- Joined
- Feb 18, 2002
EDIT: Aug 02, 2009 update
Partition your hard drive (one physical drive "divided" into C Drive, D Drive…) so that you can install your operating system on one of the partitions, install your software, set it all up to your liking, then back up the entire partition onto DVD disc(s) for easy restoration in the future without having to go through the entire Windows, drivers and software installation process again. Note that only updated motherboard BIOS can handle 1TB drives and above.
* Setup BIOS
* To rewrite the Master Boot Record, use startup disc and enter this command from DOS:
FDISK/MBR
(Do not use this command if more than four partitions exist on one hard drive.)
or use FDISK /CMBR 1
to erase info put by the hard drive retail setup CD.
RESTART THE SYSTEM
* Always reboot when prompted, try to scan the Windows partition for errors now and later (My Computer, Right Click on HD > Properties > Tools TAB > Check Now… button.)
To be able to select a drive letter other than C: for Vista installation, set the drive letters in another Operating System then do a full Vista install to that drive letter from another operating system. Vista drive letter cannot be changed if the installation is done by booting from a DVD.
Install Windows Vista without entering a Product key during setup to enter a 30 Day Trial mode. UNCHECK: Automatically activate Windows when I'm online > Next > No
[This is because Microsoft Updates may affect Activation.]
UNCHECK: Run at startup (Welcome Center…)
* Start Menu > Right click on Computer > Properties > System protection > Continue >
UNCHECK all drives > Turn System Restore Off > OK
* Right click the Start button > Properties > Start Menu TAB > Customize... button (next to the Start Menu selection) > Scroll down under Pictures and CHECK: Run Command > OK > OK
You may enable the hidden actual Administrator Account so that you can have ultimate Administrator privileges that surpass privileges that user accounts 'with Administrator Privileges' have.
Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > Right click on Command Prompt > Run as administrator >
net user administrator /active:yes
Log off your user account and log into the newly enabled real Administrator account.
Start Menu > Control Panel > User Accounts and Family Safety > User Accounts > Manage another account (second from the bottom on the right) > Click on your user account > Delete the account > Choose to Delete Files or Keep Files > Delete Account
Disable User Account Control:
Start > Run... > type
msconfig
> Continue > Tools TAB > Click on Disable UAC > Launch > Close Windows > OK
* Always log into Windows as an Administrator without password requirements:
Start Menu > Run... > type
control userpasswords2
> OK > Continue > Users TAB > UNCHECK: Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer > OK
(A dialog will appear that asks you what user name and password should be used to logon automatically.)
Enter existing password or leave blank if you never entered your password > click on OK
[This procedure can be reversed by again CHECKING: Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer.]
The system should now boot into Desktop automatically without the logon prompt.
* Get rid of Popup Balloons from the task bar:
Start Menu > Run > gpedit.msc > User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Double click on Turn off all balloon notifications > Enabled > OK >
[Get rid of Open File - Security Warning]:
Start Menu > Run > gpedit.msc > User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Attachment Manager >
In the right pane, double click on Inclusion list for moderate risk file types > Enabled > Under 'Specify moderate risk extensions' > *.* > OK
to get rid of Open File - Security Warning for downloaded files.
Do the same for 'Inclusion list for low risk file types'
Scroll up and set "Do not preserve zone information in file attachments" to Enabled
Open File - Security Warning may still appear for files downloaded earlier. Those files need to be stripped of alternate data streams using streams.exe program
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897440.aspx
from DOS: streams.exe -d -s <directory path>
* Right click on + in the upper right corner > Properties > UNCHECK: Start Sidebar when Windows starts > View list of running gadgets > Remove all > Close > OK
* First apply any Service Packs then Start > All Programs > Windows Update > View advanced options (under Turn on now) > Never check for updates > OK > Check for updates > View available updates and select and apply windows updates in trial mode.
* Video Card Drivers + any video card software (if there is a previous version of video card drivers installed, uninstall it. For ATI, make sure there are no instances of any ATI software or an entry called DAO.)
* Start Menu > Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Adjust screen resolution > Set Resolution > OK > YES >
* To have a Take Ownership right click menu option allowing you to delete folders, enter the following into Notepad and save it as a .reg file, then double click on it > Yes
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\runas]
@="Take Ownership"
"NoWorkingDirectory"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\runas\command]
@="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F"
"IsolatedCommand"="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\runas]
@="Take Ownership"
"NoWorkingDirectory"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\runas\command]
@="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" /r /d y && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /t"
"IsolatedCommand"="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" /r /d y && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /t"
* Start Menu > Control Panel > System and Maintenance > Administrative Tools (near bottom) > Task Scheduler (right, bottom) > Task Scheduler (Local) > Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Customer Experience Improvement Program > Right window: right click on and Disable both Consolidator and OptinNotification because they collect and send usage data to Microsoft.
[For Windows Server 2008 Server Manager, launch the Task Scheduler and browse to Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Customer Experience Improvement Program. Right-click on the Consolidator task and select Disable.
Browse to the Server section of the Customer Experience Improvement Program task folder, and you'll see ServerCeipAssistant and ServerRoleCollector. Right-click on them > Disable]
* Start Menu > Control Panel > Problem Reports and Solutions > Change settings > Advanced settings > Under "For my programs, problem reporting is:", select the Off radio button > Change setting button > Off > OK > OK
* Start Menu > Control Panel > System and Maintenance > Administrative Tools (near bottom) > Services > Scroll down to Windows Error Reporting Service and double click on it then (in the middle of the window) where it says "Startup type:" SELECT: Disabled > OK
Scroll down to Offline Files service and double click on it then (in the middle of the window) where it says "Startup type:" SELECT: Disabled > OK
Scroll down to Superfetch and decide if you wish to disable it, most people do not. Disabling it reduces hard drive activity. Enabling it again will result in increase in initial hard drive activity again since it may take as long as a week or two for SuperFetch to figure out your usage patterns.
If you disable Superfetch, you can then delete Windows\Prefetch\ folder.
* Right click on Start Menu > Properties > Start Menu TAB > SELECT: Classic Start Menu
Customize… button > CHECK: - Display administrative tools
-Display favorites
- Display log off
- Display Run
- Enable context menu dragging and dropping
- Expand control panel
UNCHECK: -Use Personalized Menus and everything else > OK
Taskbar TAB: CHECK: - Lock the taskbar
- Keep the taskbar on top of other windows
- Show Quick Launch
UNCHECK: -Auto-hide the taskbar
- Group similar taskbar buttons
Notification Area TAB: Customize… button > Click on items you choose to Always hide > OK > OK > Reboot
* Right-click on the Internet Explorer Desktop icon > Properties >
Click on Use Blank (for the Home page Address) > OK
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > System > Remote settings >
UNCHECK: Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer
Advanced TAB > Under Performance, Settings… button >
UNCHECK everything that starts with "Fade" or "Slide" > OK
Advanced TAB > Under Startup and Recovery, Settings…button >
UNCHECK: Automatically Restart
> OK then Hardware TAB > Windows Update Driver Settings > SELECT: Never Check for drivers when I connect a device > OK > OK > Yes
* Windows Vista randomly resets folder views. To take care of this problem, enter the following into Notepad and save it as a .reg file, then double click on it > Yes to manually Reset All Folder View Settings and take care of this problem:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell]
"BagMRU Size"=dword:00004e20
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]
"FolderType"="NotSpecified"
* Computer > Organize > Layout > Navigation Pane to get rid of shared folders being displayed when you click on Computer
Double click on any folder > View > Medium Icons
Right click on empty space > View > make sure Auto Arrange is UNCHECKED.
