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Vista Tips and Tweaks


Martin L

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One day while using Vista you think to your self that it seems to not be as fast or as snappy all of a sudden as it was when you access other drives in the machine. Not really slow, but not as snappy as it was a little while ago.

Take a look in one place first before you get all rash and think you need to d/l some other utility or something or go posting on numerous forums "Help me please". Open up explorer and right click on the drive, choose 'Properties' then click on the 'Security' tab. Take a good look at the 'Groups or User names' part of the tab. Do you see;

1. An account listed there called 'Unknown' with some long number to the right of it and there is a tiny red question mark on the little pic (the one with the two people) to the left side? (You have to look close for the red question mark)

2. Do you see the red question mark from #1 above with nothing to the right of the pic (just a blank space)?

3. Do you see the red question mark from #1 above but just see the long number to the right without the word 'Unknown'?

If you do see any of 1 - 3 above then those are not valid accounts. You have one of four most common problems that cause this, A: You got an update from windows update that did not install correctly or failed...B: You installed some software where the installer portion was not 100% compatable with Vista....C: You have some virus/trojan/or spyware that got installed....D: The Trusted Installer service hiccuped or failed in some way (you didn't turn it off did you?). Each of these may cause this problem if something goes wrong. Vista doesn't always tell you when something went wrong or wasn't compatable, it may have installed and be working fine and this is just a left over from the install that Vista thinks is still active for some reason because the installer in the application had a few issues. Item C: and D: are the least likely causes (if your anti-virus/trojan/spyware detection didn't say any thing, and if it was D: then the error should show up in Event Viewer logs.)

Leaving the invalid account in place will slow performance. You can remove these without harm. To do so, on the 'Security' tab click the 'Edit' button, then highlight the invalid account and click the 'Remove' button, then click the 'Apply' button. Vista will start applying the security settings (removing the permissions of the invalid account) on all the files on the drive, may take a little while for this to complete. This causes a decrease in performance it seems because the account is arguing with Vista over who has what rights to what and the account is really a phantom account and doesn't exist but Vista sort of recognizes the account because it thinks the failed install or the 'bad' install is still in progress. A failed Vista update is the most likely candidate. Repeat for each drive in your computer that has any of 1-3 above. Reboot the machine after you compete this and check the security tab again of each drive, if the accounts are gone your good to go, if they come back then you need to dig deeper and find out whats causing the problem, but for the most part they should stay gone - until what ever caused them occurs again.

If you see an actual valid account with the red question mark, don't delete that account as that one probably actually has a different issue that the above will not solve, but thats another post for some other day.

Edited by Spooky
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One of the things I've found very helpful to me in the past was the simple ability to print a list of a directory contents or have a file with a list of a directory contents I could email somewhere if I needed to.

I guess I should really use the word 'Folders' instead of 'Directory' but old habits die hard. Yes, there are some newer initiates to the computer world that haven't ever heard the word 'Directory' in relation to a computer file system before. I found this out yesterday on another forum when I was trying to help someone out with a problem. I used the word 'Directory' several times in relation to helping the person straighten out a bad install of an application without giving it a thought. The person posted back and said "What is a Directory?"

Anyway....Guess what windows hasn't had and still doesn't have in Vista, thats right, a simple 'Print Directory Contents' type capability. Yes, I know there are utilities that you can install that will add this for you in the form of a shell extension, and I know there are about a dozen different way to do this, but personally I like doing it this way, and besides I wanted something everyone could use with out problems and without out having to install anything.

