REG extension, can then be saved or shared with other people to easily modify local registry settings. You can see the layout of these text files by simply exporting a key to a file and opening it in Notepad, to do this using the Registry Editor select a key, then from the "Registry" menu choose "Export Registry File...", choose a filename and save. If you open this file in notepad you will see a file similar to the example below:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup]
"SetupType"=dword:00000000
"CmdLine"="setup -newsetup"
"SystemPrefix"=hex:c5,0b,00,00,00,40,36,02

The layout is quite simple, REGEDIT4 indicated the file type and version, [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup] indicated the key the values are from, "SetupType"=dword:00000000 are the values themselves the portion after the "=" will vary depending on the type of value they are; DWORD, String or Binary.

So by simply editing this file to make the changes you want, it can then be easily distributed and all that need to be done is to double-click, or choose "Import" from the Registry menu, for the settings to be added to the system Registry.

Deleting keys or values using a REG file

It is also possible to delete keys and values using REG files. To delete a key start by using the same format as the the REG file above, but place a "-" symbol in front of the key name you want to delete. For example to delete the [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup] key the reg file would look like this:

REGEDIT4

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup]

The format used to delete individual values is similar, but instead of a minus sign in front of the whole key, place it after the equal sign of the value. For example, to delete the value "SetupType" the file would look like:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup]
"SetupType"=-

Use this feature with care, as deleting the wrong key or value could cause major problems within the registry, so remember to always make a backup first.

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
  CurrentVersion\Control Panel\Extended Properties\
  {305CA226-D286-468e-B848-2B2E8E697B74} 2
  
  Find the item you want to change and double-click it to bring up a dialog box. Change the item’s DWORD value to your preference. Use Table A as a guide (shown with decimal numbers, which is the way you should enter them).
  
  

  Table A

  Category	DWORD value to set
  Other Control Panel Options	0
  Appearance and Themes	1
  Printers and Other Hardware	2
  Network and Internet Connections	3
  Sounds, Speed, and Audio Devices	4
  Performance and Maintenance	5
  Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options	6
  Accessibility Options	7
  Add or Remove Programs	8
  User Accounts	9

  
  

  ---

  Create a hidden user account
• 
  The user accounts you’ve set up appear on the Welcome screen (another new feature in Windows XP) when you start up the PC. To hide one of the user accounts so that it doesn’t appear here, go to:
  
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
  Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList
  
  Right-click anywhere within the Registry Window and click New to create a new DWORD value with the name of the account to be hidden. Set the value to 0 (decimal). This account won’t be accessible when switching users with Fast User Switching; you’ll only be able to access it from the Log On To Windows dialog box. Keep in mind that it is not a totally hidden account; the account’s profile will appear in the Documents And Settings folder. Also, the account appears in Local Users And Groups when an administrator is logged on.
   

  ---

  Prevent programs from loading at startup
  Remember back in the good old days of Windows 3.1 when you could open up the Win.ini file in a text editor and remove an item from the RUN= line to disable it from running at startup? With Windows 9x and above, the Win.ini file became less useful because 32-bit programs were set to run at startup from within the Registry instead.
  
  One way to selectively disable programs from loading at startup is to use MSCONFIG (from the Run command) to deselect certain items. Another way to remove them is to edit the Registry directly. Consider the following locations:
  
  
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\Run
    for applications that start up for all users
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\Run
    for applications that start up when the current user logs on
  
  

  Remove the entry for a program by right-clicking it and selecting Delete to prevent it from loading.
  
  

  ---

  Sort menus alphabetically

  
  When you install a new program for a user, it doesn’t find its place in the alphabetical Start menu hierarchy right away; it hangs out at the bottom for a little while. If your users employ the Classic Start menu, they can realphabetize it manually by right-clicking the taskbar and choosing Properties, clicking the Customize button next to the Classic Start Menu, and clicking the Sort button. With the Windows XP style of Start menu, however, you don’t have an equivalent button. To make Windows always alphabetize the list, remove the permissions from the Registry key that controls the sort order for the Start menu. To do so, go to:

  
  
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
  CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder
  
  Choose Edit | Permissions and click the Advanced button. Deselect the Inherit From Parent The Permission Entries That Apply To Child Objects check box and then click Copy when the Security dialog box pops up. Click OK and clear the Full Control entry for your account and all security groups you are a member of. Leave only Read permission.
  
  

  ---

  Change the desktop cleanup frequency
• 
  Through Display Properties (Desktop tab, Customize Desktop button, General tab), you can turn on and off a feature that runs the Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days. You don’t have an option to set a different interval there, but you can change the interval in the Registry. To do so, go to:
  
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
  CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\CleanupWiz
  
  Change the Days Between Clean Up Value to some other number of days (in decimal format).
  
  

  ---

  Use desktop patterns
• 
  Windows XP provides no direct support for the Patterns feature that was present in earlier versions of Windows, but the feature is still there. It’s just hidden in the Registry. To enable a pattern, first set None as the background in Display Properties. Then you need to find out the code for that pattern. To look up a code, go to:
  
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Patterns
  
  A variety of patterns is listed, and each one has a Data value. Copy the value you want to the Clipboard. Then go to:
  
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
  
  Add a string value called Pattern. Then paste the string from the clipboard in as its value. The new pattern will appear the next time you log on.
  
  

  ---

  Delete the Files Stored On This Computer category in the My Computer window
• 
  In Windows XP, the My Computer window’s listing is broken down by categories: Hard Disk Drives, Devices With Removable Storage, and so on. One of these categories is Files Stored On This Computer, which appears at the top of the My Computer window. If a user doesn’t need it (and most folks don’t), you can get rid of it. To do so, go to:
  
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
  CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\Delegate Folders
  
  Delete the {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c55595fe6b30ee} subkey to remove the category.
  
  

  ---

  Erase the swap file at shutdown
• 
  You might be concerned about someone browsing your users’ swap files and gathering up little bits of their sensitive data. A remote possibility, to be sure, but it could happen. For that extra measure of security, go to:
  
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
  Control\Session Manager\Memory Management
  
  Set the ClearPageFileAtShutdown DWORD to 1. This will make shutdowns take longer, because it overwrites everything in the swap file with zeroes. Don’t turn this feature on unless you have a serious security threat.
  
  

  ---

  Adjusting System Restore values
• 
  The new System Restore feature in Windows XP automatically backs up a snapshot of your system, including your Registry, every 24 hours. It also saves restore points for 90 days. Neither of these values is directly editable in the System Restore program, but you can change them in the Registry. Go to:
  
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
  WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore
  
  You’ll find an assortment of settings here. To change the interval between automatically created restore points, change the RPGlobalInterval setting. To change the number of days that a restore point is retained, change the RPLifeInterval setting.
  
