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REGISTRY TIPS 36-47

Reviewed:

Advanced users

Make life a little more bearable with these enhancements (Win9x).

Backup the Registry (twice!).

Record current setting(s).

Make ONE change at a time - Reboot & Test it.

ANY REG CHANGE CARRIES A DEGREE OF RISK.

Use at your own discretion Do NOT complain, if it goes wrong!

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36. MODEM - MAXSOCKETS Windows 9x

Depending on your installation or upgrades, the maximum Sockets allocation for your modem may be set too low (perhaps at a default of 256).

To can increase the MaxSocket in the Registry:

Backup the Registry, run RegEdit, and locate the Key below

In the right pane, if max is set to less than 1020 then:
change the Value Data of max to 1020

Key: [HKEY_LOCALMACHINE \System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD
\NWLink\Ndi\params\maxsockets\max]

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37. MODEM TIMEOUT Windows 9x

If your modem it timing out during file transfers or browsing, you can try the effect of increasing the timeout period allowed.

Backup the Registry, run RegEdit, and locate the Key below
Where XXXX is the number allocated to your modem e.g. 0000, 0001, 0002, or 0003

In the right pane, alter the Value Data of Inactivity Timeout to your preferred number of minutes, entered between the <> brackets of S19=< >

For example, a US Robotics Sportster could have S19=<30> to set it to 30 minutes
(consult your modem manual)

The default is S19=<#>

Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class
\Modem\XXXX\Settings ]

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38. NEW COMMAND MISSING ! IE 4 with Desktop

The New command may be missing from right-click context menu after you install Internet Explorer 4 with the Desktop Update component.

You can will fix that problem.

Backup the Registry, run RegEdit, and locate the Key below
(This registry entry only exists if the Windows Desktop Update component is installed. If that component is not installed, then you can add the registry entry and (Default) value)

In the right pane, make sure the Value Data matches this:
{D969A300-E7FF-11d0-A93B-00A0C90F2719}

Key: [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex
\ContextMenuHandlers\New]

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39. NOTEPAD - FONT USED Windows 9x

Perhaps you would like to change the Font used by Notepad.

Backup the Registry, run RegEdit, and locate the Key below

In the right pane, change the Value Data of fixedfon.fon to the font of your choice (should have a .fon extension).

The Default is usually vgafix.fon

Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\config\0001\display\settings]

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40. NUMLOCK ON / OFF Windows 95

Many users are annoyed with NumLock

You can turn NumLock key OFF by adding this line to your Config.sys:
NUMLOCK=OFF

OR

Backup the Registry, run RegEdit, and locate the Key below

In the left pane create (use right-click) a new sub-key under Microsoft Input Devices, and call it Keyboard

Right-click on the new Keyboard sub-key, and create a new String Value named NumLock

In the right pane, enter ON as the Value Data of NumLock
(or OFF for OFF)

Key: [HKEY_CURRENUSER\ControlPanel\Microsoft Input Devices]

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41. SYSTEM AGENT - Disable - (part of Microsoft Plus!) Windows 95

This is for those users who installed Microsoft Plus! for Windows95.

Many users wish to disable System Agent log update because it needs substantial system resources.

Backup the Registry, run RegEdit, and locate the Key below

In the right pane, change the Value Data of No Log to 0
(that's a ZERO - the Default is 1)

Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Plus!\System Agent]

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42. PROGRAM FAULTS - RECORDED Windows 9x

You can create a record of faults on your computer.
Useful if you are having problems.

You inform the Registry of the filename you wish to use, and the path to that file

Backup the Registry, run RegEdit, and locate the Key below
(if not present, you can create it)

In the right pane, insert the filename and path

Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
\CurrentVersion\FaultLogFile]

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43. SAVE SETTINGS Windows 9x

Sometimes Windows annoyingly 'forgets' your settings for Desktop, Explorer, or Control Panel. It stores a maximum of 29 windows settings

You can force Windows to keep the present settings for good.

Backup the Registry, run RegEdit, and locate the Key below

No matter what Value Data is given to this Registry setting, the Desktop, Explorer, or Control Panel settings will still be modified by Windows after opening 29 of those windows.

So, in the right pane, delete the Value Name called NoSaveSettings

If you are unhappy with the change, remember you can manually recreate the Value Name of NoSaveSettings and give it a Value Data of 00 00 00 00 (those are ZEROs)

HKEY_CURRENUSER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

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44. START MENU - EDIT IT Windows 9x

It is probably easier to alter some contents of your Start Menu by removing their Shortcuts via Windows Explorer - Start Menu.

