Registry mop

Labels: Customize, General, Tips, Tutorials

You control

"If you want to leave your Task Manager showing on your desktop for a period of time, it can be nice to hide the title bar and gain that space for displaying more information. To do this, simply double-click on the empty area to the right of the tabs. Once it has switched views, you can switch back quickly by double-clicking anywhere on the border."

Labels: Customize, General, Tips

I've got your number

"...the Hosts file is like an address book. When you type an address like www.yahoo.com into your browser, the Hosts file is consulted to see if you have the IP address, or "telephone number," for that site. If you do, then your computer will "call it" and the site will open. If not, your computer will ask your ISP's (internet service provider) computer for the phone number before it can "call" that site.
Most of the time, you do not have addresses in your "address book," because you have not put any there. Therefore, most of the time your computer asks for the IP address from your ISP to find sites."

"Important Notice - 2K/XP Users

In most cases a large HOSTS file (over 135 kb) tends to slow down the machine. This only occurs in W2000 and XP. Windows 98 and Windows ME are not affected.

To resolve this issue (manually) open the "Services Editor"

1. Start>Run (type) "services.msc" (no quotes)
   
2. Scroll down to "DNS Client",
   
3. Right-click and select: Properties
   
4. Click the drop-down arrow for "Startup type"
   
5. Select: Manual, click Apply/OK and restart.

Labels: Customize, General, Tips

Take your own advise

1. Go to start>Run and type in Regedit
   
   
2. Find:
   

   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Tips]
   

   
   
3. Create a new string value named by incrementing the existing value names and set it to the required tip text.
   
   
4. The Data Type is REG_SZ (String Value)
   
   
5. The Value Data: Your tip

Labels: Customize, Tips, Tricks

File location

1. From the Tools menu, click Options.
   
   
2. Select the File Locations tab.
   
   
3. Select ClipArt Pictures from the File Types list.
   
   
4. Click the Modify button.
   
   
5. Navigate to the folder you want Word to default to.
   
   
6. Click OK. OK.

1. Click on the Office logo
   
   
2. Go to Word Options>Advanced
   
   
3. Scroll down to General
   
   
4. Click the File Locations button

Labels: Customize, Tips

Smarten your machine

1. Open Windows Explorer
   
   
2. Go to Tools>Folder Options.
   
   
3. In the Folder Options dialog box, click the View tab
   
   
4. Clear the checkbox to the left of the Hide extensions for known file types option
   
   
5. Click OK to close the dialog box and return to Windows Explorer
   

Labels: Customize, Files, Tips

Just right

1. Click Start and click Run.
   
2. Type regedit and click OK.
   
3. Locate the following registry key:
   

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer. 

4. From the Edit menu, point to New, and click DWORD Value.
   
5. Type in ThumbnailSize and press Enter.
   
6. Double click the new value. Enter in a hexadecimal value between 32 and 256.
   
7. Close the registry editor.

Labels: Customize, Explorer, General, Regedit, Tips, Vista

Change your Welcome avatar

Labels: Customize, Tips

Sole user

If you are the only person using the computer, you can have it automatically log you on.

Go to Start>Run ; type in:

"control userpasswords2"

(no quotes)

Uncheck:

"Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer"

[Edited entry from 4/12/2004]




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windows

Labels: Customize, General, Tips

Adjust how it looks

1. Right Click the My Computer Icon
   
   
2. Choose Properties
   
   
3. Go to Advanced>Performance>Settings>Advanced

Let Windows choose what's best for my computer

Restore settings to Windows choice.

Adjust for best appearance

Turn on all visual effects

Adjust for best performance

Turn off all visual effects

• Fade or slide menus into view
  
• Fade or slide ToolTips into view
  
• Fade out menu items after clicking
  
• Show Shadows under menus
  
• Slide open combo boxes
  
• Slide taskbar buttons
  
• Use a background image for each folder type
  
• Use common tasks in folders

Labels: Customize, General, Vista

No more three fingers

1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
   
   
2. Value Name: DisableCAD
   
   
3. Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
   
   
4. Value Data: (0 = Require Ctrl+Alt+Delete, 1 = Disable)

Labels: Customize, Regedit, Tips

Typographic connections

" Please do not visit this disappointing web site. Most of the links are dead: they die faster than I can renew them, and there is nothing I can do about it short of giving up my daytime job and divorcing my family, and I love both of them too much for that.

Many link descriptions are boozy and fuzzy. Some opinions are simply pathetic, but I do not want to leave this world without making a fool of myself. To make up for the awful service, I am inviting any type lover visiting Montreal to my house for drinks."

