Windows 7 Tips : Hiding User folders.

In the Start Menu, user folders such as Documents, Music, Games etc are shown as links on the right side. These folders are created for each user and are customised to the usage pattern accordingly. For example, the music folder will show playlists that are created by the particular user. There is also a folder for each user, having the name of that user, which contains these folders within it.
Personally, I never use these links and have disabled them.
How to hide these shortcut links?

Windows 7 Tweaks: Using Group Policy Editor

I had earlier blogged about how you can modify the Group Policy Editor to customize windows 7. Continuing with that, this tweak will let you clear the recently used documents every time you shut down the pc.
This is an easy trick.
1. Open Group Policy Editor from the start menu by typing 'gpedit.msc'.
2.Navigate through User Configuration>Administrative Templates>Taskbar and Start Menu.
3.From the list, click on 'Clear history of recently used documents on exit.'. Right click and click on Edit.
4.Enable it and exit the Policy Editor.

Thus, all the documents in the Recent Items in the Start Menu will be purged on log off and so will be those in jump lists in the taskbar.

Windows 7 Trick : Display message before user logon

Before the user logs in into his account, you can display a message by doing a simple tweak in the Local Security Policy editor. This message can be anything like a security message, or an information message or just a fun message like 'Have A Nice Day' or 'Happy Computing'.Open the Security Policy Editor by typing 'secpol.msc' in the Start Menu. Go through Local Policies and then Security Options. Now perform the following steps.

1.On the Right Hand side of the window locate the Interactive logon: Message title for users attempting to log on policy. Double click on it to edit it.

2.Under the Local Security Settings tab, type a title that you would like the users to see for the message, and   click OK. Next,
3. Locate the Interactive logon: Message text for users attempting to log on  policy. Right-click it and select Properties.
4. On the Local Security Settings tab, type your message and click OK.
5. Exit the Local Policy Editor and Reboot the machine to see the changes.

Using System Recovery in Windows 7

This post is in continuation with the previous post explaining how to tweak safely in Windows 7.
You can use the System recovery console in case your machine is in a state where it does not boot properly. The Windows Recovery Console can be started by using the hidden partition at the time of booting. This is done by pressing F8 repeatedly after POST(Power On Self Test) screen. It will start the Recovery Manager or Console.
It has many tools for recovery which are displayed in the window.
First is the Startup Repair which detects the problems that are occurring during startup and tries to fix them. Next is The System Restore which has been explained in the previous post.
Memory Diagnostic detects errors and inconsistencies in the memory sectors and in the hardware which might be causing the system to crash.
Then there is the Command Prompt which can be used effectively to restore the system.
In case there is no hidden partition in your system,windows recovery can be started by using the System Repair Disc, which can be created from any regular Windows machine.

Tweak Windows 7 Safely: Use System Restore

System Restore points are very important when it comes to tweaking, because anything could go wrong. Restore points allow you to undo the changes done by tweaking and revert back to previous state of the system.
How to Create Restore Points:
1.Click on Start. In the search bar, enter 'Create a Restore Point'.
2.This will open the System Protection tab in System Properties.

3.Click on 'Create' near the bottom of the window.
4.Enter a name('abcd',for example) for the Restore Point and click Next.
A System Restore point is created.


How to revert back to previous Restore Point:

Disable Autorun In Windows XP, Vista, 7

This trick will help you in disabling Autorun of USB pen drive. If your drive is infected with viruses, then Autorun should be disabled.
1.Click on Start button. Type 'gpedit.msc' in the Search Box to open the Group Policy Editor.
2.Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components.
3.On the right side of the window double click on "Turn off Autoplay" to turn it off.
4.Click on 'enabled' option of 'Turn off autoplay' and apply it to 'all drives'.

Save the changes to disable the autorun of a pen drive.

Windows Registry Tweak : Prevent Changes To Start Menu

Windows Registry Trick : How to prevent changes to the start menu.
This tweak will stop any change done to the Start Menu.
1.Open the Registry Editor.
2.Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer .
3. Add a Dword called NoChangeStartMenu.
4.Set it to Value 1.

Save the changes and Reboot the system for effects to take place. Note : I have tried it on Windows XP, I am not sure about other OS. As always, take a backup of the registry before messing up its values. :)

Windows Registry Trick : Customize the System Tray

This tweak using the windows registry will help you customize your system tray.

You can add your name or anything you like that consists of 8 characters or less. This string will replace the AM or PM next to the system time in the system tray.

1. Open RegEdit.
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\International
3. Add two new String values, "s1159" and "s2359"
4. Right click the new value name and modify. Entered string should be less than 8 characters.

If you enter two different values when modifying, you can have the system tray display the two different values in the AM and PM.

Please Note that this trick may not work in some trial versions of an operating system.  If you are using a trial version, we recommend you not to do this trick as it may corrupt the system.

Speed up your Start Menu : Windows Registry Trick

Here is another windows registry trick ( or tweak) by which you can spped up your Start Menu.

When you click the Start menu and scroll over the various menu items such as Programs, Accessories etc , there is a time delay after which the contents of the menu are displayed. This time delay value is set to 400 by default .You can change it to 0, which means the contents will be displayed immediately. Or you can change it to any other value based on your level of comfort.
Here is how you can do it.
Open the windows Registry editor.
Go to the following Registry Key
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop \ MenuShowDelay

Setting for Value Data:0
Exit Registry and Reboot to the machine to implement the changes.

Windows Hack : How to Deactivate SHUTDOWN button.

Thus, hacking can sometimes help you get back at your obnoxious friend !.

Here is a trick you can play on your arrogant friend who thinks he is really smart. This hacking trick will deactivate the shutdown button.For this you will have to tweak some values in the Registry Editor.  Here is how you can do it.

==>Open a file add the following text and save it with the extension of .reg

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

"NoClose"="1"


==>Save the file and add the contents of the file to the registry by simply double clicking the file. The shutdown button will be deactivated. To enable shutdown set " NoClose"="0".

Windows xp Tweaks 1 --Tips and Warnings

Windows Registry is the place where most of the tweaks and tricks are performed.

 Warning - Since the registry is important  take a backup before you make any changes.
To see the changes , press F5 or Refresh or restart the pc if it doesnt work.