Registry Guide for Windows Registry Guide for Windows
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Registry tweaks, tricks & hacks to optimize, enhance and secure Microsoft Windows.

Creating Program Aliases in Windows (All Windows)
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A hidden feature in the Windows registry allows you to create program aliases. Allowing you to create, for example, an alias called JBLOGGS.EXE that when executed actually runs another program, e.g. NOTEPAD.EXE

Open your registry and find the key below, below it should be a number of sub-keys.

To create a new alias create a sub-key, and call it the name of the alias you wish to create (e.g. "JBLOGGS.EXE").

Modify the (default) value of the sub-key to equal the fully qualified path and filename of the application you want to be launched when you execute the alias (e.g. "c:\windows\notepad.exe").

Exit your registry and to test use the Start -> Run command type in the name of your alias (i.e. "JBLOGGS.EXE") and the aliased program should be launched, in this case Notepad.

Registry Editor Example
|NameTypeData|
|(Default)REG_SZ"c:\windows\notepad.exe"|
-
|HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths|
-

Settings:
System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths]
Name: (Default)
Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Value: Filename (e.g. c:\windows\notepad.exe)

Disclaimer: Modifying the registry can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. We cannot guarantee that problems resulting from modifications to the registry can be solved. Use the information provided at your own risk.

Last Modified: December 15, 1998

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