Here is a safe collection of tweaks that you can achieve with just a
registry editor. Provided
you stick to the detailed instructions, and don't wander off changing
settings that you don't fully research, I cannot foresee any problems with
your
computer's stability.
If you have a malware problem, or you just want to tweak a setting where
there is no Control Panel applet, then call for the built-in regedit.
Because there is no 'undo' or 'what if' button progress with care. See
more on Windows 8 Regedit.
Windows 8 Registry Hacks
Its interesting how each new Microsoft operating system focuses on
different registry hacks. In Windows 8 one of the most popular hacks
is to make the old Windows 7 desktop the default. It amazes me how
some people won't accept change, incidentally, it was the same in Vista,
people wanted the XP interface. Here are more examples of
registry hacks that have emerged in Windows 8.
Windows 8 Registry AutoAdminLogon
If you are in a secure situation and you are finding it a waste of time
having to type a password everytime you logon to your Windows 8 machine,
then AutoAdminLogon is for you. Here are detailed instructions to
perform this Auto Logon hack.
Windows 8 Confirm File Delete
Perhaps this is a sign of the times, in the old days people wanted a
registry hack to REMOVE the annoying nag - sorry warning message - when you
wanted to dispatch a file to the bin. Now 15 years later and we are
surrounded by the nanny state, everyone wants the return of the warning on
delete.
The main point is we have control, which ever side of the fence, or
should I say bin, you are sitting on you have the choice ConfirmFileDelete =
1 (nagging message) = 0 (Silence!).
Note: I had to create the Explorer key under Policies,
before I added the REG_DWORD ConfirmFileDelete.
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When you buy a pre-installed machine it probably does not display your name as the
registered owner, if you find this annoying then there is an easy safe
registry tweak.
What is worse is if you installed the Windows 8 machine yourself, but
made a typo in the field called: 'This product is licensed to:'. In
both cases the answer is to enter the Windows 8 registry and change a
registry value called
RegisteredOwner.
Troubleshooting AutoPlay Using Regedit
With AutoPlay you can select which program plays your music, or
displays your photos. Sometimes AutoPlay develops ideas of it's own
and you need to troubleshoot. Best would be to use Group Policy,
however, GPEDIT is only available in the more expensive versions of Windows
8 - you have to get something for extra cost! Good news you can use
Windows 8's Regedit to
control AutoPlay.
Windows 8 Registry -
Disable USB Access
If you need to prevent users with USB pens copying files
from your Windows 8 computer, then you can use the registry editor to disable the USBSTOR service.
While this is an interesting and instructive use of Windows 8's regedit, I
would prefer to employ a Group Policy to prevent USB sticks attaching to a
computer. However, Windows 8 home edition does not have gpedit, so
try:
Windows 8 disable USB registry settings.
Registry Hack to Display the Old
Windows 7 Style Desktop
This is a registry hack for those who long for the old Vista style
desktop. It supposes that for some reason you want to disable the
lovely new Windows 8 Metro UI. The good news it's possible to use the
Windows 8 registry editor tweak the explorer shell. Here are
instructions to revert to the Windows 7
/ Vista style of desktop and Start menu.
Windows 8 .Reg File Example
Here are examples of .reg files. I will show you how to techniques to
find settings in the registry and then export the keys to create your own
.reg files.
One interesting case study is adding the - 'Copy To' context Menu to
Windows Explorer. My reasoning was I find copying a file from folder
to another fiddly. Sometimes Windows Explorer develops a mind of its
own and drops the file in the wrong place.
I solved this problem by using a registry tweak to introduce context
menu to 'Copy To folder...'
Here are the contents of the actual Copy To .reg file.
Once you copy the above instructions into Notepad, and save with a .reg
extension; you are ready to right-click the new .reg file and 'Merge' into
the registry.
Making your own.reg files is straightforward, especially if you employ the
time-honoured technique of dissecting an existing file. Here are the
most important factors:
The 1st Line - Windows Registry Editor The very first line of the .reg file must contain the name of the Windows 8
registry editor.
Importance of Blank Lines It's
important to have a blank line between the Registry Editor Version, and the
path statement in its [square brackets].
[Path] Statement The [square] type of brackets
enclosing the registry path are significant. Each .reg files needs no
where in the registry to deliver its payload, this is the job of the
[HKLM... Path]
The Body of a .reg File
At the heart of the .reg file are DWORD and REG_SZ values with their
corresponding data. Learn when to use speech marks for the values, and
when to employ DWORD.
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want an interface to show the scope of the problem immediately.
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 always makes interesting reading.
Another reason to monitor network traffic is to learn more about your
server's response times and the consumption of resources. To take the pain out of
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Windows 8 Does Not Recognise the DVD Drive
If you cannot see the DVD in Windows Explorer, try this:
In Windows 7 when you wanted to display the build number, you could call for regedit and
set the value of PaintDesktopVersion =1. While it did not work in the Windows 8
Developer Preview version, it has now been restored to the Windows Consumer
version. See the latest on
Windows 8
PaintDesktopVersion.
When you attempt to connect to a network machine via a
hidden share such as c$ or admin$ (\\ Laptop \ c$), you get an access is
denied error message. See how to create LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy
with regedit. Windows 8
Administrative Shares registry hack.
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