By default Windows uses Dr Watson as the debugger when a system crash occurs. This setting allows you to alter the specified utility with utility such as Visual Studio. Under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AeDebug, create or modify a String value, name it Debugger, Value Filename. Here filename is the name of your debugging utility.

To set the directory for Dr Watson log, under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DrWatson create or modify Expanded String value, name it LogFilePath, value Directory Path. Here the directory path is the new path where you want your log file to be created.

To create or append the log file, under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DrWatson, create or modify DWORD value, name it AppendToLogFile, value 0=new, 1= append.

To get alert by sound (wav), edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DrWatson, create or modify DWORD value, name it SoundNotification, value 0= disable, 1= enable.

To specify the path and filename of wav file, edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DrWatson, create or modify Expanded String Value, name it WaveFile, value Location of File. Here Location of File is the path of wav file.

To disable the default Search page, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main, create or modify DWORD Value, name it Use Custom Search URL, value 0=disable, 1=enable.

To remove the Go button from IE, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main , create or modify String value, name it ShowGoButton, value no. To enable again, change value to yes.

To set the default directory, edit underHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer, create or modify String value, name it Download Directory, value Directory Location. Here Directory Location is the path you want to use for downloading.

To specify your own Source Viewer, edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ View Source Editor\Editor Name, create or modify String value, name it (Default), value Application with path. Here Application with path is the name of the application like Notepad, with its full path, eg. C:\Windows\Notepad.exe.

To change the title according to your choice, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main, create or modify String value, name it title. Here title is your choice name. To load default, delete this key.

To use Long file name, edit underHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem, create or modify DWORD value, name itWin31FileSystem, value 0 or 1. Here 0 = long file names, 1 = 8.3 filenames.

To snap-to the default button of the Window, edit underHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Mouse, create or modify String value, name it SnapToDefaultButton, value 0 or 1. Here 0= disabled, 1 = enabled.

To reverse the mouse buttons HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Mouse, create or modify String value, name it SwapMouseButtons, value 0 or 1. Here 0 for normal, 1 = swap buttons.

To modify the Mouse Buffer Size, edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Mouclass\Parameters, change or modify DWORD value, name it MouseDataQueueSize, and write the value of the queue buffer to use.

To specify the Print Server Broadcast timeout, edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print, create or modify DWORD value, name it ServerThreadTimeout, and write value in milliseconds.

To modify the size of buffer, edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Kbdclass\Parameters, create or modify DWORD value, name it KeyboardDataQueueSize, and write the value of the queue buffer to use.

To enable PC speaker to beep on errors, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Sound, create or modify String value, name it Beep, value Yes. To disable the beep, edit the value to No.

To enable Autorun feature of CD-Rom, edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CDRom, create or modify DWORD value, name it Autorun, value 1. To disable Autorun edit the value to 0.

To enable or disable the automatically dialing, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Internet Settings, create or modify Binary value, name it EnableAutodial, value 00 00 00 00 = disabled, 01 00 00 00 = enabled.

When enable, a dialog box is shown when successful validation by a Windows domain occurs, edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Network\Logon, create or modify DWORD value, name it DomainLogonMessage, value 1. To disable edit the value to 0.

To remove the hand icon from the shared resources, edit under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Network\SharingHandler, create or modify String value, name it (Default), and the value is none. To restore, edit the value ntshuri.dll.

to change the installation path, edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup, create or modify String value, name it SourcePath, value set to the installation path.

To display the Security Menu Item, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer, create or modify DWORD value, name it NoNtSecurity, value 0. To remove the Menu items, set value to 1.

To remove Search button from Windows Explorer, edit underHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer, create or modify DWORD value, name it NoShellSearchButton, value 1. To enable again, set value to 0.

By default this value is 10% of partition, to set according to your preferences, edit underHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\ Parameters, create or modify DWORD value, name it DiskSpaceThreshold, set value between 0 to 99.

To specify the number of documents files to be display, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer, create or modify DWORD value, name it MaxRecentDocs, set value to your preference.

To change the color of Compressed files and folders, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer, create or modify Binary value, name it AltColor,set value to RGB value of color. Don’t forget that you have enabled the option in Windows Explorer.

If you have a large amount of RAM, then only try this, edit underHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\ Memory Management, create or modify DWORD value, name it DisablePagingExecutive, value1. To disable, set value to 0 . This tweak can be enabled to force the core Windows system to be kept in memory and not paged to disk.

To scroll your items in start menu, edit underHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ Advanced, create or modify String value, name it StartMenuScrollPrograms, value Yes. To disable, set value to No.

To allow Windows to show Compressed Files and Folders in Different Color, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ Advanced, create or modify DWORD value, name it ShowCompColor, value 1. To disable, set value to 0.

To cascade Control Panel in Start Menu, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ Advanced, create or modify String value, name it CascadeControlPanel, value Yes. To disable, set the value to No.

To cascade My Documents in Start Menu, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ Advanced, create or modify String value, name it CascadeMyDocuments, value Yes. To disable, set the value to No.

To cascade Network Connections in Start Menu, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ Advanced, create or modify String value, name it CascadeNetworkConnections, value Yes. To disable, set the value to No.