Labels: Customize, Fonts, Reference

Change your company

1. Go to the Start button and open up the Control Panel
   
2. Select User Accounts and click on the account that you wish to Change
   
3. Click the "Change my name" option

1. Go to Start>Run
   
   
2. Type: regedit
   
   
3. Find:
   HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version
   
   
4. On the right pane, look for 'RegisteredOwner'
   
   
5. Right click the RegisteredOwner key to edit it
   
   
6. Right click the entry and select Modify
   
   
7. You could also change the RegisteredOrganization.

Labels: Customize, Regedit, Tips

Turn off pop-ups

Balloon pop-ups typically appear when new programs and hardware are installed, when disk space becomes limited. If you do not want balloon pop-ups to appear, you can prevent them by setting values in the registry.

1. Go to Start>Run, type Regedit
   
   
2. In the Root list, select HKEY_CURRENT_USER
   
   
3. Find Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
   
   
4. For EnableBalloonTips, the value 2 enables balloon pop-ups and the value 0 disables them.
   For Start_NotifyNewApps, the value 1 enables balloon pop-ups and the value 0 disables them.
   
   
5. Click OK

Note When EnableBalloonTips is disabled, enabling Start_NotifyNewApps has no effect.

1. Right-click the Start button
   
2. Choose Properties
   
3. Choose the tab Start Menu and then the Customize button
   
4. Select the Advanced tab
   
5. Remove the check by "Highlight newly installed programs"
   
6. Then OK your way out

Labels: Customize, Regedit, Tips

Opening notice

1. Registry Key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
   
   
2. Modify or Create the Value Name
   [LegalNoticeCaption]
   
   
3. Data Type:
   REG_SZ [String Value]
   
   
4. Value Name:
   LegalNoticeCaption
   
   
5. Value Data for LegalNoticeCaption:
   [Type the Caption for the Dialog Box]

---

1. Modify or Create the Value Name
   [LegalNoticeText]
   
   
2. Data Type:
   REG_SZ [String Value]
   
   
3. Value Name:
   LegalNoticeText
   
   
4. Value Data for LegalNoticeText:
   [Type the Data for the Legal Notice]

Labels: Customize, Regedit, Tips

Brand your own Explorer

Labels: Customize, General, IE, Tutorials

Space image wallpaper

Labels: Customize, Desktop, General

Private Character Editor

Using Private Character Editor (PCE), you can create up to 6,400 unique characters (such as special letters and logos) for use in your font library. PCE contains basic tools for creating and editing characters, along with more advanced options.

If you want to create a new private character using an existing character as your model, you can copy the existing character to the Edit grid and then modify it to suit your needs, or you can display the existing character in a Reference window alongside your Edit grid for use as a visual reference. You can use any character from any font that is installed on your computer.

The Private Character Editor is accessed at Start>Run and enter "Eudcedit" without the quotes.

After you have constructed and saved the design of your choosing, you can access it from the Character Map by selecting Start>Run "Charmap".

Drop the Font selection list down and choose All Fonts (Private Characters), then click on the character you have created, copying and pasting it into any document.

Hermann Zapf designed some of the 20th century's most important fonts, including Palatino and Optima. He also produced a collection of decorative symbols called "dingbats", modeled after the accidental lead drippings collected by old style typesetters.

Also:
Private Character Editor — Eudcedit
By Vic Laurie

Keyboard Utilities for Windows
Alan Woods




See all Topics

windows

Labels: Customize, Fonts, Tips

Logon, Logoff, Startup and Shutdown Status Messages

To turn on:

Locate and then click the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.

Type verbosestatus, and then press ENTER.

Double-click the new key that you created, type 1 in the Value data box, and then click OK.

Quit Registry Editor.

NOTE: Windows does not display status messages if the following key is present and the value is set to 1:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\DisableStatusMessages

Verbose Status Messages




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windows

Labels: Customize, General, Regedit

A fast way in

Labels: Customize, General, Tips

Finger tricks

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Accessibility Options.
   
   
2. On the Mouse tab, under MouseKeys, select the Use MouseKeys check box.
   
   
3. To turn off MouseKeys, clear the Use MouseKeys check box.

1. Press left ALT + left SHIFT + NUM LOCK.
   
   
2. In the MouseKeys message dialog box, press SPACEBAR to clear the Turn off keyboard shortcut for this accessibility feature check box.
   
   
3. Press TAB, and then press ENTER.

Labels: Customize, General, Hardware, Tips, Tutorials

MFU list

To remove items from the Most Frequently Used Programs list, right-click Remove from this list. However, when you run the program again, it may reappear on the list.

You can stop a program from appearing on the Most Frequently Used Programs list. No mater how often you use the program it will never appear on this list.

