Windows Tips

Start Menu

• Start Menu and Explorer options
• Change the name of the Start Menu button
• Speed up the Start Menu
• Add programs to the Shell
• Add an expanding Control Panel to Start Menu

Desktop

• Make the background of desktop icons transparent (XP)
• Restore My Documents folder if deleted (98)
• Remove shortcut icon arrows
• Change My Computer's Icon
• Hide icons
• Add and Remove item types from the New menu
• Save color scheme
• Save icon positions
• Create tool tips for desktop icons

Taskbar

• Disable or customize taskbar grouping (XP)
• Restore the show desktop shortcut in the taskbar's quick launch toolbar
• Grayed out toolbar
• Put the modem status in the system tray

Windows Explorer

• Delete undeletable files (XP)
• Stop folders opening in their own windows (XP)
• Enable and disable Windows support for ZIP files (XP)
• Change the name or location of system folders
• Create a folder shortcut (XP)
• Command switches for Windows Explorer
• New command missing in Windows Explorer
• Remove entries from the context sensitive menu
• Enable and disable Windows Picture and Fax Viewer
• Open unknown files with Notepad
• Uncheck Always use this program to open these files
• Restore the ability to preview pictures (98)
• Thumbnails: Filenames, size, caching (XP)
• Restore .exe association
• Save and restore associations (98)
• Open rather than run a batch file when clicking it
• Change folders' icons
• Disable the Windows folder's warning message
• Change drive letters (XP)

Passwords

• Prevent password expiration (XP)
• Set a minimum password length (98)
• Access Windows 2000 from Windows 98 without a password
• Automatic logon without name or password (9x)
• Prevent a Windows logon prompt at startup
• Delete your screen saver password if you forgot it (98)

On & Off

• Enable or Disable Scandisk/Chkdsk on system reboot
• Warm boot (9x)
• Restart the computer from a shortcut
• Shutdown problems
• Run programs at shutdown
• Shut down programs when shutting down windows
• Invalid directory
• Change windows logo (98)

Windows Media Player

• Play DVDs
• Delete Windows Media Player 8 history and playlists

Miscellaneous

• Enable or disable Error Reporting (XP)
• Enable or disable Task Scheduler at startup (XP)
• Remove FindFast (98)
• Turn off window animation (maximize-minimize) to speed up your work
• Set Highlight and shadow of 3D-objects
• Restore the ability to display .ico files
• Add/Remove entries
• Use Windows Update without being registered
• Microsoft spy
• Change the Blue Screen of Death 's colors
• Change registered owner and organization
• Find registered owner and CD key to reinstall windows (9x)
• Include manufacturer and support details in the System Properties dialog box
• Change the number of registry backups (98)
• System File Checker
• Play or do not play your CD's automatically (AIN, Autorun, AutoPlay)
• Search the content of .cab files
• Number Lock (Numlock)
• Fix icons
• Military time
• Msdos.sys (9x)

Communication

Internet Explorer

• Macromedia Flash Player cannot be installed or does not work
• Blank pages in IE6
• Make IE the default browser
• Have IE bring up the Dial-Up Networking box when opened up
• Stop the Do you want to accept this cookie box from appearing (IE5)
• Remove the Content Advisor and Ratings password
• Change Title Bar

Dial-Up Network

• Save Dial-Up password
• Dial-Up Network log file

Miscellaneous

• Speed up access to network shares (2000-XP)
• Run more than one instance of ICQ
• Find out your IP address
• Remove Windows Messenger

Miscellaneous

Command line & DOS

• Enable the tab key to complete filenames in command line window (XP)
• Delete the recycle bin folder at DOS level
• Have DOS execute a batch file when restarting in DOS (98)

Others

• Most common BIOS backdoors
• Floppy drive rattling (98)
• Change the computer's clock to match the network's (9x, XP)

Windows: Start Menu

Values that control various Start menu and Explorer options

Change the name of the Start Menu button

Speed up the Start Menu

Add programs to the Shell

- [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell]

- Create the key MS-DOS Prompt (or whatever); Default = " DOS Command "
  (or whatever name you want to appear)

- Create the subkey command ; Default = " command.com /k cd %1 "
  (or any other program)

Add an expanding Control Panel to Start menu

- Under [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*], find the system ID of the folder you want to add.
- Right-click Start button and chose Open.
- Create a new folder with the name of the folder followed by a dot and the folder ID.