Right click on empty space > Group By > More… > UNCHECK: Date Modified.
Organize > Folder and Search Options > General TAB > Select: Use Windows classic folders
then
View TAB >
CHECK: - Display the full path in the title bar (Classic folders only)
- Show hidden files and folders
- Remember each folder's view settings
UNCHECK: - Hide extensions for known file types
> Apply to Folders button > Yes > OK > where it says File Edit View, click on View > Status Bar
Right click again > Personalize > in the upper left: Adjust Font size (DPI) > Large scale > OK > OK [Warning: Increasing DPI here will cause Vista desktop icons to randomly reset their size, there was no fix for this as of Feb 2009.]
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Personalization > Windows Color and Appearance > Advanced… > Change sizes + icon and menu font (note that icon font can be changed here, but not the icon size) >
Under Item: Select Window > then under Color 1: Select Other…
Adjust word processor background color:
28 255
240 243
221 215
Add to Custom Colors > select the newly added Custom Color > OK > OK > OK
* Right click on Recycle Bin > Properties > Global TAB > UNCHECK: Display delete confirmation dialog
* Start Menu > Programs > Accessories > Notepad: Format > CHECK: Word Wrap
then Format > Font… > Verdana 14 Regular
* Get rid of a warning after unchecking 'Hide Protected Operating System Files' option: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\SuperHidden\
Delete WarningIfNotDefault
* Get rid of Microsoft .NET 3.5 Framework Assistant Firefox addon that inserts itself into Firefox without permission:
Start Menu > Run.. > regedit > Go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Mozilla \ Firefox \ Extensions
Delete the value named {20a82645-c095-46ed-80e3-08825760534b} from the right pane.
Close the Registry Editor when you're done.
Open a new Firefox window, and in the address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Type microsoftdotnet in the Filter field to quickly find the general.useragent.extra.microsoftdotnet setting.
Right-click general.useragent.extra.microsoftdotnet and select Reset.
Restart Firefox.
Open Windows Explorer, and navigate to C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5\Windows Presentation Foundation
Delete the DotNetAssistantExtension folder entirely.
Open the Add-ons window in Firefox to confirm that the Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant extension has been removed.
* When Windows is not shutdown correctly it may perform an AutoCheck using CHKDSK on the next restart, the amount of time Windows waits before running Autochk.exe can be modified:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Session Manager >
Right click on Session Manager > New > DWORD Value > name it
AutoChkTimeOut
Double click on it and give it a value of 5 in seconds, 0 disables the wait (default is 10)
By the way: CHKDSK can only be temporarily disabled (these values will be reset):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Session Manager
Double click on BootExecute on the right side of the screen
change the value from default
autocheck autochk *
to:
autocheck autochk /k:cdefghijklmnopqstuwxyz*
* To insert right click > Notepad option:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\Shell\
[ If it's not there, create it: Right click on * > New > Key > Shell ]
Right click on Shell > New > Key > Notepad > Double click on (Default) in the right window and enter value
&Notepad
then right click on Notepad > New > Key > command > Double click on (Default) in the right window and enter value
Notepad.exe %1
* Remove Right Click > New > Briefcase > HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Briefcase > Delete ShellNew under Briefcase
File > Exit
Disable waiting for 'application cannot respond' when trying to restart or shut down Windows:
* Start Menu > Run... > regedit > go to registry key
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop
In the right hand pane look for the "AutoEndTasks" String Value.
(If it's not there create it by right-clicking on Desktop key in the registry > New > String Value > name it AutoEndTasks) >
Double-click on AutoEndTasks and give it the value of 1 [to enable the forced program exit feature.] > OK
then, in the right hand pane, look for the "HungAppTimeout" String Value.
(If it's not there create it by right-clicking on Desktop key in the registry > New > String Value > name it HungAppTimeout) >
Make the End Task message appear straight away when trying to forcibly close an application:
Double click on HungAppTimeout and give it a value of 1000 (default is 5000 ms = 5 seconds). > OK
then
Double click on WaitToKillAppTimeout and give a value of 2000 (default is 20000 ms = 20 sec). > OK
(If it's not there create it by right-clicking on Desktop key in the registry > New > String Value > name it WaitToKillAppTimeout) >
then, speed up the Start Menu
Double click on MenuShowDelay and give a value of 200 (default is 400 ms = 0.4 seconds)
File > Exit
* Suggested BACKUP point.
* (Defragment)
* Change Drive Letters: Right click on Computer > Manage > Storage > Disk Management > Right-click on drives > Change Drive Letter and Paths > File > Exit
* Disable Windows Vista native zip support to increase performance (if you use WinZip instead):
Start Menu > Run... > regedit >
Delete these two keys:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E88DCCE0-B7B3-11d1-A9F0-00AA0060FA31}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{0CD7A5C0-9F37-11CE-AE65-08002B2E1262}
* Motherboard chipset drivers, LAN > Reboot
* Make ALL of the bandwidth available to you
Start Menu > Run... > gpedit.msc > OK
1. Expand "Computer Configuration" > "Administrative Templates" > "Network"
2. Highlight the "QoS Packet Scheduler" in the LEFT window
3. In the right window double click on "limit reservable bandwidth"
4. Under the Setting TAB SELECT: "Enabled"
5. Where it says "Bandwidth limit (%)" change it to 0 and Click on OK > File > Exit
6. Start Menu > Settings > Network Connections >
Right-click on Local Area connection > Properties >
General TAB > make sure QoS Packet scheduler is checked > OK
7. Reboot the system.
* Configure Mouse
Defaults + Wheel Button: Enter
Small Thumb Button: Keystroke [F11] (if there is an extra button: Application close Alt+F4)
REBOOT
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Personalization > Windows Color and Appearance > if it's there: [Open classic appearance properties for more color options] > Color Scheme: Windows Aero > Effects > CHECK everything > OK
[Switch back to Vista Basic if you like program windows to show up instanteneously.]
Desktop Background
Screen Saver > set preferences > Change power settings > set preferences such as Choose when to turn off the display > Turn off the display: 3 hours > Put the computer to sleep: Never >
[Under "change settings for the plan]: Change advanced power settings > set preferences such as Power buttons and lid > Start menu power button > Shutdown > OK > Save changes
Sounds > Sounds TAB > UNCHECK: Play Windows Startup sound >
Under Windows: scroll down and click on Asterisk >
Under Sounds: scroll up and SELECT (None) >
then turn off all other sounds from the list that may annoy you.
> Apply, then (above) Save As… to save your sound settings to be able to restore them in case they get reset when other Themes are applied.
Recording TAB > Raise recording levels
Playback TAB > Raise playback levels > OK
REBOOT
* Put folder shortcuts in
C:\Users\[user name]\Documents\
* Drivers for other cards.
