Windows 7 Registry Explanation Importance Tweaks and Maintenance
With the release of Windows 7 the world has come to love this much improved operating system, and if you have purchased a computer that has this OS, or invested int the disk it would behoove you to come to understand a little of the system registry and what it contains. Just like all the previous versions of Windows this version also has a registry that you can use to make many changes to to customize and tune the performance of your machine to suit your individual tastes. Here we will discuss what it is, the importance of it, modifying, and maintaining the registry.
Defining The Registry
In all the previous versions of Windows the registry plays a major key role, and in Windows 7 there will be no exception to this rule. The registry is the main database that contains information on all the hardware, installed programs, user profiles, and system settings on your computer. Any changes made to the computer, whether it is an installation, un-installation, or settings change the registry will be modified to reflect it. Almost every application or program that is run on your computer will use the registry at one time or another.
Registry Settings and Tweaks You Can Change
--Warning--
Before making any changes to the most important file on your computer make a back-up copy. This can be done by using the back-up tool in the registry editor, or a compatible application that can be found on the internet.
Windows 7 has a registry Editor program similar to the previous versions did that will allow many modifications. To open the Registry Editor go to: Start=>Run, then type “regedit” into the run box that opens.
The first customization is for the logon screen, find the following entry using the find tool located at the bottom of the edit button on the top:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI.
On the right side you will need to add a DWORD value by right clicking the pane and selecting it from the drop down box. In the resulting box, name your new DWORD “ButtonSet” and give a rang for it of 0-2. The values are as follows:
0)This gives lighter text shadowing and makes the buttons darker in color, this is the default;
1)Gives darker text shadowing and lighter buttons, this is better with lighter backgrounds;
2)This setting gives no text shadowing and opaque buttons on the logon screen, looks best with darker backgrounds.
Speeding Up Your Desktop. Next find the key listed here the same way as above:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop. Now change the following entries in the right pane, if the entry isn't there then add it in the same manner as the DWORD entry from above was added selecting “Key” instead:
1)AutoEndTasks=1
2)HungApp Timeout=1000
3)MenuShowDelay=8
4)Wait To KillApp Timeout=2000
5)LowLevelHooks Timeout=1000
These entries will serve to end programs that are taking too long in responding automatically, terminate hung programs quickly and easily, display the menus and sub-menus faster.
Enabling Taking Ownership Of The Files Option
Find the following key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\runas, change the following entries to the value indicated:
1)@=Take Ownership
2)NoWorkingDirectory= (nothing here)
This is handy when performing quick customization or replacing sensitive system files.
Speed things up by preventing low disk space checking, looking for invalid program entries, etc. Procedures for changing and creating values are the same as prescribed above, go to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\Explorer
1)NoLowDiskSpaceChecks=00000001 (DWORD)
2)LinkResolveIgnoreLinkInfo=00000001 (DWORD)
3)NoResolveSearch=00000001 (DWORD)
4)NoResolveTrack=00000001 (DWORD)
5)NoInternetOpenWith=00000001 (DWORD)
This is just a few of the tweaks that exist, so look on the internet, but be careful to use Windows 7 compatible tools to back-up and maintain your registry at the optimum performance using the settings that are comfortable to you.