1. What exactly is the Windows 95 Registry?
  2. Windows 95 Registry Binary Value Reference List
  3. Hiding Any Combination of Drives
  4. My city isn't on the time zone map !!!
  5. Friendly "Short" Names
  6. 3-D Objects: Highlights and Shadows
  7. Reappearing values in the Registry?
  8. Adding sounds to application events
  9. Printing a directory using the Registry...
  10. Application cannot find its' Help File
  11. A tip for Multi-Boot users
  12. Icons from the actual bitmaps
  13. Control Panel Power at your fingertips!
  14. Change the Desktop's default folder
    15. Creating a Legal Text Notice Before Logon
  15. Removing the Hand Icon from Shared Resources
  16. Enabling the Middle Mouse Button on Logitech Mouse
  17. Easily Opening a File with Notepad
  18. Displaying Hi-Color Icons without the Plus Pack
  19. Backing Up the Registry
  20. Removing Unwanted Items from the RUN Menu
  21. Opening a DOS Window to either the Drive or Directory in Explorer
  22. Compacting the Registry
  23. Changing Exchange's Mailbox Location
  24. Removing Sound Events from Control Panel / Sounds
  25. Changing the Registered Owner
  26. Adding an Application to Every Folder
  27. Adding Explore From Here to Every Folder
  28. Saving Desktop Settings
  29. Getting Rid of Tips
  30. Getting Rid of Schemes
  31. Changing the Location of Windows95's Installation Files
  32. Creating a Network Logon Banner
  33. Creating a Default File Opener
  34. Deleting Registry Keys from the Command Line
  35. Restrictions without running Poledit
  36. Automatic Screen Refresh
  37. Disable Password Caching
  38. Changing the MaxMTU and other Network Settings
  39. Adding Items to the Start Button
  40. Removing Open, Explore & Find from Start Button
  41. Removing the InBox Icon and Recycle Bin Icons from the Desktop
  42. Removing Items from NEW on the Desktop
  43. Changing the Telnet Scroll-Back Buffer Size
  44. Changing the Tips of the Day
  45. Disabling Drives in My Computer
  46. Not Saving Settings on Exit
  47. Not Displaying the Network Neighborhood
  48. Disabling Run or Find from the Start Menu
  49. Hiding All Icons from the Desktop
  50. Get Your Folders to Open the Way You Want Every Time
  51. Modifying Default Desktop Icons
  52. Disabling the Right-Click on the Start Button
  53. Disabling My Computer
  54. Clearing the Documents Menu Automatically
  55. Opening Explorer from My Computer
  56. Fixing a Corrupt Registry
  57. Recycle Bin Edits
  58. Not Displaying the Last User Logged on
  59. Setting the Minimum Password Length
  60. Disabling File and Print Sharing
  61. Removing the Shortcut Arrows
  62. Turn Off Window Animation
  63. To speed up the Start Menu
  64. Changing your Modem's Initialization String
  65. Increasing the Modem Timeout
  66. Removing Programs listed from the Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs Section
  67. Specifying programs to run every time Windows95 starts

Hiding Any Combination of Drives

If you want to stop a drive or any combination of drives appearing in Explorer/My Computer

Add the Binary Value of 'NoDrives' in the registry at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Give it a value from a combination of the table below:

A: 01 00 00 00
B: 02 00 00 00
C: 04 00 00 00
D: 08 00 00 00
E: 10 00 00 00
F: 20 00 00 00
G: 40 00 00 00
H: 80 00 00 00
I: 00 01 00 00
J: 00 02 00 00
K: 00 04 00 00
L: 00 08 00 00
M: 00 10 00 00
N: 00 20 00 00
O: 00 40 00 00
P: 00 80 00 00
Q: 00 00 01 00
R: 00 00 02 00
S: 00 00 04 00
T: 00 00 08 00
U: 00 00 10 00
V: 00 00 20 00
W: 00 00 40 00
X: 00 00 80 00
Y: 00 00 00 01
Z: 00 00 00 02
Where (for eg) you want to hide Drives {C,E,J,O,R,U,Y,Z} you would give 'NoDrives' the value 14 42 12 03
Where C+E = 14, J+O = 42, R+U=12 and Y+Z = 03
Please NOTE: The Numbers are to be added in HEXadecimal ie: ABCD = 0F, not 15 All Drives Visible is 00 00 00 00 All Drives Hidden is FF FF FF 03

Submitted by Ramon Buckland

Creating a Legal Text Notice Before Logon

You can create a banner that will come up just before you logon to the computer:
  1. Start Regedit
  2. Go to HKeyLocalMachine \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ WinLogon
  3. Create a new string value called LegalNoticeCaption and give it a value you want to see in the menu bar
  4. Create a new string value called LegalNoticeText and give it a value you want to see in the in the dialog box
Now before anyone logs into that computer, this banner will come up on the screen.
This can be useful for any legal warnings you want to give regarding the use of the computer.