* Internet Explorer: Right click on empty space next to IE tabs > CHECK:
- Menu Bar
- Status Bar
- Use Large Icons
then > Customize Command Bar > CHECK: Show All Text Labels,
then > Add or Remove Commands (below Show All Text Labels) >
COPY
Separator
PASTE
Separator
CUT
Separator
PRINT
Separator
SIZE
Separator
FULL SCREEN
Separator
TOOLS
* View > Toolbars > CHECK: Lock the Toolbars
* CTRL+H > Down arrow on History button > By Order Visited Today
* Right-click on Internet Explorer on desktop > Properties > Accessibility button (on the bottom right) >
CHECK: Ignore font sizes specified on Web Pages > OK
[Now you can change the size by going to View > Text size]
then
Advanced TAB > under Browsing,
CHECK: Disable script debugging (internet Explorer) AND (Other)
UNCHECK: - Enable page transitions
- Notify when downloads complete
- Reuse windows for launching shortcuts
then go down under Multimedia and
UNCHECK: Enable Automatic Image Resizing
then go down under Search from the Address bar and
SELECT: Do not search from the Address bar
then go down under Security and
CHECK: Allow software to run or install even if the signature is invalid
UNCHECK: Check for signatures on downloaded programs
SELECT: Disable Phishing filter
Programs TAB > UNCHECK: Tell me if internet Explorer is not the default web browser
Content TAB > Auto Complete Settings button > UNCHECK everything > OK
Privacy TAB > UNCHECK: Turn on Pop-up Blocker if using Internet Explorer for testing purposes and not as a default browser > OK
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel:
> AutoPlay > UNCHECK: Use AutoPlay for all media and devices > Save (bottom right)
> Date and Time > UNCHECK: Remind me one week before this change occurs >
Internet Time TAB > Change settings… > Server: time.nist.gov > OK
> Indexing Options > Modify > Only the Start Menu should be CHECKED > Close
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Windows Defender and Windows Firewall, Disable them if you're going to use third party software:
Windows Defender > Tools > Options > Scroll all the way down > UNCHECK: use Windows Defender > Save > Close
Windows Firewall > Change settings > Off > OK
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off (left side) > Scroll down to
Print Services and UNCHECK: Internet Printing Client, Remote Differential Compression and Windows Meeting Space > OK
* Computer > Right click on drive where Vista was installed > Properties > Tools > Defragment Now > wait a little bit to be able to UNCHECK: Run on a schedule > OK
Computer > Right click on every drive > Properties > General TAB > UNCHECK: Index this drive for faster searching > OK
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Personalization > Theme > Save As…
* Defragment + Suggested BACKUP point.
REMOVE START-UP ITEMS AND SHELL EXTENSIONS as you go
+ START APPLICATIONS TO SET UP OPTIONS + Put Shortcuts on Desktop
* Update all drivers, Install Scanner Software
* Other Applications (except for AntiVirus, IE SpellCheck.)
* Double click on Media Player High Quality MP3 Encoding.reg
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Settings\MP3Encoding]
"LowRate"=dword:0000dac0
"MediumRate"=dword:0001f400
"MediumHighRate"=dword:0003e800
"HighRate"=dword:0004e200
This corresponds to 56, 128, 256 and 320 KB/second rates, respectively.
* Start Widows Media Player 11 > UNCHECK everything when prompted.
Right click on Windows Media Player top bar > Show Classic Menus
Tools > Options > Player TAB > UNCHECK: Add media files to library when played
Privacy TAB > UNCHECK everything
Set personal preferences in all other TABs.
Now Playing > Visualization > set preference
View > Video Size > only CHECK: Fit Video to Player on Resize > SELECT: 100%
Vista bug: Do not maximize Windows Media Player 11 window or the videos will not fill the screen when you start them. Instead drag the edges of Windows Media Player 11 window so that the program window is manually maximized. Now videos will fill the screen if you double click on them to start them.
Disable Media Player automatically checking for updates:
Start Menu > Run... > regedit >
Go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Policies \ Microsoft \
Right click on Microsoft > New > Key
name it
WindowsMediaPlayer
(if it's not already there)
Right click on WindowsMediaPlayer > New > DWORD Value > Name it
DisableAutoUpdate
Double click on it and enter the value of 1
* wmpnscfg.exe is a file that always runs enabling Windows Media Player 11 to share media between computers. To disable it: Start Menu > Run... > (include the quotes):
"\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpnscfg.exe" /Close
* Start Menu > Run... > regedit > go to registry key
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Preferences\HME
right click on HME > New > DWORD value > name it DisableDiscovery > Double click on DisableDiscovery and set the value to 2
File > Exit
* Suggested BACKUP point.
* WordPerfect Office + Service Pack
Tools > Settings… > Files >
Document TAB: set Default document folder, Backup Folder, Timed Document backup
Template TAB: set Template folders
Merge/Macro TAB: set Macro folder
OK
Set zoom to 125%
* Microsoft Office:
• For Office 2003 and earlier, note that file Normal.dot and Excel11.xlb contain most of menu settings. In MS Word > Tools > Options > File Locations TAB > User Templates > Modify…> browse to where a backed up version of Normal.dot is located to transfer previous settings.
For New installations of Excel, create a new toolbar first:
Tools > Customize > Toolbars TAB > New... > OK > Close > Exit Excel
This will create file Excel11.xlb whose original location is
C:\Users\[name of your account] \AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\
• For Word 2007, to import a Ribbon consisting of a template from the previous version of Word, simply take the Normal.dot file from the old version of Word and place it in folder
C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP\
[Previous versions of Word Normal.dot location:
MS Word > Tools > Options > File Locations TAB > User Templates...]
This will result in Add-Ins ribbon loading at startup. However, it may contain unwanted Menu and Toolbar items as well. To make a custom Normal.dot file with just the templates in previous version of Word:
1. Start an older version of Word > Tools > Customize... > Toolbars TAB > New > Make toolbar available: Document1 > OK > Place items inside the newly created toolbar.
2. Save the file as a .doc file (in case it's also needed later) but then File > Save As... > Save As Type: Document Template (*.dot) > Save
3. Copy the .dot file to C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP\
4. You may have to re-create in Word 2007 any macros you saved, but Classic Template shortcuts for them should then work.
• For Excel 2007, to import a Ribbon consisting of a template from the previous version of Excel, convert the old templates into an *.xla Add-In using a previous version of Excel: Tools > Customize... > Toolbars TAB > Attach... > Select and Copy custom toolbars > OK > Close
File > Save As ... > Save as type: Microsoft Office Excel Add-In (*.xla) > Save the file then copy it to
C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART\
Start Excel 2007 which would then show the custom toolbars under the Add-Ins Ribbon. Excel12.xlb containing the Add-In information will also be created in C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\
Install Classic Menus in Office 2007
• Freeware portion of RibbonCustomizer software http://pschmid.net/office2007/ribboncustomizer can be used to get the classic menus installed.
After installing RibbonCustomizer, go to the View Ribbon >
Customize Ribbon (click on its drop down menu, not on its icon) > Customization Schemes >
to get the Classic User Interface enabled
[Classic UI feature can be used indefinitely, without selecting to try the shareware portion of the program so you don't have to select 'Evaluate RibbonCustomizer Professional'. Note that RibbonCustomizer may delay Word Startup Time a little.]
Version 1.2 of RibbonCustomizer lets you use your own custom images as icons on the Ribbon BUT ONLY to your own macro buttons. You cannot assign custom images to regular office commands. Also, files generated with version 1.2 cannot be read by older releases.