  System Restore time intervals are measured in seconds, not days, so you must convert the number of days you want into seconds. There are 86,400 seconds in a day, so multiply 86,400 by the number of days you want to determine the value. There are 3,600 seconds in an hour.
  
  

  ---

  Create a right-click command prompt option
• 
  You can right-click a folder to get a list of actions you can apply to it. Here’s a way to create an action on that right-click menu that opens a command prompt window with that folder as the current directory. In a text editor such as Notepad, type the following:
  
  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\Cmd Here]
  @=”Command &Prompt Here”
  [HKEY_CLASSES-ROOT\Folder\shell\Cmd Here\command]
  @=”cmd.exe /k pushd %L”
  
  Save the file with any name you want, with a .reg extension. Then double-click the saved file and choose Yes to merge the file’s information into the Registry. You can delete the file. Right-click any folder and you’ll see the CommandPrompt Here option.
  

Restrictions

Disabling the F3 Search Key - Added 1/20/03
Preventing Changes to File Associations - Added 9/18/02
Locking File Associations - Added 9/18/02
Prevent Changes to the Start Menu - Added 1/31/00
DOS Restrictions - Updated 1/31/00
Networking Restrictions - Updated 1/31/00
Control Panel Restrictions - Updated 1/31/00
Restricting the Start Menu, Explorer, and the Desktop - Updated 1/30/00
Eliminating the Right Click on the Taskbar - Added 1/10/00
Eliminating the Right Click on the Desktop - Added 1/10/00
Hiding Any Combination of Drives - Submitted 2/15/98
Disabling Drives in My Computer - Added 7/24/96
Not Saving Settings on Exit - Added 7/21/96
Not Displaying the Network Neighborhood - Added 7/21/96
Disabling Run or Find from the Start Menu - Added 7/21/96
Hiding All Icons from the Desktop - Added 7/21/96
Disabling the Right-Click on the Start Button - Added 6/29/96
Disabling My Computer - Added 6/29/96
Disabling File and Print Sharing - Added 4/29/96

Explorer

Adding Open With to the Right Click in the Explorer - Added 12/28/99
Opening a DOS Window to either the Drive or Directory in Explorer - Submitted 8/9/97
Adding Explore From Here to Every Folder - Added 1/30/97
Removing Open, Explore & Find from Start Button - Added 9/15/96
Opening Explorer from My Computer - Added 5/28/96

Network

Re-Enabling DHCP Error Messages - Added 9/20/98
Removing the Hand Icon from Shared Resources - Submitted 2/11/98
Creating a Network Logon Banner - Submitted 12/7/96
Disable Password Caching - Added 10/19/96
Changing the MaxMTU and other Network Settings - Added 10/19/96
Changing the Telnet Scroll-Back Buffer Size Added 7/27/96
Not Displaying the Last User Logged on - Added 4/29/96
Setting the Minimum Password Length - Added 4/29/96

Misc

Turning off System Beeps - Added 9/10/02
Changing the Location Of Special Folders - Added 9/10/2
Deleting Specific Registry Value - Submitted 12/22/01
Setting the Recycle Bin to Always Delete - Added 11/17/01
Setting the Internet Explorer Home Page - Submitted 9/4/01
Preparing to Move Hard Drive to Another Computer - Submitted 12/20/00
Comparing Registries - Added 2/21/00
Setting Excel 2000 High-Contrast Cell Selection - Added 2/2/00
Changing Common Icons - Updated 1/31/00
Changing Office 2000's Excel Undo History - Added 1/27/00
Changing the Title on Windows Media Player - Added 1/27/00>
Turning Off the Help on Min, Max, Close Icons - Added 1/8/00
Automatically Deleting a Registry Key - Added 12/20/99
Fixing no AutoRun for CDs - Added 11/9/99
Renaming the File System Profiles - Added 4/20/99
Sticky Menus - Added 4/20/99
Automatic Shutdown with Windows NT - Submitted 3/28/99
Kill Hung Processes When Logging Off in Windows NT - Submitted 3/28/99
NT Crash Log File - Submitted 3/28/99
Changing the Location of Outlook Express Data Files - Added 1/16/99
Disabling the Blinking Cursor - Added 10/17/98
Getting Rid of Schemes - Updated 6/7/98
Creating a Legal Text Notice Before Logon - Added 2/15/98
Enabling the Middle Mouse Button on Logitech Mouse - Submitted 12/7/97
Easily Opening a File with Notepad - Submitted 10/25/97
Displaying Hi-Color Icons without the Plus Pack - Submitted 10/19/97
Backing Up the Registry - Submitted 9/13/97
Removing Unwanted Items from the RUN Menu - Submitted 8/23/97
Compacting the Registry - Submitted 4/5/97
Changing Exchange's Mailbox Location - Added 3/29/97
Removing Sound Events from Control Panel / Sounds - Added 3/16/97
Changing the Registered Owner - Added 2/6/97
Adding an Application to Every Folder - Added 1/30/97
Saving Desktop Settings - Submitted 1/11/97
Getting Rid of Tips - Submitted 1/2/97
Changing the Location of Windows95's Installation Files - Added 12/18/96
Creating a Default File Opener - Added 11/29/96
Deleting Registry Keys from the Command Line - Added 11/3/96
Automatic Screen Refresh - Added 10/24/96
Adding Items to the Start Button - Added 10/17/96
Removing the InBox Icon and Recycle Bin Icons from the Desktop - Added 9/8/96
Removing Items from NEW on the Desktop - Added 7/28/96
Changing the Tips of the Day - Submitted 7/27/96
Get Your Folders to Open the Way You Want Every Time - Submitted 7/7/96
Clearing the Documents Menu Automatically - Added 6/2/96
Fixing a Corrupt Registry - Added 5/12/96
Recycle Bin Edits - Submitted 5/2/96
Removing the Shortcut Arrows - Added 4/21/96
Turn Off Window Animation - Added 4/21/96
To speed up the Start Menu - Added 4/21/96
Changing your Modem's Initialization String - Added 4/21/96
Increasing the Modem Timeout - Added 4/21/96
Removing Programs listed from the Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs Section - Added 4/21/96
Specifying programs to run every time Windows95 starts - Added 4/21/96 

Disabling the F3 Search Key

Added 1/20/03

If you want to disable the ability to use the F3 key from either the Windows Explorer or Internet Explorer

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions
3. Create a Dword value called NoFindFiles
4. Give it a value of 1
5. Reboot

Preventing Changes to File Associations

Submitted 9/18/02

You can prevent users from changing associations via Windows Explorer's Tools / Folder Options / File Types tab.

