Disable Registry Editing Tools

Disable Registry Editing Tools (All Windows) Popular

This restriction disables the ability to interactively run the standard Microsoft registry editing tools such as REGEDIT and REGEDT32.

Warning: Be careful with this setting because once you enter this key into the registry you will not be able to use Regedit to undo the change. Consider wisely before using this modification so that you do not lock yourself out of the registry.

Open your registry and find the key below.

Create a new DWORD value named 'DisableRegistryTools' and set the value to '1' to disable registry editing functions. This can also be enabled on a user-by-user basis by putting the same value in the [HKEY_CURRENT_USER] hive.

Restart Windows for the change to take effect.

If you have inadvertently locked yourself out of your registry you can use usually use WinGuides Tweak Manager to unlock it. Please don't abuse this by trying to circumvent system administrator policies.

Note: This setting will disable all standard Microsoft registry editing tools, but not WinGuides Tweak Manager.

Registry Settings

User Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System]
Value Name: DisableRegistryTools
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Data: (0 = allow regedit, 1 = disable regedit)


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.

Display Network Error Statistics

This tweak allows you display error statistics on the Network Connection Status page for LAN and WAN connections. This information may be useful in diagnosing the network reliability.

Open your registry and find or create the key below.

Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, called "ShowLanErrors" and set it according to the value data below.

Exit your registry; you may need to restart or log out of Windows for the change to take effect.

Registry Settings

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network\Connections\
StatMon]
Value Name: ShowLanErrors
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Data: (0 = default, 1 = enable error count)


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.

Change the Driver Signing Options

This tweak determines how the system responds when a user tries to install a device driver that is not digitally signed and has not passed the Windows Logo testing.

Open your registry and find or create the key below.

Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, called "BehaviorOnFailedVerify" and set it according to the value data below.

Exit your registry; you may need to restart or log out of Windows for the change to take effect.

Registry Settings

User Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Driver Signing]
Value Name: BehaviorOnFailedVerify
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Data: (0 = Ignore, 1 = Warn, 2 = Block)


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.

Editing the Registry

The Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE) is included with most version of Windows (although you won't find it on the Start Menu) it enables you to view, search and edit the data within the Registry. There are several methods for starting the Registry Editor, the simplest is to click on the Start button, then select Run, and in the Open box type "regedit", and if the Registry Editor is installed it should now open and look like the image below.

An alternative Registry Editor (REGEDT32.EXE) is available for use with Windows NT/2000, it includes some additional features not found in the standard version, including; the ability to view and modify security permissions, and being able to create and modify the extended string values REG_EXPAND_SZ & REG_MULTI_SZ.



Create a Shortcut to Regedit
This can be done by simply right-clicking on a blank area of your desktop, selecting New, then Shortcut, then in the Command line box enter "regedit.exe" and click Next, enter a friendly name (e.g. 'Registry Editor') then click Finish and now you can double click on the new icon to launch the Registry Editor.



Using Regedit to modify your Registry
Once you have started the Regedit you will notice that on the left side there is a tree with folders, and on the right the contents (values) of the currently selected folder.



Like Windows explorer, to expand a certain branch (see the structure of the registry section), click on the plus sign [+] to the left of any folder, or just double-click on the folder. To display the contents of a key (folder), just click the desired key, and look at the values listed on the right side. You can add a new key or value by selecting New from the Edit menu, or by right-clicking your mouse. And you can rename any value and almost any key with the same method used to rename files; right-click on an object and click rename, or click on it twice (slowly), or just press F2 on the keyboard. Lastly, you can delete a key or value by clicking on it, and pressing Delete on the keyboard, or by right-clicking on it, and choosing Delete.


Note: it is always a good idea to backup your registry before making any changes to it. It can be intimidating to a new user, and there is always the possibility of changing or deleting a critical setting causing you to have to reinstall the whole operating system. It's much better to be safe than sorry!

Show Computer Manufacturer and Support Information

Show Computer Manufacturer and Support Information (All Windows) Popular

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.

To add the manufacturer and support information you need to create two new files in the Windows system directly, normally "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM" for Windows 95, 98 and Me and "C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32" for Windows NT and 2000.

The first file is a text file called "OEMINFO.INI". To create the file open notepad and copy the template below, make any changes and save the file in the System directory.

OEMINFO.INI Template

[General]
Manufacturer=Your Company, Inc.
Model=Your Computer Model
SupportURL=http://your.support.site/
LocalFile=c:\your\local\support\file.htm

[Support Information]
Line1=first line of support information
Line2=second line
Line3=third line
Line4=fourth line
...
LineN=nth line
; Create as many lines as you need by incrementing the Line number

The other file you need to create is a logo file. This is a standard Windows bitmap file (172 x 172 pixels), saved as "OEMLOGO.BMP" in the Windows System directory.

Once you have created both these files open System Properties from Control Panel and your company information and logo will be displayed. The details you entered in the [Support Information] section will show up when you click on the Support Information button.

Note: To display a logo you must create a 172x172 (pixel) bitmap image and save it as OEMLOGO.BMP in the Windows system directory.

Re-Initialize Your Registry Without Rebooting

Re-Initialize Your Registry Without Rebooting (All Windows) Popular

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.

Save your work before attempting this tip!

Press CTRL + ALT + DELETE, to bring up the Windows task list. Highlight 'Explorer' and click on 'End Task', if the Shutdown screen is shown, click 'Cancel'. After a few seconds an error message will popup, click on 'End Task' and the Windows explorer will be reloaded along with any new registry settings.

For Windows NT or 2000, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select "Task Manager". Choose the "Processes" tab and locate the "explorer.exe" process, highlight it and click "End Process". Select 'File -> New Task', then enter 'explorer' and click OK.

Hint: For other ways to launch the task manager have a look at this article.

Make the Columns Fit

Make the Columns Fit (All Windows) Popular

Want to quickly see all the column in explorer without having to resize them individually? This tip does it for you.

Simple press CTRL + + (press the plus button twice on the numeric keypad), this will adjust the column width so you can view the info in each column.

This tip may also work with programs based on the Windows explorer interface. Try it out!

Note: You may have to expand the window borders to see all the columns.