• Office 2007 stores customized templates (customized icons in the top bar above ribbons) in the following files:
Word 2007 Word.qat
Excel 2007 Excel.qat
PowerPoint 2007 PowerPoint.qat
Access 2007 Access.qat
Outlook 2007:
Contacts Olkaddritem.qat
Calendar Olkapptitem.qat
Distribution list Olkdistitem.qat
Journal entry Olklogitem.qat
Mail Olkmailitem.qat
Post in folder Olkpostitem.qat
Tasks Olktaskitem.qat
.QAT files are created after one customized change is made.
Location for Windows Vista: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office
Location for Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Office
Default .qat file locations cannot be changed like their equivalents could in previous versions of Office.
* To disable Right Click Menu option "Open as Notebook in OneNote" delete: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\OneNote.Open
* Task Bar: Toolbars > Quick Launch:
Show Desktop, F Drive, Firefox, Notepad, IE, Email
* Other large Applications
* Suggested BACKUP point.
* WinFax minimum installation
Tools > Program Setup… > Send > UNCHECK: Include a cover page > OK > Close
Get rid of the Outlook errors upon exit:
Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Mail > Data Files... button >
Click on WinFax Fax Logs > Remove button > Yes > Close
Prevent it from always running in the background
Start menu > Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services
Scroll down to WinFax PRO service and double click on it then (in the
middle of the window) where it says "Startup type:" SELECT: Manual > OK
* To change (removable) drive icons: Start Menu > Run... > regedit > Go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Explorer
Right click on Explorer > New > Key > DriveIcons
Right click on DriveIcons > New > Key > the name should be the drive letter, for example C >
Right click on C > New > Key > DefaultIcon
Double click on DefaultIcon and set the path to the icon file. If the path is to an icon library, then add the number of the icon inside the library to set the drive icon to, for example c:\windows\system32/shell32.dll,74
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Default Programs > Associate a file type or protocol with a program > Scroll down to:
MP3 (Creative MediaSource5)
WAV (Creative MediaSource5)
CDA (Creative MediaSource5)
WP (WordPerfect 5.1)
WPD (WordPerfect X4)
PSD (Adobe Photoshop)
If it's not there, change the extension of a new Notepad text file to a new extension, double click on it > Select a program from a list of installed programs. Remember to type in the description for it.
RDF (WordPad)
WRI (WordPad)
* How to change the icon for an extension in Windows Vista, for example .mp3
Start Menu > Run... > regedit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mp3 then in the right windows look at the value for Default
for the example of .mp3, it's WMP11.AssocFile.MP3
That means, go to
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MP3\DefaultIcon
to set the icon for the .mp3 extension
However, if you changed the program that opens the .mp3 extension, then go to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.mp3\UserChoice
and there double click on Progid which reveals the XXX.AssocFile.mp3File
Now you'll be able to change the DefaultIcon found under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\XXX.AssocFile.mp3File\DefaultIcon
Copy custom icons to Windows\ DefaultIcon folder
%SystemRoot%\DefaultIcon\MP3.ico
%SystemRoot%\DefaultIcon\wav.ico
%SystemRoot%\DefaultIcon\WP.ico
%SystemRoot%\DefaultIcon\Wordperfect5.ico
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CMS5.AssocFile.mp3File\DefaultIcon
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CMS5.AssocFile.wavFile\DefaultIcon
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WP14Doc\DefaultIcon
[In case of problems with .mp3 & .wav icons, try setting default icons for WMP11.AssocFile.MP3 and it's WMP11.AssocFile.WAV then
Control Panel > Set Default Programs > Windows Media Player > Choose defaults for this program > CHECK .mp3 and .wav > Save >
Now use Default Programs again to set your custom application as the default program for .mp3 & .wav files.]
* Use third party software ShellExView to disable right click menu items such as:
Windows Media Player Add to Playlist Context Menu Handler
Windows Media Player Shop Music Context Menu Handler
QuickFinder shell entries
Note that the following must be left Enabled or double clicking on video files would start Notepad: Windows Media Play as Playlist Context Menu Handler
* Third party software (like shareware Creative Element Power Tools File Type Doctor or freeware Types 1.2.5) can be used to insert commands into the Right Click Menu
Replace Edit with Edit with Photoshop
for jpg, bmp, gif, tif (if using File Type Doctor, changing .jpg Edit option will change all other picture files.)
and add Edit with WordPerfect X4 to .wp extension and Edit with Dreamweaver to .htm extension.
* Add default Photoshop Grayscale Photocopy resolution 1600 x 1200 (Resolution 138 DPI)
* Set Photoshop Photocopy Color to 200 DPI
* Right-click on clock > Adjust Date/Time > Internet Time TAB > Change settings… >
CHECK: Synchronize with an Internet time server > Server: time.nist.gov >
Click on Update Now button
(In case of problems, Generic Host Process for Win32 Services should be allowed to have Internet access.)
* Put folder shortcuts in Send to Menu:
C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo\
* Use TweakVI free version (Miscellaneous Tweaks > Change System folder settings… to change location of Windows Shell folders
[Common Favorites, Desktop, Documents, Favorites, Send To, Startmenu, Startmenu Programs, Startup) to folders of choice, for easy backup / restore]
TweakVI > Visual Tweaks > Desktop Tweaks... > Remove 'Shortcut to...' on new shortcuts
* Favorites Menu Order
[Saved previously from HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ MenuOrder \ Favorites Click once on Favorites and then (on the menu) click on Registry > Export Registry File... to save this file.]
* regedit Favorites are:
- Delete autocheck autochk *
for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Session Manager
- Favorites Menu Order
for HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ MenuOrder \ Favorites
* Set Google as default search engine. Enter the following into Notepad and save it as a .reg file, then double click on it > Yes
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Use Search Asst"="no"
"Search Page"="http://www.google.com"
"Search Bar"="http://www.google.com/ie"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL]
""="http://www.google.com/keyword/%s"
"provider"="gogl"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search]
"SearchAssistant"="http://www.google.com/ie"
* Enable copy-pasting into FTP sites from Internet Explorer. Enter the following into Notepad and save it as a .reg file, then double click on it > Yes
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_INTERNET_SHELL_FOLDERS]
"iexplore.exe"=dword:00000001
* AntiVirus, IE SpellCheck, use Atomic Clock Sync Repair Service to fix the auto clock update if necessary
* Start Menu > Settings > Taskbar and Start Menu > Notification Area TAB > Customize… button to set preferences
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Sound > Again check both Playback and Recording properties (Raise Volume Bars) and check Program Events sounds > OK
* See C:\Users and delete unnecessary items from Desktop and Start Menu and Favorites
* Delete unnecessary sample files (from places like Documents…)
* Start Menu > Run... > compcln.exe
to remove Service Pack backup/installation files.
* TweakUI > Templates
* Save current Display settings to a file:
Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Display > Themes TAB > Save As… button
* Adjust Music folder and subfolders Views: List
* Check again: Computer > Right click on drive where Vista was installed > Properties > Tools > Defragment Now > wait a little bit to be able to UNCHECK: Run on a schedule > OK
* Make an Image and make sure to Verify Image after transferring it to its backup location.