Example: Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

Control Panel:	{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Printers:	{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
Dial Up Net:	{992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48}

Windows: Desktop

Make the background of desktop icons transparent (XP)

Restore My Documents folder if deleted (98)

rundll32 mydocs.dll,RestoreMyDocsFolder

Remove shortcut icon arrows

- Go to [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PIFFILE], and delete IsShortcut

You may want to use TweakUI instead.

Change My Computer 's Icon

Windows XP: Control Panel > Display > Desktop > Customize Desktop

Hide Icons

Hide all Desktop icons (9x/XP)

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

NoDesktop (DWORD value):

- Set to 1 to hide all icons.
- Delete NoDesktop to undo.

Hide Network Neighborhood, My Network Places (9x)

- Run Poledit.exe (You may have to install it: It is on your Windows CD in
  \tools\reskit\netadmin\poledit).
- File > Open Registry > (double click) Local User > Shell > Restrictions
- Check Hide Network Neighborhood or/and My Network Places
- OK > File > Save
- Reboot.

Hide My Documents, My Computer, My Network Places, Internet Explorer (XP)

Hide My Computer (9x/XP)

Add and remove item types from the New Menu

When you right-click on your desktop, there is a New submenu that contains a list of templates. A template is visible if the related entry in the [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT] hive associated with a file extension has a sub-key called ShellNew. For example, on the New submenu there is an entry for Text Document. This entry is visible because of the key [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.txt\ShellNew].

- Create a blank document of the corresponding application,
  and put it into the Windows\ShellNew Folder.
- Go to that file type under [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT], create
  a subkey named ShellNew and create the string-valueFileName in it.
- Change this string's value to the blank document's filename.

Ex: [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.wav\ShellNew\FileName],
      and FileName's value = "sndrec.wav".

Remove Item Types

Read Add Item Types, and delete or rename the subkey named ShellNew.

Hit F5 to update the items in the New submenu.

Save color scheme

Save icon position

Create tool tips for desktop icons

Windows: Taskbar

Disable or customize taskbar grouping (XP)

- Right-click the taskbar, and select Properties.
- Uncheck Group similar taskbar buttons.

The taskbar buttons are grouped when you have three or more windows of the same program open. You can change this value:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"TaskbarGroupSize"=dword:00000003

"00000003" is the default value. Change it to what you want.

Restore the show desktop shortcut in the taskbar's quick launch toolbar

In this folder, create a text file named ShowDesktop.scf with the following content:

[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop

Grayed out toolbar

Put the modem status in the system tray

Network Connections > {Right-click your connection} > Properties > General > Show icon in notification area when connected

Dial-Up Networking > {Right click your connection} > Properties > General > Configure > Options > Display modem status.

Windows: Explorer

Delete undeletable files (XP)

First Method: Unlocker

   - Download and install Unlocker (Free - 189KB).

Second Method: Process Explorer

   - Download (Free - 77KB - Scroll down to the bottom of the page) and start Process Explorer.
   - Close Windows Explorer.
   - Select Explorer.EXE in the top pane.
   - Look for the undeletable file in the bottom pane.
   - Right-click the file, and select Close Handle.
   - Close the program, and delete the file in Windows Explorer.

   The seach feature does not work with file names, but it does with folder names.

Third Method: CMD

   - Close all open programs.
   - Open a command line window: Start > Run > CMD.
   - Kill Explorer.exe: Ctl-Alt-Del > Processes, select Explorer.EXE, then click End Process.
   - Delete the file in CMD.
   - Restart Explorer.exe: Ctl-Alt-Del > File > New Task, then type Explorer.exe, and click OK.

Stop folders opening in their own windows (XP)

Key:	HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell
Name:	Default
Type:	RG_SZ
Value:	none

Enable and disable Windows support for ZIP files (XP)

- Enable: regsvr32 zipfldr.dll

- Disable: regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll

You may have to reboot.

Change the name or location of system folders

Create a folder shortcut (XP)

-	Go to c:\Documents and Settings\{username}\NetHood
-	While holding down the mouse right botton, drag a folder and drop it into the NetHood folder. A contextual menu will appear: Select Create Shortcuts Here.
-	Drag the shortcut to the Desktop.

Command switches for Windows Explorer

/n: Opens a new window in single-paned ( My Computer ) view for each item selected, even if the new window duplicates a window that is already open.

