Windows 95/98 Registry (and more) Cool Stuff

Notes:
1. All tips listed here should work in both Windows 95 and Windows 98 unless otherwise noted.
2. Text shown in a bold fixed-width font is in valid  .REG file format.  You may just copy & paste these sections into your .REG files. There is a small section at the very end on how to make a .REG file, and a link to a valid .REG file you can save. It's a breeze.  Don't be afraid to try it.
3. A registry value name of "@" means (Default).

Update Windows Installation (CAB files) Path
Key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup]
"SourcePath"="C:\\WINDOWS\\OPTIONS\\CABS\\"
Instructions:
If you've installed Windows from a CD, whenever you add/remove components and Windows needs some source files again, it will look to the original source--your CDROM.  You may have already created a C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS directory, and copied all of the .CAB files from D:\WIN95 or D:\WIN98 there, but have you updated your registry to look in C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS\ by default?  Modify the "SourcePath" value in your registry to reflectwhere you've placed the .CAB files.  Then, whenever Windows needs sourcefiles, it will find them without prompting you.  You'll be the belle of the ball.

Taskbar speed
Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"MenuShowDelay"="1"
Instructions:
Add the string value "MenuShowDelay" to the key above.  The values may vary from 1 to 10.  A value of 1 will yield the fastest menus.  You'll have to reboot to see the effect.

Use BMP files as icons
Key:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Paint.Picture\DefaultIcon]
@="%1"
Instructions:
Alter the Default string value of  the key above.  This will cause the icon for BMP files to be a little mini version of the BMP file itself.  You'll have to reboot activate this change.  You will also need to install the Paint program if it isn't already installed.  If Paint isn't installed, you won't even have the registry key listed above.

Run List item removal
Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU]
"MRUList"="dcba"
"a"="command\\1"
"b"="http://www.apecity.com\\1"
"c"="sysedit\\1"
"d"="regedit\\1"
Instructions:
In your registry, browse to the key listed above.  You'll find a bunch of alphabetical entries similar to the a,b,c,d listed above.  Delete any of the letter value/data pairs that you want to get the heck outof your most-recently-used (MRU) run list.  Delete them all if you want.  Don't worry about the "MRUList" value's accuracy or existence.  This is good to know, in case you've entered a password on a 'Run' command line, or don't want people to know what programs you have run.  Note thatyoucan just type a URL on the 'Run' line and it will open in a browser window.

Find List item removal
Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Doc Find Spec MRU]
"a"=""
"MRUList"="cab"
"b"="acpi.sys"
"c"="mul*.*"
Instructions:
In your registry, browse to the key listed above.  You'll find a bunch of alphabetical entries similar to the a,b,c,d listed above.  Delete any of the letter value/data pairs that you want to get the heck out of your Find list.  Delete them all if you want.  Don't worry about the "MRUList" value's accuracy or existence.

Install Locations List item removal
Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\InstallLocationsMRU]
"a"="A:\\"
"MRUList"="ebcad"
"b"="\\\\CRASH\\VOL1\\cit\\Printers\\HP5000\\DISK1\\"
"c"="\\\\crash\\vol1\\cit\\printers\\hp4050\\"
"d"="C:\\WINDOWS\\options\\cabs\\"
"e"="\\\\CRASH\\VOL1\\cit\\Viruscan\\"
Instructions:
In your registry, browse to the key listed above.  You'll find a bunch of alphabetical entries similar to the a,b,c,d listed above.  Delete any of the letter value/data pairs that you want to get the heck out of your Install Locations list.  Or, re-order them by editing the value of MRULIST.  Delete them all if you want.

Tilde (~) character in filename removal
Key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem]
"NameNumericTail"=hex:00
Instructions:
Add the "NameNumericTail" binary value to this key, and give it a value of 0.  Now when windows invents a short name for your long filenames, it won't use "filena~1.exe".  It will just tack numbers on the end.  Why did they pick ~ anyway?