Removing the Hand Icon from Shared Resources

When you share a local resource, Windows95 normally puts a hand in from of that resources icon.
To remove hand icon from your shared resources:
  1. Start Regedit.
  2. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT / Network
  3. Open SharingHandler.
  4. Clear it's default value
  5. Restart Windows.
  6. To restore set Default value "msshrui.dll".
Submitted by Guntars Revelins

Enabling the Middle Mouse Button on Logitech Mouse

To enable the middle mouse button on Logitech Mouses to act as a double-click button by only pressing it once:

Run Regedit

Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\LOGITECH\MOUSEWARE\CURRENTVERSION\SERIALV\0000

Change DoubleClick to equal 001

Submitted by Jason Maruniak

Easily Opening a File with Notepad

This will enable you to right click on any file and have the option to open it with notepad.
Also if a file has no association and you try to open it it will open with notepad
  1. Run 'regedit.exe'
  2. Expand "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT"
  3. Inside "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT", expand "*"
  4. Inside "*", create a key called "shell"
  5. Inside "shell" create a key called "open"
  6. Inside "open" edit the string "(default)" to say "open (notepad)"
  7. Inside "open" create a key called "command"
  8. Inside "command" edit the string "(default)" to say "C:\WINDOWS\NOTEPAD.EXE %1"
Submitted by EIBON

Displaying Hi-Color Icons without the Plus Pack

  1. Start Regedit
  2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ desktop \ WindowMetrics
  3. Add or edit Shell Icon BPP=16 where the number is the color depth.
  4. The default is 8 (bit or 256 colors).
Submitted by Frank Lolli

Backing Up the Registry

There are many backup programs for the registry but if the computer goes down and you can't fire off Win95 because of the registry problem.

Backup to a directory the following files:

These files can be copied to the windows directory from Win95 or DOS to help correct problems.

Submitted by George Harper

Removing Unwanted Items from the RUN Menu

  1. Start the REGEDIT program
  2. Search for the word RUNMRU
  3. Delete the ones you don't want
  4. Rename so they are all in alphabetical order again
  5. Close and restart windows
Submitted by Graham Orchard

Opening a DOS Window to either the Drive or Directory in Explorer

Add or Edit the following Registry Keys

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\opennew]
@="Dos Prompt in that Directory"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\opennew\command]
@="command.com /k cd %1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\opennew]
@="Dos Prompt in that Drive"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\opennew\command]
@="command.com /k cd %1"

These will allow you to right click on either the drive or the directory and the option of starting the dos prompt there will pop up

Submitted by James Doss

Compacting the Registry

How to compact the registry?
  1. Got to true DOS, not a DOS window
  2. Run Regedit and then export the entire Registry to COMPACT.REG.
  3. Then exit regedit and run it again with the following switch. REGEDIT /C COMPACT.REG
Submitted by Ian Buda

Changing Exchange's Mailbox Location

When you create a mailbox in Exchange for e-mail, you specify the file where you want to mail to go.
You cannot change this in Exchange afterwards.

If you want to change the file name or location::

  1. Start Regedit
  2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ WindowsMessaging Subsystem \ Profiles
  3. Go to the profile you want to change
  4. Go to the section that has the file location for your mailbox (*.PST) file in the right hand panel
  5. Make the change to file location or name
  6. Restart Exchange

Removing Sound Events from Control Panel / Sounds

When you view what events you can assign sounds to from Control Panel / Sounds,
you cannot delete the events themselves. In order to do that:
  1. Start Regedit
  2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER / AppEvents / Schemes / Apps
  3. From here you can delete any items you don't want to show or no longer need.

Changing the Registered Owner

  1. Starting Regedit
  2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion
  3. From there you can edit the name in the Registered Owner key

Adding an Application to the Right Click on Every Folder

Here is how to add any application to the menu when you right click on any Folder.
This could be useful if there is an app you always want available and don't want to go through the Start menu
  1. Start Regedit
  2. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Folder \ shell
  3. Add a key Name_of_Your_App
  4. This can really be any label, just use one that makes sense to you
  5. Give it a default value of Name_of_Your_App
  6. Putting a & in front of a character will allow you to use the keyboard
  7. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Folder \ shell \ Name_of_Your_App
  8. Add a key command
  9. Give it a default value of the application you want to run
  10. For example: c:\program files\internet explorer\iexplore.exe
  11. Include the full path
Now when you right click on any folder, you can have access to that application
This will work for both Windows95 and NT 4.0

Adding Explore From Here to Every Folder

  1. Start Regedit
  2. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Folder \ shell
  3. Add a key rootexplore
  4. Give it a default value of E&xplore From Here
  5. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Folder \ shell \ rootexplore
  6. Add a key command
  7. Give it a default value of Explorer.exe /e,/root,/idlist,%i
Now when you right click on any folder, you can open up an Explorer window of that folder.
This will work for both Windows95 and NT 4.0

Saving Desktop Settings

When I would go to Control Panel or Start Menu Programs, or any other Desktop window setting; meaning size, position, icon
arrangement, they would never be as I set them.
I FOUND AN ANSWER: At [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
There is a "NoSaveSettings" key. I deleted it and now my all my stuff stays where I tell it.
The same key shows up at:
[HKEY_USERS\bwil\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer](where bwil is your password profile) Just thought I'd share this with you all.

