Windows Registry Hacks/Visual enhancement tweaks
This section deals with registry hacks which enhance the experience of using Windows.
Custom encrypted and compressed folder color
[edit | edit source]Description: Windows displays encrypted and compressed folders in green and blue color respectively.
| HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer | ||
| Setting | Value | Type |
| Compressed folders | AltColor | REG_BINARY |
| Encrypted folders | AltEncryptionColor | REG_BINARY |
The format for colors is
0xRR 0xGG 0xBB 0x00
| Key | HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer |
|---|---|
| Value Name | REG_BINARY |
| Data Type | AltEncryptionColor |
| Data | 0xFF 0x00 0x00 0x00 |
Custom hot tracking color
[edit | edit source]Description: If single click navigation is enabled then on hovering folders, they are shown in a blue color by default. Format for colors is
RRR GGG BBB
| Key | HKCU\Control Panel\Colors |
|---|---|
| Value Name | HotTrackingColor |
| Data Type | REG_SZ |
| Data | 128 128 0 |
Smooth scrolling
[edit | edit source]Description: Smooth scrolling changes the way windows scrolling works.Turning it ON may consume resources.
| Key | HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop |
|---|---|
| Value Name | SmoothScroll |
| Data Type | REG_DWORD |
| Data | 0 OR 1 |
Reorganizing control panel
[edit | edit source]Description: The default category view in Windows Xp categorizes certain control panel icons in one category. This categorization can be controlled by adding a REG_DWORD value to the required category ID.
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\Extended Properties\
{305CA226-D286-468e-B848-2B2E8E697B74} 2
| Key | HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\Extended Properties\ {305CA226-D286-468e-B848-2B2E8E697B74} 2 |
|---|---|
| Value Name | %SystemRoot%\system32\timedate.cpl |
| Data Type | REG_DWORD |
| Data | 0x00000001 |
| 0x00000000 | Other options (any tool which doesn't provide category is placed here) |
| 0x00000001 | Appearance and Themes |
| 0x00000002 | Printers and Other Hardware |
| 0x00000003 | Network and Internet Connections |
| 0x00000004 | Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices |
| 0x00000005 | Performance and Maintenance |
| 0x00000006 | Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options |
| 0x00000007 | Accessibility Options |
| 0xFFFFFFFF | No category. Such tools are started directly e.g. Add/Remove programs |