1. Click Start and select Run.
   
2. Type regedit and click OK.
   
3. Look for the registry key:
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\
   
4. Under this key are a series of sub-keys representing the installed applications.
   
5. Choose the executable you do not want to appear on the list. (for instance Excel.exe)
   
6. Click Edit, point to New, and select String Value.
   
7. Type NoStartPage for the value name.
   
8. Close the Registry Editor.
   
9. Restart the computer.

Microsoft Support:

Prevent a Program from Being Displayed in the Most Frequently Used Programs List in Windows XP

and

Start Menu (MFU) list is empty



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windows

Labels: Customize, Desktop, General, Tips, Tutorials

Pruning tips

"When you right click certain files, you'll see a selection to "open with," and when you click it, you'll see a list of programs to choose from. You can remove some of the applications from this list if you will never use them to open this type of file, or you can clear the list completely, by editing the registry.

1. Open the registry editor.
   (Start>Run Regedit will do it)
   
2. Go to the following key: HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts
   
3. Scroll down the list of file extensions to the one for which you want to edit or clear the list.
   
4. Click the + to expand OpenWithList
   
5. In the right pane, you should see a list of programs (for example, Word.exe, notepad.exe, etc.).
   
6. Click the one(s) you want to remove. Press the Delete key.

• Go to: HKEY CLASSES ROOT
  
• Scroll to the desired file extension
  
• Click OpenWithList, and remove the program there

Labels: Customize, Tips

Choose your own images

1. Open the PowerPoint presentation. If you want to save a specific slide, select it in Normal view.
   
2. On the File menu, click Save As.
   
3. Select an empty folder or create a new empty folder in which to save your presentation or slide.
   
4. In the Save as type box, click Device Independent Bitmap, and then click Save. You can keep the original presentation file name or create a new name.
   
5. Click Every Slide or Current Slide Only, and then click OK.
   
6. Your presentation or slide is saved to the folder that you selected. After you close your PowerPoint presentation, you will use Windows XP to open the presentation or slide as a screen saver.
   (Animations that you may have added to the original presentation will not play when you create the screen saver. )
   
7. Close your presentation.

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Display, or right-click an empty part of the desktop and choose Properties.
   
2. On the Screen Saver tab, click My Pictures Slideshow (Photos in Vista).
   
3. Under Screen saver, click Settings.
   
4. Under How often should pictures change?, set the slider at the interval you want between pictures, or, if you are making a single slide a screen saver, move the slider to Less (three minutes) to avoid a distracting flicker on the screen during the transitions.
   
5. Under Use pictures in this folder, browse to the folder in which you saved the presentation or slide.
   
6. If you saved a single slide, clear the Use transition effects between pictures and Allow scrolling through pictures with the keyboard check boxes.
   (screen saver transition effects in this screen saver option are predesigned and do not include the transitions that you set when you created the presentation.)
   
7. Click OK.

To preview your new screen saver, on the Screen Saver tab, click Preview

Create a screen saver from slides



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windows

Labels: Customize, General

Won't someone please!

"AJ Screensaver is a freeware clock screensaver. This screensaver is based on work of others.

Several very interesting clock shockwave flash files are packed in this screensaver."

A variety of clocks appear. The web site gives links to the original artists.

Freeware: AJScreenSaver

Anne Jan Beeks's site is part of a ring that includes:
Free Screensavers.com




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windows

Labels: Customize, General

Change display

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
   
   
2. Locate and then click the following subkey in the registry:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
   
   
3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
   
   
4. Type ShowDriveLettersFirst, and then press ENTER.
   
   
5. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
   
   
6. Type 4, and then click OK.

Key: ShowDriveLettersFirst
Type: DWORD
Value: 1, 2, or 4
If the value is 1, the drive letter is displayed first for remote drives.
If the value is 2, drive letters are not displayed.
If the value is 4, the drive letter is displayed first for all drives.

Microsoft KB:

The computer description appears before the computer name in Windows XP

"In Windows Vista, you can also use the ShowDriveLettersFirst and the ToggleCommentPosition registry entries to set the display order. However, if you set the ShowDriveLettersFirst entry only under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry key, the setting will not take effect after you change folder options. You must set the ShowDriveLettersFirst entry under both the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry key and the HKEY_CURRENT_USER registry key."

Labels: Customize, General, Tips

Plus or minus 32

Regedit.exe is the registration editor for 16-bit Windows. It is used to modify the Windows registration database.

Microsoft recommends that you use Regedit.exe only for its search capabilities on a Windows NT 4.0-based or Windows 2000-based computer.

Regedt32.exe is the configuration editor for Windows NT. It is used to modify the Windows NT configuration database, or the Windows NT registry. This editor allows you to view or modify the Windows NT registry.

The editor provides views of windows that represent sections of the registry, named hives. You must use extreme caution when you use it to change registry values.

Missing or incorrect values in the registry can make the Windows NT installation unusable.