Make this file so it can rebuild your Windows Vista icon cache when you double click on it. Enter the following into Notepad and save it, then change the extension of the saved file to .bat
taskkill /im explorer.exe /f
CD %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local
attrib -h iconcache.db
del iconcache.db
explorer.exe
Partition your hard drive (one physical drive "divided" into C Drive, D Drive…) so that you can install your operating system on one of the partitions, install your software, set it all up to your liking, then back up the entire partition onto DVD disc(s) for easy restoration in the future without having to go through the entire Windows, drivers and software installation process again. Note that only updated motherboard BIOS can handle 1TB drives and above.
* Setup BIOS
* To rewrite the Master Boot Record, use startup disc and enter this command from DOS:
FDISK/MBR
(Do not use this command if more than four partitions exist on one hard drive.)
or use FDISK /CMBR 1
to erase info put by the hard drive retail setup CD.
RESTART THE SYSTEM
* Always reboot when prompted, try to scan the Windows partition for errors now and later (My Computer, Right Click on HD > Properties > Tools TAB > Check Now… button.)
To be able to select a drive letter other than C: for Vista installation, set the drive letters in another Operating System then do a full Vista install to that drive letter from another operating system. Vista drive letter cannot be changed if the installation is done by booting from a DVD.
Install Windows Vista without entering a Product key during setup to enter a 30 Day Trial mode. UNCHECK: Automatically activate Windows when I'm online > Next > No
[This is because Microsoft Updates may affect Activation.]
UNCHECK: Run at startup (Welcome Center…)
* Start Menu > Right click on Computer > Properties > System protection > Continue >
UNCHECK all drives > Turn System Restore Off > OK
* Right click the Start button > Properties > Start Menu TAB > Customize... button (next to the Start Menu selection) > Scroll down under Pictures and CHECK: Run Command > OK > OK
You may enable the hidden actual Administrator Account so that you can have ultimate Administrator privileges that surpass privileges that user accounts 'with Administrator Privileges' have.
Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > Right click on Command Prompt > Run as administrator >
net user administrator /active:yes
Log off your user account and log into the newly enabled real Administrator account.
Start Menu > Control Panel > User Accounts and Family Safety > User Accounts > Manage another account (second from the bottom on the right) > Click on your user account > Delete the account > Choose to Delete Files or Keep Files > Delete Account
Disable User Account Control:
Start > Run... > type
msconfig
> Continue > Tools TAB > Click on Disable UAC > Launch > Close Windows > OK
* Always log into Windows as an Administrator without password requirements:
Start Menu > Run... > type
control userpasswords2
> OK > Continue > Users TAB > UNCHECK: Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer > OK
(A dialog will appear that asks you what user name and password should be used to logon automatically.)
Enter existing password or leave blank if you never entered your password > click on OK
[This procedure can be reversed by again CHECKING: Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer.]
The system should now boot into Desktop automatically without the logon prompt.
* Get rid of Popup Balloons from the task bar:
Start Menu > Run > gpedit.msc > User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Double click on Turn off all balloon notifications > Enabled > OK >
[Get rid of Open File - Security Warning]:
Start Menu > Run > gpedit.msc > User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Attachment Manager >
In the right pane, double click on Inclusion list for moderate risk file types > Enabled > Under 'Specify moderate risk extensions' > *.* > OK
to get rid of Open File - Security Warning for downloaded files.
Do the same for 'Inclusion list for low risk file types'
Scroll up and set "Do not preserve zone information in file attachments" to Enabled
Open File - Security Warning may still appear for files downloaded earlier. Those files need to be stripped of alternate data streams using streams.exe program
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897440.aspx
from DOS: streams.exe -d -s <directory path>
* Right click on + in the upper right corner > Properties > UNCHECK: Start Sidebar when Windows starts > View list of running gadgets > Remove all > Close > OK
* First apply any Service Packs then Start > All Programs > Windows Update > View advanced options (under Turn on now) > Never check for updates > OK > Check for updates > View available updates and select and apply windows updates in trial mode.
* Video Card Drivers + any video card software (if there is a previous version of video card drivers installed, uninstall it. For ATI, make sure there are no instances of any ATI software or an entry called DAO.)
* Start Menu > Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Adjust screen resolution > Set Resolution > OK > YES >
* To have a Take Ownership right click menu option allowing you to delete folders, enter the following into Notepad and save it as a .reg file, then double click on it > Yes
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\runas]
@="Take Ownership"
"NoWorkingDirectory"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\runas\command]
@="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F"
"IsolatedCommand"="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\runas]
@="Take Ownership"
"NoWorkingDirectory"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\runas\command]
@="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" /r /d y && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /t"
"IsolatedCommand"="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" /r /d y && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /t"
* Start Menu > Control Panel > System and Maintenance > Administrative Tools (near bottom) > Task Scheduler (right, bottom) > Task Scheduler (Local) > Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Customer Experience Improvement Program > Right window: right click on and Disable both Consolidator and OptinNotification because they collect and send usage data to Microsoft.
[For Windows Server 2008 Server Manager, launch the Task Scheduler and browse to Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Customer Experience Improvement Program. Right-click on the Consolidator task and select Disable.
Browse to the Server section of the Customer Experience Improvement Program task folder, and you'll see ServerCeipAssistant and ServerRoleCollector. Right-click on them > Disable]
* Start Menu > Control Panel > Problem Reports and Solutions > Change settings > Advanced settings > Under "For my programs, problem reporting is:", select the Off radio button > Change setting button > Off > OK > OK
* Start Menu > Control Panel > System and Maintenance > Administrative Tools (near bottom) > Services > Scroll down to Windows Error Reporting Service and double click on it then (in the middle of the window) where it says "Startup type:" SELECT: Disabled > OK
Scroll down to Offline Files service and double click on it then (in the middle of the window) where it says "Startup type:" SELECT: Disabled > OK
Scroll down to Superfetch and decide if you wish to disable it, most people do not. Disabling it reduces hard drive activity. Enabling it again will result in increase in initial hard drive activity again since it may take as long as a week or two for SuperFetch to figure out your usage patterns.
If you disable Superfetch, you can then delete Windows\Prefetch\ folder.
* Right click on Start Menu > Properties > Start Menu TAB > SELECT: Classic Start Menu
Customize… button > CHECK: - Display administrative tools
-Display favorites
- Display log off
- Display Run
- Enable context menu dragging and dropping
- Expand control panel
UNCHECK: -Use Personalized Menus and everything else > OK
Taskbar TAB: CHECK: - Lock the taskbar
- Keep the taskbar on top of other windows
- Show Quick Launch
UNCHECK: -Auto-hide the taskbar
- Group similar taskbar buttons
Notification Area TAB: Customize… button > Click on items you choose to Always hide > OK > OK > Reboot
* Right-click on the Internet Explorer Desktop icon > Properties >
Click on Use Blank (for the Home page Address) > OK
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > System > Remote settings >
UNCHECK: Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer
Advanced TAB > Under Performance, Settings… button >
UNCHECK everything that starts with "Fade" or "Slide" > OK
Advanced TAB > Under Startup and Recovery, Settings…button >
UNCHECK: Automatically Restart
> OK then Hardware TAB > Windows Update Driver Settings > SELECT: Never Check for drivers when I connect a device > OK > OK > Yes
* Windows Vista randomly resets folder views. To take care of this problem, enter the following into Notepad and save it as a .reg file, then double click on it > Yes to manually Reset All Folder View Settings and take care of this problem:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell]
"BagMRU Size"=dword:00004e20
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]
"FolderType"="NotSpecified"
* Computer > Organize > Layout > Navigation Pane to get rid of shared folders being displayed when you click on Computer
Double click on any folder > View > Medium Icons
Right click on empty space > View > make sure Auto Arrange is UNCHECKED.
