Specifying programs to run every time Windows95 starts
Automatic Shutdown with Windows NT
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.
Kill Hung Processes When Logging Off in
Windows NT
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.
NT Crash Log File
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\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.
Changing the Location of Outlook Express
Data Files
Normally Outlook Express keeps its data files in the C:\Windows\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook Express directory.
To change this:
- First copy those files to the new location
- Start RegEdit
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Outlook Express
- Change the Store Root key to the directory where you moved the
files
Disabling the Blinking Cursor
To stop the cursor from blinking in applications such as Word:
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
- Add a String Value
- Name it CursorBlinkRate
- Give it a value of -1
- Reboot the computer
Re-Enabling DHCP Error Messages
If you got a DHCP error message, selected to not see DHCP errors, and now
want to see them again;
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ VxD \
DHCP
- Change the value of PopupFlag from 00 to 01
Getting Rid of Schemes
- A safer way would be is to go to the Control Panel / Display / Appearance
tab
- Go to the Scheme drop down box
- Select the one you don't want and click on the delete button
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).
- Open Regedit
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Appearance \ Schemes
- Highlight every String and Value on the right side and delete. DO NOT
DELETE "Default"
Hiding Any Combination of Drives
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: 01 00 00 00
B: 02 00 00 00
C: 04 00 00 00
D: 08 00 00 00
E: 10 00 00 00
F: 20 00 00 00
G: 40 00 00 00
H: 80 00 00 00
I: 00 01 00 00
J: 00 02 00 00
K: 00 04 00 00
L: 00 08 00 00
M: 00 10 00 00
N: 00 20 00 00
O: 00 40 00 00
P: 00 80 00 00
Q: 00 00 01 00
R: 00 00 02 00
S: 00 00 04 00
T: 00 00 08 00
U: 00 00 10 00
V: 00 00 20 00
W: 00 00 40 00
X: 00 00 80 00
Y: 00 00 00 01
Z: 00 00 00 02
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
Creating a Legal Text Notice Before Logon
You can create a banner that will come up just before you logon to the
computer:
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKeyLocalMachine \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \
WinLogon
- Create a new string value called LegalNoticeCaption and give it a
value you want to see in the menu bar
- Create a new string value called LegalNoticeText and give it a
value you want to see in the 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
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:
- Start Regedit.
- Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT / Network
- Open SharingHandler.
- Clear it's default value
- Restart Windows.
- To restore set Default value "msshrui.dll".
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:
Run Regedit
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\LOGITECH\MOUSEWARE\CURRENTVERSION\SERIALV\0000
Change DoubleClick to equal 001
Easily Opening a File with Notepad
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
- Run 'regedit.exe'
- Expand "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT"
- Inside "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT", expand "*"
- Inside "*", create a key called "shell"
- Inside "shell" create a key called "open"
- Inside "open" edit the string "(default)" to say
"open (notepad)"
- Inside "open" create a key called "command"
- Inside "command" edit the string "(default)" to say
"C:\WINDOWS\NOTEPAD.EXE %1"
Displaying Hi-Color Icons without the Plus Pack
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ desktop \ WindowMetrics
- Add or edit Shell Icon BPP=16 where the number is the color
depth.
- The default is 8 (bit or 256 colors).
Backing Up the Registry
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.
Removing Unwanted Items from the RUN Menu
- Start the REGEDIT program
- Search for the word RUNMRU
- Delete the ones you don't want
- Rename so they are all in alphabetical order again
- Close and restart windows
Opening a DOS Window to either the Drive or
Directory in Explorer
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
Compacting the Registry
How to compact the registry?
- Got to true DOS, not a DOS window
- Run Regedit and then export the entire Registry to COMPACT.REG.
- Then exit regedit and run it again with the following switch. REGEDIT
/C COMPACT.REG
Changing Exchange's Mailbox Location
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::
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ WindowsMessaging
Subsystem \ Profiles
- Go to the profile you want to change
- Go to the section that has the file location for your mailbox (*.PST) file
in the right hand panel
- Make the change to file location or name
- Restart Exchange
Removing Sound Events from Control Panel /
Sounds
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:
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER / AppEvents / Schemes / Apps
- From here you can delete any items you don't want to show or no longer
need.
Changing the Registered Owner
- Starting Regedit
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion
- From there you can edit the name in the Registered Owner key
Adding an Application to the Right Click on Every Folder
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
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Folder \ shell
- Add a key Name_of_Your_App
- This can really be any label, just use one that makes sense to you
- Give it a default value of Name_of_Your_App
- Putting a & in front of a character will allow you to use the keyboard
- Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Folder \ shell \ Name_of_Your_App
- Add a key command
- Give it a default value of the application you want to run
- For example: c:\program files\internet explorer\iexplore.exe
- 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
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Folder \ shell
- Add a key rootexplore
- Give it a default value of E&xplore From Here
- Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Folder \ shell \ rootexplore
- Add a key command
- 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
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.