System Folder locations
Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders]
"Desktop"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Desktop"
"Templates"="C:\\WINDOWS\\ShellNew"
"AppData"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Application Data"
"Start Menu"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Start Menu"
"Programs"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Start Menu\\Programs"
"Startup"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Start Menu\\Programs\\StartUp"
"Fonts"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Fonts"
"SendTo"="C:\\WINDOWS\\SendTo"
"Recent"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Recent"
"Favorites"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Favorites"
"Cache"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Local Settings\\Temporary Internet Files"
"Cookies"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Cookies"
"History"="C:\\WINDOWS\\History"
"NetHood"="C:\\WINDOWS\\NetHood"
"Personal"="C:\\My Documents"
"PrintHood"="C:\\WINDOWS\\PrintHood"
"Local AppData"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Local Settings\\Application Data"
"My Pictures"="C:\\My Documents\\My Pictures"
"Administrative Tools"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Administrative Tools"
Instructions:
Maybe your C: drive is getting too full, but you like to keep lots of things on your desktop.  Well, point your Windows Desktop to another location, as to the new D: drive you just bought (eg "D:\Desktop").  You can see the other System folder entries here.  The possibilities are several ('endless' would just be too much of an exaggeration).

Disable Window Animations
Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
"MinAnimate"="0"
Instructions:
Browse to this key and add the "MinAnimate" string value.  Set it to "0" for no window animation, and "1" for animation.

Cascading Windows. You've always wanted Control Panel to do this!
Instructions:
Using Explorer, Browse to C:\Windows\Start Menu.  Or, if you've altered the location if your Start Menu using the instructions above, browse to that location.
Create a new folder, and name it this (use copy & paste):
Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

After you enter this name and hit enter, you'll have a new folder in theStart Menu name Control Panel.  It will cascade and show you all the applets in it!
Here are two others you might want to try:
Dial Up Net.{992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48}
Printers.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}

Single window browsing or Multiple window browsing
Keys:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState]
"Settings"=hex:0c,00,01,00,2a,01,00,00,60,00,00,00
Instructions:
Read these instructions!  This one is different from all of the other tips on this page!
What you'll be doing is modifying a SINGLE digit in the above "Settings"string.  Your "Settings" string probably looks different from mine. On another machine I tested, it was this: "Settings"=hex:0c,00,00,00,0b,00,00,00,60,00,00,00.  But you are ONLY interested in the 5th number (a byte, actually), counting from the left.  Listed above, the number is "2a" and in the other machine's "Settings" string I just mentioned, the number is "0b".  In either case, you will do the same thing, CHANGE THE FIRST DIGIT OF THE FIFTH NUMBER.  You'll change the "0" to a "2", or the "2" to a "0".  The changed "Settings" string above would then read:
"Settings"=hex:0c,00,01,00,0a,01,00,00,60,00,00,00
The ONLY difference is that the "2" in the fifth number was changed to a "0". 
Here's what this change does:
When the first digit if the 5th number is "0" all browsing will be done in the same window ("Single window browsing").  Suppose you're browsing in the c:\windows directory, and you double-click on the "system" subdirectory.  Windows will just open up c:\windows\system in the same window, and not open a new window.  When the first digit of the 5th number is a "2" new windows will be opened up ("Multiple window browsing").  Most peoplelike not to have a new window open up each time, as this clutters the desktop, but its a matter of preference.  I find that single window browsing, along with the "Open a new Window quickly" tip listed next is the best solution.   You have to reboot before this change will take effect.

Open a new Window quickly
Keys:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\opennew]
@="Open New &Window"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\opennew\command]
@="explorer %1"
or
@="explorer /e,  %1"                    <-  Windows 98 only
or   
@="explorer /e, /root,  %1"              <-  Windows 98 only
Instructions:
In this case, you'll be creating two new KEYS, not just new values.  Create the 'opennew' key and its 'command' subkey.  Give each the default values listed above.  Shutdown & reboot.  This will allow you to quickly open a new window.  This will be very useful if you're on a system set to open everything in the same window, allowing you to quickly create another window to make copying/moving files easier.  Settingyoursystem to open everything in the same window, then adding this key probablymakes for the most efficient navigation and I highly recommend it. Note:Tryboth of the "explorer ..." commands above and see what they dodifferently.  The nice thing is, you won't have to reboot when you justalter the command, so you can play with this one.  Another note: Microsoft'sExplorer is the only program I have ever even heard of that requires commas in-between command-line arguments.  Dumb dumb dumb.