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explore
3. Create REG_DWORD data type NoFileAssociate
4. Give it a value of 1

Submitted by Paul Barker

Locking File Associations

Submitted 9/18.02

If you have your file associations the way you want for a particular file type, you can remove it from the list that gets displayed in the Folder Options / File Types screen

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
3. Scroll to the file association you want to lock.
4. In the right panel, create a new Binary value
5. Call it EditFlags
6. Give it a value of 01 00 00 00
7. Now when you go to the Folder Options / File Types screen, you won't see that file type listed.

Submitted by Paul Barker

Turning off System Beeps

Added 9/10/01

If you want to turn off all system beeps (like the ones that go through your computers' internal speaker):

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Sound
3. Edit the key Beep and give it a value of No

Download reg file

Changing the Location Of Special Folders

Added 9/10/02

You can modify the registry to change the location of special folders like:

• My Documents
• Favorites
• My Pictures
• Personal

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
3. Double click on any locations you want to change and alter the path
4. Logoff or restart for the changes to go into effect

Note: TweakUI from Microsoft will allow you to make these changes from a dialog box as well

 Deleting Specific Registry Value

Submitted 12/22/01

In a previous tip, Automatically Deleting a Registry Key, it was mentioned how to remove an entire registry key.
If you want to simply remove a specific value within a key, use the syntax below:

[Registry Key]
"value"=-

For example:

REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"MSConfig"=-

would delete the value MSCONFIG.

Submitted by Brent Towsley

 Setting the Recycle Bin to Always Delete

Added 11/17/01

You can set the recycle bin to always delete items (like holding down the shift key when dragging files to the recycle bin)

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ BitBucket
3. Set the key NukeOnDelete to 1

Download reg file

 Setting the Internet Explorer Home Page

Submitted 9/4/01

If you want to set the home page used by Internet Explorer through the registry

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software \ Microsoft \ Internet Explorer \ Main
3. Give the Start Page key the string value you wish set as homepage

Submitted by Austin Henderson

Preparing to Move Hard Drive to Another Computer

Submitted 12/20/00

To remove the devices from device manager when taking a HD from one computer to another,
simply:

1. Run Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ and delete the Enum section
3. This removes all of the hardware specific settings

Submitted by  Lee Berry

Comparing Registries

Added 2/21/00

While working with changes to your system, you might want to see what is changing in your Registry.
Since you can export it to a text file, the steps are fairly easy

1. Start Regedit
2. With the very top level select - My Computer, on the Toolbar select Registry / Export Registry File
3. I usually save it to the root of the C: drive with the name before (you don't need to add an extension)
4. Make the change to your system
5. Go back to Regedit
6. Press F5 to update it
7. Export the Registry like step 2
8. Name the file after and have it go in the same directory
9. Open up a DOS window
10. Go to the directory where the two exported files are
11. Enter FC before.reg after.reg > diff.txt
12. Then you can edit diff.txt with your favorite text editor.

Note: I  do the last steps so often I have a simple batch file already set up.

Setting Excel 2000 High-Contrast Cell Selection

Added 2/2/00

If you want to increase the contrast in selected cells:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Office \ 9.0 \ Excel \ Options 
3. Add a DWORD value call Options6
4. Give it a value of 16
5. Now when you select cells, they will be white on black.

Changing Common Icons

Updated 1/31/00

You can change many of the common Windows icons.

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ explorer \ Shell Icons
3. The default icons are numbered in the right panel from 0-40
4. Double click on the number of the particular icon you want to change. See the chart below.
5. Enter the name of the icon file you want to use followed by the number of the icon in that file.
   Note: The numbering starts with zero.
6. If you use a single .ICO file, it should be followed by a 0.
7. e.g. - filename.dll,4 - This would actually be the 5th icon since it starts with 0.
8. Make sure you delete the hidden file C:\WINDOWS\SHELLICONCACHE

0-13 Are the Drive and Application Icons
0 - To change the Unknown Application Icon
2 - To change the Default Application Icon
3 - To change the Closed Folder Icon
4 - To change the Open Folder Icon
5 - To change the 5 1/4" Floppy Icon
6 - To change the 3 1/2" Floppy Icon
7 - To change the Removable Disk Icon
8 - To change the Hard Drive Icon
9 - To change the Network Drive Online Icon
10 - To change the Network Drive Offline Icon
11 - To change the CD Drive Icon
12 - To change the Ramdrive Icon
13 - To change the Entire Network Icon

19-27 Are the Start Menu Icons
19 - To change the Programs Icon
20 - To change the Documents Icon
21 - To change the Settings Icon
22 - To change the Find Icon
23 - To change the Help Icon
24 - To change the Run Icon
27 - To change the Shutdown Icon

Other Icons
33 - To change the DUN Folder Icon
34 - To change the Desktop Icon
35 - To change the Control Panel Icon
37 - To change the Printer Folder Icon
40 - To change the Audio CD Icon
43 - To change the Favorites Icon
44 - To change the Logoff Icon

Prevent Changes to the Start Menu

Added 1/31/00

To prevent any changes to the Start Menu, even a right click:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer
3. Add a DWORD called NoChangeStartMenu
4. Give it a value of 1

Download reg file

DOS Restrictions

Updated 1/31/00

There are restrictions you can make to the ability to execute DOS programs

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_Current_User / Software / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Policies
3. Create a new key under Policies called WinOldApp
4. You can then add DWORD values set to 1 in the appropriate keys
5. To re-enable them, either delete the key or set the value to 0

• Disabled - Disable MS-DOS Prompt
• NoRealMode - Disables Single-Mode MS-DOS

Networking Restrictions

Updated 1/31/00

There are general restrictions you can make in Networking

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_Current_User / Software / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Policies
3. Create a new key under Policies called Network
4. You can then add DWORD values set to 1 in the appropriate keys
5. To re-enable them, either delete the key or set the value to 0

• DisablePwdCaching = Password Caching
• HideSharePwds [hex] =Shared Passwords
• NoEntireNetwork =Entire Network
• NoNetSetup =Network applet
• NoNetSetupIDPage =Network Identification tab
• NoNetSetupSecurityPage =Network Access tab
• NoFileSharing =Network File Sharing button
• MinPwdLen = set Minimum Password Length (integer number: 0 - 99)
• NoPrintSharing =Network Print Sharing button
• NoWorkgroupContents =Network Workgroup

Control Panel Restrictions

Updated 1/31/00

There are many general restrictions you can make to the Control Panel

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_Current_User / Software / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Policies
3. Create a new keys under Policies called System
4. You can then add DWORD values set to 1 in the appropriate keys
5. To re-enable them, either delete the key or set the value to 0

• NoDispCPL - Disable Display Control Panel
• NoDispBackgroundPage - Hide Background Page
• NoDispScrSavPage - Hide Screen Saver Page
• NoDispAppearancePage - Hide Appearance Page
• NoDispSettingsPage - Hide Settings Page
• NoSecCPL - Disable Password Control Panel
• NoPwdPage - Hide Password Change Page
• NoAdminPage - Hide Remote Administration Page
• NoProfilePage - Hide User Profiles Page
• NoDevMgrPage - Hide Device Manager Page
• NoConfigPage - Hide Hardware Profiles Page
• NoFileSysPage - Hide File System Button
• NoVirtMemPage - Hide Virtual Memory Button

Restricting the Start Menu, Explorer and the Desktop

Updated 1/30/00

There are many general restrictions you can make to the Start Menu, the Explorer and to the Desktop itself.