/e: Uses Windows Explorer View. Similar to File Manager in Windows 3x. The default view is Open View.

/root, <object>: Specifies the root level of the specified view. The default is to use the normal namespace root (the desktop). Whatever is specified is the root for the display.

/select, <sub object>: Specifies the folder to receive the initial focus. If "/select" is used, the parent folder is opened and the specified object is selected.

Example: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,e:

New command missing in Windows Explorer

   - you click the File menu in Windows Explorer
   - you right-click the desktop

Go to [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\New],
and change the default value to {D969A300-E7FF-11d0-A93B-00A0C90F2719}

Remove entries from the context sensitive menu

- In the list, double click on Folder, then Advanced (No Advanced in win98)

- Select an entry from the Actions list, and press Remove.

Enable and disable Windows Picture and Fax Viewer (XP)

- Enable:  Start > Run > regsvr32 shimgvw.dll

- Disable: Start > Run > regsvr32 /u shimgvw.dll

- Enable (172 bytes)

- Disable (134 bytes)

Open unknown files with Notepad

Add Notepad to the contextual menu (right-button menu):

Create [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Open with Notepad\command], click on command, then double-click on "(Default)" in the right pane and edit the string to read notepad.exe %1

Open unknown files in Notepad when clicking on them:

- Create [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\open\command], click on command, then double-click on "(Default)" in the right pane and edit the string to read notepad.exe %1

- If Notepad still does not open unknown files when you click on them, delete the key openas (export it first)

Note: In Windows Explorer, Open With > Choose Program... will not work anymore.

Uncheck "Always use this program to open these files "

Restore the ability to preview pictures in Windows Explorer (98)

Warning: Do not use with Windows XP.

Thumbnails (XP)

Open the folder, or switch to thumbnail view, while holding down the Shift key.

By default, thumbnails are 96x96 pixels in size. You can change this value for the current user or all users. I wrote a small utility (Thumbnail Size Changer - 4KB) for those who do not like to mess with the registry.

Current user: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
All users:      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

Go to either key, select Explorer, then create a DWORD value called ThumbnailSize. Double-click it, select Decimal in the Base section, and enter a value between 32 and 256. Restart Windows Explorer.

When you switch to thumbnail view, Windows creates hidden thumbs.db files (thumbnail cache) to speed up access to the thumbnails. This is nice but these files also contain the thumbnails of deleted pictures. You can delete the files, but Windows will recreate them as soon as you go back into the folders. You can, however, tell Windows not to cache thumbnails.

- Control Panel > Folder Options
- On the View tab, check Do not cache thumbnails

You will have to delete the thumbs.db files that already exist (Use the Search feature).

Restore .exe association

- Computer will not run any program
- A message saying that a program needed to run the program pops up

- Rename regedit.exe as regedit.com
- Copy & paste the following into Notepad, save it as FixExe.reg, and double-click it to merge it into the registry:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\exefile\shell\open\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"

- Rename regedit.com as regedit.exe

Save and restore associations (98)

Open rather than run a batch file when clicking it

Change folders' icons

- Right click the folder, click Properties
- Customize > Change icon

To change the icon for a single folder:

Create a desktop.ini file -- in the folder -- that contains:

     [.ShellClassInfo]
     IconFile={name and path of the file that contains the icon}
     IconIndex=xx (xx = Zero-based icon # in file)
     InfoTip={An optional description for the folder that displays in webview}

To change all folder icons:

Explorer > View > Folder Options > File Types > File Folder > Edit > Change Icon

Disable the Windows folder's warning message

Windows Explorer: Tools > Folder Options > View > Display the contents of system folders

- Rename the hidden file c:\windows\folder.htt
- copy c:\program files\folder.htt to c:\windows\folder.htt

Change drive letters (XP)

Warning: Do not change Windows drive letter (usually C:).

Windows: Passwords

Prevent Password Expiration (XP)

If you do not want your password to expire,

- Click Start, Run, then type control userpasswords2
- Click the Advanced tab, then the Advanced button
- Left pane: Click Users
- Right pane: Right-click the username, then select Properties
- Check Password never expires on the General tab

Set a minimum password length (98)

Access Windows 2000 from Windows 98 without a password

- On the Windows 2000 machine, right-click My Computer, then click Manage

- System Tools > Local Users and Groups > Users

- In the right pane, double-click the Guest account, uncheck Account is disabled

- Make sure the password is set blank

Automatic logon without name or password (9x)

- Create the string value Default Password , under Winlogon (see key below).
- Modify the Default Password 's data to match the default users password.
   The default username is stored at:[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Network\Logon] - Username
- Reboot and the system should automatically logon.

