Registry:
The Registry is a database that contains all the settings for Windows and installed applications. Where is registry? In windows 9x the registry is contained in two hidden files in Windows directory, called USER.DAT and SYSTEM.DAT. But in Windows 2000 and Windows XP, the Registry is in several Hives, located in the windowssystem32config and Documents and Settings{username} folders.
Structure of registry:
There are six branches, each containing a specific portion of the information stored in the Registry. They are:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT – this branch contains all of file types in the system as well as OLE information for all OLE-aware applications.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER – this points to the part of HKEY_USERS for the current user.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE – this contains information about all the hardware and software in the system. Since we can specify multiple hardware configurations, the current hardware configuration is specified in HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG.
HKEY_USERS – this contains preferences for each of the users of the computer. In Windows 2000/XP, the default branch here contains a template for newly-added users.
HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG – this branch points to the part of KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE appropriate for the current hardware configuration.
Registry editor is a build-in utility with all windows. To launch registry editor click start-> Run and type “regedit” without quotes. This will launch the registry editor to edit registry values. To access registry editor you , must be administrator or user with the power of administrator.
Tweaks
1. Customize Windows Media Player Title Bar
Change the title bar to read Windows Media Player provided by “your text”
Start->Run->Regedit
Go to [HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoft]
Create the Key [WindowsMediaPlayer]
Create String value named [TitleBar]
Data Type: REG_SZ // Value Name: TitleBar
Double click TitleBar and Enter the text to be displayed in the title bar.
Exit Registry / Reboot
2. To Increase Start Menu Display Speed
There is some delay to display the start menu contents after clicking star, because of effects. The speed can be changed with a quick registry entry.
The default value of this key is 400. Set it to 0, and then there is no delay to show.
Start->Run->Regedit
Go to [HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelDesktop]
Modify/Create String value of Data type REG_SZ Named [MenuShowDelay]
Value Data: [Default = 400 / Adjust to Preference]
Exit Registry / Reboot
3. Changing the Location of Special Folders
This tweak allows changing the location of special folders in the system. Any of the folders listed in the registry key can be moved.
Start->Run->Regedit
Go to:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerUserShell Folders]
Modify/Create String value of Data type REG_SZ Named [Various Folder Names]
Data Type: REG_SZ [String Value] // Value Name: Consult RegEdit for Folder Names
Value Data: [Move the folder to the new desired location using explorer, and then edit the matching folder in RegEdit to reflect the new folder location]
Exit Registry and Reboot.
4. Adding Administrator Account to Log In Screen
Once a new user account is created during windows XP installation the name of the default Administrator account vanishes. To Make the Administrator Account always visible in the Login Screen use this Registry Tweak.
Start->Run->Regedit
Go to: [HKEY_LOCALMACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWinlogonSpecialAccountsUserList]
Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [Administrator]
Setting for Value Data: [0 = Disabled / 1 = Enabled]
Exit Registry / Reboot
5. Hide/Show My Documents folder Icon on Desktop
By default, Windows XP never shows the My Documents folder icon in the Windows desktop. Using this registry tweak allows you to control whether or not My Documents is to be displayed.
Start->Run->Regedit
Go to: [HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCLSID{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}ShellFolder]
Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [Attributes]
Setting for Value Data: [Default = 0xf0400174 / Hidden = 0xf0500174]
Exit Registry / Reboot
6. Create a Hidden User Account
This tweak allows creating a hidden account from the welcome screen. To log on using this account it is necessary to use the Log On To Windows dialog box similar to the one in Windows 2000 by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL twice in the welcome screen
Start->Run->Regedit
Go to: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsNTCurrentVersionWinlogonSpecialAccountsUserList]
Modify/Create DWORD Value of Data type REG_DWORD Named [Type Name of Account to be Hidden]
Setting for Value Data: [0 = Account is Hidden / 1 = Enabled]
Exit Registry / Reboot
7. Creating Legal Notice Logon Dialog Box
To create a legal notice during logon time:
Start->Run->Regedit
Go to: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWinlogon]
Modify/Create String Value of Data type REG_SZ Named [LegalNoticeCaption]
Value Data for LegalNoticeCaption: [Type the Caption for the Dialog Box]
Modify/Create String Value of Data type REG_SZ Named [LegalNoticeText]
Value Data for LegalNoticeText: [Type the Data for the Legal Notice]
Exit Registry / Reboot
8. To Customize Logon and Security Dialog Title
Start->Run->Regedit
Go to: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NT CurrentVersionWinlogon]
Modify/Create String Value of Data type REG_SZ Named [Welcome]
Value Data: [0 = Disabled / 1 = Enabled]
Exit Registry / Reboot
9. Customize Logon Box Message
This is the message will be displayed on the Classic Logon box and not on the welcome logon screen
Start->Run->Regedit
Go to: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NT CurrentVersionWinlogon]
Modify/Create String Value of Data type REG_SZ Named [LogonPrompt]
Value Data: [Enter the text of the message]
Exit Registry / Reboot
10. To Change the Registered Organization/Owner of Windows XP
This tweak allows changing the registered owner and organization of the Windows XP software.
Note:-This tweak won’t allow bypassing the Windows Product Activation (WPA) and will not allow you to register illegal XP software.
Start->Run->Regedit
Go to: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersion]
Modify/Create String Value of Data type REG_SZ Named [RegisteredOrganization] or [RegisteredOwner]
Setting for Value Data: [Modify the Values to Reflect Current Information]
Exit Registry / Reboot