Right click on empty space > Group By > More… > UNCHECK: Date Modified.
Organize > Folder and Search Options > General TAB > Select: Use Windows classic folders
then
View TAB >
CHECK: - Display the full path in the title bar (Classic folders only)
- Show hidden files and folders
- Remember each folder's view settings
UNCHECK: - Hide extensions for known file types
> Apply to Folders button > Yes > OK > where it says File Edit View, click on View > Status Bar
Right click again > Personalize > in the upper left: Adjust Font size (DPI) > Large scale > OK > OK [Warning: Increasing DPI here will cause Vista desktop icons to randomly reset their size, there was no fix for this as of Feb 2009.]
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Personalization > Windows Color and Appearance > Advanced… > Change sizes + icon and menu font (note that icon font can be changed here, but not the icon size) >
Under Item: Select Window > then under Color 1: Select Other…
Adjust word processor background color:
28 255
240 243
221 215
Add to Custom Colors > select the newly added Custom Color > OK > OK > OK
* Right click on Recycle Bin > Properties > Global TAB > UNCHECK: Display delete confirmation dialog
* Start Menu > Programs > Accessories > Notepad: Format > CHECK: Word Wrap
then Format > Font… > Verdana 14 Regular
* Get rid of a warning after unchecking 'Hide Protected Operating System Files' option: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\SuperHidden\
Delete WarningIfNotDefault
* Get rid of Microsoft .NET 3.5 Framework Assistant Firefox addon that inserts itself into Firefox without permission:
Start Menu > Run.. > regedit > Go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Mozilla \ Firefox \ Extensions
Delete the value named {20a82645-c095-46ed-80e3-08825760534b} from the right pane.
Close the Registry Editor when you're done.
Open a new Firefox window, and in the address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Type microsoftdotnet in the Filter field to quickly find the general.useragent.extra.microsoftdotnet setting.
Right-click general.useragent.extra.microsoftdotnet and select Reset.
Restart Firefox.
Open Windows Explorer, and navigate to C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5\Windows Presentation Foundation
Delete the DotNetAssistantExtension folder entirely.
Open the Add-ons window in Firefox to confirm that the Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant extension has been removed.
* When Windows is not shutdown correctly it may perform an AutoCheck using CHKDSK on the next restart, the amount of time Windows waits before running Autochk.exe can be modified:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Session Manager >
Right click on Session Manager > New > DWORD Value > name it
AutoChkTimeOut
Double click on it and give it a value of 5 in seconds, 0 disables the wait (default is 10)
By the way: CHKDSK can only be temporarily disabled (these values will be reset):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Session Manager
Double click on BootExecute on the right side of the screen
change the value from default
autocheck autochk *
to:
autocheck autochk /k:cdefghijklmnopqstuwxyz*
* To insert right click > Notepad option:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\Shell\
[ If it's not there, create it: Right click on * > New > Key > Shell ]
Right click on Shell > New > Key > Notepad > Double click on (Default) in the right window and enter value
&Notepad
then right click on Notepad > New > Key > command > Double click on (Default) in the right window and enter value
Notepad.exe %1
* Remove Right Click > New > Briefcase > HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Briefcase > Delete ShellNew under Briefcase
File > Exit
Disable waiting for 'application cannot respond' when trying to restart or shut down Windows:
* Start Menu > Run... > regedit > go to registry key
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop
In the right hand pane look for the "AutoEndTasks" String Value.
(If it's not there create it by right-clicking on Desktop key in the registry > New > String Value > name it AutoEndTasks) >
Double-click on AutoEndTasks and give it the value of 1 [to enable the forced program exit feature.] > OK
then, in the right hand pane, look for the "HungAppTimeout" String Value.
(If it's not there create it by right-clicking on Desktop key in the registry > New > String Value > name it HungAppTimeout) >
Make the End Task message appear straight away when trying to forcibly close an application:
Double click on HungAppTimeout and give it a value of 1000 (default is 5000 ms = 5 seconds). > OK
then
Double click on WaitToKillAppTimeout and give a value of 2000 (default is 20000 ms = 20 sec). > OK
(If it's not there create it by right-clicking on Desktop key in the registry > New > String Value > name it WaitToKillAppTimeout) >
then, speed up the Start Menu
Double click on MenuShowDelay and give a value of 200 (default is 400 ms = 0.4 seconds)
File > Exit
* Suggested BACKUP point.
* (Defragment)
* Change Drive Letters: Right click on Computer > Manage > Storage > Disk Management > Right-click on drives > Change Drive Letter and Paths > File > Exit
* Disable Windows Vista native zip support to increase performance (if you use WinZip instead):
Start Menu > Run... > regedit >
Delete these two keys:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E88DCCE0-B7B3-11d1-A9F0-00AA0060FA31}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{0CD7A5C0-9F37-11CE-AE65-08002B2E1262}
* Motherboard chipset drivers, LAN > Reboot
* Make ALL of the bandwidth available to you
Start Menu > Run... > gpedit.msc > OK
1. Expand "Computer Configuration" > "Administrative Templates" > "Network"
2. Highlight the "QoS Packet Scheduler" in the LEFT window
3. In the right window double click on "limit reservable bandwidth"
4. Under the Setting TAB SELECT: "Enabled"
5. Where it says "Bandwidth limit (%)" change it to 0 and Click on OK > File > Exit
6. Start Menu > Settings > Network Connections >
Right-click on Local Area connection > Properties >
General TAB > make sure QoS Packet scheduler is checked > OK
7. Reboot the system.
* Configure Mouse
Defaults + Wheel Button: Enter
Small Thumb Button: Keystroke [F11] (if there is an extra button: Application close Alt+F4)
REBOOT
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Personalization > Windows Color and Appearance > if it's there: [Open classic appearance properties for more color options] > Color Scheme: Windows Aero > Effects > CHECK everything > OK
[Switch back to Vista Basic if you like program windows to show up instanteneously.]
Desktop Background
Screen Saver > set preferences > Change power settings > set preferences such as Choose when to turn off the display > Turn off the display: 3 hours > Put the computer to sleep: Never >
[Under "change settings for the plan]: Change advanced power settings > set preferences such as Power buttons and lid > Start menu power button > Shutdown > OK > Save changes
Sounds > Sounds TAB > UNCHECK: Play Windows Startup sound >
Under Windows: scroll down and click on Asterisk >
Under Sounds: scroll up and SELECT (None) >
then turn off all other sounds from the list that may annoy you.
> Apply, then (above) Save As… to save your sound settings to be able to restore them in case they get reset when other Themes are applied.
Recording TAB > Raise recording levels
Playback TAB > Raise playback levels > OK
REBOOT
* Put folder shortcuts in
C:\Users\[user name]\Documents\
* Drivers for other cards.
