1. Change the Location of System and Special
Folders (All
Windows) Windows keeps a number
of special folders such as "My Documents", "Desktop", "Favorites" and the "Start
Menu". These folders can be moved anywhere on you system and the new location
updated in this key.
Note the current location of the folder you want to move, and then using
explorer move the folder to the new location.
Edit the value in the key below for the folder you moved to reflect the new
directory location. Settings: | User Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders] |
2. Configure CoolSwitch Application
Swapping (All
Windows) CoolSwitch is a feature
available within Windows to quickly switch between tasks and programs by using
the Alt + TAB keys.
Modify the value named "CoolSwitch" and set it to "0" to disable task
switching or "1" to enable it.
To change the size of the CoolSwitch popup modify the values named
"CoolSwitchColumns" and "CoolSwitchRows".
Settings: | User Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
| Name:
CoolSwitch, CoolSwitchColumns, CoolSwitchRows | Type: REG_SZ
(String Value) | Value: (0 =
disabled, 1 = enabled)
|
3. Use Windows Update Without
Registration (Windows
98/Me/2000/XP) Windows Update is a
useful feature but to ensure your privacy you may not want to register your
personal details before being able to use it. With this tip you can bypass the
registration process.
Windows 2000 and XP [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion]
Windows 98 and
Me [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion]
Create a new string value called 'RegDone', or modify the existing value, to
equal '1'.
Check that the key
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Welcome\RegWiz]
exists, if it doesn't then create a new key. Settings: | System Key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion]
| Name:
RegDone | Type: REG_SZ
(String Value) | Value: (0 =
disabled, 1 = enabled) |
4. Change the Registered Owner and
Organization (All Windows) If you entered the
wrong registration information when you installed Windows you can change it and
other miscellaneous settings such as ProductID and ProductName.
Windows 95, 98 and
Me: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion]
Windows NT, 2000 and
XP: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]
Modify the strings values of 'RegisteredOwner' and 'RegisteredOrganization'
to equal the required owner and company names. Settings: | Name:
RegisteredOwner, RegisteredOrganization | Type: REG_SZ
(String Value)
|
5. Change the Location of Windows Installation
Files (All
Windows) Modifying the string
will change the path that the Windows setup program will look for the
installation files. Create a new String value, or modify the existing value called 'SourcePath'
using the settings below. Settings: | System Key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup]
| Name:
SourcePath
| Type: REG_SZ
(String Value | Value:
D:\WIN95 |
6. Add Your Own Tips (All
Windows)
Are you sick of seeing
the same tips again and again when you first logon to Windows? Now you can
change them to whatever you want, whether it's quotes, jokes or a to-do list,
anything is possible.
Create a new string valued named by incrementing the existing value names and
set it to the required tip text.
Settings: | System Key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Tips] | Type: REG_SZ
(String Value) | Value: Tip
Text |
7. Creating Program Aliases in
Windows (All
Windows) A hidden feature in the
Windows registry allows you to create program aliases. Allowing you to create,
for example, an alias called JBLOGGS.EXE that when executed actually runs
another program, e.g. NOTEPAD.EXE
To create a new alias create a sub-key, and call it the name of the alias you
wish to create (e.g. "JBLOGGS.EXE").
Modify the (default) value of the sub-key to equal the fully qualified path
and filename of the application you want to be launched when you execute the
alias (e.g. "c:\windows\notepad.exe").
Exit your registry and to test use the Start -> Run command type in the
name of your alias (i.e. "JBLOGGS.EXE") and the aliased program should be
launched, in this case Notepad. Settings: | System Key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths] | Name: (Default) | Type: REG_SZ
(String Value)
| Value: Filename
(e.g. c:\windows\notepad.exe) |
|