To cascade Printer Folder in Start Menu, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ Advanced, create or modify String value, name it CascadePrinters, value Yes. To disable, set the value to No.

To Display Administrative tools in Start Menu, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ Advanced, create or modify String value, name it StartMenuAdminTools, value Yes. To disable, set the value to No.

To Display Favorities in Start Menu, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ Advanced, create or modify String value, name it StartMenuFavorites, value Yes. To disable, set the value to No.

To enable command line completion, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor, create or modify DWORD value, name it CompletionChar, set value in hex. Example, the value of Tab key in Hex is 9.

To enable command line path completion, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor, create or modify DWORD value, name it PathCompletionChar, set value in hex. Example, the value of Tab key in Hex is 9.

To set control whether SFC should scan at startup, edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon, create or modify DWORD value, name it SFCScan, set value 0 = disabled, 1 = scan every boot, 2 = scan once.

To increase performance, edit underHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem, create or modify DWORD value, name it NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate, value 1. To disable set value to 0.

To remove recent documents folder from Start Menu, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer, create or modify DWORD value, name it NoRecentDocsMenu, value 1. To display again, edit the value to 0.

When Windows exit is saves changes like icon location, appearance etc, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer, change or modify DWORD value, name it NoSaveSettings, value 1. To disable this, set value to 0.

When a file is accessed it is added to the Recent Documents on the Start Menu. To disable, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer, chage or modify DWORD value, name it NoRecentDocsHistory, value 1. To see Recent documents, set value to 0.

To clear the list, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer, change or modify DWORD value, name itClearRecentDocsOnExit, value 1. To disable, set value to 0.

To hide all items from Desktop, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer, change or modify DWORD value, name it NoDesktop, value 1. To disable, set value 0.

To remove Find option from Start Menu, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer, change or modify DWORD value, name it NoFind , value 1. To disable this, set value to 0.

To remove Run option from Start Menu, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer, change or modify DWORD value, name it NoRun , value 1. To disable this, set value to 0.

To remove Control Panel from Start Menu, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer, change or modify DWORD value, name it NoControlPanel , value 1. To disable this, set value to 0.

To deny access from display settings, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ System, change or modify DWORD value, name it NoDispCPL, value 1. To disable this, set value to 0.

To hide these settings, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ System, change or modify DWORD value, name it NoDispAppearancePage, value 1. To disable, set value to 0.

To hide these settings, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ System, change or modify DWORD value, name it NoDispBackgroundPage, value 1. To disable, set value to 0.

To hide these settings, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ System, change or modify DWORD value, name it NoDispScrSavPage, value 1. To disable, set value to 0.

To hide these settings, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ System, change or modify DWORD value, name it NoDispSettingsPage, value 1. To disable, set value to 0.

To set your own program, edit under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AudioCD\Shell\Play\Command, change or modify String value, name it (Default), set value the name of your player.

To remove the shortcut arrows from the icons, edit under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile] and [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\piffile, and delete key IsShortCut.

To display the version on Desktop, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop, change or modify DWORD value, name it PaintDesktopVersion , value 1. To disable again set the value to 0.

To know the information, open key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System. Here is the information about SystemBiosDate, SystemBiosVersion, VideoBiosDate.

To send an Administrative alert, edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl, change or modify DWORD value, name it SendAlert, value 1. To disable, set the value to 0.

When program names are not removed from Add/Remove program, although the program is uninstall. Edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall. To see which application each sub-key represents, open it and there should be at least two values DisplayName and UninstallString. DisplayName is the name used in the Add/Remove programs list, and UninstallString is the program used to uninstall the application. Delete that key.

To add a bitmap image, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar, create or modify String value, name it BackBitmap, set value to path and name of Bitmap file.

To IE icon from Desktop, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer, change or modify DWORD value, name it NoInternetIcon, value 1. To disable, set value 0.

To change the Menu delay, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop, create or modify String value, name it MenuShowDelay, value between 0 - 999 in milli seconds.

To restrict access to Guest users from viewing Event logs, edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\EventLog, create or modify DWORD value, name it RestrictGuestAccess, value 1 . To disable, set value to 0.

To use alphanumeric passwords only, edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Network, change or modify DWORD value, name it AlphanumPwds, value 1. To disable set value to 0.

To clear the page file, edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management, change or modify DWORD value, name it ClearPageFileAtShutdown, value 1. To disable, set value to 0.

To disable this feature, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System, create or modify DWORD value, name it DisableLockWorkstation, value 1. To disable, set value to 0.

To disable editing tools, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System, create or modify DWORD value, name it DisableRegistryTools, value 1. To disable, set value to 0. Be sure that you don’t lock yourself.

To disable Shutdown option, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer, change or modify DWORD value, name it NoClose, value 1. To enable shutdown feature again, set value to 0.

When you open Windows Explorer, under My Computer, you will see Shared Documents, to remove, edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ My Computer \ NameSpace \ DelegateFolders, delete the key {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}.

To remove icons from System Tray, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Policies/Explorer, create or modify DWORD value, name it NoTrayItemsDisplay, value 1 . To enable again set value to 0.