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
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:
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion
\ Setup \ SourcePath
- Change the location from there
Creating a Network Logon Banner
If you want to create a Network Logon Banner:
- Start Regedit
- Go To HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- Create a new String called LegalNoticeCaption
- Enter the text for your banner
Creating a Default File Opener
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:
- Starting Regedit
- Go to HKEY_CLASS_ROOT / Unknown
- Highlight the Shell Folder below it
- Right click on Shell and create a New Key
- Name it anything you want (For example NOTEPAD)
- Create a New Key under that named command
- Highlight the Command key
- Double click on the Default value in the right hand panel
- In Value Data, enter the path and filename of the program you want to use
to open the file type
- For example: C:\WINDOWS\NOTEPAD.EXE %1
- 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
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.
Restrictions without running Poledit
If you want to make restrictions to what users can do without having to
running Poledit,
changes can be made directly to the Registry.
This will allow you to make a REG file with the specific restrictions you
want
and importing them all at once.
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_Current_User / Software / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion
/ Policies
- There should already be at least a Explorer
- Additional keys that can be created under Policies are System,
Network and WinOldApp
- You can then add DWORD values set to 1 in the appropriate keys
- In the Explorer key you can add:
- NoDeletePrinter - Disables Deletion of Printers
- NoAddPrinter - Disables Addition of Printers
- NoRun - Disables Run Command
- NoSetFolders - Removes Folders from Settings on Start Menu
- NoSetTaskbar - Removes Taskbar from Settings on Start Menu
- NoFind - Removes the Find Command
- NoDrives - Hides Drives in My Computers
- NoNetHood - Hides the Network Neighborhood
- NoDesktop - Hides all items on the Desktop
- NoClose - Disables Shutdown
- NoSaveSettings - Don't save settings on exit
- DisableRegistryTools - Disable Registry Editing Tools - NOTE: Be
Careful of this one
- NoRecentDocsHistory - Removes Recent Document from Start Menu -
Requires IE4
- ClearRecentDocsOnExit - Clears the Recent Documents when you Exit
- NoInternetIcon - Removes the Internet Icon from the Desktop
- In the System key you can enter:
- 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
- In the Network key you can enter:
- NoNetSetupSecurityPage - H
- NoNetSetup - Disable the Network Control Panel
- NoNetSetupIDPage - Hide Identification Page
- NoNetSetupSecurityPage - Hide Access Control Page
- NoFileSharingControl - Disable File Sharing Controls
- NoPrintSharing - Disable Print Sharing Controls
- In the WinOldApp key you can enter:
- Disabled - Disable MS-DOS Prompt
- NoRealMode - Disables Single-Mode MS-DOS
Automatic Screen Refresh
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:
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / System / CurrentControlSet / Control /
UpdateMode
- Edit the DWORD value to be between 1 and 7
- Restart Windows
Disable Password Caching
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:
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Network]
"DisablePwdCaching"=dword:00000001
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
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
- Start REGEDIT
- Go to Hkey_Local_Machine / System / CurrentControlset / Services / Class /
netTrans / 000n
(where n is your particular network adapter binding.)
- Right click on the right panel
- Select New / String Value
- Type in MaxMTU
- Double click on it and enter then the number you want. The usual change is
to 576
- Similarly, you can add MaxMSS and give it a value of 536
DefaultRcvWindows and DefaultTTL
- Start REGEDIT
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ VxD
\ MSTCP
- Add a new string DefaultRcvWindow and give it a value of 2144
- Add a new string DefaultTTL and give it a value of 60-64
Adding Items to the Start Button
To add items when you right-click on the Start Button:
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKey_Classes_Root / Directory / Shell
- Right-click on Shell and select New / Key
- Type in the name of the key and press the Enter key
- 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
- Right-click on the key you just created and create another key under it
called command
- For the value of this command, enter the full path and program you want to
execute
- Now when you right click on the Start Button, your new program will show
up. You do not need to reboot first.
- 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
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:
- Start Regedit
- Search for Directory
- This should bring you to Hkey_Classes_Root \ Directory
- Expand this section by clicking on the "+"
- Under shell is Find
- Delete Find
- Scroll down below Directory to Folder
- Expand this section under shell
- Delete Explore and Open
Note: - When you remove Open, you cannot open any folders.