Submitted by Bud Allen
bwil@erinet.com

Getting Rid of Tips

Remember those "Tips of the day" that appeared when you first install Win95?
If you don't want them any longer and want to clear yet more Clutter, approximately 5K, you can delete them at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ explorer \ Tips

Submitted by Bud Allen
bwil@erinet.com

Getting Rid of Schemes

When you right click on your desktop and pick properties your Display Properties screen appears.
Under Appearance tab / Schemes, determine if you want all those wild schemes.
If not they can be deleted and clear approximately 45K.
Before you delete them, choose or create at least 1 Scheme and "Save As" (in my case Bud 1).
  1. Open Regedit
  2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Appearance \ Schemes
  3. Highlight every String and Value on the right side and delete. DO NOT DELETE "Default"
Submitted by Bud Allen
bwil@erinet.com

Changing the Location of Windows95's Installation Files

If you need to change the drive and or path where Windows95 will look for it's installation files:
  1. Start Regedit
  2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Setup \ SourcePath
  3. Change the location from there

Creating a Network Logon Banner

If you want to create a Network Logon Banner:
  1. Start Regedit
  2. Go To HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
  3. Create a new String called LegalNoticeCaption
  4. Enter the text for your banner
Submitted by Frank Tanner

Creating a Default File Opener

If you have a un-registered file type and want to view it with Explorer's Right-click
you can add your program to the right-click options by:
  1. Starting Regedit
  2. Go to HKEY_CLASS_ROOT / Unknown
  3. Highlight the Shell Folder below it
  4. Right click on Shell and create a New Key
  5. Name it anything you want (For example NOTEPAD)
  6. Create a New Key under that named command
  7. Highlight the Command key
  8. Double click on the Default value in the right hand panel
  9. In Value Data, enter the path and filename of the program you want to use to open the file type
  10. For example: C:\WINDOWS\NOTEPAD.EXE %1
  11. Click on OK
In this example, when you right click on a file in Explorer, NOTEPAD will show up as an option.

Deleting Registry Keys from the Command Line

With the OEM Version of Windows95, a new switch, /D, is added to Regedit.
This enables you to delete items from Registry.

The syntax is: REGEDIT /L:system.dat_location /R:user.dat_location /D Reg_Key
where Reg_Key is the key you want to delete

There are two requirements:
1. That you have to boot to the same OEM version of Windows95 as the REGEDIT.EXE file.
2. You cannot be in Win95 at the time you use this switch.

Restrictions without running Poledit

If you want to make restrictions to what users can do without having to running Poledit,
changes can be made directly to the Registry.

This will allow you to make a REG file with the specific restrictions you want
and importing them all at once.

  1. Start Regedit
  2. Go to HKEY_Current_User / Software / Microsoft / CurrentVersion / Policies
  3. There should already be at least a Explorer
  4. Additional keys that can be created under Policies are System, Network and WinOldApp
  5. You can then add DWORD values set to 1 in the appropriate keys
  6. In the Explorer key you can add:
  7. In the System key you can enter:
  8. In the Network key you can enter:
  9. In the WinOldApp key you can enter:

Automatic Screen Refresh

When you make changes to your hard drive and use Explorer, the changes are not usually displayed until you press the F5 key
To make the updates automatic:
  1. Start Regedit
  2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / System / CurrentControlSet / Control / UpdateMode
  3. Edit the DWORD value to be between 1 and 7
  4. Restart Windows

Disable Password Caching

As in Windows for Workgroups, when logging on to an NT Domain, it is preferable to disable password caching.
This allows for the single NT Domain login and eliminates the secondary Windows logon screen.
It also eliminates the possibility of the respective passwords to get out of sync.

To disable password caching on the workstation, a one-line addition to the registry needs to be made.
To make the change, create a ASCII text file called DISABLE.REG with the following lines:

  • REGEDIT4

    • [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Network]
    "DisablePwdCaching"=dword:00000001

     Open up a DOS box and type REGEDIT DISABLE.REG

    You can also download the DISABLE.REG file.

    If you need to re-enable password caching, download ENABLE.REG and repeat the process just with the different file name

    Changing the MaxMTU and other Network Settings

    There are four network settings that can be configured so when dialing to an ISP, you should get somewhat greater throughput.
    They are the MaxMTU, MaxMSS and DefaultRcvWindow, and DefaultTTL

    MaxMTU and MaxMSS

    1. Start REGEDIT
    2. Go to Hkey_Local_Machine / System / CurrentControlset / Services / Class / netTrans / 000n

      3. (where n is your particular network adapter binding.)
    3. Right click on the right panel
    4. Select New / String Value
    5. Type in MaxMTU
    6. Double click on it and enter then the number you want. The usual change is to 576
    7. Similarly, you can add MaxMSS and give it a value of 536
    DefaultRcvWindows and DefaultTTL
    1. Start REGEDIT
    2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ VxD \ MSTCP
    3. Add a new string DefaultRcvWindow and give it a value of 2144
    4. Add a new string DefaultTTL and give it a value of 60-64

    Adding Items to the Start Button

    To add items when you right-click on the Start Button:
    1. Start Regedit
    2. Go to HKey_Classes_Root / Directory / Shell
    3. Right-click on Shell and select New / Key
    4. Type in the name of the key and press the Enter key
    5. In the Default name that shows in the right hand panel, you can add a title with a & character in front of the letter for a shortcut
    6. Right-click on the key you just created and create another key under it called command
    7. For the value of this command, enter the full path and program you want to execute
    8. Now when you right click on the Start Button, your new program will show up. You do not need to reboot first.
    9. For example, if you wanted WinWord, you would add that as the first key, the default in the right panel would be &WinWord so when you right click on the Start Button, the W would be underlined and you could just press that key. The command would be something like C:\MSOFFICE\WINWORD\WINWORD.EXE

    Removing Open, Explore & Find from Start Button

    When you right click on the Start Button, you can select Open, Explore or Find.
    Open shows your Programs folder. Explore starts the Explorer and allows access to all drives.
    Find allows you to search and then run programs. In certain situations you might want to disable this feature.
    To remove them:
    1. Start Regedit
    2. Search for Directory
    3. This should bring you to Hkey_Classes_Root \ Directory
    4. Expand this section by clicking on the "+"
    5. Under shell is Find
    6. Delete Find
    7. Scroll down below Directory to Folder
    8. Expand this section under shell
    9. Delete Explore and Open
    Note: - When you remove Open, you cannot open any folders.

