Caching - Better Performance
Context Menu - Add Command Prompt to every folder
Context menu - Add Desktop
Context Menu - Add Explore From Here to Every Folder
Context Menu - Add File Types to the ‘New’ menu
Context Menu - Add html editor
Context Menu - Add ‘Open With’
Context Menu - Add Outlook Express Mail Message
Control Panel - Rename
CoolSwitch
Better Caching Performance
Go to Control Panel - System Tab - File system - change the Typical Role of the Machine to Network server, then apply changes.
Instead of rebooting your PC, run Regedit and go to key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\FS Templates\Server\.
Edit the Namecache and pathcache to these binary values:
NameCache - a9 0a 00 00 PathCache - 40 00 00 00.
These values are actually reversed before you edit the changes.
Exit Regedit and reboot.
Add Command Prompt to Every Folder
If you still use the DOS prompt regularly, this creates a new right-click option to open a command prompt window at the directory you are currently working from.
Open the registry and find the key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell
Create a new sub key called 'CommandPrompt' as in [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\CommandPrompt].
Change the value of '(default)' within the key to equal the text you would like on the right-click menu, for example 'Command Prompt Here'.
Create another new sub-key under the key created above, name this subkey 'command' as in: [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\CommandPrompt\command].
Change the value of '(default)' within this key depending on your operating system to equal either:
Windows 9x command.com /k cd "%1"
Or
Windows NT cmd.exe /k cd "%1"
Now right-click on a folder and the new option of 'Command Prompt Here' should be available.
For example, the setting may look like:
(Default) "command.com /k cd "%1""
Add Desktop to context menu
This adds "Desktop" to the context menu of a folder and lets you access the contents of your Desktop via, C:\Windows\desktop (which is normally a hidden folder, useful when you’ve opened several windows at the same time).
You can right-click on any folder on your computer, and then click "Desktop" in the context menu, or right click the start button
It opens an Explorer-window with the contents of your Desktop, including the system-files like "My computer", "Network neighbourhood", "Recycle Bin", and whatever more you have installed on your desktop.
Run Regedit and go to:-
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Classes/Directory/Shell
Create a new key named 'Desktop' in this folder put a new 'string value' Name = (Default) then modify the data to read "Desktop" (Include brackets and quotes)
In the folder 'Desktop' create another key named "command" (no capital)
Put in a new 'string value' Name = (Default) then modify the Data to read "C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE /e,/root,/idlist," (include brackets and quotes)
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Directory\shell\Desktop]
@="Desktop"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Directory\shell\Desktop\command]
@="C:\\WINDOWS\\EXPLORER.EXE /e,/root,/idlist,"
To Uninstall
Run Regedit and go to:-
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Classes/Directory/Shell
Then select sub-key <Desktop>
Click "Edit" in the menu
Then click "Delete"
Add Explore From Here to Every Folder
When you right click on any folder this will give you an option to Explore From Here, which will open up an explorer window of that folder.
Open your registry and find, or create, the key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\Explore
Change the value of '(Default)' to equal 'E&xplore From Here'.
Create a new key under the [Explore] key called command, and edit the '(Default)' value to equal 'explorer.exe /e,/root,/idlist,%i'.
For example, the setting may look like:- (Default) "explorer.exe /e,/root,/idlist,%i"
Add file types to the ‘ New ’ menu item on the mouse menu
To add file types to the ' New ' menu item on the mouse menu find the extension of the data file for the program in question
I.e. .doc for Word, under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.
Below the files extension you need to add a new key with the value 'ShellNew'.
Once that key is in place you have 2 options:
1.Start with a null file, one with no preset styles.
2. Start from a template file.
For a null file, in the ShellNew key insert a new string value named 'NullFile' and leave the value blank.
To use a template file, insert a new string value named 'FileName' and set the value equal to the path of the template document.
The default is in the hidden ShellNew subdirectory beneath your Win95 directory.
When you use the New feature of the button menu, Win95 either copies the template file or creates a null file.
Add your favourite html editor to context menu
When you right click on a html file you have a variety of options.
Now you can have your favourite html editor in there as well that will open when clicked.
Goto:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\htmlfile\shell
Create new key, name it after your editor
In this key create another new key named "command"
In command, right click on default, (in the right pane), select modify, and enter the path to your editor.
Now when you right click on an HTML file your editor will be in the context menu,
Add ‘Open With’ to Context Menu
Holding down the Shift key whilst right clicking on a file will present you with the ‘Open With’ in the context menu.
To make this a permanent feature go to;
1. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/Unknown/shell/openas/command.
2. In the right pane double-click the default) item and copy the entire contents of the Value Data and hit cancel. (DO NOT MODIFY IT)
3. Now go to, HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/*/
4. Right click on the * Subkey and select New, Key. Name the new Subkey "shell".
5. Right click on the shell Subkey and select New, Key. Name the new Subkey "openas".
6. Right click on the openas Subkey and select New, Key. Name the new Subkey "command".
7. Click on command and in the right pane double click on "(default)".
8. In the Value Data space paste the information that was copied in step 2 above, hit ok.
9. Close the registry and restart windows
Note; On files that normally have the "Open With" choice, two "Open With" entries will be displayed.
Add Outlook Express Mail Message to the context Menu
When you right click on your Desktop, you get a context menu with several "New" options. Here’s how to add an OE Mail Message to that list of New options.
Open RegEdit and go to;
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.eml.
Add a new key named "ShellNew".
In the right pane, add a string value named "Command"
The value should be: "c:\program files\outlook express\msimn.exe" /mailurl: (with the quotation marks).
Please note that you must add a space after /mailurl:, or it won't work. Also, if the path on your machine is different than that listed above, you'll need to modify the path.
The next time that you right click on your Desktop and select New, you'll see a new option for Outlook Express Mail Message.
Rename Control Panel
Folder & titlebar text
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}@="Control Panel"
Change "Control Panel" to suit
CoolSwitch
CoolSwitch is a feature available within Windows to quickly switch between tasks and programs by using the Alt + TAB keys.
Modify the value named "CoolSwitch" and set it to "0" to disable task switching or "1" to enable it.
To change the size of the CoolSwitch popup modify the values named "CoolSwitchColumns" and "CoolSwitchRows".
User Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
Value Name: CoolSwitch, CoolSwitchColumns, CoolSwitchRows
Data Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Value Data: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)