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_Current_User / Software / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Policies
3. There should already be at least a Explorer section there already
4. Additional keys that can be created under Policies are WinOldApp
5. You can then add DWORD values set to 1 in the appropriate keys
6. To re-enable them, either delete the key or set the value to 0

• ClearRecentDocsOnExit = Clear of Recent Documents on Exit
• NoAddPrinter = Adding new printers
• NoClose = Computer Shutdown
• NoDeletePrinter = Delete Installed Printers
• NoDesktop = Doesn't show Desktop items as well as and Desktop right-click menu
• NoDevMgrUpdate = Windows 98/ME web Update Manager
• NoDrives [hex] = Hides Drives in my computer
• NoFind = Find command
• NoInternetIcon = Internet Icon on Desktop
• NoNetHood = Network Neighborhood
• NoRecentDocsHistory = Recent Documents in Start Menu
• NoRun = Run command
• NoSaveSettings = Save Settings on exit
• NoSetFolders = Folders in Start Menu -> Settings
• NoSetTaskbar = Taskbar in Start Menu -> Settings
• NoSMMyDocs = My Documents folder in Start Menu
• NoSMMyPictures = My Pictures folder in Start Menu 
• NoWindowsUpdate = Windows web Update

Changing Office 2000's Excel Undo History

Added 1/27/00

By default, Excel has only approximately 16 undo's you can perform.

To increase that number:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Office \ 9.0 \ Excel \ Options
3. Add a dword called UndoHistory
4. Give it the value you want for the amount you want.

Changing the Title on Windows Media Player

Added 1/27/00

You can change the title bar for the Windows Media Player

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_USERS \ .DEFAULT \ Software \ Policies \ Microsoft \ WindowsMediaPlayer
3. Create a string value of TitleBar
4. Give it a value of whatever you want to appear in the title bar

Eliminating the Right Click on the Taskbar

Added 1/10/00

To eliminate the right click on the taskbar:

Start Regedit

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer
3. Add a DWORD and give it a name of NoTrayContextMenu
4. Give it a value of 1
5. Reboot 

Download reg file

Eliminating the Right Click on the Desktop

Added 1/10/00

To eliminate the right click on the desktop:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer
3. Add a DWORD and give it a name of NoViewContextMenu
4. Give it a value of 1
5. Reboot 

Download reg file

Turning Off the Help on Min, Max, Close Icons

Added 1/8/00

When the mouse goes over the minimize, maximize and close icons on the upper right hand side of a window, you normally get a display telling you want those are for.
To disable that display:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop
3. Create a String Value called MinMaxClose
4. Give it a value of 1 
5. Reboot

Download reg file

Adding Open With to the Right Click in the Explorer

Added 12/28/99

To add the option Open With when you right click on a file in the Explorer:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ CLASSES \* \ shell \ openas \ command
3. If this key isn't there then just create it
4. Give it the value of C:\WINDOWS\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1

Automatically Deleting a Registry Key

Added 12/20/99

Normally you cannot automatically delete registry keys from reg file. But there is a way...

Simply include a minus sign inside the left bracket before the main key.

For example. 
If you want to delete the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Office \ 8.0 \ Common \ Assistants, your regfile would simply look like:

REGEDIT4

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Common\Assistants]

This would delete that key and any below it.

Fixing no AutoRun for CDs

Added 11/9/99

If your CDs have stop starting automatically, and you have checked everything else:

1. Go to HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
2. The value for NoDriveTypeAutoRun should be set to 95 00 00 00

Download reg file

Renaming the File System Profiles

Added 4/20/99

In the Control Panel / System / Performance / File System, you can select either Desktop Computer, Mobile or docking system, or Network Server.
You can change these labels to something more descriptive:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / Software / Microsoft / Windows / Current Version / FS Templates
3. You can change the text that appears under each key

Sticky Menus

Added 4/20/99

Normally when you move the mouse over the Start Menu / Programs, it will automatically cascade and show the submenus.
If you want them to open only when you actually click on them:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop
3. If if it not already there, create a string called MenuShowDelay
4. Give it a value of 65534

Download reg file

Automatic Shutdown with Windows NT

Submitted 3/28/99

Most laptops allow the operating system to turn off the hardware after shutdown, instead of displaying the message telling you it's now safe to turn off your system.
You can take advantage of this capability by enabling the Power Down After Shutdown feature.

To enable this feature, simply add a REG_SZ value named HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\PowerdownAfterShutDown and set it to 1.

Next, tell NT to shut down and see if the machine turns itself off after shutting down. If it doesn't, change the value back to 0 to restore normal operation.

Download reg file

Submitted by D Puffer

Kill Hung Processes When Logging Off in Windows NT

Submitted 3/28/99

When you tell NT to shut down, it first sends shutdown requests to any running processes.
Most 32-bit applications honor these requests and shut down, but older 16-bit apps running in the Virtual DOS Machine often won't.
When this occurs, the operating system prompts you with a dialog box asking if you want to kill the task, wait for the task to die on its own, or cancel the shutdown.
By modifying the Registry, you can automate this process.

You can force NT to kill all running processes on shutdown by adding a REG_SZ value named HKEY_USER\\ControlPanel\Desktop\AutoEndTasks and set the value to 1. You can also add this value to HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT so that all new accounts will shut down the same way.

Submitted by D Puffer

NT Crash Log File

Submitted 3/28/99

In addition to the crash log file, you can also enable two other methods of crash notification and logging.

You can enable an administrative alert by changing the value of

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl\SendAlert to 1. The next time the system crashes, an administrative alert will be sent that may provide the first sign of the crash.

You can also make NT log the crash in the event log by changing the value of

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\CrashControl\LogEvent to 1 instead of its default 0. Now, the exact time of the crash will be permanently recorded.

Submitted by D Puffer

Changing the Location of Outlook Express Data Files

Added 1/16/99

Normally Outlook Express keeps its data files in the C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook Express directory.

