Registry tricks

Display Your Quick Launch Toolbar Tip:

Is your Quick Launch toolbar missing from the taskbar?

To display your familiar Quick Launch toolbar:
Right-click an empty area on the taskbar, click Toolbars, and then click Quick
Launch.

Easy as that your Quick Launch bar appears. To add items to your Quick Launch
toolbar, click the icon for the program you want to add, and drag it to the Quick
Launch portion of the taskbar

How to remove recycle bin from your desktop Tip:

Open Regedit by going to START - RUN and type Regedit and hit enter. Then you
should navigate to following entry in registry
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\E
xplorer\
Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} and delete
it. This action should remove recycle bin from your desktop.
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How to stop new programs installed balloon from coming up tip:

Right click on START button and select properties. Click on Customize and go to
Advanced tab and deselect check box saying "Highlight newly installed
programs". This would help you stop this annoying feature from popping up
every now and then.
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Unlock Toolbars to Customize Them Tip:

The new Windows XP now features locking toolbars, and you can adjust them.
You may customize a lot of the Windows XP features such as the Taskbar, Start
Menu, and even toolbar icons in Internet Explorer and Outlook Express.
Remember your right-click:
* Right-click on a toolbar, and then click Lock the Toolbars to remove the check
mark.
* Right-click on the toolbar again, and then click Customize.

You may add or remove toolbar buttons, change text options and icon options.
When you've got the toolbar customized, click Close. Now right-click on the
toolbar and then click Lock the Toolbars to lock them in place. com

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Want to remove shared documents folder from My Computer window tip:

Some don't like my shared documents folder option. If you are one of that, here is
a trick to remove it.Open registry editor by going to START-RUN and entering
regedit.
Once in registry, navigate to key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \
Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ My Computer \ NameSpace \
DelegateFolders You must see a sub-key named {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-
5595fe6b30ee}. If you delete this key, you have effectively removed the my shared
documents folder.

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How to improve on shutdown time ? Close apps automatically & quickly at
shutdown tip:
Open Registry by going to START-RUN and typing REGEDIT. Navigate to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\CONTROL PANEL\DESKTOP and look for
AutoEndTasks. On my computer default value is 0. Change it to 1. Thats all.
Further more you can reduce the time it takes for Windows to issue kill directive
to all active/hung applications.
In doing this only constraint that you should make sure exists is that
HungAppTimeout is greater than WaitToKillAppTimeout. Change the values of
WaitToKillAppTimeout to say 3500 (since default value for HungAppTimeout
5000 and for WaitToKillAppTimeout is 20000)

Are you missing icons Tip:

Are you missing icons? You may be wondering where all the icons from your
desktop are in Windows XP? Well if you're like me, you like to have at least My
Computer, My Network Places, and My Documents on the your desktop.
You need to:
* Right-click on the desktop, and then click Properties.
* Click the Desktop tab and then click on Customize Desktop.
* Put a check mark in the box next to My Document, My Computer, My Network
Places, or Internet Explorer, to add those familiar icons to your desktop. Easy
yes!
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How to login as administrator if you don't see it available tip:

Unless and until you have run into issues and fixing XP (under which case you
have to go to Safe Mode to login as Administrator), you can get to administrator
screen by simply pressing CTRL+ALT+DELETE twice at the main screen.
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Speedup boot up sequence by defragmenting all key boot files tip:

Open Registry by going to START-RUN and typing REGEDIT. Navigate to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction
. In right hand panel look for Enable. Right click on it and set it 'Y' for enable.
This is the way I have it set on my computer. This will help speedup boot time.

Use a Shortcut to Local Area Network Connection Information:

Use a Shortcut to Local Area Network Connection Information Tip:

Here's something new in Windows XP, instead of using the command line
program and typing ipconfig to get local area network information, you can try
using the following shortcut:
* Click on Start, point to Connect to, and then click Show All Connections.
* Right–click the connection you want information about, and then click Status.
* In the connection Properties dialog box, click the Support tab.
* For more information, click on the Advanced tab.

To automatically enable the status monitor each time the connection is active, in
the connection Properties dialog box, select the Show icon in taskbar notification
area when connected check box.

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Do you know you can have Virtual Desktops (like in Linux) with PowerToys ?

If you have powertoys installed on Windows XP Its available for free at Microsoft
download webpage. It is very easy to enable Microsoft Virtual Desktop Feature.
Simply right click on the Start Panel Bar also called TaskBar, Click on Tool Bar
and select Desktop manager.
You would see a set of 5 icons placed on the right portion of the TAskBar. Click on
number 1 to 4 to go to any of the desktops. Now you have have four different
Active Desktops.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You may see a little degradation in performance.

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Customize Internet. Explorer Title bar tip:

This tip won't make your computer any faster but may help personalize your
computer experience. Open Registry by going to START-RUN and typing
REGEDIT. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet.
Explorer\Main. In right hand panel look for string "Window Title" and change its
value to whatever custom text you want to see.

Easy Text Size Change in Help & IE Tip:

I mentioned a way that you can change the size of the text that is display in the
Help file and in Internet Explorer. As it turns out if you have a "wheel mouse,"
there is an even easier way to change the text size. In Internet Explorer or when
viewing a Help file, simply hold the ctrl key while you spin the mouse wheel up to
increase text size, or down to decrease text size.
Java VM: Java applets run in Internet Explorer 6 (a component of Windows XP)
just as they run in older versions of Internet Explorer. The Java VM is not
installed as part of the typical installation, but is installed on demand when a user
encounters a page that uses a Java Applet. For more information see the
Microsoft Technologies for Java Web site.

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Windows XP Shutdown and Power Off Tip:

On some computers, by default, Windows XP doesn't power off the computer

when you tell it to shut down. However, if your computer is relatively new, it can
probably by shut completely off by WinXP. To configure your computer for this
behavior, simply open the Control Panel, open Performance and Maintenance,
then Power Options. On the APM tab, check next to "Enable Advanced Power
Management support," then click OK. The next time you choose "Shut Down"
from the Start Menu, your computer should shut down completely and then
power off.

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Customize Explorer Toolbar Tip:

In Windows Explorer, you can customize the toolbar to make Explorer even more
handy. The Toolbar is the bar of icons directly underneath the menu bar. It
contains icons for going back, up one level, displaying folders or search, etc. You
can right-click an open area of this Toolbar and choose Customize to change the
order of these icons, and even to add new icons to it. For instance, I like to add
the Map Drive and Disconnect buttons. In Windows XP, you may have to unlock
the Taskbar before you can make changes in Windows Explorer.
Lock the Taskba - If you find that your Windows XP Taskbar keeps being
changed, or moved to one side or the top of your screen, and you didn't mean to
have it do that, this tip is for you. Once you have your Task Bar arranged the way
you like it, in the right location on the screen, and with all the right toolbars and
icons, you can lock it, so that it won't get changed accidentally. To lock the
Taskbar, simply right click it and choose Properties. In the window that appears,
check the box (click) next to "Lock the Taskbar." Now you won't accidentally
bump the mouse and have your Task bar end up on another side of the screen.
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Check Personal Firewall Status Tip:

In the previous tip, I mention how to turn on Windows XP's Personal Firewall
feature. But once you turn it on, your connection looks just the same as it did
before. How can you check the status of the connection and the firewall? Simply
open Control Panel from the Start Menu, open Internet and Network
Connections, then Network Connections. By default the view is of large icons.
Click the View Menu, and choose "details" in order to reveal several more
columns of information about the connections that your computer has. Check the
Status column to see if your connection is currently connected, and whether or
not it is "firewalled." You can even drag the column headings around (I like to
slide the Status column right next to the Name column. You can even remove
entire columns by right-clicking the column heading and unchecking it.

Where does Window's Product Id get stored Tip:

There are two places at least where ProductId gets stored. To see the first place,
open Registry by going to START-RUN and entering REGEDIT and Navigate to
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion]. In right pane, look for key by the name "ProductId". This is
your Windows Product Id. Alternatively you can navigate to
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion]
and still find same field with the name ProductId.

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You can Keep Your Favorite Programs on Top of the Start Menu tip:
Do you have a favorite program that you frequently use? Elevate its priority on
the Start menu by putting it at the top of the list. This ensures that the program
will remain on the Start menu and cannot be bumped by other programs, even if
you use the others more frequently.
Right-click the link to your favorite program on the Start menu and select Pin to
Start Menu.
Your program will be moved permanently to the top part of the list, just below
your browser and e-mail programs.

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Having problems with Outlook Express ? Does it ask for password every time you
connect tip:

If this is problem for you. Sometimes no matter what you do, Outlook Express
forgets your password and asks you to enter it again each and every time you
connect to your mail server.I have a solution that may work for you. Open
Registry by going to START-RUN and entering REGEDIT and Navigate to
HKEY_CURRRENT USER\Software\Microsoft and look for "Protected Storage
System Provider". There is a good chance that you will see this folder. If you have
it. Simply delete it. More than likely, you have solved your problem.

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How to avoid auto play of CD ? Way I like best tip.

Hey this time no registry trick even though there are ways in registry to do it. In
earlier operating systems only those CD that had autorun.inf file in their root
directory were able to execute on its own but with advent of WINDOWS XP it has
become possible with just about anything. Well sometimes it is good but there are
other times when you want to avoid this part of automation. What would I do.
Simply press SHIFT key when you enter
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REGEDIT Keyboard Shortcuts

Searching

"Ctrl+F" -- Opens the Find dialog box.

"F3" -- Repeats the last search.

Browsing

"Keypad +" -- Expands the selected branch.

"Keypad -" -- Collapses the selected branch.
"Keypad *" -- Expands all the selected branch's sub keys.
"Up Arrow" -- Selects the previous key.
"Down Arrow" -- Selects the next key.
"Left Arrow" -- Collapses the selected branch if it's not collapsed; otherwise,
selects the parent key.
"Right Arrow" -- Expands the selected branch if it's not already expanded;
otherwise, selects the key's first sub key.
"Home" -- Selects My Computer.
"End" -- Selects the last key that's visible in the key pane.
"Page Up" -- Moves up one page in the key pane.
"Page Down" -- Moves down one page in the key pane.
"Tab" -- Moves between the key and value panes.
"F6" -- Moves between the key and value panes.

Others:
"Delete" -- Deletes the select branch or value.
"F1" -- Opens Regedit's Help.
"F2" -- Renames the selected key or value.
"F5" -- Refreshes the key and value panes.
"F10" -- Opens Regedit's menu bar.
"Shift+F10" -- Opens the shortcut menu for the selected key or value.
"Alt+F4" -- Closes Regedit.
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