I tried several different utilities, extensions, registry entries, all of which worked (except for a few of the extensions), and I decided that none of them, for me, were satisfactory in Vista due to various reasons, mostly having to do with the security features of Vista but also some things having to do with the .xps default file format in Vista. Anyway, back to simplicity..I decided on the below as the best and simplest choice for my little addition to the right click context menu for a folder. Use the below reg entries and you can add this too if its something your interested in.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\Directory List]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\Directory List\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,63,00,6d,00,\
64,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,20,00,2f,00,63,00,20,00,64,00,69,00,72,00,20,\
00,2f,00,73,00,20,00,22,00,25,00,31,00,22,00,20,00,3e,00,20,00,64,00,69,00,\
72,00,5f,00,6c,00,69,00,73,00,74,00,2e,00,74,00,78,00,74,00,20,00,26,00,20,\
00,6e,00,6f,00,74,00,65,00,70,00,61,00,64,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,20,00,\
64,00,69,00,72,00,5f,00,6c,00,69,00,73,00,74,00,2e,00,74,00,78,00,74,00,20,\
00,26,00,20,00,64,00,65,00,6c,00,20,00,64,00,69,00,72,00,5f,00,6c,00,69,00,\
73,00,74,00,2e,00,74,00,78,00,74,00,00,00

This adds a 'Directory List' right context menu command to any folder you right click on. The value created in the '\command' key is a REG_EXPAND_SZ value (which is why it appears in hex when you export the key). The hex values actually represent this registry command line:

%SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe /c dir /s "%1" > dir_list.txt & notepad.exe dir_list.txt & del dir_list.txt

How this works is, if you right click on any Folder in Vista, in explorer and in other places too, you will see the 'Directory List' command, click on it and two things will happen...a command prompt window will open up and a text file called 'dir_list.txt' will appear in notepad with a list of files and sub directories (and the sub directory contents also). You can save this file to somewhere or if you want to go ahead and print it. If you close the file then it's gone, nothing is left behind as this entry will also delete the file if you don't save it to somewhere before closing it. The command prompt window will stay open until you close the command prompt window its self or close the file, close the command prompt window its self does not close the .txt file, but closing the .txt file will close the command prompt window also.

(This is actually an old NT4 registry hack modified a little for Vista by using a REG_EXPAND_SZ value instead of the default REG_SZ value. Using it as a REG_SZ value causes an error in Vista on some systems. And yes, there is a way to keep the command prompt window from showing and to save the file in a certain directory automatically but i'm saving things like that as part of something for the MSFN main page Vista Tweaks and Tips section that i'll start posting some stuff in soon.)

Edited by Spooky
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Here's one for you folks that have NIC's that will handle Offloading. You can look in your NIC card settings to determine if yours can handle offloading, if you see settings for TCP items offloading then your NIC probably handles offloading. The problem is, guess what...Vista doesn't set up for TCP offloading even if your NIC can handle it. Look at the below registry entry to see what I mean;

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters]
"DisableTaskOffload"=dword:000000ff

The reg entry above represents that TCP offloading is neither on or off in Vista. This registry setting values are either 1 or 0, its a reverse logic thing here too where a 0 = On and a 1 = Off (not the normal 1 = On and 0= Off). A value of 255 (the hex ff above) means its set to neither On or Off so in effect it is not set either way, not configured, and has no effect when set to 255. Now, lets get back to your NIC for a second, if your NIC will not handle offloading then enabling this setting will not do you any good, OK - 'nuff said. This does not tell the NIC to use offloading, this tells Vista to offload to the NIC which it doesn't do a lot of times by default, so lets make our NIC's earn their keep.

This setting, in some cases, can improve the performance of TCP/IP (more specifically IPV4, even though it does seem to have an effect on the overall TCP/IP transport). If your NIC can handle it and will do better then Vista's own TCP/IP handling performance (we are not speaking about the auto-tuning here), then I'd recommend you use it. This works well with most high-end, high quality, NIC's that support offloading, but give it a try, you can always change it back.

Before making this change in the registry make sure to back the key up first!

(There are actually two parts for this change one for TCP/IP and one for IPSEC, i'm only giving the TCP/IP part here because the majority of people don't use IPSEC and will not have the proper keys in the registry for IPSEC because its not being used. Don't worry, your not missing anything by not being able to set DisableTaskOffload in IPSEC.)

Change the DisableTaskOffload setting from 255 to a 0 like shown below.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters]
"DisableTaskOffload"=dword:00000000

After you make the change then re-boot. Your done. Ensure that your NIC also has the proper offloading settings selected also, it will not do any good for Vista to offload TCP/IP to the NIC if the NIC settings are disabled or not set up properly. the settings on the NIC are the ones that tell the NIC to do the offloading after its handed off by Vista with the above reg tweak.

