Change Drive icons and labels

Change Drive icons and labels 

Ever got bored of the old normal icons and labels of your hard drives in your "My Computer" ?

If so, then here is a very nice registry tweak for XP and win2000 users to make "My Computer" more interesting visually.

To change Drive icon do the following:

1.  Click Start > Click Run > type “regedit” to run Registry Editor

2.  Find following:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Explorer

3.  Create a new Key within Explorer and name it “DriveIcons”

4.  Under DriveIcons create a new Key with the drive letter ( for example C ), within drive letter create a new key and name “DefaultIcon”.

5- Give the default value , the icon you want to use, for example : c:\anindya\anindya.ico

To change Drive Label:

Do step 1, 2, and 3
After step 3 do the following

Under DriveIcons create a new Key with the drive letter ( for example C ), within drive letter create a new key and name “DefaultLabel”.

Give the Default Value, the label you want. For example "Songs and Movies".

Close Registry Editor and reboot your Computer

Note: editing the registry may damage your system. Please create a restore points before any changes.

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Alpha-Numeric Arrangements for XP

Alpha-Numeric Arrangements for XP

Window XP sorts files in an ascending order which have digits in their file name. Like document ‘anindya384.doc’ listed after anindya38.doc and anindya39.doc. But if you want to arrange them like this anindya38.doc, anindya384.doc, anindya39.doc, anindya394.doc then you has to set registry, after that OS will access all characters as alphabets.

(1). Open the Registry Editor and navigate the key.

“HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer” 

(2). Create new entry “NoStrCmpLogical” using ‘Edit > New > DWORD value’.

      or you can do like this also clicking on the right pane

(3). Then open it and set the value data ‘1’ in the “Edit DWORD value” Window and click OK.

(4). Next step you know….so do it. Restart your PC to see registry set effect.

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Windows XP registry tweaks

Most settings can be done easily within Windows. However, for some setting you need to dive into the registry or use one of the many registry tweak utilities (like the Windows XP powertool TWEAKUI). On this page (and other pages), I have described some interesting registry tweaks which you can do yourself, using the registry editor.

NOTE: Be careful editing the registry. Worst case scenario: Windows won't boot anymore. If you are not sure, leave things unchanged! My advise: create a system image before making major changes!

• Speed up browsing AVI files (audio/video)

By default, opening folders containing AVI files (audio/video) can be very slow because Windows is trying to extract non important information. This can be solved, by deleting the following key:

HKCR\CLSID\{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}

• Automatically expanding folder trees

The folder view on the left in Windows Explorer automatically expands if you click on a folder containing sub-folders. You can disable this function with a registry tweak: change the DWORD-value FriendlyTree to0 (instead of 1) in the following key:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AdvancedAutomatically expanding folders will be disabled, expanding a folder is now done by double clicking the folder.

• Windows search optimization

Within Windows XP you are able to search your computer for files (Start, Search), but takes some clicking to get what you want! To optimize the search function, you have to make some registry changes. To make changes, navigate to the following key:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorerwhere you will find some important DWORD-values. Change these values to optimize your Windows search:SearchSystemDirs=1
SearchHidden=1
IncludeSubFolders=1
CaseSensitive=0
SearchSlowFiles=1 (if you have a tape drive, else: 0)

• Remove shared folders My Computer

To remove the shared folders in the My Computer view, delete the value {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee} in the following key (export to a reg-file first, to have a backup):HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\My Computer\NameSpace\DelegateFolders

• Saving Notepad settings

If you are a heavy user of Notepad, you probably like saving the Notepad settings on exit. To make sure your settings are saved, add/Change the DWORD-value fSavePageSettings=1 andfSaveWindowsPositions=1 in the following key:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Notepad

• Disable the balloon tips

Already irritated by the information balloons, covering the important buttons in the Start Menu? Start the registry editor and navigate to the following key:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
change or add the DWORD-values EnableBalloonTips and ShowInfoTip, both with value 0.

• Disable the useless Security Center warnings

If your Windows is not provided with one of the well known virus scan and/or firewall software, the Security Center will come with useless repeating reminders. The reminders can be disabled by changing the valuesAntiVirusDisableNotify and FirewallDisableNotify to the DWORD-value 1 in the following registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center

• Remove the low disk space warning

Probably you have seen the irritating 'low on disk space'-warning before, if your hard disk reaches full capacity. This warning message can be turned off by adding the DWORD-value NoLowDiskSpaceCheckswith value 1 in the following key:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MicroSoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

• Disabling wrapping icon/shortcut labels

Probably your desktop contains icons (shortcuts) with long names, which aren't shown completely (the are wrapped......). With a registry tweak you can disable the title wrapping, create a String value IconTitleWrapwith value 0 in the following registry key:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics

• Disabling the blocking of pop-ups from secured sites

By default Internet Explorer blocks the pop-ups because they are mostly used for irritating advertising purposes. For secured pages (e.g. the login to a bank account), this behavior is not wished. The URL of a secured page is preceded by HTTPS instead of HTTP. The blocking of pop-ups for these HTTPS-pages can be disabled by changing the DWORD-value Allow HTTPS to 1 in the following registry key:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\New Windows

• Command Console tweak

If you are a frequent user of the Command Console (the MS-DOS screen, Start, Run, command CMD), the following tweak will be valuable. To change folders is difficult, using the Command Console. By changing the DWORD-value CompletionChar to 9 in the following registry keyHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor
With the command CD followed with the first letters of the folder name, you are able to select the folder with the TAB-key (also works with other commands).