To change this:

1. First copy those files to the new location
2. Start RegEdit
3. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Outlook Express
4. Change the Store Root key to the directory where you moved the files

Disabling the Blinking Cursor

Added 10/17/98

To stop the cursor from blinking in applications such as Word:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
3. Add a String Value
4. Name it CursorBlinkRate
5. Give it a value of -1
6. Reboot the computer

Download reg file

Re-Enabling DHCP Error Messages

Added 9/20/98

If you got a DHCP error message, selected to not see DHCP errors, and now want to see them again;

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ VxD \ DHCP
3. Change the value of PopupFlag from 00 to 01

Getting Rid of Schemes

Updated 6/7/98

1. A safer way would be is to go to the Control Panel / Display / Appearance tab
2. Go to the Scheme drop down box
3. Select the one you don't want and click on the delete button

Submitted by obs

When you right click on your desktop and pick properties your Display Properties screen appears.
Under Appearance tab / Schemes, determine if you want all those wild schemes.
If not they can be deleted and clear approximately 45K.
Before you delete them, choose or create at least 1 Scheme and "Save As" (in my case Bud 1).

1. Open Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Appearance \ Schemes
3. Highlight every String and Value on the right side and delete. DO NOT DELETE "Default"

Submitted by Bud Allen
bwil@erinet.com

Hiding Any Combination of Drives

Submitted 2/15/98

If you want to stop a drive or any combination of drives appearing in Explorer/My Computer

Add the Binary Value of 'NoDrives' in the registry at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Give it a value from a combination of the table below:

A 1 00 00 00
B 2 00 00 00
C 4 00 00 00
D 8 00 00 00
E 16 00 00 00
F 32 00 00 00
G 64 00 00 00
H 128 00 00 00
I 00 1 00 00
J 00 2 00 00
K 00 4 00 00
L 00 8 00 00
M 00 16 00 00
N 00 32 00 00
O 00 64 00 00
P 00 128 00 00
Q 00 00 1 00
R 00 00 2 00
S 00 00 4 00
T 00 00 8 00
U 00 00 16 00
V 00 00 32 00
W 00 00 64 00
X 00 00 128 00
Y 00 00 00 1
Z 00 00 00 2

Where (for eg) you want to hide Drives {C,E,J,O,R,U,Y,Z} you would give 'NoDrives' the value 14 42 12 03
Where C+E = 14, J+O = 42, R+U=12 and Y+Z = 03
Please NOTE: The Numbers are to be added in HEXadecimal ie: ABCD = 0F, not 15 All Drives Visible is 00 00 00 00 All Drives Hidden is FF FF FF 03

Submitted by Ramon Buckland

Creating a Legal Text Notice Before Logon

Added 2/15/98

You can create a banner that will come up just before you logon to the computer:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKeyLocalMachine \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ WinLogon
3. Create a new string value called LegalNoticeCaption and give it a value you want to see in the menu bar
4. Create a new string value called LegalNoticeText and give it a value you want to see in the dialog box

Now before anyone logs into that computer, this banner will come up on the screen.
This can be useful for any legal warnings you want to give regarding the use of the computer.

Removing the Hand Icon from Shared Resources

Submitted 2/11/98

When you share a local resource, Windows95 normally puts a hand in from of that resources icon.
To remove hand icon from your shared resources:

1. Start Regedit.
2. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT / Network
3. Open SharingHandler.
4. Clear it's default value
5. Restart Windows.
6. To restore set Default value "msshrui.dll".

Submitted by Guntars Revelins

Enabling the Middle Mouse Button on Logitech Mouse

To enable the middle mouse button on Logitech Mouses to act as a double-click button by only pressing it once:

1. Run Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\LOGITECH\MOUSEWARE\CURRENTVERSION\SERIALV\0000
3. Change DoubleClick to equal 001

Submitted by Jason Maruniak

Easily Opening a File with Notepad

Submitted 10/25/97

This will enable you to right click on any file and have the option to open it with notepad.
Also if a file has no association and you try to open it it will open with notepad

1. Run 'regedit.exe'
2. Expand "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT"
3. Inside "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT", expand "*"
4. Inside "*", create a key called "shell"
5. Inside "shell" create a key called "open"
6. Inside "open" edit the string "(default)" to say "open (notepad)"
7. Inside "open" create a key called "command"
8. Inside "command" edit the string "(default)" to say C:\WINDOWS\NOTEPAD.EXE "%1"

Submitted by EIBON

Displaying Hi-Color Icons without the Plus Pack

Submitted 10/19/97

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ desktop \ WindowMetrics
3. Add or edit Shell Icon BPP=16 where the number is the color depth.
4. The default is 8 (bit or 256 colors). 

Submitted by Frank Lolli

Backing Up the Registry

Submitted 9/13/97

There are many backup programs for the registry but if the computer goes down and you can't fire off Win95 because of the registry problem.

Backup to a directory the following files:

• SYSTEM.DATA
• SYSTEM.DA0 (Yes seem to be the same size)
• USER.DAT
• USER.DA0 (Same size likely)
• WIN.INI
• CONTROL.INI
• SYSTEM.INI

These files can be copied to the windows directory from Win95 or DOS to help correct problems.

Submitted by George Harper

Removing Unwanted Items from the RUN Menu

Submitted 8/23/97

1. Start the REGEDIT program
2. Search for the word RUNMRU
3. Delete the ones you don't want
4. Rename so they are all in alphabetical order again
5. Close and restart windows

Submitted by Graham Orchard

Opening a DOS Window to either the Drive or Directory in Explorer

Submitted 8/9/97

Add or Edit the following Registry Keys

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\opennew]
@="Dos Prompt in that Directory"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\opennew\command]
@="command.com /k cd %1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\opennew]
@="Dos Prompt in that Drive"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\opennew\command]
@="command.com /k cd %1"

These will allow you to right click on either the drive or the directory and the option of starting the dos prompt there will pop up

Submitted by James Doss

Compacting the Registry

Submitted 4/5/97

How to compact the registry?

1. Got to true DOS, not a DOS window
2. Run Regedit and then export the entire Registry to COMPACT.REG.
3. Then exit regedit and run it again with the following switch. REGEDIT /C COMPACT.REG

Submitted by Ian Buda

Changing Exchange's Mailbox Location

Added 3/29/97

When you create a mailbox in Exchange for e-mail, you specify the file where you want to mail to go.
You cannot change this in Exchange afterwards.