    Removing Items from NEW

    When you right-click on the desktop and select New, a list of default templates you can open up are listed.
    To remove items from that list:
    1. Start Regedit
    2. Search for the string ShellNew
    3. This should bring you to HKey_Classes_Root
    4. For the items you want to remove, simply rename the ShellNew command
    5. Renaming is safer that deleting it
    6. Continue searching for the items you want to remove
    7. You do not need to reboot for the change to take effect

    Changing the Telnet Scroll-Back Buffer Size

    By default, the Telnet session has a window size of 25 lines. To increase this so you can scroll back
    and look at a larger number on lines:
    1. Start Regedit
    2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Telnet
    3. Double-click on the entry Rows in the right hand panel
    4. Increase the decimal value to one that suits your needs.

    Changing the Tips of the Day

    You can edit the Tips of the day in the Registry by going to:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ explorer \ Tips

    Submitted by Jayme Johnston
    jayme@excalibur.net

    Disabling Drives in My Computer

    To turn off the display of local or networked drives when you click on My Computer:
    1. Start Regedit
    2. Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ Current Version \ Policies \ Explorer
    3. Add a New DWORD item and name it NoDrives
    4. Give it a value of 3FFFFFF
    5. Now when you click on My Computer, none of your drives will show

    Not Saving Setting on Exit

    1. Start Regedit
    2. Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software\ Microsoft \Windows \ Current Version \ Policies \ Explorer
    3. Right click on the right panel and add a New / DWORD
    4. Name it NoSaveSettings
    5. Give it a value of 1
    6. Logoff or Reboot the computer

    Not Displaying the Network Neighborhood

    1. Start Regedit
    2. Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software\ Microsoft \Windows \ Current Version \ Policies \ Explorer
    3. Right click on the right panel and add a New / DWORD
    4. Name it NoNetHood
    5. Give it a value of 1
    6. Logoff or Reboot the computer

    Disabling Run or Find from the Start Menu

    1. Start Regedit
    2. Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software\ Microsoft \Windows \ Current Version \ Policies \ Explorer
    3. Right click on the right panel and add a New / DWORD
    4. Name it NoFile or NoRun
    5. Give it a value of 1
    6. Logoff or Reboot the computer

    Hiding All Icons from the Desktop

    1. Start Regedit
    2. Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software\ Microsoft \Windows \ Current Version \ Policies \ Explorer
    3. Right click on the right panel and add a New / DWORD
    4. Name it NoDesktop
    5. Give it a value of 1
    6. Logoff or Reboot the computer
    7. Now all icons are hidden on the desktop.

    Get Your Folders to Open the Way You Want Every Time

    To get your folders to open the way you want every time:
    1. Set up all your folders the way you want (auto arrange, view, etc.),
    2. Start RegEdit
    3. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.
    4. Go to NoSaveSettings
    5. Modify and change Value to 1
    Submitted by Dan Poplawski
    dan@together.net

    Modifying Default Desktop Icons

    1. Start Regedit
    2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ explorer \ Shell Icons
    3. The default icons are numbered in the right panel from 0-40
    4. Double click on the number of the particular icon you want to change. See the chart below.
    5. Enter the name of the icon file you want to use followed by the number of the icon in that file.

      6. Note: The numbering starts with zero.
    6. If you use a single .ICO file, it should be followed by a 0.
    7. e.g. - filename.dll,4 - This would actually be the 5th icon since it starts with 0.
    8. Make sure you delete the hidden file C:\WINDOWS\SHELLICONCACHE
    Below is a reference for the icons I've been able to figure out:

    0 - Default Icon
    1 - Default Document
    2 - Application
    3 - Closed Folder
    4 - Open Folder
    5 - 5 1/4 Drive
    6 - 3 1/4 Drive
    7 - Removable Drive
    8 - Hard Drive
    9 - Network Folder
    10 - Network Offline
    11 - CD
    12 - RAM Drive
    13 - Entire Nertwork
    15 - My Computer
    16 - Printer
    17 - Network Neighborhood
    18 - Network Workgroup
    19-27 are the Start Menu icons
    19 - Programs
    20 - Desktop
    21 - Settings
    22 - Find
    23 - Help
    24 - Run
    25 - Suspend
    27 - Shutdown

    28 - Share
    29 - Shortcut
    31 - Recycle Bin (Empty)
    32 - Recycle Bin (Full)
    33 - Folder, Dial-Up Networking
    34 - Desktop
    36 - Program Group
    40 - Audio Card

    In addition, you can change:

    Clearing the Documents Menu Automatically

    The Documents Menu displays the last file and programs you used. You can clear item manually but only through editing
    the Registry can you turn this off automatically. This can be useful on computers that are used by multiple people.
    The same settings can be also used in NT 4.0
    1. Set the properties on the Recycle Bin to delete files immediately.
    2. Start Regedit
    3. Go to HKey_Current_User \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ User Shell Folders
    4. Right click on the right panel
    5. Select New / String Value
    6. Rename it to Recent - Only if it is not already there
    7. Give it the value of C:\RECYCLED
    8. Set your Recycle bin to Automatically delete files
    9. Log off and back on again.
    Your Documents Menu should now be blank. This will be for all subsequent users who logon as well.