Note: The password is stored in clear text.

Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
Value Name: Default Password
Data: REG_SZ

Prevent a Windows logon prompt at startup

- Control Panel > User Accounts > Change an account
- Do not enter a password

Control Panel > System > Network Identification > Network ID > Next > This computer is for home use... > Next > Windows always assumes the following user has logged on to this computer (enter no password) > Next > Finish

1. Do not Clear last user at logon

    - If you didn't check Clear last user at logon, go to step 2.
    - Either use TweakUI's Paranoia tab and uncheck Clear Last User at logon.
    - Or go to
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Winlogon,
      delete all the named values, except DontDisplayLastUserName,
      and set it to zero.

2. Remove password

    a) If you don't have a password, go to step 3

    b) If you don't know your current logon password

        - Delete the .pwl file from the c:\windows folder
        - Delete the equivalent entry from c:\windows\system.ini [Password Lists]

    c) If you know your current password

        - Control Panel > Passwords > Change Passwords > Change Windows Password
        - Type current password in the Old Password box
        - Leave the New Password and Confirm New Password boxes blank
        - Click OK > OK

3) User profile

    - Control Panel > Passwords > User Profile
    - Select All users of this PC use the same preferences and desktop settings
    - Click Close

4) Network

    - Control Panel > Network > Configuration
    - Ensure Microsoft Family Logon is installed and that it is the Primary Network
      (Use Client for Microsoft Networks if you're on a LAN)

5) Reboot

    - When asked for a username and password, enter a username and hit Enter
    - Hit Enter to confirm the blank password
    - You'll never be asked for your password again

Delete your screen saver password if you forgot it (98)

Windows: On & Off

Enable or Disable Scandisk/Chkdsk on system reboot

Windows XP

Start > Run > chkntfs /x <drive> [drive] [drive]

For example, if you want to disable Chkdsk from running on drive C: chkntfs /x c:

Chkntfs works by modifying the BootExcecute value in the Registry.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\
CONTROL\Session Manager
The default value is BootExecute:REG_MULTI_SZ:autocheck autochk *

Chkdsk /f /r is unaffected by chkntfs and can be run to check volumes manually on the next system reboot.

To restore the automatic execution of Chkdsk, you can download and run this registry file (168 bytes).

Start > Run > Msconfig > Advanced > Disable Scandisk after bad shutdown

Win98: If you prefer to play with the Msdos.sys file:

Add AutoScan=0 to the [Options] section.

WinME: If you prefer to play with the Registry:

Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem]
Value Name: DisableScandiskOnBoot
Data Type: REG_BINARY
Value Data: 01

Warm boot (9x)

Restart the computer from a shortcut

Shutdown Problems

- Control Panel > Power Options > APM
- Check Enable Advanced Power Management support

- Msconfig> Advanced > Disable Fast Shutdown.

- The exit windows .wav file can also cause this.

- Windows 98 SE: Article and Patch (Microsoft site)

Run programs at shutdown

@echo off
start /w c:\windows\scandskw.exe /a /n
start c:\windows\rundll32.exe c:\windows\system\shell32.dll,shexitwindowsex 1

Shut down programs when shutting down windows

Invalid directory

You can also get this message if a reference to a non-existent folder exists in the startup folder, or is referenced in the registry. Check startup with msconfig . If that reveals nothing, search the registry for the folder name and delete the entries.

Change windows logo (9x)

The startup logo file (logo.sys) goes in the root directory. If your drive is compressed, logo.sys needs to be placed on the host drive.

The shutdown logo files go in the windows directory:

- The Please Wait logo is in logow.sys
- The Shutdown logo is in logos.sys

Windows: Media Player

Play DVDs with Windows Media Player

- [KEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Player\Settings]
- Create the string value EnableDVDUI , value = yes . Reboot.

Delete Windows Media Player 8 history and playlists

In C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Application Data, you will find a file with a name such as DCBC2A71-70D8-4DAN-EHR8-E0D61DEA3FDF.ini. Delete it.

In C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Media Index, you will find a file with a DB extension. Delete it.