* Internet Explorer: Right click on empty space next to IE tabs > CHECK:
- Menu Bar
- Status Bar
- Use Large Icons
then > Customize Command Bar > CHECK: Show All Text Labels,
then > Add or Remove Commands (below Show All Text Labels) >
COPY
Separator
PASTE
Separator
CUT
Separator
Separator
SIZE
Separator
FULL SCREEN
Separator
TOOLS
* View > Toolbars > CHECK: Lock the Toolbars
* CTRL+H > Down arrow on History button > By Order Visited Today
* Right-click on Internet Explorer on desktop > Properties > Accessibility button (on the bottom right) >
CHECK: Ignore font sizes specified on Web Pages > OK
[Now you can change the size by going to View > Text size]
then
Advanced TAB > under Browsing,
CHECK: Disable script debugging (internet Explorer) AND (Other)
UNCHECK: - Enable page transitions
- Notify when downloads complete
- Reuse windows for launching shortcuts
then go down under Multimedia and
UNCHECK: Enable Automatic Image Resizing
then go down under Search from the Address bar and
SELECT: Do not search from the Address bar
then go down under Security and
CHECK: Allow software to run or install even if the signature is invalid
UNCHECK: Check for signatures on downloaded programs
SELECT: Disable Phishing filter
Programs TAB > UNCHECK: Tell me if internet Explorer is not the default web browser
Content TAB > Auto Complete Settings button > UNCHECK everything > OK
Privacy TAB > UNCHECK: Turn on Pop-up Blocker if using Internet Explorer for testing purposes and not as a default browser > OK
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel:
> AutoPlay > UNCHECK: Use AutoPlay for all media and devices > Save (bottom right)
> Date and Time > UNCHECK: Remind me one week before this change occurs >
Internet Time TAB > Change settings… > Server: time.nist.gov > OK
> Indexing Options > Modify > Only the Start Menu should be CHECKED > Close
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Windows Defender and Windows Firewall, Disable them if you're going to use third party software:
Windows Defender > Tools > Options > Scroll all the way down > UNCHECK: use Windows Defender > Save > Close
Windows Firewall > Change settings > Off > OK
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off (left side) > Scroll down to
Print Services and UNCHECK: Internet Printing Client, Remote Differential Compression and Windows Meeting Space > OK
* Computer > Right click on drive where Vista was installed > Properties > Tools > Defragment Now > wait a little bit to be able to UNCHECK: Run on a schedule > OK
Computer > Right click on every drive > Properties > General TAB > UNCHECK: Index this drive for faster searching > OK
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Personalization > Theme > Save As…
* Defragment + Suggested BACKUP point.
REMOVE START-UP ITEMS AND SHELL EXTENSIONS as you go
+ START APPLICATIONS TO SET UP OPTIONS + Put Shortcuts on Desktop
* Update all drivers, Install Scanner Software
* Other Applications (except for AntiVirus, IE SpellCheck.)
* Double click on Media Player High Quality MP3 Encoding.reg
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Settings\MP3Encoding]
"LowRate"=dword:0000dac0
"MediumRate"=dword:0001f400
"MediumHighRate"=dword:0003e800
"HighRate"=dword:0004e200
This corresponds to 56, 128, 256 and 320 KB/second rates, respectively.
* Start Widows Media Player 11 > UNCHECK everything when prompted.
Right click on Windows Media Player top bar > Show Classic Menus
Tools > Options > Player TAB > UNCHECK: Add media files to library when played
Privacy TAB > UNCHECK everything
Set personal preferences in all other TABs.
Now Playing > Visualization > set preference
View > Video Size > only CHECK: Fit Video to Player on Resize > SELECT: 100%
Vista bug: Do not maximize Windows Media Player 11 window or the videos will not fill the screen when you start them. Instead drag the edges of Windows Media Player 11 window so that the program window is manually maximized. Now videos will fill the screen if you double click on them to start them.
Disable Media Player automatically checking for updates:
Start Menu > Run... > regedit >
Go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Policies \ Microsoft \
Right click on Microsoft > New > Key
name it
WindowsMediaPlayer
(if it's not already there)
Right click on WindowsMediaPlayer > New > DWORD Value > Name it
DisableAutoUpdate
Double click on it and enter the value of 1
* wmpnscfg.exe is a file that always runs enabling Windows Media Player 11 to share media between computers. To disable it: Start Menu > Run... > (include the quotes):
"\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpnscfg.exe" /Close
* Start Menu > Run... > regedit > go to registry key
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Preferences\HME
right click on HME > New > DWORD value > name it DisableDiscovery > Double click on DisableDiscovery and set the value to 2
File > Exit
* Suggested BACKUP point.
* WordPerfect Office + Service Pack
Tools > Settings… > Files >
Document TAB: set Default document folder, Backup Folder, Timed Document backup
Template TAB: set Template folders
Merge/Macro TAB: set Macro folder
OK
Set zoom to 125%
* Microsoft Office:
• For Office 2003 and earlier, note that file Normal.dot and Excel11.xlb contain most of menu settings. In MS Word > Tools > Options > File Locations TAB > User Templates > Modify…> browse to where a backed up version of Normal.dot is located to transfer previous settings.
For New installations of Excel, create a new toolbar first:
Tools > Customize > Toolbars TAB > New... > OK > Close > Exit Excel
This will create file Excel11.xlb whose original location is
C:\Users\[name of your account] \AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\
• For Word 2007, to import a Ribbon consisting of a template from the previous version of Word, simply take the Normal.dot file from the old version of Word and place it in folder
C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP\
[Previous versions of Word Normal.dot location:
MS Word > Tools > Options > File Locations TAB > User Templates...]
This will result in Add-Ins ribbon loading at startup. However, it may contain unwanted Menu and Toolbar items as well. To make a custom Normal.dot file with just the templates in previous version of Word:
1. Start an older version of Word > Tools > Customize... > Toolbars TAB > New > Make toolbar available: Document1 > OK > Place items inside the newly created toolbar.
2. Save the file as a .doc file (in case it's also needed later) but then File > Save As... > Save As Type: Document Template (*.dot) > Save
3. Copy the .dot file to C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP\
4. You may have to re-create in Word 2007 any macros you saved, but Classic Template shortcuts for them should then work.
• For Excel 2007, to import a Ribbon consisting of a template from the previous version of Excel, convert the old templates into an *.xla Add-In using a previous version of Excel: Tools > Customize... > Toolbars TAB > Attach... > Select and Copy custom toolbars > OK > Close
File > Save As ... > Save as type: Microsoft Office Excel Add-In (*.xla) > Save the file then copy it to
C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART\
Start Excel 2007 which would then show the custom toolbars under the Add-Ins Ribbon. Excel12.xlb containing the Add-In information will also be created in C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\
Install Classic Menus in Office 2007
• Freeware portion of RibbonCustomizer software http://pschmid.net/office2007/ribboncustomizer can be used to get the classic menus installed.
After installing RibbonCustomizer, go to the View Ribbon >
Customize Ribbon (click on its drop down menu, not on its icon) > Customization Schemes >
to get the Classic User Interface enabled
[Classic UI feature can be used indefinitely, without selecting to try the shareware portion of the program so you don't have to select 'Evaluate RibbonCustomizer Professional'. Note that RibbonCustomizer may delay Word Startup Time a little.]
Version 1.2 of RibbonCustomizer lets you use your own custom images as icons on the Ribbon BUT ONLY to your own macro buttons. You cannot assign custom images to regular office commands. Also, files generated with version 1.2 cannot be read by older releases.