Removing Items from NEW
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:
- Start Regedit
- Search for the string ShellNew
- This should bring you to HKey_Classes_Root
- For the items you want to remove, simply rename the ShellNew command
- Renaming is safer that deleting it
- Continue searching for the items you want to remove
- You do not need to reboot for the change to take effect
Changing the Telnet Scroll-Back Buffer Size
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:
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Telnet
- Double-click on the entry Rows in the right hand panel
- Increase the decimal value to one that suits your needs.
Changing the Tips of the Day
You can edit the Tips of the day in the Registry by going to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ explorer
\ Tips
Disabling Drives in My Computer
To turn off the display of local or networked drives when you click on My
Computer:
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ Current Version
\ Policies \ Explorer
- Add a New DWORD item and name it NoDrives
- Give it a value of 3FFFFFF
- Now when you click on My Computer, none of your drives will show
Not Saving Setting on Exit
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software\ Microsoft \Windows \ Current Version \
Policies \ Explorer
- Right click on the right panel and add a New / DWORD
- Name it NoSaveSettings
- Give it a value of 1
- Logoff or Reboot the computer
Not Displaying the Network Neighborhood
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software\ Microsoft \Windows \ Current Version \
Policies \ Explorer
- Right click on the right panel and add a New / DWORD
- Name it NoNetHood
- Give it a value of 1
- Logoff or Reboot the computer
Disabling Run or Find from the Start Menu
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software\ Microsoft \Windows \ Current Version \
Policies \ Explorer
- Right click on the right panel and add a New / DWORD
- Name it NoFile or NoRun
- Give it a value of 1
- Logoff or Reboot the computer
Hiding All Icons from the Desktop
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software\ Microsoft \Windows \ Current Version \
Policies \ Explorer
- Right click on the right panel and add a New / DWORD
- Name it NoDesktop
- Give it a value of 1
- Logoff or Reboot the computer
- Now all icons are hidden on the desktop.
Get Your Folders to Open the Way You Want Every Time
To get your folders to open the way you want every time:
- Set up all your folders the way you want (auto arrange, view, etc.),
- Start RegEdit
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.
- Go to NoSaveSettings
- Modify and change Value to 1
Submitted by Dan Poplawski
Modifying Default Desktop Icons
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \
CurrentVersion \ explorer \ Shell Icons
- The default icons are numbered in the right panel from 0-40
- Double click on the number of the particular icon you want to change. See
the chart below.
- 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.
- If you use a single .ICO file, it should be followed by a 0.
- e.g. - filename.dll,4 - This would actually be the 5th icon since it
starts with 0.
- 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
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
- Set the properties on the Recycle Bin to delete files immediately.
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion
\ Explorer \ User Shell Folders
- Right click on the right panel
- Select New / String Value
- Rename it to Recent - Only if it is not already there
- Give it the value of C:\RECYCLED
- Set your Recycle bin to Automatically delete files
- 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
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.
- Start Regedit
- Search for Desktop
- This should bring you to HKey_Classes_Root \ Directory
- Expand this section
- Under Shell is Find
- Delete Find
- Move down a little in the Registry to Folder
- 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
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:
- Start Regedit
- Search for 20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D
- This should bring you to the HKey_Classes_Root \ CLSID section
- 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
You can change many of the icons that are located on your desktop.
- Start Regedit
- Search for My Computer or 20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D
- Expand that key
- Highlight Default Icon
- Double click on the Default in the right panel
- 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
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:
- Start Regedit
- Search for My Computer or 20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D
- This should bring you to HKey_Classes_Root \ CLSID
- Expand the key {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
- Right click on Shell
- Select New / Key and type Open and press the Enter key
- Right click on Open
- Select New / Key and type Command and press the Enter key
- Double click on the Default for Command and type Explorer.exe
for the value
- Now when you click on My Computer, the Explorer will start
- If you want to return to normal, simply delete the Open key
Fixing Corrupt Registry
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:
- Go to your Windows directory
- Un-Attrib your current SYSTEM.DAT file (attrib -r -s -h
system.dat)
- Copy your current SYSTEM.DAT to something like SYSTEM.BAD
file (just in case)
- Move to your root directory
- Un-Attrib the SYSTEM.1ST file
- Copy SYSTEM.1ST to \WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT
- 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
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.... Mihir
Setting the Minimum Password Length
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKLM,SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Network
- Add a new Binary Value
- Rename it to MinPwdLen
- 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
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKLM,SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Network
- Add a new DWord Value
- Rename it to NoPrintSharing or NoFileSharing
- 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
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.
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion
\ Run or RunOnce
- Right click on the right panel
- Select New / String Value
- Type in any name
- For the value, enter the path and executable for the program you want to
run.
If you have any additions or comments, please