Windows: Miscellaneous

Enable or disable Error Reporting (XP)

Enable or disable Task Scheduler at startup (XP)

If you also want to prevent Win2000/XP from scanning shared files for scheduled tasks,
read Speed up access to network shares.

Remove FindFast (98)

1. Start > Settings > Control Panel > FindFast
2. In the Index for documents in and below list, click the first item.
3. On the Index menu, click Delete Index . In the Delete Index dialog box, click OK .
5. When you are prompted whether to delete the index, Click OK .
6. Repeat above until no more indices are listed.
7. On the Index menu, click Close and Stop . Then, click OK .
8. Do either of the following:

    - Remove the Find Fast shortcut from the Startup folder, and uncheck ffast.exe in
      start> run> msconfig> startup.
    - Run the Microsoft Office 97 Setup program in maintenance mode, and remove Find Fast.

Turn off window animation (maximize-minimize) to speed up your work

Set Highlight and shadow of 3D-objects

Restore the ability to display .ico files

- If [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\icofile] or [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\icofile\DefaultIcon] does not exist,
  cut and paste the following into a .reg file and merge it into your registry:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.ico]
@="icofile"
"Content Type"="image/x-icon"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\icofile]
@="Icon"
"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,01,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\icofile\DefaultIcon]
@="%1"

Add/Remove entries

Deleting entries will only remove the ability to uninstall items through Add/Remove Programs.

Use Windows Update without being registered

Microsoft spy

- Run (Win98) regsvr32 -u c:\windows\system\regwizc.dll
  or (Win XP) regsvr32 -u c:\windows\system32\regwizc.dll
  (To go back to the default setting, do not use -u)

- [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion]:
  Delete the string value HWID

- [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion]:
  Delete the string value MSID

Change the Blue Screen of Death 's colors

- MessageBackColor={color code}
- MessageTextColor={color code}

Colors	Dark	Light
Black	0	8
Blue	1	9
Green	2	A
Cyan	3	B
Red	4	C
Maganda	5	D
Yellow	6	E
White	7	F

Not tested with Windows XP.

Change registered owner and organization

Value Names: RegisteredOwner, RegisteredOrganization
Data Type:      REG_SZ

Find registered owner and cd key to reinstall windows (98)

- regedit/e c:\hklm.reg hkey_local_machine (Output: c:\hklm.reg)
- regedit/e c:\hku.reg hkey_users (Output: c:\hku.reg)

Include manufacturer and support details in the System Properties dialog box

oeminfo.ini

[General]
Manufacturer=Enter the Company Name Here
Model=Enter the Computer Model Name Here
[Support Information]
Line1=first line of support information
Line2=second line (Create as many lines as you need by incrementing the line number)

Open System Properties from the Control Panel , and your logo and company name will be listed. The details you entered in the Support Information section will show up when you click on the Support Information button.

Change the number of registry backups (98)

System file checker

Play or do not play your CD's automatically (AIN, Autorun, AutoPlay)

Auto Insert Notification:

- Open the Group Policy window (Start > Run > GPEDIT.MSC)
- Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System
- Double-click Turn off Autoplay (Left pane)
- Click the appropriate radio button
- Select an option in the combo box ("Turn off Autoplay on")
- Click Apply, and close the Group Policy window

Autorun:

- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Cdrom
- In the left pane, set Autorun to 0 (Disabled) or 1 (Enabled)

AutoPlay:

- Left-click the CD drive, then click Properties > AutoPlay
- Adjust the settings for the various content types

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CDRom]
Enable:  "Autorun"="1"
Disable: "Autorun"="0

You must enable both Auto Insert Notification and Autorun if you want Windows to play automatically your CD's.

Auto Insert Notification:

If you disable Auto Insert Notification,

 - Autorun will be disabled,

 - and My Computer or Explorer will not be updated when a CD is inserted or removed. You will have to press F5 to refresh it yourself.

Control Panel > System > Device Manager > Right-click the actual CDROM drive > Properties > Settings > Check or uncheck Auto Insert Notification

Autorun:

If you disable Autorun, commands in the Autorun.inf file will be ignored.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
Enable:  "NoDriveTypeAutoRun" = "95 00 00 00"
Disable: "NoDriveTypeAutoRun" = "BD 00 00 00"

You may have to reboot. If you hold down the Shift key when inserting the CD, Auto Insert Notification is temporarily disabled.

