Hacking Windows II

Changing Desktop Folders - With No Registry Changes

1. From the Explorer, create a folder somewhere OTHER than the desktop, and call it something like "Desktop Folders."
2. Move all your desktop folders into that folder.
3. Create shortcuts to all of those folders on your desktop.
4. Now, you are free to change the icons of each shortcut individually, to anything you like!

Updating the Desktop without restarting it

If you want to update the desktop, for example after you've been changing the registry.

1. Right-Click anywhere on the desktop
2. Press F5

Adding the Desktop to your Start Menu

Create a shortcut to the Explorer on your Desktop

1. Right click on the Start button
2. Choose Open
3. Go into the Programs Folder
4. Drag the Windows Explorer Icon on your Desktop using the RIGHT Mouse button
5. Choose copy here

Change the command line switch

1. Right click on the Shortcut you created
2. Choose Properties
3. Choose Shortcut
4. Type in following command line as target:
   • C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE /n, /root,
   • The last "," is vital!
5. If you want the two pane Explorer view ad the switch ,/e
6. Then rename the Shortcut to "Desktop" or whatever you choose and drag the icon onto the start button.

Removing shortcut arrows

One problem when removing shortcut arrows is that
if you delete a desktop item, it will remove it.
If it is a shortcut it will just remove the icon.
If it is not a shortcut, then it will remove the program.
Having the little icon arrow is one way to tell the difference.

Getting rid of Click Here to Continue

1. Start the Registry Editor
2. Open HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Software / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Policies / Explorer
3. Create a binary value and call it NoStartBanner
4. Double-click on it and give it a value of 01 00 00 00
5. You will need to repeat the same steps for HKEY_USERS / .Default / Software / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Policies / Explorer

Changing the Desktop and Explorer Folder Icons

The following steps will change the icon that is displayed as the default Folder icon.

1. Start the Registry Editor.
2. Search for "Shell Icons".
3. This will bring you to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / explorer / Shell Icons.
4. Double-click on the one has the value name of "3" in the right pane.
5. Type in the new icon you want to use.
6. If you have a DLL file specified, you need to count for the location of the particular icon you want to use, starting at 0.
7. To reset the icon cache, use a program such as Tweak with comes with the PowerToys from Microsoft.

Note: Please, be cautious when editing registry values lest your system could undergo serious problems.

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 windows secrets- hacking your system to better performance and fun