(Before anyone asks, this does not increase your bandwidth or your receive window. It only improves performance of TCP/IP on NIC's that will handle it)

Edited by Spooky
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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 4 weeks later...

i cant take all the credit for this (most of the credit) but i think i have a way to maximize glass so here goes. open up your aero.msstyles file with resource hacker and click on variant then click on normal then click on 1033. save the 1033 file as a binary file. now open up winhex or any other binary file program that you use and go down to line 00023c43 and find the first set of letters "ff" . simply change those to "00." You can also go to 00023c40 and on that line find the firsti instance of "ff". save your new binary file. now go back to resource hacker and go back to variant, normal, 1033 and replace the 1033 with the one you just made on winhex. place your modified msstyles file in your aero theme and bam! maximized windows with glass baby!!! i posted this on aeroxp yesterday and you can see screenshots there if u like.

always make a backup of your work before doing this... but i think you'll be pleased with the results! :

ps make sure you have already taken used rafael's patcher too! i tried this on several different aero mods and it has worked. Doesn't work on vista rc2 but on the rtm version it works like a charm. heres a download of a modded aero theme with the details pane on top in red, with maximized glassModded Aero with max glass and red details pane on top :sneaky::thumbup

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  • 1 month later...
The shortcut arrows in Vista are actually overlaid icons. You can get rid of them using a couple of different methods, one of which concerns removing, renaming, or changing the value of the more traditional 'IsShortcut' key (outlined elsewhere in the Vista Tricks and Tips section). However, there is a slight problem with changing the 'IsShortcut' key, since Vista relies heavly on links if you change this key some items that rely on links may fail to start up.

So we need another method. Using the reg entery below gets rid of the shortcut arrow overlay. Actually what this reg entry does is substitute the shortcut arrow overlay for a transparent overlay which is exactly what TweakUI from MS did in the past. So...here it is for ya...

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Shell Icons]
"29"="C:\\Windows\\System32\\shell32.dll,52"

For the correctness of it all the registry entry path should actually be shown as

"29"="%SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,52"

The 'Shell Icons' key doesn't normally exist in Vista. This reg entry creates the key, and puts the '29' REG_SZ entry in the key and gives the REG_SZ '29' a value of "C:\\Windows\\System32\\shell32.dll,52" which points it to a transparent icon (icon #52) in the shell32.dll file. This reg entry gets rid of the shortcut arrow and at the same time doesn't break our links like the 'IsShortcut' key method might do in Vista.

BTW, the above reg entry points to a 16x16 w/16 colors transparent icon in the shell32.dll file. If your running your desktop with the highest setting (32) you might need a transparent icon to match. And in case your interested that hsortvut arrow is in imageres.dll and not in shell32.dll as it once was.

For those who do not like to play with the reg this simple app does it all and works great:

http://www.frameworkx.com/content.aspx?ch=60&id=636

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Disable Web Services for Unknown File Types

I haven't found the registry keys (the one's from Win XP don't work). Here's how to do it manually:

gpedit.msc

Under both Computer Configuration and User Configuration, enable "Administrative Template\System\Internet Communication Management\Internet Communication settings\Turn off Internet File Association service"

Done.

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Seems accidentally deleting the recycle bin is common since Vista added the "Delete" in the right-click menu. I've done it too, confusing "Delete" with "Empty Recycle Bin".