Search the content of .cab files

Use Windows Search feature to locate *.cab containing <filename.ext>

- Run sfc
- Click Extract one file from installation disk
- Specify the system file you would like to restore: <filename>
- Start Restore From box: <Path to the Win98 folder on CD>
- Save File In box: <Destination folder>
- OK > OK > OK > Yes. Reboot

Number Lock (Numlock)

   NUMLOCK=OFF (Or ON)

2. If it still doesn't work, set InitialKeyboardIndicators to 0 (OFF) or 2 (ON) in the registry:

   [HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Keyboard]
   "InitialKeyboardIndicators"="2"

   [HKEY_USERS\{Long key that doesn't end in _classes}\Control Panel\Keyboard]
   "InitialKeyboardIndicators"="2"

Fix Icons (If Windows shows the wrong icons)

- Go to C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Application Data
- Delete IconCache.db
- Reboot

- Goto c:\windows
- Delete ShellIconCache
- Reboot.

If the problem persist, increase the icon cache size,
      [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
      MaxCachedIcons=4096
then delete ShellIconCache.

Military time

Windows XP:

- Control Panel > Regional and Language Options > Customize > Time
- In Time format, replace h by H

- Control Panel > Regional Settings > Time
- In Time Style, replace h by H

Msdos.sys (9x)

Communication: Internet Explorer

Macromedia Flash Player cannot be installed or does not work

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility\
{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000}]

If you find it, delete {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000}, then close Internet Explorer and restart it.

Blank pages in Internet Explorer 6

Make Internet Explorer the default browser

Have Internet Explorer bring up the Dial-Up Networking box when opened up

Stop the Do you want to accept this cookie box from appearing (IE5)

If disabling them on all four security zones, and rebooting, does not rid you of the prompt box, search the registry for AllowCookies . Any you find with a value of 1, change to 0.

Remove the Content Advisor and Ratings password (9x, XP)

If you no longer have the password, then delete Ratings, and all the settings will be removed.

Change Internet Explorer's title bar

To remove a custom Internet Explorer Window title, delete Window Title. "Microsoft Internet Explorer" will become the default title.

Communication: Dial-Up Network

Save Dial-Up password

I do not have Network in my Windows XP registry.

Dial-Up Network log file (9x)

The log file is in :\windows\ppplog.txt.

Communication: Miscellaneous

Speed up access to network shares (2000-XP)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\RemoteComputer\NameSpace\

Delete {D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF} after exporting it, in case you want to restore it later. Or you can just rename it.

Run more than one instance of ICQ

To allow more than seven registered users, set the string value "NoUsersLimit" to "Yes". 

To allow you to launch multiple copies of ICQ, set the string value "MultiInstance" to "Yes"

Warning: ICQ may become unstable, and you probably will have to reinstall it after a couple of days.

Find out your IP address

Remove Windows Messenger (XP)

- Launch Outlook Express
- Tools > Options > Other
- Uncheck Enable instant messaging in Microsoft Outlook

- Open c:\windows\inf\sysoc.inf in Notepad and

	Change	msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7
	to	msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7

- Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs > Add/Remove Windows Components
- Uninstall MSN Messenger Service
- Reboot

Step 3: If Outlook Express loads slowly after removing MSN

- Copy and paste the following line into the Run box (Start > Run) and click OK:

RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove

- Reboot

Miscellaneous: Command line & DOS

Enable the Tab key to complete filenames in command line windows (XP)

Delete the recycle bin folder at DOS level

- Export [HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\BitBucket] when the bin is empty, and import it after deleting the directories (contains the # of files in the bin)

- Export USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\DefaultIcon]
when the bin is empty, and import it after deleting the directories (controls which icon [full/empty bin] is displayed)

Note: I used to delete the recycled directories under Windows 98. I do not know whether it works or not under Windows 2000 and XP.

Have DOS execute a batch file when restarting in DOS (98)

Miscellaneous: Others

BIOS Passwords: The most common backdoors

Floppy drive rattling (98)

• Antivirus program set to scan on boot or at a pre-determined interval
• Office FindFast
• Recent documents history: Right click the clock > Start menu programs > Clear
• Boot floppy seek enabled in the BIOS
• Control panel > System > Performance > File System > Floppy disk : Uncheck Search for new floppy disk

Change the computer's clock to match the network's (9x, XP)

Even better, put that line in your client PC's network log-on sequence, and the client will be updated with the server's system time whenever it's restarted.