Guy Recommends

A solution to monitor, manage and archive thousands of events that are generated by devices across the entire network. 
Download FREE trial

---

---

Guy's Top 10 Free Tools

1) FreePing
2) Network Monitor
3) Xobni
4) PuTTY (UNIX)
5) IP SLA Monitor
6) BgInfo
7) Net-SNMP
8) CatTools 
9) Exchange Monitor
10) WinDiff

Vista Registry - Change the Name of Your Network Icon

Vista Registry - Change the Name of Your Network Icon

The idea behind this registry tweak is to rename the name of the Network Icon found on the Vista desktop.  Please note, this Network Icon lacks a rename option, thus you have to resort to a registry edit.

Original name and after registry tweak

Topics for Changing the Name of the Network Icon

• Instructions for NetworkExplorer.dll,-1"
• Screen Shot of Vista's Regedit
• Key Learning Points

 ♦

Preliminary Step

Before you attempt this registry tweak, ensure that the Vista desktop displays the Network icon.  Right-click the desktop, Personalize and select: Change Desktop Icons.  This tip also works for XP and W2K3, in these cases, make sure that you display the 'Network' on the desktop.

Instructions for NetworkExplorer.dll,-1"

The mission is to find a particular registry setting in the HKCU section.  Once we locate the REG_SZ we merely edit the value to reflect our preference.

Launch Regedit and navigate thus:

1) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\MuiCache

2) Double-click the REG_SZ "@C:\Windows\system32\NetworkExplorer.dll,-1"

3) To see the fruits of your labours, just press F5 to refresh the desktop, your computer icon should now say the equivalent of: Guy's Network. (See screenshot at the top of this page).

Screen Shot of Vista's Regedit

Here is a panoramic view of the registry, which shows regedit displaying:
C:\Windows\system32\NetworkExplorer.dll,-1"

Guy Recommends: SolarWinds LANSurveyor

LANSurveyor will produce a neat diagram of your network topology.  But that's just the start; LANSurveyor can create an inventory of the hardware and software of your machines and network devices.  Other neat features include dynamic update for when you add new devices to your network.  I also love the ability to export the diagrams to Microsoft Visio.

Finally, Guy bets that if you take a free trial of LANSurveyor then you will find a device on your network that you had forgotten about, or someone else installed without you realizing!

Download a Free Trial of LANSurveyor

Key Learning Points

• Preliminary step, make sure that Vista displays the Network icon on the desktop.  Right click, Personalize and select: Change Desktop Icons.
• Do you find the LocalizedString value in HKCU** or HKLM?
  Answer: it's under HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
• Do you have to add a value, or modify an existing setting? 
  Answer: modify
• Is it a String Value or a DWORD?
  Answer: REG_SZ
• Do you need to Restart, or merely Logoff / Logon?
  Answer: Neither, just refresh the desktop by pressing F5.
• Tip: Add this key, MuiCache to Regedit's Favorites menu

** HKLM is an abbreviation of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, and HKCU is shorthand for HKEY_CURRENT_USER.  These acronyms are so well known that you can even use them in .reg files, Vista will understand and obey the registry instruction.

Creating a .Reg File

This page explains how to create, and then edit .reg files for your computer.  As it's easy to import the contents of a .reg file into the registry, do take extra care with procedures.

Monitor Your Vista Network with the Real-time Traffic Analyzer

The main reason to monitor your network is to check at a glance that your computers are available.  If there is a network problem you want an interface to show the scope of the problem instantly.

Even when all servers and routers are available, sooner or later you will be curious to know who, or what, is hogging the precious network's bandwidth.  A GUI showing the top 10 users makes interesting reading.

Another reason to monitor network traffic is to learn more about your server's response times and the use of resources.  To take the pain out of capturing frames and analysing the raw data, Guy recommends that you download a copy of the SolarWinds free Real-time NetFlow Analyzer.

Windows Vista Training

Train Signal have an excellent Windows Vista Training Course.  As an MCT trainer, I am a huge advocate of Train Signal’s products.  What impresses is me is that they demonstrate everything that they teach and they stay away from traditional 'lecture-style' training.  If you are looking for a complete DETAILED coverage of Windows Vista, then I highly recommend that you give this course a try.  I have reviewed their 18 hours of videos myself, and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed!

Watch a Vista Training Video Demo.

Windows Vista Registry Tweaks:

 *