Windows Explorer Tips and Tricks

>>> Note: Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system. before making changes to the registry, make a backup copy

>> How to increase icon cache

You can increase response time in windows explorer and give the Shell icon cache file more elbow room.

1- Click Start Menu > select Run, type "regedit" (without quotes) to run Windows Registry Editor.
2- Find and go to following address: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer
3- Create a new STRING and name Max Cached Icons, give it value of 10000
4- Close Registry Editor and reboot your computer.



>> How to create 3D Effect for Window

You can create 3D effect for your window Explorer
1- Click Start Menu > select Run, type "regedit" (without quotes) to run Windows Registry Editor.
2- Find and go to following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Colors
3- Change ButtonHiligh value to 128 128 128, and change ButtonShadow to 255 255 255
>>> ButtonHilight=128 128 128
>>> ButtonShadow=255 255 255
And finally close Registry Editor and reboot your computer

>> How to sort Favorites and Start Menus Alphabetically
You can sort Favorites and Start Menus Alphabetically ( A –Z)
1- Click Start Menu > select Run, type "regedit" (without quotes) to run Windows Registry Editor.
2- Find and go to following : HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/MenuOrder
3- Under this folder there are Favorites and Start Menu folders, just delete "Order" value key
4- Close Registry Editor and reboot your computer; your Favorites or Start Menus should now sort alphabetically

Windows Explorer Tips And Tricks #2

>>> How to run Windows Explorer in Separate Process
1- Click Start Menu > select Run, type "regedit" (without quotes) to run Windows Registry Editor.
2- Find and go to following address HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer
3- Create a new DWORD and name DesktopProcess, and give it value of 1
4- Close Registry Editor and reboot your computer


>>> How to remove items from Windows Explorer right click context
1- Click Start Menu > select Run, type "regedit" (without quotes) to run Windows Registry Editor.
2- Find and go to the following folders in the Registry and delete the sub key with the string that show the Item you want to remove
3- Close Registry Editor and reboot your computer

>>> How to remove File Menu in Windows Explorer
1- Click Start Menu > select Run, type "regedit" (without quotes) to run Windows Registry Editor
2- Find and go to to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
3- Create a new Binary Value and name it NoFileMenu, give it value of 01 00 00 00
4- Close Registry Editor and reboot your computer.


Note: Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system. before making changes to the registry, make a backup copy

ShortCuts

WinKey+Pause: show system information;
WinKey+R: shows RUN dialog Box;
Alt+DblClick on the icon:show the icon properties;
WinKey+D: Show Desktop;
WinKey+M:Minimoze all windows;

Well, this is not very useful! All must know!

I have got little problem:
Screenshot
how can i get that [file, view etc.] bar back?

This post has been edited by fcfosters: Apr 7 2006, 07:57 AM

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartMenu\StartPanel]
"Max Cached Icons"="10000"
Adding this has sped up the start menu second panel in XP SP2 (sometimes variables are reused . ;-)

WHOOPIE!!
Lovely tips.!!!!!!!!!!

Very nice tip list for win explorer! Good job!

I'll add a bit to this list

>>>Shows the contents of windows while moving them:
1. Go to the start menu, go to run, type in regedit, hit return.
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop by clicking on the masses of folders.
3. Double click the key and change the value from 0 to 1.
4. Close Registry editor and restart windows.

>>>Change icon sizes:
1. Go to the start menu. Go to run, type in regedit and hit return.
2. Find HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics. Click on WindowMetrics
3. Create a new value called Shell Icon Size. If you want a smaller icon, make the value smaller and if you want a bigger icon, make the value bigger.
4. Close Registry Editor and restart Windows.

>>>Make Notepad word-wrap:
1. Go to the start menu. In run, type in regedit and hit return.2. Find HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Notepad in the registry editor.
3. Either create a new DWORD value called fWrap or use the one that is already in the directory. Double click fWrap to change it to 1, which enables word wrapping.
4. Close Registry Editor and restart Windows.

>>>Create aliases for programs: (i.e., when you run a certain program under the name ASDF.EXE, it really runs something like NOTEPAD.EXE)
1. Go to the start menu. Go to run and type in regedit. Hit return.
2. Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths.
3. If you want to create a new alias, first create a sub-key, and call it the name of the alias you wish to create (i.e. "ASDF.EXE").
4. Change the default value of the sub-key to be the same as the normal path and filename of the application that you want loaded when this alias is asked to launch. (i.e. "c:\windows\notepad.exe").
5. Close Registry Editor and restart Windows.

>>>Allow quick reboot (Note: This only works in Windows 2000 and Windows NT)
1. Go to the start menu and click run. Type in regedit and hit return.
2. Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windo
ws NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon.
3. There should be a variable called EnableQuickReboot in there. Change the variable to 1 to enable it.
4. Close Registry Editor and restart Windows.

>>>Display hidden folders and/or files
1. Click on the start menu and select run. Type in regedit and hit return.
2. Find HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
3. Create a new value called Hidden (DWORD value) and then set it to either 1 (display hidden folders and files) or 2 (do not display hidden folders and files)
4. Close Registry Editor and restart Windows.

>>>Forced no right clicking on the desktop
1. Click on the start menu and select run. Type in regedit and hit return.
2. Find HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
3. Create a new variable called NoViewContextMenu (DWORD value) Set it to 1 for enabled and 2 for disabled.
4. Close Registry Editor and restart Windows.

>>>Change the amount of recent files showed
1. Click on the start menu and select run. Then type in regedit and hit return.
2. Find HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.
3. Create a new value called MaxRecentDocs (DWORD value) and set it to the number of recent files that you want displayed.
4. Close Registry Editor and restart Windows.

>>>Disallow users to view task manager
1. Click on start menu and select run. Type in regedit and hit return.
2. Find HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System.
3. Create a new variable called DisableTaskMgr (DWORD value) and set it to 1 to disable task manager or 0 to enable it.
4. Close Registry Editor and restart Windows.

This post has been edited by Arbitrary: Jul 7 2006, 06:12 PM

Don't like this whole idea of damages to my computer, so I might just opt out of that one, even though I would luuuurrrve to try it.

Also there are:
WinKey: Opens Start Menu (hehe)
WinKey + E: Runs Windows Explorer
WinKey + F: Opens Find Window
WinKey + U: Utility Manager (Accessibility stuff)
WinKey + L: (quick?) Logoff
WinKey + B: Focuses taskbar's toolbars and/or System Tray