Registry Tips N Tricks   Registry tweaks, tricks & hacks to optimize, enhance and secure Microsoft Windows. Additional Enhancements 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.                            Configuration Files Tweaks Found in Other System Files                          Customization Customization and System Modifications     Keyboard Shortcuts Windows Keyboard Shortcuts and Combinations   Configuration Files : AUTOEXEC.BAT Read Environment Variables in Autoexec.bat File (Windows NT/2000/XP) When this value is enabled the variables declared in the Autoexec.bat file will be parsed and included in the current user environment. Setting the Windows Temporary Directory (All Windows) Depending on which version of Windows you run, temporary files are usually stored in C:\WINDOWS\TEMP. This tweak shows how to move the location of the temporary file directory. Load Drivers and Programs into High Memory (Windows 3.1/DOS) Programs and device drivers loaded from the AUTOEXEC.BAT file are normally loaded straight into low memory. This change allows them to be loaded high. Remove Command Echoing (Windows 95/98/Me) Normally when commands are read and executed from the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, there are echoed back to the screen. This setting turns the echo off, which means only message text will be shown, and not the originating command.   Configuration Files : BOOT.INI Using BOOT.INI Startup Switches (Windows NT/2000/XP) Windows NT, 2000 and XP use a configuration file called BOOT.INI to control how the operating system is booted and any startup options.          By modifying the startup switches you can manage the boot process including booting Windows in Safe mode, creating a log file, or disabling the splash screen. Modify the Duration that the Startup List is Displayed (Windows NT/2000/XP) Popular      This setting allows you to change the default 30 second timeout for the Startup List which normally allows you time to choose and boot an alternative operating system. Change the Default Operating System (Windows NT/2000/XP) This setting in the BOOT.INI file controls which operating system the NT Boot Loader launches by default if none is selected. Boot Windows NT with the Default VGA Video Driver (Windows NT) This explains how to create an a safe VGA video mode start-up option, especially useful when your video adapter or driver is causing problems. Boot Windows NT in Safe Mode (Windows NT) Windows NT can be very temperamental sometimes are you add new software or install a new driver. The option allows you the create a Windows NT alternative to the Windows 9x Safe Mode. In this mode extra checks are performed and not all third party drivers are loaded. Disable Detection of Devices on Serial Ports (Windows NT) Windows NT attempts to probe the serial ports on boot-up to detect any serial mice. This can cause problems with other serial devices such as UPS's. Enable the 4GT RAM Tuning Feature of NT Enterprise Edition (Windows NT) With standard Windows NT Server, the per-process address limit is 2 gigabytes (GB) of random access memory (RAM). The 4GT feature of Windows NT Server/E increases this limit to 3 GB without introducing new APIs. 4GT does this by reducing the potential RAM allocated to the Windows NT kernel from 2 GB to 1 GB.   Configuration Files : CONFIG.SYS Load DOS Command Processor into High Memory (Windows 95/98/Me) DOS is limited to 640kb low memory, as more device drivers are loaded that space is used up leaving less available memory for applications. T his setting loads the DOS command processor into high memory, freeing some low memory for other applications. Increase the Number Disk Buffers (Windows 3.1/DOS) This setting can be used to increase the number of disk buffers available to DOS. Load Device Drivers into Memory (Windows 3.1/DOS) This setting is used to load specified device drivers into memory (or high memory). Control the Number of File Control Blocks (FCBs) (Windows 3.1/DOS) This setting specifies the number of file control blocks (FCBs) that the operating system can have open at the same time. Controls the Number of Simultaneous Files (Windows 3.1/DOS) This setting specifies the number of files that the operating system can access at one time. Specify the Maximum Number of Drive Letters (Windows 3.1/DOS) This setting control the maximum number of drivers accessible by a drive letter. Control the Number of Data Stacks (Windows 3.1/DOS) Support the dynamic use of data stacks to handle hardware interrupts. Use Extended Memory (Windows 3.1/DOS)             Himem, an extended-memory manager, is a program that coordinates the use of your computer's extended memory, including the high memory area (HMA).  It must be loaded before any application or device drivers can use extended memory. Enable the Ability to Load Devices into Upper Memory (Windows 3.1/DOS) Originally EMM386 was required to provide EMS memory, an alternate form of extended memory. Now with the sparse use of EMS, it's primary purpose is to provide support for loading real-mode device drivers in the upper memory area.   Configuration Files : MSDOS.SYS Force Computer to Boot in Safe Mode (Windows 95/98/Me) This setting when enabled forces your computer to always boot in Safe Mode. Control Whether the Windows Desktop is Loaded (Windows 95/98) By default Windows automatically loads the Windows Desktop (or GUI) at startup. With this key you can control whether the GUI is loaded or if you just want the MS-DOS prompt. Suppress Safe Mode Warning Message (Windows 95/98/Me) Enabling this setting suppresses the safe mode warning message when booting up, and bypasses the Startup menu. Allow Booting to the Previous Operating System (Windows 95/98/Me) If you installed an upgrade version of Windows, you can normally press F4 to boot your previous version of Windows.  