When you right-click a file, you see an option open with .., you can remove unwanted list, edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts, find the extension you like to edit, expand it and look for openWithList, here in right panel you will see a list of programs. Delete those which you do not want.

Edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StruckRect. Now delete the file StruckRects or struckRects2. Reboot required. Plz take a backup of the key before deleting.

To remove unwanted URLs from the address bar of the Internet Explorer, open regedit, edit HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TypedURLs, from the right pane delete the unwanted URLs.

This problem occurs when a particular entry in the registry is either damaged, or is missing. Edit registry, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities Double click identities.In the left pane keys are the identites. Click on the Account ID, and make sure that a string value with the name, User Id, exists in the right pane, and has the same value as that of the Account Id. If you have more than one id, then check for all all of these. Delete and recreate the string, User Id. This should solve the problem.

Normally, when BSOD appears the system is halted, But you can reboot system by editing HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > System > CurrentControlSet > CrashControl > AutoReboot set its value to 1. Now the system will reboot, when BSOD appears. It will append the crash log file.

To change the Logon screen saver, edit under HKEY_USERS\DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop , modify the string value in right pane SCRNSAVE.EXE, value is path and screen saver name. If your screen saver is in path %SystemRoot%\System32 then you need not to write the whole path.

In Windows Xp, you can synchronize your System time with internet, edit HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DateTime\Servers . Add new string keys named 2, 3, etc. with a value of the time server you want to use.

Edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Player\ Settings, create or modify String value, EnableDVDUI, to enable enter value yes.

Edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\ WindowsMediaPlayer, modify or create the string value TitleBar. Double Click on it, and enter the title of your choice.

Edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ My Computer \ NameSpace \ DelegateFolders , delete the key{59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}. If you delete this, all of the Shared Documents folders which are normally under the group called Other Files Stored on This Computer will be gone. We recommend to take back up before deleting the key.

Edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon \ SpecialAccounts \ UserList, Add a DWORD with the name of the user account you want to hide. Make sure it has a value of 0 If there is an existing account, you can unhide it by giving it a value of 1 .

Edit under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Keyboard\Open InitialKeyboardIndicators.Change the value to one of the following numbers
0 - All Keys off
1 - Caps Lock on
2 - Num Lock on
4 - Scroll Lock on
For multiple keys, add their values:
3 - Caps Lock and Num Lock on
5 - Caps Lock and Scroll Lock on
6 - Num Lock and Scroll Lock on
7 - Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock on.

Edit the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities\{ABE2B8A0-C02D-11D3-867B-948FF355BD32}\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0, add or modify DWORDNoSplash, set its value to 1.

Edit the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities\{6556FA89-1137-4E97-9ABB-DC51DAC8152B}\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0, add or modify DWORDNoSplash, set its value to 1.

To change Control Panel icon, edit under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\Default, double click on default key from RHS panel and enter fullpath for ico file.

To change Control Panel icon, edit under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\Default, double click on default key from RHS panel and enter fullpath for ico file.

Open regedit, navigate HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Start Menu, on right hand side set HideTV to 1.

Open regedit, navigate HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Mail, edit or create DWORD value NoSplash and set to 1.

Run regedit, navigate to your favorite registry key > Go to Favorites menu and click Add to Favorites > Type a name for the favorite and Click OK > To access one of the favorites simply select one of the link from favorites menu.

NavigateHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer, create a DWORD value NoInternetOpenWith and set value to 1.

Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer.create a DWORD value, NoNetConnectDisconnet and set to 1.

You can underline the typed text in notepad, from registry add/modify the DWORD value HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Notepad\lfUnderline, set the value to 1. Make sure, during this process notepad is not running. Now, open notepad and type, the type text appear will be underline.

To enable Pen Drive in Windows, edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UsbStor. In the right pane, Modify Start and type 3 in the Value data box (Hexadecimal). To disable the USB storage devices, change the Start value back to 4.

Edit under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies. Add a new DWORD called WriteProtect and put the value as 0 to disable write privileges to the USB port. To reverse the step, either delete the WriteProtect REG_DWORD or toggle the value to 1 which will enable the port.

Edit key under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Notepad\StatusBar and set it to 1. This will make Status bar visible in Notepad.

Select the key which Windows Registry editor is not allowing to edit. Right-click on the key and select Permissions..., a dialog box will appear, click on Advanced button. Dialog box for Advanced Security Settings ... will appear, from Owner tab > select user name from the list and click on Apply button and then click on OK button. Click on OK button to close first dialog box. If require, again right-click on the same key and select Permissions.... Select your Username in the list and check the "Allow" option for "Full Control". Click on Apply button and then OK. This will allow you to modify registry keys.
[This is applicable for Windows 7 and Vista only.]

From Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System. Select the value EnableLUA and chnge it to 0. Reboot the computer for changes to apply. To Enable the UAC change the value to 1.

to Change the thumbnail preview time, edit under Windows Registry, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced, create or edit DWORD value ThumbnailLivePreviewHoverTime, select Decimal base and enter the time interval in milli seconds, i.e 1000 milliseconds = 1 second.