    Disabling the Right-Click on the Start Button

    Normally, when you right button click on the Start button, it allows you to open your programs folder, the Explorer and run Find.
    In situations where you don't want to allow users to be able to do this in order to secure your computer.
    1. Start Regedit
    2. Search for Desktop
    3. This should bring you to HKey_Classes_Root \ Directory
    4. Expand this section
    5. Under Shell is Find
    6. Delete Find
    7. Move down a little in the Registry to Folder
    8. Expand this section and remove Explore and Open
    Now when you right click on the Start button, nothing should happen.
    You can delete only those items that you need.
    Note: - On Microsoft keyboards, this also disables the Window-E (for Explorer) and Window-F (for Find) keys.
    See the section on Installation to see how to do this automatically during an install.

    Disabling My Computer

    In areas where you are trying to restrict what users can do on the computer, it might be beneficial to disable the ability to click on My Computer and have access to the drives, control panel etc.
    To disable this:
    1. Start Regedit
    2. Search for 20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D
    3. This should bring you to the HKey_Classes_Root \ CLSID section
    4. Delete the entire section.
    Now when you click on My Computer, nothing will happen.
    You might want to export this section to a registry file before deleting it just in case you want to enable it again..

    See the section on Installation to see how to do this automatically during an install.

    Changing Desktop Icons

    You can change many of the icons that are located on your desktop.
    1. Start Regedit
    2. Search for My Computer or 20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D
    3. Expand that key
    4. Highlight Default Icon
    5. Double click on the Default in the right panel
    6. Enter the name of the program with the icon you want to use followed by and command and then the number of the icon (starting with 0)
    Some of the additional items that can be searched for are: Additional icons can be found in:

    Opening Explorer from My Computer

    By default, when you click on the My Computer icon, you get a display of all your drives, the Control Panel etc. If you would like to have this open the Explorer:
    1. Start Regedit
    2. Search for My Computer or 20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D
    3. This should bring you to HKey_Classes_Root \ CLSID
    4. Expand the key {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
    5. Right click on Shell
    6. Select New / Key and type Open and press the Enter key
    7. Right click on Open
    8. Select New / Key and type Command and press the Enter key
    9. Double click on the Default for Command and type Explorer.exe for the value
    10. Now when you click on My Computer, the Explorer will start
    11. If you want to return to normal, simply delete the Open key

    Fixing Corrupt Registry

    If your registry has gotten corrupted, and re-installing Windows95 over your existing version does not fix the problem,
    there is a hidden, read-only, system file on the root of your boot drive called SYSTEM.1ST.
    This is the initial system registry created when you first installed Windows95.

    To use this file:

    1. Go to your Windows directory
    2. Un-Attrib your current SYSTEM.DAT file (attrib -r -s -h system.dat)
    3. Copy your current SYSTEM.DAT to something like SYSTEM.BAD file (just in case)
    4. Move to your root directory
    5. Un-Attrib the SYSTEM.1ST file
    6. Copy SYSTEM.1ST to \WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT
    7. Re-start your system
    You will need to install your 32-bit apps and any other programs or changes that modified your system registry
    but you will not need to go through a new again. Your 16-bit apps should not need to be re-installed since they do
    not modify the registry. You will also retain your current desktop configuration.

    Recycle Bin Edits

    Fooling with the recycle bin. Why not make the icon context menu act like other icon context menu's.

    Add rename to the menu:
    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
    "Attributes"=hex:50,01,00,20

    Add delete to the menu:
    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
    "Attributes"=hex:60,01,00,20

    Add rename and delete to the menu:
    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
    "Attributes"=hex:70,01,00,20

    Restore the recycle bin to win 95 defaults including un-deleting the icon after deletion:
    ... Restore the icon.
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}]
    @="Recycle Bin"
    ... reset win 95 defaults
    . [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
    "Attributes"=hex:40,01,00,20

    Other edits to the recycle bin icon:
    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
    "Attributes"=hex:40,01,01,20 ... standard shortcut arrow
    "Attributes"=hex:40,01,02,20 ... another shortcut arrow
    "Attributes"=hex:40,01,04,20 ... and another shortcut arrow
    "Attributes"=hex:40,01,08,20 ... make it look disabled (like it's been cut)

    And some more useless edits to the context menu:
    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
    "Attributes"=hex:41,01,00,20 .. copy
    "Attributes"=hex:42,01,00,20 .. cut (move into another folder? na..)
    "Attributes"=hex:43,01,00,20 .. copy cut
    "Attributes"=hex:44,01,00,20 .. paste
    "Attributes"=hex:45,01,00,20 .. copy paste
    "Attributes"=hex:46,01,00,20 .. cut paste
    "Attributes"=hex:47,01,00,20 .. copy cut paste

    I added the above edits for fun. But it gets you thinking.
    Note: Adding rename and delete to the context menu takes effect instantly. To restore the icon after deletion requires screen refresh (F5).
    Have fun.... Tom

    Submitted by Tom Temple
    temple@earthlink.net

    Setting the Minimum Password Length

    1. Start Regedit
    2. Go to HKLM,SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Network
    3. Add a new Binary Value
    4. Rename it to MinPwdLen
    5. Assign it a value equal to your minimum password length
    Also see the Installation Section on doing this automatically during installation.