This option can be disabled. Change the Function Key Timeout (Windows 95/98/Me) Windows normally enables the function keys during the boot sequence for 2 seconds, these keys allow you to control the boot process. The duration can be changed using this tweak. Disable Function Keys During the Boot Sequence (Windows 95/98/Me) By default Windows 9x enables the function keys on boot, these allow you to control the boot process. For example pressing F5 while the "Starting Windows 95..." message is displayed will boot Windows in Safe Mode. Control Whether Scandisk is Run Automatically (Windows 95/98/Me) When Windows is incorrectly shutdown, or the turn is power turned off, the system will attempt to run Scandisk on the next boot. This setting control whether automatic checking is disabled, prompts before running, or runs automatically. Show the Windows Boot Menu (Windows 95/98/Me) Windows does not display the boot menu normally unless a key is pressed during bootup (F8 for Windows 95 or CTRL for 98/Me).  The boot menu allows you to selectively boot Windows in different modes, including Safe Mode and Command Prompt Mode. Display the Windows Splash Screen While Loading (Windows 95/98/Me) Popular When Windows is loading normally you see the Windows clouds splash screen, this can be disabled to show the background DOS boot process. Modifying the [Paths] Section of MSDOS.SYS (Windows 95/98/Me) The [Paths] section lists the locations for other Windows 95 files (such as the registry) and can be modified if files are moved. Load Compression Driver into Low Memory (Windows 95/98/Me) This setting controls whether double space (or drive space) is loaded into high memory. If you are having compatibility problems with software that makes assumptions about the available memory try changing this setting.   Configuration Files: SYSTEM.INI Increase Application Keyboard Response Time (Windows 95/98/Me) When running more than one application at a time, you may find that your system's keyboard response is slower. To alleviate this, you can adjust the amount of time allocated to processing keystrokes. Change the Number of Spare Stack Pages (Windows 95/98/Me)        Windows sets aside a number of extra memory pages (spare stack pages) to be used temporarily to prevent a system "crash" due to a stack overflow condition. Sometimes all the spare pages can be used, and an error message is shown, this tweak allows you to increase the number available. Modify the Number of File Handles for DOS Programs (Windows Me) This setting controls the number of file handles available to MS-DOS programs run in each virtual machine. In Windows Me, each MS-DOS VM is given the default value of 30 file handles. Use High Memory for DOS Drivers (Windows 95/98/Me) This setting causes Windows to load the local DOS devices into high memory and freeing up more low memory for DOS applications. Use Crtl + Alt + Delete to Restart the Computer (Windows 3.1/95/98) Normally when you press Ctrl + Alt + Delete the Windows task list is displayed. Using this tweak the key combination will instead reboot the computer. End Tasks Without Restarting Windows (Windows 3.1/95/98)        This setting specifies whether you can press CTRL+ALT+DEL to quit applications that cause an unrecoverable errors in 386 enhanced mode, without restarting Windows.   Customization Change the Start Button Text (All Windows) Would you like to change the Start button to say something else, perhaps your name, company or any other 5 or less letter word? This article explains the procedure to manually modify the text of the Windows Start button. Show Computer Manufacturer and Support Information (All Windows) This tip lets you include company and support information on the System Properties page in Control Panel.          This is especially useful if you run a computer store and want your customers to be reminded where they bought their PC and where to get technical support. Change the Default Name and Company Information (All Windows)             When you install a new application, using MS Setup, a default Name and Company are shown, these values can be changed when the details have changed or are incorrect.   Keyboards Shortcuts Re-Initialize Your Registry Without Rebooting (All Windows) Some registry changes require you to restart Windows before they are enabled. This tip lets you re-initialize your registry and refresh your desktop without having to leave Windows. Make the Columns Fit (All Windows) Want to quickly see all the column in explorer without having to resize them individually? This tip does it for you. Close Parent Windows Automatically (All Windows) Have you ever had a screen full of explorer windows on your desktop after digging through heaps of directories? This tip lets you close the current window and all it's parent windows in one easy step. Expand and Contract Folders With Ease (All Windows) It can be a time-consuming process to expand a folder by clicking on the (+) for each and every sub-directory. This tip lets you expand and contract them all at once, with one keystroke. Change Directories Without Typing the Whole Name (Windows NT/2000) Changing directories at the command prompt can be a hit and miss process when long filenames are involved. This tip let you change directories with ease, not matter how long the directory name. Launch the Task Manager Quickly (Windows NT/2000/XP) Launching the Task Manager can sometimes be difficult depending on the situation.          Some people didn't know that the Task Manager can actually be launched in at least three different ways to make it easier to use when you need it the most.