Here's a way you can change the delete function to a search function to prevent accidental delete.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\shell\Delete]
@="Search"
"Description"=" Search system files"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\shell\Delete\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,77,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,69,00,72,00,25,00,5c,00,65,00,78,00,70,\
00,6c,00,6f,00,72,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\shell\Delete\ddeexec]
@="[FindFolder(\\\"%l\\\", %I)]"
"NoActivateHandler"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\shell\Delete\ddeexec\Application]
@="Folders"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\shell\Delete\ddeexec\topic]
@="AppProperties"

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Dynamically Computer Label with User Name and Computer Name

This registry tweak will dynamically update the Computer label on the desktop with the user name and computer name. For example, if John is logged on MyComp, then the label will be “John on MyComp”.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}]
@="Computer"
"LocalizedString"=hex(2):25,00,55,00,73,00,65,00,72,00,6e,00,61,00,6d,00,65,00,\
25,00,20,00,6f,00,6e,00,20,00,25,00,43,00,6f,00,6d,00,70,00,75,00,74,00,65,\
00,72,00,6e,00,61,00,6d,00,65,00,25,00,00,00

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In Vista you can change the colors of boot menu (OS selection) and/or of additional options menu (which appears after pressing F8 while booting). All you need is to edit a XSL resource in bootmgr.exe.mui or in winload.exe.mui respectively, using any resource editor. Different colors can be set for different lines and options of those menus, for fonts and backgrounds, just by combinations of 4 letters from XXXX (black) to RGBI (white), for example RXXI will be red, RGXX will be brown.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I personally like to have my address bar at the top of the screen but in Vista you cant drag it from the taskbar. This is my trick to make it appear.

First create a new folder on your desktop, then drag it to the top of your screen and let go.

now you have a toolbar at the top of your screen named "New Folder".

Next right-click on the name of the "New Folder" toolbar and select toolbars then select address bar.

after that you can right-click on the "new folder toolbar" and click "Close toolbar" then your address

bar will take over the full width of the screen. :thumbup :thumbup :thumbup

This only works on the top of the screen.

Edited by mcarfixer
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Recycle Bin link on right hand side of Start Menu (replaces Default programs)

I hate having icons on my desktop - much prefer the start bar links but for some reason theres no recycle bin one! <_<. The XP OEM link doesnt work with Vista so here's my alternative fix (tested on Home Premium)...

The Recycle_Bin_Start_Menu.reg file will replace Default programs with Recycle Bin.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E44E5D18-0652-4508-A4E2-8A090067BCB0}]
@="Recycle Bin command object for Start menu"
"LocalizedString"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,\
6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,\
00,5c,00,73,00,68,00,65,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,38,00,39,00,36,00,34,00,00,00
"InfoTip"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,73,00,68,00,65,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,\
2d,00,32,00,32,00,39,00,31,00,35,00,2c,00,2d,00,31,00,30,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E44E5D18-0652-4508-A4E2-8A090067BCB0}\DefaultIcon]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,69,00,6d,00,\
61,00,67,00,65,00,72,00,65,00,73,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,35,\
00,35,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E44E5D18-0652-4508-A4E2-8A090067BCB0}\Shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E44E5D18-0652-4508-A4E2-8A090067BCB0}\Shell\Open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E44E5D18-0652-4508-A4E2-8A090067BCB0}\Shell\Open\Command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
00,5c,00,65,00,78,00,70,00,6c,00,6f,00,72,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,\
65,00,20,00,2f,00,4e,00,2c,00,20,00,3a,00,3a,00,7b,00,36,00,34,00,35,00,46,\
00,46,00,30,00,34,00,30,00,2d,00,35,00,30,00,38,00,31,00,2d,00,31,00,30,00,\
31,00,42,00,2d,00,39,00,46,00,30,00,38,00,2d,00,30,00,30,00,41,00,41,00,30,\
00,30,00,32,00,46,00,39,00,35,00,34,00,45,00,7d,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Approved]
"{E44E5D18-0652-4508-A4E2-8A090067BCB0}"="Recycle Bin command object for Start menu"

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\StartMenu\StartPanel\ShowSetProgramAccessAndDefaults]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\StartMenu\StartPanel\ShowRecycleBin]
"Type"="checkbox"
"Text"="@shell32.dll,-8964"
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced"
"ValueName"="Start_ShowRecycleBin"
"CheckedValue"=dword:00000001
"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000000
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\StartMenu\StartPanel\ShowRecycleBin\Policy]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\StartMenu\StartPanel\ShowRecycleBin\Policy\NoRecycleBin]

