Some computer tips and tricks vol6

Removing shortcut arrows

One problem when removing shortcut arrows is that
if you delete a desktop item, it will remove it.
If it is a shortcut it will just remove the icon.
If it is not a shortcut, then it will remove the program.
Having the little icon arrow is one way to tell the difference

Getting rid of Click Here to Continue

1. Start the Registry Editor
2. Open HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Software / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Policies / Explorer
3. Create a binary value and call it NoStartBanner
4. Double-click on it and give it a value of 01 00 00 00
5. You will need to repeat the same steps for HKEY_USERS / .Default / Software / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Policies / Explore
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Changing the Desktop and Explorer Folder Icons

The following steps will change the icon that is displayed as the default Folder icon.

1. Start the Registry Editor.
2. Search for "Shell Icons".
3. This will bring you to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / explorer / Shell Icons.
4. Double-click on the one has the value name of "3" in the right pane.
5. Type in the new icon you want to use.
6. If you have a DLL file specified, you need to count for the location of the particular icon you want to use, starting at 0.
7. To reset the icon cache, use a program such as Tweak with comes with the PowerToys from Microsoft.

Note: I haven't experimented with too many of the other icon changes possible.

Adding Control Panel Icons to the Desktop

This is an easy one..

1. Simply open up the Control Panel.
2. Right Click and Drag the icon you want to your desktop or folder.
3. This will create a shortcut for that icon.
4. It could come in handy if there are always certain items you need to get to quickly.

Create a Control Panel menu directly Bellow the Start Button

1. Click the Start Button once with your right mouse button. You should see a right-button menu (called a context menu because it offers different choices in different contexts).
2. You should see the items Open, Explore, and Find on the context menu. Click Explore with your left mouse button.
3. An Explorer file management window should open. A directory tree should appear in the left pane, with the right pane displaying the contents of the Start Menu folder.
4. Right-click any empty space within the right pane. A context menu should appear. Click New and then Folder.
5. The Explorer will create a highlighted icon called New Folder. Type in the following string, all on one line, replacing the words New Folder with this new line. You must type the period, the curly braces, all four hyphens, and the hexadecimal numbers exactly as shown. After the closing curly brace, press Enter.

Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

Other Folders can be added following the same instructions.

* Dial-Up Networking.{992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48}
* Printers.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
* Inbox.{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
* My Computer.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
* Recycle Bin.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
* Network Neighborhood.{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
* Desktop.{00021400-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
* Briefcase.{85BBD920-42A0-1069-A2E4-08002B30309D}
* Fonts.{BD84B380-8CA2-1069-AB1D-08000948F534}

Minimizing All Windows

To minimize all windows:

1. Press Ctrl-ESC ESC to bring up the Task Bar
2. Right Mouse Click on an open area of the Task Bar
3. Select Minimize all Windows

This makes it a lot easier to minimize windows when all your open applications are full screen.

With the Microsoft Keyboard, you can accomplish the same thing by pressing the Window-M key.

Removing the Shortcut Icon Arrows

1. Open REGEDIT.EXE
2. Open the Key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
3. Open the Key LNKFILE
4. Delete the value IsShortcut
5. Open the next Key PIFFILE
6. Delete the value IsShortcut
7. Restart the Win95

Turning on AutoArrange for Folders

To make all folders keep AutoArrange turned on:

1. Open up an existing folder
2. Select View / Arrange
3. Arrange the Icons the way you would like, (e.g. Name, Size,etc.)
4. Select View / Arrange again
5. Select AutoArrange
6. Press the Ctrl-key while you close the window.
7. This folder should now have AutoArrange always selected.

This should allow you to create new folders that have AutoArrange selected by default.
You only need to specify by Name, Size, etc. if you want to change it from the default you set above.
Note: I have only tested this on a few computers. Please give me feedback regarding any problems.

Creating Document Scraps

If you are using Microsoft Word 7.0,
you can highlight a section of the document then drag and drop the highlighted area to
your desktop. Windows will create a file for you with a name something like
"Document Scrap From..." followed by the first few words you selected