    Disabling File and Print Sharing

    1. Start Regedit
    2. Go to HKLM,SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Network
    3. Add a new DWord Value
    4. Rename it to NoPrintSharing or NoFileSharing
    5. Assign it a value of 1
    Also see the Installation Section on doing this automatically during installation.

    Specifying programs to run every time Windows95 starts

    If you want to start programs every time Windows95 runs, but would like to hide them from users
    by not having the listed in the Startup folder or the WIN.INI file, you can have them load through the registry.
    1. Start Regedit
    2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Run or RunOnce
    3. Right click on the right panel
    4. Select New / String Value
    5. Type in any name
    6. For the value, enter the path and executable for the program you want to run.

    Removing the Shortcut Icon Arrows

    1. Open REGEDIT.EXE
    2. Open the Key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    3. Open the Key LNKFILE
    4. Delete the value IsShortcut
    5. Open the next Key PIFFILE
    6. Delete the value IsShortcut
    7. Restart the Win95

    Turn Off Window Animation

    You can shut off the animation displayed when you minimize and maximize windows.
    1. Open Regedit
    2. HKEY_CURRENT_USER
    3. Control panel
    4. Desktop
    5. WindowMetrics
    6. Right Mouse Click an empty space in the right pane.
    7. Select new/string value.
    8. Name the new value MinAnimate.
    9. Doubleclick on the new string value (MinAnimate) and click on "Modify"
    10. Enter a value of 0 for Off or 1 for On then hit 
    11. Close Regedit and all programs then reboot.

    To speed up the Start Menu

    1. Start the REGEDIT program
    2. Search for the word desktop
    3. This should be in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT / CLSID / {00021400...
    4. Right Click on the right panel
    5. Pick NEW / String Value.
    6. Name it MenuShowDelay, all one word.
    7. Select a value from 1-10, 1 being the fastest.
    8. Exit REGEDIT
    9. Restart Windows

    Changing your Modem's Initialization String

    1. Start REGEDIT
    2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ Class \ Modem \ 0000 \ Init
    3. Change the settings to the new values

    Increasing the Modem Timeout

    If your modem it timing out during file transfers or loading Web Pages,
    you might try increasing the timeout period.

    To change it:

    1. Start Regedit
    2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / System / CurrentControlSet / Services / Class / Modem / XXXX / Settings

      3. Where XXXX is the number of your modem
    3. Move to the right panel and double click on Inactivity Timeout
    4. The number of minutes for a timeout should be entered between the brackets.
    5. For example, a US Robotics Sportster could have S19=<30> to set it to 30 minutes.

    Removing Programs listed from the Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs Section

     

    If you remove an installed program and its files by deleting the files,
    it may still show up in the Add/Remove programs list through the control panel.
    In order to remove it from the list (so you don't need to re-install in order to just remove it again).

    1. Start the Registry Editor
    2. Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Uninstall
    3. Delete any programs here.
    This will only delete them from the list, not delete the actual programs.
    Only programs designed for Windows95 will show up here in the first place.

     

    My city isn't on the time zone map !!!

    Highlight the section on the world map that contains your city. Write down the string of cities, or whatever other wording.

    Example "Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney"

    Open Registry Editor, and search for that string Edit that string. You have very easily edited a string that was not meant to be edited, but of course with Windows 95 you are given the option to edit nearly all strings.



     

    Friendly "Short" Names

    One of my favorite features of Windows 95 are the Long File Names. At last, we can leave eight-dot-three in the dust!!! One problem though. I have Microsoft Office Professional 4.3, which is the 16-bit short file name edition.

    So, when I am in Explorer, I can save a file such as "1997 Income Tax Returns". But, when I return to Excel to open that file, I will find something like "1997In~1.xls". Now, if you wanted to save several files with the prefix "1995 Income Tax" you would have a mess on your hands in a hurry, not to mention that you wouldn't be able to decipher the short names.

    Complete the following steps:

    1. Open up the Registry Editor.

    2. Open the following SubKey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem
    3. Right-Click the right-hand pane of the Registry Editor window. On the context menu, select NEW, Binary Value.
    4. Type in NameNumericTail and press ENTER.
    5. Double-Click the entry you just created, and then type zero (0) as the complete binary value.
    6. Click OK, close the Registry Editor, and restart Windows.

    Now, this undocumented technique will assure that the short file names will resemble the long file names as much as it is possible. Windows 95 will make sure that no two files will have the same long or short name.



     

    3-D Objects: Highlights and Shadows

    1. Open up the Registry Editor.

    2. Go to the following SubKey:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors
     
    3. There you will find a list of various system items, such as buttons, and active title bar, etc. Actually, it adds to the information that is editable in the Control Panel's Display Properties dialog Appearance tab.