If you want to change the file name or location::

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ WindowsMessaging Subsystem \ Profiles
3. Go to the profile you want to change
4. Go to the section that has the file location for your mailbox (*.PST) file in the right hand panel
5. Make the change to file location or name
6. Restart Exchange

Removing Sound Events from Control Panel / Sounds

Added 3/16/97

When you view what events you can assign sounds to from Control Panel / Sounds,
you cannot delete the events themselves. In order to do that:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER / AppEvents / Schemes / Apps
3. From here you can delete any items you don't want to show or no longer need.

Changing the Registered Owner

Added 2/6/97

1. Starting Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion
3. From there you can edit the name in the Registered Owner key

Adding an Application to the Right Click on Every Folder

Added 1/30/97

Here is how to add any application to the menu when you right click on any Folder.
This could be useful if there is an app you always want available and don't want to go through the Start menu

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Folder \ shell
3. Add a key Name_of_Your_App
4. This can really be any label, just use one that makes sense to you
5. Give it a default value of Name_of_Your_App
6. Putting a & in front of a character will allow you to use the keyboard
7. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Folder \ shell \ Name_of_Your_App
8. Add a key command
9. Give it a default value of the application you want to run
10. For example: c:\program files\internet explorer\iexplore.exe
11. Include the full path

Now when you right click on any folder, you can have access to that application
This will work for both Windows95 and NT 4.0

Adding Explore From Here to Every Folder

Added 1/30/97

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Folder \ shell
3. Add a key rootexplore
4. Give it a default value of E&xplore From Here
5. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Folder \ shell \ rootexplore
6. Add a key command
7. Give it a default value of Explorer.exe /e,/root,/idlist,%i

Now when you right click on any folder, you can open up an Explorer window of that folder.
This will work for both Windows95 and NT 4.0

Saving Desktop Settings

Submitted 1/11/97

When I would go to Control Panel or Start Menu Programs, or any other Desktop window setting; meaning size, position, icon arrangement, they would never be as I set them. I found an answer:

At [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
There is a "NoSaveSettings" key. I deleted it and now my all my stuff stays where I tell it.
The same key shows up at:
[HKEY_USERS\bwil\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer](where bwil is your password profile) Just thought I'd share this with you all.

Submitted by Bud Allen
bwil@erinet.com

Getting Rid of Tips

Remember those "Tips of the day" that appeared when you first install Win95?
If you don't want them any longer and want to clear yet more Clutter, approximately 5K, you can delete them at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ explorer \ Tips

Submitted by Bud Allen
bwil@erinet.com

Changing the Location of Windows95's Installation Files

Added 12/18/96

If you need to change the drive and or path where Windows95 will look for it's installation files:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Setup \ SourcePath
3. Change the location from there

Creating a Network Logon Banner

Submitted 12/7/96

If you want to create a Network Logon Banner:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go To HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
3. Create a new String called LegalNoticeCaption
4. Enter the text for your banner

Submitted by Frank Tanner

Creating a Default File Opener

Added 11/29/96
If you have a un-registered file type and want to view it with Explorer's Right-click
you can add your program to the right-click options by:

1. Starting Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CLASS_ROOT / Unknown
3. Highlight the Shell Folder below it
4. Right click on Shell and create a New Key
5. Name it anything you want (For example NOTEPAD)
6. Create a New Key under that named command
7. Highlight the Command key
8. Double click on the Default value in the right hand panel
9. In Value Data, enter the path and filename of the program you want to use to open the file type
10. For example: C:\WINDOWS\NOTEPAD.EXE %1
11. Click on OK

In this example, when you right click on a file in Explorer, NOTEPAD will show up as an option.

Deleting Registry Keys from the Command Line

Added 11/3/96

With the OEM Version of Windows95, a new switch, /D, is added to Regedit.
This enables you to delete items from Registry.

The syntax is: REGEDIT /L:system.dat_location /R:user.dat_location /D Reg_Key
where Reg_Key is the key you want to delete

There are two requirements:
1. That you have to boot to the same OEM version of Windows95 as the REGEDIT.EXE file.
2. You cannot be in Win95 at the time you use this switch.

Automatic Screen Refresh

Added 10/24/96

When you make changes to your hard drive and use Explorer, the changes are not usually displayed until you press the F5 key
To make the updates automatic:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / System / CurrentControlSet / Control / UpdateMode
3. Edit the DWORD value to be between 1 and 7
4. Restart Windows

Disable Password Caching

Added 10/19/96

As in Windows for Workgroups, when logging on to an NT Domain, it is preferable to disable password caching.
This allows for the single NT Domain login and eliminates the secondary Windows logon screen.
It also eliminates the possibility of the respective passwords to get out of sync.

To disable password caching on the workstation, a one-line addition to the registry needs to be made.
To make the change, create a ASCII text file called DISABLE.REG with the following lines:

Open up a DOS box and type REGEDIT DISABLE.REG

You can also download the DISABLE.REG file.

If you need to re-enable password caching, download ENABLE.REG and repeat the process just with the different file name

Changing the MaxMTU and other Network Settings

Added 10/19/96

There are four network settings that can be configured so when dialing to an ISP, you should get somewhat greater throughput.
They are the MaxMTU, MaxMSS and DefaultRcvWindow, and DefaultTTL

MaxMTU and MaxMSS

1. Start REGEDIT
2. Go to Hkey_Local_Machine / System / CurrentControlset / Services / Class / netTrans / 000n
   (where n is your particular network adapter binding.)
3. Right click on the right panel
4. Select New / String Value
5. Type in MaxMTU
6. Double click on it and enter then the number you want. The usual change is to 576
7. Similarly, you can add MaxMSS and give it a value of 536

DefaultRcvWindows and DefaultTTL

1. Start REGEDIT
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ VxD \ MSTCP
3. Add a new string DefaultRcvWindow and give it a value of 2144
4. Add a new string DefaultTTL and give it a value of 60-64

Adding Items to the Start Button

Added 10/17/96

To add items when you right-click on the Start Button:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKey_Classes_Root / Directory / Shell
3. Right-click on Shell and select New / Key
4. Type in the name of the key and press the Enter key
5. In the Default name that shows in the right hand panel, you can add a title with a & character in front of the letter for a shortcut
6. Right-click on the key you just created and create another key under it called command
7. For the value of this command, enter the full path and program you want to execute
8. Now when you right click on the Start Button, your new program will show up. You do not need to reboot first.
9. For example, if you wanted WinWord, you would add that as the first key, the default in the right panel would be &WinWord so when you right click on the Start Button, the W would be underlined and you could just press that key. The command would be something like C:\MSOFFICE\WINWORD\WINWORD.EXE

 Removing Open, Explore & Find from Start Button

Added 9/15/96

When you right click on the Start Button, you can select Open, Explore or Find.
Open shows your Programs folder. Explore starts the Explorer and allows access to all drives.
Find allows you to search and then run programs. In certain situations you might want to disable this feature.
To remove them:

1. Start Regedit
2. Search for Directory
3. This should bring you to Hkey_Classes_Root \ Directory
4. Expand this section by clicking on the "+"
5. Under shell is Find
6. Delete Find
7. Scroll down below Directory to Folder
8. Expand this section under shell
9. Delete Explore and Open

Note: - When you remove Open, you cannot open any folders.
If you need to undo any of the changes, you can download the registry settings before the changes.

