Some Registry Stuff

I regularly get requests through my email address for help with some problem that can be resolved in the registry. I have decided to just make a short list and explain them here.

Remember, when you are working with the registry make sure you have a good backup before you begin. I have never screwed anything up that I needed the backup, but they are good to have just in case.

The registry settings are:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameSpace \

A lot of programs install themselves and add an icon to the desktop. The problem is, this isn't just a shortcut that can be deleted. These are permanent links to certain programs/features. In order to delete them, you need to navigate to this registry key and delete any entries you do not want.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\Menu ShowDelay

This resgitry entry will control how fast each menu sub-level appears and how fast the taskbar will appear if you have autohide set up. The number that you enter will be the time in miliseconds the operating system will pause. 1 second would need an entry of 1000. I usually set mine at 0 so that it appears as quick as it can.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder

This registry key is where you would go in Windows 98 and Windows 95 with the windows update installed to fix your menu order. Maybe you haven't noticed, but the menu items in the Start Menu and in the Favorites folder don't have to be in alphabetical order. By dragging them, you can put them in any order you want. The problem is, once you have changed one, you can never get it back to alphabetical order without fixing it in the registryZ

From the MenuOrder key, choose which sub key you want to edit, the Start Menu or the Favorites. You will see more sub keys that are called Menu. You can either delete that key, or delete the binary Order listing in the right hand pane. You can search through all of the sub keys for the same thing and reset any of them that you want.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Uninstall

This registry key contains all of the sub keys for programs that can be uninstalled. When you want to uninstall, always use the uninstall program that came with the program or use the Add/Remove Programs applet of the Control Panel. This registry key can be useful when you have done that, but the program still comes up in the Add/Remove Programs listing. When you click on it it says "Can't find this file." Well, of course it can't, it has been uninstalled. It is just that the registry listing hasn't been removed.

To remove it, just visit this key, and then scroll down until you see the culprit. You might have to click on the sub key once so that the real name shows up in the right hand pane. Sometimes the sub key names don't make a lot of sense.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ Software\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion

This registry key will allow you to change to information you inputted about who Windows was registered to. You can change the company, persons name, the registration key, etc.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MS Setup (ACME) \User Info

Have you noticed that when you install programs, it quite often automatically knows your name and your company name? That information does not come from the registry key mentioned above this one. It is found in this one. If you have gotten a used computer from someone or have changed companies and want to change those names, then visit this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Run

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Run

This registry key will help you when there are programs starting up that you don't want running. When you install something like Norton Utilities or an antiviral program, they load up at start up and put a small icon in the system tray. You probably want most of these programs running, but lets say that you don't want it running. How do you get rid of it. There should be an option in the program setup, but if you just can't find it, you can go to this key, or any other that starts with RUN and delete the listing in the right hand pane.

For instance, Power Management is installed by default by Windows, even if you go into the power settings and tell it you want the computer on all the time, there is still a line in the RunServices key. It wasn't doing any harm because the power profile was set so that everything was on all the time, but why even have the profile in there is I don't use it. So I deleted it.

Note: Remember - Backup before doing any Registry Changes and you are doing it at your own risk!!!!!

From: computerjournal.com

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