1001 Secrets for Windows NT Registry
(Publisher: 29th Street Press)
Author(s): Tim Daniels
ISBN: 1882419685
Publication Date: 12/01/97

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Desktop

I-55 Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: Software\Microsoft\Command Processor\Completion
Value Name: Char
Data Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 9

Setting this value to 9 lets you specify a partial pathname at any command prompt and have it be completed when you press the TAB key. For example, typing c wind <TAB> expands to c:\windows.

I-56 Does your desktop seem sloooow? Want to speed it up? Try changing this registry entry. Add the following value under the explorer key.

Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
Value Name: Max Cached Icons
Data Type: REG_DWORD
Value: number of icons to cache

This value controls how many icons Windows NT stores in memory and in its cache file %systemroot%\ShellIconCache. You will need to experiment to find the right value for your system. Reboot the machine for these values to take effect.

I-57 Problem: Have you ever wanted to remove the Network Neighborhood Icon from your desktop? Try as you might it can’t be done, right? That’s what I thought, too, but here is a registry entry that gets rid of it. Add the following value under the Explorer key:

Hive: HKEY _Current _User
Key: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer
Value Name: NoNetHood
Data Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0x1

Reboot the machine or log off and back on, and presto! No Network Neighborhood.

I-58 Do you have drive mappings that you want to reconnect automatically each time you log on? Even though you check the “Reconnect at logon” box, they still disappear. Add this value under the NetworkProvider key.

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key: System\CurrentControlSet\Control\NetworkProvider
Value Name: RestoreConnection
Data Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0

Setting this value to 1 disables reconnecting when you log on.

I-59 If you don’t want your users to have access to the network connect and disconnect functions, add the following key and value to the registry:

Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Policies\Explorer
Value Name: NoNetConnectDisconnect
Data Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1

I-60 Do you want to modify the text that appears in the caption bar beside the title of the Begin Logon, Logon Information, Workstation Locked, and Unlock Workstation dialog boxes? This registry entry lets you display any string of up to 256 characters.

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key: Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\
CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Value Name: Welcome
Data Type: REG_SZ
Value: any string

Restart Windows NT for these changes to take effect.

I-61 Are your users having problems seeing the icons on their desktop? Do you need more control than simply choosing between big or small icons? Try these registry settings for total control over your icon sizes.

Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics
Value Name: Shell Icon Size
Data Type: REG_SZ
Value: 32 pixels (increase for larger icons; for example, 48 or even 64)

I-62 Do you want to disable the menu that appears when you right-click over Start or any application button on the taskbar? Change this entry.

Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Policies\Explorer
Value Name: NoTrayContextMenu
Data Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0 (default)

Setting this value to 1 disables right-clicking over the task bar. To re-enable this function, set this value to 0 and restart your system. You may need to create part of this key and add this subvalue to the registry.

I-63 You can also disable the menu that appears when you right-click over your desktop or one of the file windows in the Explorer by adding this registry key and value:

Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Policies\Explorer
Value Name: NoViewContextMenu
Data Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1

Restart the machine for these changes to take effect.


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