Removing Items from NEW

Added 7/27/96

When you right-click on the desktop and select New, a list of default templates you can open up are listed.
To remove items from that list:

1. Start Regedit
2. Search for the string ShellNew
3. This should bring you to HKey_Classes_Root
4. For the items you want to remove, simply rename the ShellNew command
5. Renaming is safer that deleting it
6. Continue searching for the items you want to remove
7. You do not need to reboot for the change to take effect

Changing the Telnet Scroll-Back Buffer Size

Added 7/27/96

By default, the Telnet session has a window size of 25 lines. To increase this so you can scroll back
and look at a larger number on lines:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Telnet
3. Double-click on the entry Rows in the right hand panel
4. Increase the decimal value to one that suits your needs.

Changing the Tips of the Day

Submitted 7/27/96

You can edit the Tips of the day in the Registry by going to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ explorer \ Tips

Submitted by Jayme Johnston
jayme@excalibur.net

Disabling Drives in My Computer

Added 7/24/96

To turn off the display of local or networked drives when you click on My Computer:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ Current Version \ Policies \ Explorer
3. Add a New DWORD item and name it NoDrives
4. Give it a value of 3FFFFFF
5. Now when you click on My Computer, none of your drives will show

Not Saving Setting on Exit

Added 7/21/96

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software\ Microsoft \Windows \ Current Version \ Policies \ Explorer
3. Right click on the right panel and add a New / DWORD
4. Name it NoSaveSettings
5. Give it a value of 1
6. Logoff or Reboot the computer

Download reg file

Not Displaying the Network Neighborhood

Added 7/21/96

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software\ Microsoft \Windows \ Current Version \ Policies \ Explorer
3. Right click on the right panel and add a New / DWORD
4. Name it NoNetHood
5. Give it a value of 1
6. Logoff or Reboot the computer

Download reg file

Disabling Run or Find from the Start Menu

Added 7/21/96

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software\ Microsoft \Windows \ Current Version \ Policies \ Explorer
3. Right click on the right panel and add a New / DWORD
4. Name it NoFile or NoRun
5. Give it a value of 1
6. Logoff or Reboot the computer

Download reg for no_file

Download reg for no_run

Hiding All Icons from the Desktop

Added 7/21/96

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software\ Microsoft \Windows \ Current Version \ Policies \ Explorer
3. Right click on the right panel and add a New / DWORD
4. Name it NoDesktop
5. Give it a value of 1
6. Logoff or Reboot the computer
7. Now all icons are hidden on the desktop.

Download reg file

Get Your Folders to Open the Way You Want Every Time

Submitted 7/7/96

To get your folders to open the way you want every time:

1. Set up all your folders the way you want (auto arrange, view, etc.),
2. Start RegEdit
3. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.
4. Go to NoSaveSettings
5. Modify and change Value to 1

Submitted by Dan Poplawski
dan@together.net

Modifying Default Desktop Icons

Added 7/1/96

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ explorer \ Shell Icons
3. The default icons are numbered in the right panel from 0-40
4. Double click on the number of the particular icon you want to change. See the chart below.
5. Enter the name of the icon file you want to use followed by the number of the icon in that file.
   Note: The numbering starts with zero.
6. If you use a single .ICO file, it should be followed by a 0.
7. e.g. - filename.dll,4 - This would actually be the 5th icon since it starts with 0.
8. Make sure you delete the hidden file C:\WINDOWS\SHELLICONCACHE

Below is a reference for the icons I've been able to figure out:

0 - Default Icon
1 - Default Document
2 - Application
3 - Closed Folder
4 - Open Folder
5 - 5 1/4 Drive
6 - 3 1/4 Drive
7 - Removable Drive
8 - Hard Drive
9 - Network Folder
10 - Network Offline
11 - CD
12 - RAM Drive
13 - Entire Nertwork
15 - My Computer
16 - Printer
17 - Network Neighborhood
18 - Network Workgroup
19-27 are the Start Menu icons
19 - Programs
20 - Desktop
21 - Settings
22 - Find
23 - Help
24 - Run
25 - Suspend
27 - Shutdown

28 - Share
29 - Shortcut
31 - Recycle Bin (Empty)
32 - Recycle Bin (Full)
33 - Folder, Dial-Up Networking
34 - Desktop
36 - Program Group
40 - Audio Card

In addition, you can change:

• My Computer - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
• Network Neighborhood - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ CLSID\{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
• InBox - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ CLSID\{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
• Recycle Bin - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

Clearing the Documents Menu Automatically

Added 6/2/96

The Documents Menu displays the last file and programs you used. You can clear item manually but only through editing
the Registry can you turn this off automatically. This can be useful on computers that are used by multiple people.
The same settings can be also used in NT 4.0

1. Set the properties on the Recycle Bin to delete files immediately.
2. Start Regedit
3. Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ User Shell Folders
4. Right click on the right panel
5. Select New / String Value
6. Rename it to Recent - Only if it is not already there
7. Give it the value of C:\RECYCLED
8. Set your Recycle bin to Automatically delete files
9. Log off and back on again.

Your Documents Menu should now be blank. This will be for all subsequent users who logon as well.

Disabling the Right-Click on the Start Button

Added 6/29/96

Normally, when you right button click on the Start button, it allows you to open your programs folder, the Explorer and run Find.
In situations where you don't want to allow users to be able to do this in order to secure your computer.

1. Start Regedit
2. Search for Desktop
3. This should bring you to HKey_Classes_Root \ Directory
4. Expand this section
5. Under Shell is Find
6. Delete Find
7. Move down a little in the Registry to Folder
8. Expand this section and remove Explore and Open

Now when you right click on the Start button, nothing should happen.
You can delete only those items that you need.
Note: - On Microsoft keyboards, this also disables the Window-E (for Explorer) and Window-F (for Find) keys.
See the section on Installation to see how to do this automatically during an install.

Disabling My Computer

Added 6/29/96

In areas where you are trying to restrict what users can do on the computer, it might be beneficial to disable the ability to click on My Computer and have access to the drives, control panel etc.
To disable this:

1. Start Regedit
2. Search for 20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D
3. This should bring you to the HKey_Classes_Root \ CLSID section
4. Delete the entire section.