OR Use TweakUI (Win98 only) to remove the Favourites and Documents folders

OR Backup the Registry, run RegEdit, and locate the Key below

In the right pane, you can edit the DWORD Value Data of the Value Datas to:
0 for display that item
1 for hide that item

The number of items in the right pane depends largely on your Windows version.
Value Names you may find include:
• NoClose (refers to Shutdown) • NoFind (refers to Find) • NoFavouritesMenu (Favourites)
• NoFolderOptions (Folder Options) • NoLogOff (Log Off)
• NoRecentDocsMenu (Documents) • NoRun (Run) • NoSetActiveDesktop (Active Desktop)
• NoSetFolders (Control Panel/Printers) • NoSetTaskbar (Taskbar & Start Menu)
• NoWindowsUpdate (Windows Update)

Key: [Hkey_CurrenUser\software\microsoft\windows
\current version\policies\explorer]

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45. STARTUP WITHOUT APPLICATIONS Windows 9x

Starting Windows without running Startup applications

To start Windows without loading anything in the Startup group, hold down either Shift key when Windows is loading. Hold Shift down until the Desktop is complete, with pointer.

Any application that does now load is being started from the Registry. Unnecessary, or unwanted, items can be removed from there.

Backup the Registry, run RegEdit, and locate the Key below

In the right pane, locate any program under Value Name that you do not want to Run on bootup, and Delete it (use right-click).

Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
\CurrentVersion\Run.]

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46. VIDEO REFRESH RATE Windows 9x

If you absolutely need to, then that important video refresh rate can be set in your Registry.

Backup the Registry, run RegEdit, and locate the Key below
where xxxx is usually 0000 unless you have more than one Video Card (or incorrectly installed a single card at some time - totally uninstall and re-install it correctly!)

In the right pane: if the Value Data of RefreshRate is set to -1 then it is set to
Automatic Refresh Rate (default)

Any change you make to that must correspond to the actual frequency rate in Hertz (Hz) e.g. 75 for 75 Hz. The frequency you use should reflect the abilities of your own Video Card and system.

Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet
\Services\Class\Display\xxxx\Default]

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47. WRITE BEHIND CACHING Windows 9x

In order to enhance performance, Windows uses Write Behind caching instead of taking time to immediately write directly to the disk. This means that data may not be completely written to disk if an 'event' or 'crash' occurs.

You can disable this function if you wish to ensure data is written directly to disk, bypassing the cache. Expect a small performance deterioration if you disable Write Behind Caching

You can disable Write Behind via Control Panel - System Properties - Performance
- File System - Troubleshooting

OR

Backup the Registry, run RegEdit, and locate the Key below

In the right pane, create a new Value Name called DriveWriteBehind
Give the new DriveWriteBehind a Binary Value Data of:
00 00 00 00 for Protected Mode
01 00 00 00 for Real Mode

Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet
\Control\FileSystem]

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RE-INITAILIZE REGISTRY Windows 9x

Re-Initailize your Registry without rebooting

It is normal practice to reboot after making a Registry change.
Rebooting regularly can be a chore and a bore.

However you can re-initialize your Registry (and refresh your Desktop) without ever leaving the Windows environment.

• Save your current work - just in case!

• Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, bringing up the Windows' current Task List
• Highlight Explorer, and click on End Task
• If the Shutdown screen is shown, click Cancel
• After a few seconds an error message will appear
• click on End Task

Windows Explorer will now restart (plus your updated Registry)

Now! That's a lot quicker!

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Advanced Tweaks Centre

• OVERHEATING | Cooling Software
• OVERCLOCK the CPU
• OVERCLOCK the BUS
• OVERCLOCK CPU & BUS

• BIOS TWEAKS
• MEMORY & VIDEO BIOS TWEAKS
• BOOTUP FASTER. Well, just a little

• REGISTRY TIPS MENU
   • REGISTRY Tips 1-11
   • REGISTRY Tips 12-23
   • REGISTRY Tips 24-35
   • REGISTRY Tips 36-47

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* ALWAYS BACKUP FIRST * ALWAYS RECORD SETTINGS * ALWAYS MAKE ONE CHANGE AT A TIME

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