     

    4. The information is presented as RGB data, which means that each color is represented by three values to simulate the various colors that will be displayed on your screen. The three values are Red, Green, and Blue. Each of the three can have values between zero (0), which represents black, and 255, which represents white.

    EXAMPLE: 0 0 0 represents black
    255 255 255 represents white
    all other colors are somewhere in between
     
    5. The RGB Color Model is an additive model that is used to determine how colors are displayed on computer monitors.

     

    6. RGB values for the various colors can be found in the following place on your system:

    Control Panel, Display, Properties, Appearance, Color, Other . . .
    In this dialog, the RGB values are found in the lower right corner. Be sure to write down the values of your favorite colors, so they can be changed easily.
     
    7. Knowing all this, you are ready to further customize the shadows and inverse colors of 3-D objects in the Windows 95 system.


     

    Reappearing values in the Registry?

    If after several editing sessions in the Registry Editor, you suddenly discover that several entries and values that you deleted seem to be reappearing, it is NOT a problem with the Registry, the Editor, or your mind.

    To keep that data from respawning, simply remove the offending items from your WIN.ini file!



     

    Adding sounds to application events

    By now you should all realize that you can add sounds to quite a few system events. Those can be located in the Control Panel Sounds dialog. If you haven't been there yet, I'll wait a minute while you return. But, did you realize that with the Registry, you can also add sounds to APPLICATION events?

    1. Open up the Registry Editor.

    2. Go to the following SubKey:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps
    3. You will find two SubKeys .Default and Explorer.
    4. Right-Click on the SubKey APPS, choose NEW KEY.
    5. The new value should be the name of the application that you wish to create event sounds for.
    6. Right-Click on the SubKey you just created, and select NEW KEY.
    7. An example to get you started: Key: Open Then, create another SubKey called Close.
    8. Go to the Control Panel Sounds, and the Application Event SubKeys you just created will now appear in the list that is displayed in the Sounds tab.
    9. Add whatever sound files you wish for these events.
    10. The very next time that you Open and/or Close that particular application, the sounds will play.

    11. For each and every application on your system, you can add sounds to all these standard events:

    Close
    Open
    G.P. Fault
    RestoreDown
    Maximize
    RestoreUp
    MenuCommand
    SystemAsterisk
    MenuPopup
    SystemExclamation
    Minimize
    SystemQuestion
    There may be other events possible, but that depends on the particular application events that are used in any given Windows application.
    HINT: Button and Icon bars are NOT such events!


      

    Date:    Sun, 22 Dec 1996 19:37:57 -0500
From:    Steve Cauffiel <cauffiel@EROLS.COM>
Subject: APPS: HARDWARE: Zip directory labels

    Found this at the Windows Annoyances page - not sure if it will help or not...

    Print Out a Directory Listing

    Last Modified: 4/29/96

    Although there is no built-in way to print a directory listing (all the filenames in a folder), there is a way to add this functionality to Windows95. Here's how you do it:

    Open a text editor, such as Notepad, and type the following lines into a new document: (assuming the printer you wish to use is connected to printer port #1). See end of this section.

    CD %1

    DIR /S >LPT1

    type 'ascii control code {form feed}' > LPT1

    Save the two-line file into your Windows\Command folder, and call it PRINTDIR.BAT. Find the file in Explorer, right click on it, and select Properties. Click on the Program tab, turn on the Close on Exit option, choose Minimized from the Run list, and click Ok. Next, run the Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE). Open My Computer\ HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ Directory\ shell. Select New from the Edit menu, and then select Key. Type Print for the name of this new key, and press Enter. Highlight the new Print key, select New from the Edit menu, and then select Key again. Type command for the name of this new key, and press Enter. Double-click on the (default) value in the right pane, and type C:\Windows\Command\PRINTDIR.BAT (assuming that C:\Windows\ is your Windows95 directory). From now on, when you right-click on a folder icon, you can click Print to print its contents.

    Note: this assumes that your printer is connected to the LPT1 port, which is true for most users. However, if your printer is connected over a network or you have more than one printer, you need to change LPT1 to the correct port.

    Date:    Sun, 22 Dec 1996 18:11:35 -0700
From:    Mark Dodge <markd@PRIMENET.COM>
Subject: Re: APPS: HARDWARE: Zip directory labels

    Mark:- I tried this, works great, except for two things. One: I have a HP 550C and I have to hit the Load\Eject button to get the page to finish. Two: This doesn't print the contents of the sub folders. 

    Date:    Wed, 15 Jan 1997 18:11:35 -0700
From:    Hans Klarenbeek <hansie@wantree.com.au>
Subject: Re: APPS: HARDWARE: Zip directory labels

    I personally don't see any problems with this what is to stop you from adding to the basic batch file the commands to both scan subdirectories (see mods in blue) and feed at an ascii control code to feed the sheet (what is this anyone??)



     

    If an application cannot find its' Help File

    If you have an application that is having trouble finding its' Help File, you can add its' file name and full path to the following key:

    Hkey_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Help

    There should already be several examples already listed. Just add to them!!



