Windows Registry - by VxFaeRie

There are a lot of new customizations that come in Windows 95® and in Windows 98® that work through the registry and Microsoft did not bother to tell us. Even though most of us that code a lot already know that to be true. I recently have started programming REG files to customize certain functions in the windows environment like:

The File Format of a REG File

The format of REG files is a very simple format. The first line of REG file must always begin:

REGEDIT4
(this line must be blank so don't put this text on line 2)
(line 3 is where you begin your code)

Example
This example will also show you how to format a new key entry using the DWORD, Binary, and regular string.:

--start of example--
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion]
"RegisteredOwner"="VxFaeRie"
This would be an example of a String Key

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoRun"=dword:00000001
This is an example of a DWORD Key

[HKEY_CURRENT_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\control\FileSystem]
"Win31FileSystem"=hex:01
This is an example of a Binary Key
--end of example-

The example above also shows three of the customizations for Windows, it shows how to change the Registered Owner to what you want.

"RegisteredOwner"="Put what ever you want inside these quotations but don't make it to long"

The second part of the example shows you how to disable the Run command in the Startmenu.

"NoRun"=dword:00000001

The third part shows you how to change the file system that windows uses, to change it to use the old file format that DOS & Windows 3.1 used.

"Win31FileSystem"=hex:01

A note about DWORDs

The DWORDs used in this tutorial are like this for any customization:

00000000 This means that you are enabling that feature
00000001 This means that you are disabling that feature in Windows

Customizations

From this point on will be the information that shows you how to customize windows. Use this information the same as shown in the example above.

Hiding All Desktop Items
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoDesktop"=dword:00000001

Hiding the Network Neighborhood Icon
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoNetHood"=dword:00000001

Disable Changing Wallpaper
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop]
"NoChangingWallPaper"=dword:00000001

Restrict Access to the Display Control Panel
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"NoDispCPL"=dword:00000001

Restrict Access to Password Properties
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"NoSecCPL"=dword:00000001

Hides the Taskbar Settings in the Start Menu
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoSetTaskbar"=dword:00000001

Hides the Control Panel and Printer Settings in the Start Menu
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoSetFolders"=dword:00000001

Disables the Run Command [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoRun"=dword:00000001

There are at least 100 more settings that you can customize. But because my time is running short, I have to cut it short. If you have any questions about more of these customizations for REG files, I will gladly help you anyway I can! Just email me at joltcola@netzero.com or VxFaeRie@aol.com.