Now when you click on My Computer, nothing will happen.
You might want to export this section to a registry file before deleting it just in case you want to enable it again..

See the section on Installation to see how to do this automatically during an install.

Changing Desktop Icons

Added 5/28/96

You can change many of the icons that are located on your desktop.

1. Start Regedit
2. Search for My Computer or 20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D
3. Expand that key
4. Highlight Default Icon
5. Double click on the Default in the right panel
6. Enter the name of the program with the icon you want to use followed by and command and then the number of the icon (starting with 0)

Some of the additional items that can be searched for are:

• Network Neighborhood - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ CLSID\{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
• InBox - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ CLSID\{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
• Recycle Bin - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

Additional icons can be found in:

• \WINDOWS\MORICONS.DLL
• \WINDOWS\SYSTEM\PIFMGR.DLL
• \WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SHELL32.DLL

Opening Explorer from My Computer

Added 5/28/96

By default, when you click on the My Computer icon, you get a display of all your drives, the Control Panel etc. If you would like to have this open the Explorer:

1. Start Regedit
2. Search for My Computer or 20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D
3. This should bring you to HKey_Classes_Root \ CLSID
4. Expand the key {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
5. Right click on Shell
6. Select New / Key and type Open and press the Enter key
7. Right click on Open
8. Select New / Key and type Command and press the Enter key
9. Double click on the Default for Command and type Explorer.exe for the value
10. Now when you click on My Computer, the Explorer will start
11. If you want to return to normal, simply delete the Open key

Fixing Corrupt Registry

Added 5/12/96

If your registry has gotten corrupted, and re-installing Windows95 over your existing version does not fix the problem,
there is a hidden, read-only, system file on the root of your boot drive called SYSTEM.1ST.
This is the initial system registry created when you first installed Windows95.

To use this file:

1. Go to your Windows directory
2. Un-Attrib your current SYSTEM.DAT file (attrib -r -s -h system.dat)
3. Copy your current SYSTEM.DAT to something like SYSTEM.BAD file (just in case)
4. Move to your root directory
5. Un-Attrib the SYSTEM.1ST file
6. Copy SYSTEM.1ST to \WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT
7. Re-start your system

You will need to install your 32-bit apps and any other programs or changes that modified your system registry
but you will not need to go through a new again. Your 16-bit apps should not need to be re-installed since they do
not modify the registry. You will also retain your current desktop configuration.

Recycle Bin Edits

Submitted 5/2/96

Fooling with the recycle bin. Why not make the icon context menu act like other icon context menu's.

Add rename to the menu:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=hex:50,01,00,20

Add delete to the menu:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=hex:60,01,00,20

Add rename and delete to the menu:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=hex:70,01,00,20

Restore the recycle bin to win 95 defaults including un-deleting the icon after deletion:
... Restore the icon.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}]
@="Recycle Bin"
... reset win 95 defaults
. [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=hex:40,01,00,20

Other edits to the recycle bin icon:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=hex:40,01,01,20 ... standard shortcut arrow
"Attributes"=hex:40,01,02,20 ... another shortcut arrow
"Attributes"=hex:40,01,04,20 ... and another shortcut arrow
"Attributes"=hex:40,01,08,20 ... make it look disabled (like it's been cut)

I added the above edits for fun. But it gets you thinking.
Note: Adding rename and delete to the context menu takes effect instantly. To restore the icon after deletion requires screen refresh (F5).
Have fun.... Tom

Setting the Minimum Password Length

Added 4/29/96

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKLM,SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Network
3. Add a new Binary Value
4. Rename it to MinPwdLen
5. Assign it a value equal to your minimum password length

Also see the Installation Section on doing this automatically during installation.

Disabling File and Print Sharing

Added 4/29/96

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKLM,SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Network
3. Add a new DWord Value
4. Rename it to NoPrintSharing or NoFileSharing
5. Assign it a value of 1

Also see the Installation Section on doing this automatically during installation.

Specifying programs to run every time Windows95 starts

Added 4/21/96

If you want to start programs every time Windows95 runs, but would like to hide them from users
by not having the listed in the Startup folder or the WIN.INI file, you can have them load through the registry.

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Run or RunOnce
3. Right click on the right panel
4. Select New / String Value
5. Type in any name
6. For the value, enter the path and executable for the program you want to run.

Removing the Shortcut Icon Arrows

Added 4/21/96

1. Open REGEDIT.EXE
2. Open the Key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
3. Open the Key LNKFILE
4. Delete the value IsShortcut
5. Open the next Key PIFFILE
6. Delete the value IsShortcut
7. Restart the Win95

Turn Off Window Animation

You can shut off the animation displayed when you minimize and maximize windows.
Added 4/21/96

1. Open Regedit
2. HKEY_CURRENT_USER
3. Control panel
4. Desktop
5. WindowMetrics
6. Right Mouse Click an empty space in the right pane.
7. Select new string value.
8. Name the new value MinAnimate.
9. Doubleclick on the new string value (MinAnimate) and click on "Modify"
10. Enter a value of 0 for Off or 1 for On then hit Enter
11. Close Regedit and all programs then reboot.

Download reg file

To speed up the Start Menu

Added 4/21/96

1. Start the REGEDIT program
2. Search for the word desktop
3. This should be in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT / CLSID / {00021400...
4. Right Click on the right panel
5. Pick NEW / String Value.
6. Name it MenuShowDelay, all one word.
7. Select a value from 1-10, 1 being the fastest.
8. Exit REGEDIT
9. Restart Windows

Changing your Modem's Initialization String

Added 4/21/96

1. Start REGEDIT
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ Class \ Modem \ 0000 \ Init
3. Change the settings to the new values

Increasing the Modem Timeout

Added 4/21/96

If your modem it timing out during file transfers or loading Web Pages,
you might try increasing the timeout period.

To change it:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / System / CurrentControlSet / Services / Class / Modem / XXXX / Settings
   Where XXXX is the number of your modem
3. Move to the right panel and double click on Inactivity Timeout
4. The number of minutes for a timeout should be entered between the brackets.
5. For example, a US Robotics Sportster could have S19=<30> to set it to 30 minutes.

Removing Programs listed from the Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs Section

Added 4/21/96

If you remove an installed program and its files by deleting the files,
it may still show up in the Add/Remove programs list through the control panel.
In order to remove it from the list (so you don't need to re-install in order to just remove it again).

1. Start the Registry Editor
2. Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Uninstall
3. Delete any programs here.

This will only delete them from the list, not delete the actual programs.
Only programs designed for Windows95 will show up here in the first place.

Mails To: khatibkhan@yahoo.com