• Activated NUM-LOCK

To automatically switch on the NUM-LOCK, change the value InitialKeyboardIndicators to 2 in the following key:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Keyboard

• Automatically defrag system files

To defrag the system files automatically at every boot (to optimize you system), change the value Enable toY in the following registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction

• A faster Windows shutdown

Shutting down Windows can take a long time. You can speed this up (at your own risk) with the following tweaks in the registry key:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Change the following String values:AutoEndTasks=1
HungAppTimeout=4000
WaitToKillAppTimeout=4000
WaitToKillServiceTimeout=4000
(the last registry value is also present in HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control)

• Fix for shutting down your computer automatically

In most cases, automatically shutting down can be fixed by installing the motherboard drivers (if not done already). If your computer still doesn't shut down correctly, try this registry tweak. Change the valuePowerdownAfterShutdown to 1 in the following key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

• Fix for shutting down Windows slowly (or not at all)

If shutting down Windows takes a long time (or doesn't shut down at all), change the value PowerOffActiveto 1 in the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

• Finding out the reason of a Windows crash

If you would like to know the reason why there was a sudden crash of Windows, change the DWORD-valueShutdownReasonUI temporarily to 1 in the following key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReliabilityAfter a reboot you will find the reason why your Windows shuts down suddenly in the log files (Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Logfiles). If you are finished analyzing, change the valueShutdownReasonUI back to 0.

• A faster NTFS file system

You probably use the NTFS file system (see the properties of your C: partition). You can improve performance by making some changes in the following registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Filesystem
Change the following registry values, as you wish:DisableNTFSLastAccessUpdate = 1 (last file access is no longer registered).NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation = 1 (no more double filenames: long names and the old 8.3 variant (the 8.3 file notation is used for the older Windows versions).NtfsMftZoneReservation = 2 (if there are many files on a partition, the master file table (MFT) can get fragmented, with this tweak there will be no more fragmenting of the file master file table (default value = 1, range 1-4).

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Useful Registry Tweaks

Useful Registry Tweaks 

As these are Registry Tweaks...these may spoil your Operating System if not done correctly. So if you do these tweaks, you do it on your own risk. I take no responsibility whatsoever for any damage to your Operating System (If any).

Launch Regedit and go to the following Registry Key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/CurrentVersion/Policies

Under this key, there will definitely be a key named Explorer. Now under this explorer key we can create new DWORD values and modify it's value to 1 in order to impose the restriction. If you want to remove the Restriction, then you can simply delete the respective DWORD values or instead change their values to 0. The following is a list of DWORD values that can be created under the Explorer Key-:

NoDeletePrinter: Disables Deletion of already installed Printers
NoAddPrinter: Disables Addition of new Printers
NoRun : Disables or hides the Run Command
NoSetFolders: Removes Folders from the Settings option on Start Menu (Control Panel, Printers, Taskbar)
NoSetTaskbar: Removes Taskbar system folder from the Settings option on Start Menu
NoFind: Removes the Find Tool (Start >Find)
NoDrives: Hides and does not display any Drives in My Computer
NoNetHood: Hides or removes the Network Neighborhood icon from the desktop
NoDesktop: Hides all items including, file, folders and system folders from the Desktop
NoClose: Disables Shutdown and prevents the user from normally shutting down Windows.
NoSaveSettings: Means to say, 'Don't save settings on exit'
DisableRegistryTools: Disable Registry Editing Tools (If you disable this option, the Windows Registry Editor(regedit.exe) too will not work.)
NoRecentDocsHistory: Removes Recent Document system folder from the Start Menu (IE 4 and above)
ClearRecentDocsOnExit: Clears the Recent Documents system folder on Exit.
Nolnternetlcon: Removes the Internet (system folder) icon from the Desktop

Under the same key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/CurrentVersion/Policies you can create new subkeys other than the already existing Explorer key. Now create a new key and name it System. Under this new key, (System) we can create the following new DWORD values (1 for enabling the particular option and 0 for disabling the particular option):

NODispCPL: Hides Control Panel
NoDispBackgroundPage: Hides Background page.
NoDispScrsavPage: Hides Screen Saver Page
NoDispAppearancePage: Hides Appearance Page
NoDispSettingsPage: Hides Settings Page
NoSecCPL: Disables Password Control Panel
NoPwdPage: Hides Password Change Page
NoAdminPaqe: Hides Remote Administration Page
NoProfilePage: Hides User Profiles Page
NoDevMgrPage: Hides Device Manager Page
NoConfigPage: Hides Hardware Profiles Page
NoFileSysPage: Hides File System Button
NoVirtMemPage: Hides Virtual Memory Button

Similarly, if we create a new subkey named WinOldApp, we can add the following DWORD values under it(1 for enabling the particular option and 0 for disabling the particular option): Disabled: Disable MS-DOS Prompt
NoRealMode: Disable Single-Mode MS-DOS.

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XP Registry Tweak

Add your Name or Application to Right Click of My Computer

NOTE
As it is related to Windows regisrty it can be dangerous
so,Try This at ur own risk


To write your name on right click application
please follow the steps.
1.Copy/Paste the following code in Notepad And then Save it as anything.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\Registry Editor]
@="Your Name Or Name of the Application"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\Registry Editor\command]
@="Location Of The Application"

2.Now edit it and then Type your name In

Eg:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\Registry Editor]
@="ANINDYA"

3. If u want to get any application, once you click Your name or name of application
Then , Type the location Of the application Which u want to open In:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\Registry Editor\command]
@="Location Of The Application"

For eg.C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\messenger.exe
Thats It finally save it And then Run it .

------------------------------------------------------------
To add Application Shutdown

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\[Shutdown]\command]
@="shutdown -s -f -t 5"


To add Application Add/Remove

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\Add/Remove\command]
@="control appwiz.cpl"


To add Application Control Panel

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\Control Panel\command]
@="rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL"



To add Application Reboot

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\[Reboot]\command]
@="shutdown -r -f -t 5"

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