     

    A tip for Multi-Boot users

    If you are tired of hitting F8 every time you boot your PC, here is a quick fix that will present a "Boot Menu" every time you start your machine:

    1. Open up your MSDOS.sys file in the MS-DOS Editor.

    2. Add the following line to the [Options] section:

    3. BootMenu=1

    4. Save changes, and exit MS-DOS Editor.

    5. Reboot your PC, and your new Boot Menu will appear!

    In addition, you can add the following line to the [Options] section of the MSDOS.SYS file (as above):

    BootMenuDelay=(number)

    With (number) being the number of seconds your machine will pause on the "Boot Menu." If the timer counts down to zero before any action is taken, then the BootMenuDefault is then loaded.



     

    Icons from the actual bitmaps

    Did you know that you can make the icons of bitmap files, from the actual bitmap? With OLE 2, they can also automatically update themselves, as they are edited.

    Here's all you have to do:

            1.  Run the Registry Editor (regedit.exe)

        2.  Open the HKey_Classes_Root key

        3.  Open the Paint.Picture folder. 

        4.  If there isn't a DefaultIcon folder, you will have to create one. You can do that by selecting the Key Paint.Picture, and right clicking on it. Select NEW, 
            and then select KEY. What will happen then is a new folder will appear under the Paint.Picture folder. 

        5.  Rename this new folder "DefaultIcon".

        6.  Open the new DefaultIcon folder that you just created.

        7.  Double-click on the "default" item.

        8.  Change the value from (value not set) to "%1"

        9.  Exit the Registry Editor.

    That is all there is to it! And, now you have some KILLER .BMP icons! One caveat is that they may display a little slower than regular icons! But, to be honest with you, the effect is stunning, and makes the files a hell of a lot easier to identify when you are in Windows 95 Explorer.



     

    Control Panel Power at your fingertips!

    While the above tip places the Control Panel on the Start Menu, you still have to go through the Start Button, select Control Panel, and click your way through any number of Properties Dialogs and Settings tabs. Not too convenient after all.

    All you have done is created a shortcut to the Control Panel, a pointer that opens a regular folder window from which you still must choose a Control Panel applet.

    Now, with the technique below, you'll get a cascading menu off of the main Control panel item. All applets are presented as choices in this submenu. In fact, where in the main Control Panel window, you cannot select which applets you'd like to display (or possibly remove), but here, the choices are completely customizable.

    In fact, I'd suggest that you try both tips, and let the menu selections reside next to each other. Try them both and see which of the two is a better idea. I'm pretty positive that you will agree with me that the second idea is the way to go.

            1. Right click the Start Button. Choose EXPLORE.
        
        2. Explorer opens with a view of the Start Menu.

        3. Right click in the right-hand pane. 

        4. Left click "New" and then "Folder".
        
        5. This will create an icon called "New Folder". 

        6. Type Binary I.D. # for Control Panel to create 
     a name for this new folder, including braces & hyphens.

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

        7. When finished, press ENTER.

        8. Open up this new folder and copy the shortcuts to the 
     Control Panel applets that you want to appear on the
     cascading menu. Place them in this newly created
     folder.

        9. Close Explorer when finished.

        10. The next time that you click on START, the Windows 95
      Control Panel's applets appear ready to use in a
      cascading menu! Very cool!

    You can also use this same technique to do the same with your My Computer, Printers, disk drives, and Dial-Up Networking folders. Just make sure that you have the proper binary I.D. for the cascading menu that you are trying to create.

    Printers {2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}

    The Control Panel is a special kind of folder in Win 95. Executables such as Control Panel and other resources have their own unique IDs in the Windows 95 registry.

    To see these, click the Start, Run, type REGEDIT and click OK. In the Registry Editor that appears, click Edit, Find and search for 21EC2020. This takes you to a section that identifies Control Panels' ID number and that of many other resources.



     

    Change the Desktop's default folder

            1. Go to the following Registry SubKey:

                HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\DefaultIcon

        2. The current default icon points to the file SHELL32.dll
           in the Windows 95 System folder, and to the fourth icon
           in the series, which is actaully 3, because in .DLL
           files, the numbering starts at zero, and not one. 

        3. You can change the .DLL file and the icon to whatever
           you would like to see on your system. For example, PC
           Tools For Windows 2.0 has a DLL file called FOLDERS.dll
           which contains about 100 variations of the folder. 

        4. Make sure that you follow the following syntax:

           C:\Win95\System\Shell32.dll,x

           Whereas "x" is the number of the icon in the DLL that                   you wish to have replace the default. 

        5. Close the Registry Editor, and reboot your machine.


    

    

     

    

    

    
Windows 95 Registry Binary Value Reference List
    


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


    Printers
{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}


    Recycle
Bin {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}


    My
Computer {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}


    Dial-Up
Networking


    Net.
Neighborhood {208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}


    Inbox
{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}


    Desktop
{00021400-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}


    Shortcut
{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
    
As Danel Kent Bentowski was getting deeper and deeper
into the Registry, He was beginning to notice more and more that quite
a few of the data strings were listed in some sort of binary HEX mumbo
jumbo. He also noticed that some of these binary data strings remained
constant throughout the entire Registry, from Hkey_Local_Machine all the
way down to Hkey_Current_User.


    He orginally compiled this short list for my own
personal reference. But, again and again, He was reading from the various
newsgroups on the Internet, that people wanted to know the same information
that was on this little slip of paper on my desk.


    It should save you from having to use the FIND shortcut
in the Registry Editor to look up these very same values, which remain
constant, no matter whose system they're on.