Remove unwanted entries from your Right-Click ("Context") menus
Keys:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell]             <- Don't delete this one!
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\PieDir]
@="PieDir"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\PieDir\command]
@="C:\\Program Files\\PieDir\\PIEDIR.EXE %1"
or you might also find the keys in this location:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell]                <- Don't delete this one!
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\Browse With Paint Shop Pro 7]
@=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\Browse With Paint Shop Pro 7\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Jasc Software Inc\\Paint Shop Pro 7\\psp.exe\" \"/Browse\" \"%L\""
Instructions:
I installed a program called "PieDir" I later wanted to get rid of.  I uninstalled it, but it left its dumb little entry in my Context menu.  You might also want to remove items from the Context menu, for example the [opennew] you created in the instructions above.  First, look in [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell].  There, you will see some of the entries that appear on your Context menus.  The one I wanted to delete was PieDir, so I deleted all of PieDirs keys and subkeys.  Paint Shop Pro 7 installed its unwanted little option in [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell].  It would be interesting to find out why Windows has two places like this.  Send me an e-mail if you know.  The good thing about deleting this stuff is that you don't have to reboot afterward.  Go right-click on somefolderand you'll see that the entry you just deleted no longer appears.

MS-DOS Prompt Here (Anywhere)
Key:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\MS-DOS Prompt Here]
@="MS-DOS Prompt Here
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\MS-DOS Prompt Here\command]
@="command.com /K cd %1"
Instructions:
Add these two keys and their values.  You will then have a new itemonyour Context menus to open up an MS-DOS promptin the folder you are currentlybrowsing.  I use this one all the time.

Remove the Windows 9x logo screen on boot
Instructions:
Open a DOS prompt and type/do the following:
c:
cd\
attrib -s -h -r msdos.sys
edit msdos.sys
In the edit program, add the line LOGO=0 to the [Options] section, so itlookssomething like:
[Options]
LOGO=0
BootMulti=1
BootGUI=1
DoubleBuffer=1
AutoScan=1
WinVer=4.10.2222
Save the new MSDOS.SYS file and exit.  Now when you boot, the dumb logo won't show up.  I do this not to speed up the boot time by a few milliseconds, but because I like to see what the system is doing while it boots.

Show all files at the DOS prompt sorted alphabetically and in lowercase
Instructions:
Open a DOS prompt and type/do the following:
c:
cd\
edit autoexec.bat
In the edit program, add the line set dircmd=/a/l/o:gn so it looks something like:
@echo off
set dircmd=/a/l/o:gn
PATH=c:\novell;c:\lemmings;c:\poker

(If you don't have "@echo off" as the first line of your autoexec.bat, add that now too.)  Save the autoexec.bat file and exit.  Now whenyoutype dir, everything will appear in lower case, sorted alphabetically,with directories grouped together at the beginning of the directory listing. What a concept!  Hidden files will also appear.

Command history
Instructions:
Open a DOS prompt and type/do the following:
c:
cd\
edit autoexec.bat
In the edit program, add the line lh C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\doskey.com so itlookssomething like:
@echo off
set dircmd=/a/l/o:gn
lh C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\doskey.com
PATH=c:\novell;c:\lemmings;c:\poker

(If you don't have "@echo off" as the first line of your autoexec.bat, add that now too.)  Save the autoexec.bat file and exit.  Now whenyouhave a DOS prompt open, you can use the up-arrow key to recall previouscommands.  This can save a lot of typing.  If you're worried about how much RAMdoskey takes up, don't be.  It's 5k or something like that...

Search for files/directories more efficiently
Instructions:
Click Start.Find.Files or Folders
You may search for multiple files simultaneously by separating the names with semicolons.
You may also search multiple locations simultaneously by separating the names with semicolons.
Note: If the file/folder name has spaces, enclose it with quotes, as shown below.
The picture below shows an example of a valid set of search rules.



Truename
Instructions:
Open a DOS prompt and type/do the following:
f:
truename

'Truename' is a real gem. This is an undocumented internal function of the command.com command interpreter. It reveals the actual drive mapping of a network (or local) drive. This is the quickest way to determine where F:, G:, Z:, and all of those network drives are pointing. Microsoft unfortunately took this out when they rewrote the command interpreter for Windows NT/2000.