Meryl.net:
An explanation with follow-up links.
A Tale of Two Regeds
By Meryl K. Evans

Also:
Editing the Vista Registry



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windows

Labels: Customize, General, Troubleshoot, Tutorials

Eat your heart out Dvorak

Ever wanted to quickly and easily define your own keyboard layout for a language Microsoft doesn't support? Or define your own keyboard layout so you can quickly and easily enter your favorite symbols with a simple keystroke? Well, want no more: the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator is here!

The Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator (MSKLC) extends the international functionality of Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 or Windows Vista (MSKLC will not run on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME or Windows NT4) by allowing users to:

• Create new keyboard layouts from scratch
  
• Base a new layout on an existing one
  
• Modify an existing keyboard layout and build a new layout from it
  
• Multilingual input locales within edit control fields.
  
• Package the resulting keyboard layouts for subsequent delivery and installation.

Global Development and Computing Portal:
Windows Keyboard Layouts
(many different language keyboards)

Belarusian keyboard

Labels: Customize, General, Hardware, Tutorials

Storage area

Labels: Customize, General, IE, Troubleshoot

Painless branding

"When you open the System applet (in the Control Panel), you will see some specific information listed on the General tab such as who the type of computer and the registered owner. However, you can edit the information to also have your specific information displayed. For example, if you sell computers, you can have your company information displayed to remind your customers how to access your support information.

Once you perform the steps outlined below, not only will you have your own company information listed but a support information button will also be available from the System Properties window. Users can click the button to get specific support information about your company, such as the URL they should visit to find support. So here is what you have to do:

Open Notepad and create a text file called oeminfo.ini. If you are running Windows NT/2000, save the file in the c:\WINNT\System32 directory. If you are running Windows XP, save the file in the c:\Windows\System32 directory. Add the following information to the text file you just create:

[General]
Manufacturer=Your Company Name
Model=Model of Computer
SupportURL=http://supportWeb site
LocalFile=c:\localhelpfile\file.htm

[Support Information]
Line1=support information users should know
Line2=who users should contact for support
Line3=Phone number users should call
Line4=fourth line

You can create as many lines as you need by incrementing the number for each new line required.

To take this one step further, you can even have your company logo displayed by creating a 172x172 pixel bitmap image. Name the image oemlogo.bmp and save it in your system directory. Now when you open the System properties applet, your company information should appear."

Lockergnome

Also:
Microsoft KB:
How to Alter Logo Information on the System Tool's General Tab

Amset IT Solutions Ltd.:
Branding Your Machines

BeemerWorld.com:
Branding System Properties Panel

OEM in Vista



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windows

Labels: Customize

Select checks

Add check boxes to file views to make it easier to select several files at once, which can be useful if it is difficult for you to hold the CTRL key while clicking to select multiple files.

Step 1: Go to Control Panel>Appearance and Personalization>Click Folder Options.
Step 2: Click View tab and under Advanced Settings, Select Use Check boxes to select items





Enable checkboxes in Vista

Change folder views and behavior



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windows

Labels: Customize, Files, Vista

Forgotten tricks

PC magazine has this article:
Assign Custom Icons to Windows Explorer Folders.

PC World:
Change Icon v1.2.1

Creating Icons

Also see:
The Iconolog, the art of virtual (desktop) litter.



See all Topics

windows

Labels: Customize, Desktop

More resources

Also Bob Cercelli:
Services You Can Disable

And Blackviper.com

Some possibilities are:

Alerter -

Sends alert messages to specified users that are connected to the server computer.

Clipbook -

ClipBook permits you to cut and paste text and graphics over the network.

Fast User Switching -

Windows XP allows users to switch quickly between accounts, without requiring them to log off.

IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service -

You don't need this if you have other software to create CDs.

Messenger -

Transmits net send and Alerter service messages between clients and servers. This is how a lot of pop-up windows start appearing on your desktop.

Portable Media Serial Number -

Retrieves the serial number of any portable music player connected to your computer

Uninterruptible Power Supply Service -

Manages an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) connected to the computer.

Labels: Customize, OS, Troubleshoot

Change the default

1. Go to Control Panel >Power Options
   
   
2. Select Change Plan Settings >Change Advanced Power Settings
   
   
3. Find "Power buttons and lid"
   
   
4. Change the Start menu power button to either Shut Down Sleep, or Hibernate

The Power button action

Changes the hardware power button action.

The Start menu power button

Changes the power button on the Start Menu

Labels: Customize, Tips, Vista

Let the add-ins begin

Learn how to customize the Ribbon user interface (UI) in the 2007 Microsoft Office release. Also learn how new features in Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the 2007 Microsoft Office System support RAD development of Ribbon customizations. (40 printed pages)

Labels: Customize

If you want less

Labels: Customize