The Default_Programs_Start_Menu.reg file will reset it back to normal

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\StartMenu\StartPanel\ShowRecycleBin]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E44E5D18-0652-4508-A4E2-8A090067BCB0}]
@="Default Programs command object for Start menu"
"LocalizedString"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,\
6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,\
00,5c,00,73,00,75,00,64,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,31,00,00,00
"InfoTip"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,73,00,75,00,64,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,31,00,30,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E44E5D18-0652-4508-A4E2-8A090067BCB0}\DefaultIcon]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,69,00,6d,00,\
61,00,67,00,65,00,72,00,65,00,73,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,32,\
00,34,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E44E5D18-0652-4508-A4E2-8A090067BCB0}\Shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E44E5D18-0652-4508-A4E2-8A090067BCB0}\Shell\Open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E44E5D18-0652-4508-A4E2-8A090067BCB0}\Shell\Open\Command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,63,00,6f,00,\
6e,00,74,00,72,00,6f,00,6c,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,20,00,2f,00,6e,00,61,\
00,6d,00,65,00,20,00,4d,00,69,00,63,00,72,00,6f,00,73,00,6f,00,66,00,74,00,\
2e,00,44,00,65,00,66,00,61,00,75,00,6c,00,74,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,\
00,61,00,6d,00,73,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Approved]
"{E44E5D18-0652-4508-A4E2-8A090067BCB0}"="Default Programs command object for Start menu"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\StartMenu\StartPanel\ShowSetProgramAccessAndDefaults]
"Type"="checkbox"
"Text"="@sud.dll,-1"
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced"
"ValueName"="Start_ShowSetProgramAccessAndDefaults"
"CheckedValue"=dword:00000001
"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000000
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\StartMenu\StartPanel\ShowSetProgramAccessAndDefaults\Policy]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\StartMenu\StartPanel\ShowSetProgramAccessAndDefaults\Policy\NoSMConfigurePrograms]

Unfortunately it looks like Microsoft have hard coded the tooltip - it seems to ignore the one specified in the registry. I turned off my tooltips anyway (they're pretty useless). Disable_InfoTips.reg does exactly that...

Feel free to improve on this tweak :)

Recycle_Bin_Start_Menu.reg Default_Programs_Start_Menu.reg Disable_InfoTips.reg

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Add Advanced System Properties to Computer Menu

I hate to right-click my computer, choose properties, then choose advanced system properties. The extra step in middle is annoying and also the extra window that I have to close is annoying.

I added "Advanced System Properties" to right-click on Computer so avoid this with the following registry addition:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\AdvSysProp]
@=hex(2):41,00,64,00,76,00,61,00,6e,00,63,00,65,00,64,00,20,00,53,00,79,00,73,\
00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,20,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,70,00,65,00,72,00,74,00,69,00,\
65,00,73,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\AdvSysProp\command]
@=hex(2):63,00,6f,00,6e,00,74,00,72,00,6f,00,6c,00,20,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,64,\
00,6d,00,2e,00,63,00,70,00,6c,00,00,00

Bring Back Classic Display Properties

In Windows XP, you could right-click on desktop, choose properties, and display properties would come up. All the properties were group in one as tabs. In Vista, it's been replaced by Personalization where you have to click and a new windows comes up. I like the classic XP style.

If you have XP, just rename %systemroot%\system32\desk.cpl to display.cpl to another location. Then copy display.cpl to vista's %systemroot%\system32 folder. It will add display to control panel. It works fine in Vista. Vista will ask you if the program ran correctly. Say yes.

Edited by spacesurfer
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  • 2 weeks later...

Insert "Control Panel" to "Computer" (cpn_add.reg):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\Shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\Shell\Open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\Shell\Open\Command]
@="Explorer.exe ::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"

;;

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}]
@="Control Panel"

Remove "Control Panel" from "Computer" (cpn_remove.reg):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\Shell]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\Shell\Open]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\Shell\Open\Command]

;;

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}]

cpn_add.reg

cpn_remove.reg

Edited by wiSHmaKeR
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