• Office 2007 stores customized templates (customized icons in the top bar above ribbons) in the following files:
Word 2007 Word.qat
Excel 2007 Excel.qat
PowerPoint 2007 PowerPoint.qat
Access 2007 Access.qat
Outlook 2007:
Contacts Olkaddritem.qat
Calendar Olkapptitem.qat
Distribution list Olkdistitem.qat
Journal entry Olklogitem.qat
Mail Olkmailitem.qat
Post in folder Olkpostitem.qat
Tasks Olktaskitem.qat
.QAT files are created after one customized change is made.
Location for Windows Vista: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office
Location for Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Office
Default .qat file locations cannot be changed like their equivalents could in previous versions of Office.
* To disable Right Click Menu option "Open as Notebook in OneNote" delete: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\OneNote.Open
* Task Bar: Toolbars > Quick Launch:
Show Desktop, F Drive, Firefox, Notepad, IE, Email
* Other large Applications
* Suggested BACKUP point.
* WinFax minimum installation
Tools > Program Setup… > Send > UNCHECK: Include a cover page > OK > Close
Get rid of the Outlook errors upon exit:
Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Mail > Data Files... button >
Click on WinFax Fax Logs > Remove button > Yes > Close
Prevent it from always running in the background
Start menu > Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services
Scroll down to WinFax PRO service and double click on it then (in the
middle of the window) where it says "Startup type:" SELECT: Manual > OK
* To change (removable) drive icons: Start Menu > Run... > regedit > Go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Explorer
Right click on Explorer > New > Key > DriveIcons
Right click on DriveIcons > New > Key > the name should be the drive letter, for example C >
Right click on C > New > Key > DefaultIcon
Double click on DefaultIcon and set the path to the icon file. If the path is to an icon library, then add the number of the icon inside the library to set the drive icon to, for example c:\windows\system32/shell32.dll,74
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Default Programs > Associate a file type or protocol with a program > Scroll down to:
MP3 (Creative MediaSource5)
WAV (Creative MediaSource5)
CDA (Creative MediaSource5)
WP (WordPerfect 5.1)
WPD (WordPerfect X4)
PSD (Adobe Photoshop)
If it's not there, change the extension of a new Notepad text file to a new extension, double click on it > Select a program from a list of installed programs. Remember to type in the description for it.
RDF (WordPad)
WRI (WordPad)
* How to change the icon for an extension in Windows Vista, for example .mp3
Start Menu > Run... > regedit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mp3 then in the right windows look at the value for Default
for the example of .mp3, it's WMP11.AssocFile.MP3
That means, go to
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MP3\DefaultIcon
to set the icon for the .mp3 extension
However, if you changed the program that opens the .mp3 extension, then go to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.mp3\UserChoice
and there double click on Progid which reveals the XXX.AssocFile.mp3File
Now you'll be able to change the DefaultIcon found under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\XXX.AssocFile.mp3File\DefaultIcon
Copy custom icons to Windows\ DefaultIcon folder
%SystemRoot%\DefaultIcon\MP3.ico
%SystemRoot%\DefaultIcon\wav.ico
%SystemRoot%\DefaultIcon\WP.ico
%SystemRoot%\DefaultIcon\Wordperfect5.ico
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CMS5.AssocFile.mp3File\DefaultIcon
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CMS5.AssocFile.wavFile\DefaultIcon
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WP14Doc\DefaultIcon
[In case of problems with .mp3 & .wav icons, try setting default icons for WMP11.AssocFile.MP3 and it's WMP11.AssocFile.WAV then
Control Panel > Set Default Programs > Windows Media Player > Choose defaults for this program > CHECK .mp3 and .wav > Save >
Now use Default Programs again to set your custom application as the default program for .mp3 & .wav files.]
* Use third party software ShellExView to disable right click menu items such as:
Windows Media Player Add to Playlist Context Menu Handler
Windows Media Player Shop Music Context Menu Handler
QuickFinder shell entries
Note that the following must be left Enabled or double clicking on video files would start Notepad: Windows Media Play as Playlist Context Menu Handler
* Third party software (like shareware Creative Element Power Tools File Type Doctor or freeware Types 1.2.5) can be used to insert commands into the Right Click Menu
Replace Edit with Edit with Photoshop
for jpg, bmp, gif, tif (if using File Type Doctor, changing .jpg Edit option will change all other picture files.)
and add Edit with WordPerfect X4 to .wp extension and Edit with Dreamweaver to .htm extension.
* Add default Photoshop Grayscale Photocopy resolution 1600 x 1200 (Resolution 138 DPI)
* Set Photoshop Photocopy Color to 200 DPI
* Right-click on clock > Adjust Date/Time > Internet Time TAB > Change settings… >
CHECK: Synchronize with an Internet time server > Server: time.nist.gov >
Click on Update Now button
(In case of problems, Generic Host Process for Win32 Services should be allowed to have Internet access.)
* Put folder shortcuts in Send to Menu:
C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo\
* Use TweakVI free version (Miscellaneous Tweaks > Change System folder settings… to change location of Windows Shell folders
[Common Favorites, Desktop, Documents, Favorites, Send To, Startmenu, Startmenu Programs, Startup) to folders of choice, for easy backup / restore]
TweakVI > Visual Tweaks > Desktop Tweaks... > Remove 'Shortcut to...' on new shortcuts
* Favorites Menu Order
[Saved previously from HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ MenuOrder \ Favorites Click once on Favorites and then (on the menu) click on Registry > Export Registry File... to save this file.]
* regedit Favorites are:
- Delete autocheck autochk *
for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Session Manager
- Favorites Menu Order
for HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ MenuOrder \ Favorites
* Set Google as default search engine. Enter the following into Notepad and save it as a .reg file, then double click on it > Yes
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Use Search Asst"="no"
"Search Page"="http://www.google.com"
"Search Bar"="http://www.google.com/ie"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL]
""="http://www.google.com/keyword/%s"
"provider"="gogl"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search]
"SearchAssistant"="http://www.google.com/ie"
* Enable copy-pasting into FTP sites from Internet Explorer. Enter the following into Notepad and save it as a .reg file, then double click on it > Yes
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_INTERNET_SHELL_FOLDERS]
"iexplore.exe"=dword:00000001
* AntiVirus, IE SpellCheck, use Atomic Clock Sync Repair Service to fix the auto clock update if necessary
* Start Menu > Settings > Taskbar and Start Menu > Notification Area TAB > Customize… button to set preferences
* Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Sound > Again check both Playback and Recording properties (Raise Volume Bars) and check Program Events sounds > OK
* See C:\Users and delete unnecessary items from Desktop and Start Menu and Favorites
* Delete unnecessary sample files (from places like Documents…)
* Start Menu > Run... > compcln.exe
to remove Service Pack backup/installation files.
* TweakUI > Templates
* Save current Display settings to a file:
Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Display > Themes TAB > Save As… button
* Adjust Music folder and subfolders Views: List
* Check again: Computer > Right click on drive where Vista was installed > Properties > Tools > Defragment Now > wait a little bit to be able to UNCHECK: Run on a schedule > OK
* Make an Image and make sure to Verify Image after transferring it to its backup location.
Make this file so it can rebuild your Windows Vista icon cache when you double click on it. Enter the following into Notepad and save it, then change the extension of the saved file to .bat
taskkill /im explorer.exe /f
CD %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local
attrib -h iconcache.db
del iconcache.db
explorer.exe
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CTRL+F to find it, look:
