How to Edit the Registry

Windows: Start Menu

Values that control various Start menu and Explorer options
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]:
NoChangesStartMenu 00000001 Disable deleting items from Start Menu
NoClose 00000001 Remove the ShutDown option from the Start Menu
NoCommonGroups 00000001 Common program groups do not appear on the Start menu
NoDesktop 00000001 Hide all desktop icons
NoDrives 00000000 Low order bit is drive A: while the 26th bit is Drive Z: To hide a drive, turn on its bit
NoDriveTypeAutoRun 95,00,00,00 Disable autostart CD-ROM
NoFavoritesMenu 00000001 Hide Favorites on Start Menu
NoFileMenu 00000001 Remove "File" menu in Explorer
NoFind 00000001 Remove the Find command from the Start Menu
NoLogOff 01,00,00,00 Remove logoff from Start Menu
NoNetConnectDisconnect 00000001 Remove Explorer's "Map Network Drive" and "Disconnect Network Drive" menu and right click options
NoNetHood 00000001 Remove the Network Neighborhood icon from desktop
NoRecentDocsMenu 00000001 Hide Recent documents on Start Menu
ClearRecentDocsOnExit 01,00,00,00 Empty My Documents when shutting down Windows
NoRun 00000001 Remove the Run command from the Start menu
NoSaveSettings 00,00,00,00 Save window settings on exit
NoSetActiveDesktop 00000001 Disable Active Desktop
NoSetFolders 00000001 Hide Settings > Control Panel, and Settings > Printers on the Start Menu
NoSetTaskbar 00000001 Hide Settings > Taskbar on the Start Menu: Only Drag/Drop can be used to alter Start Menu and Desktop
NoStartBanner 01,00,00,00 Disable "Click here to start"
NoWindowsUpdate 00000001 Removes Windows update from Start Menu > Settings
RestrictRun 00000001 Only programs defined at [HKCU\Software\Microsoft\...\
Policies\Explorer\RestrictRun] will run

Speed up the Start Menu

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Control Panel\ desktop] Create the string value MenuShowDelay. Set it to a number from 0 (fast) to 10 (slow).

Add programs to the Shell

Available when right-clicking the Start button
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell]
Create the key MS-DOS Prompt (or whatever); Default = " DOS Command " (or whatever name you want to appear)Create the subkey command ; Default = " command.com /k cd %1 " (or any other program)

Add an expanding Control Panel to Start menu

This will also work with most special folders.
Under [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*], find the system ID of the folder you want to add.
Right-click Start button and chose Open.
Create a new folder with the name of the folder followed by a dot and the folder ID.
Example: Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Control Panel:{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Printers:{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
Dial Up Net:{992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48}

How to Edit the Registry
Windows 98, Windows Xp & Windows 2000

To open Registry Editor, click Start, click Run, type Regedit, and then click OK.
NOTE: You should not edit your registry unless it is absolutely necessary. If there is an error in your registry, your computer may not function properly. Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system. Before making changes to the registry, you should back up any valued data on your computer.

Back up the Registry First!!!

Windows 95, Windows 98 & Windows Me:

NOTE: Do not follow these steps to export a whole registry hive (for example, the HKEY_CURRENT_USER hive). If
you must back up a whole registry hive, back up the whole registry instead.
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
Locate and then click the key that contains the value that you want to edit.
On the File menu, click Export.
In the Save in box, select a location where you want to save the .reg file, in the File name box, type a file name,
and then click Save.
To Back up the whole registry:
Click Start, then click Run. The Run dialog box appears.
Type regedit and click OK. The Registry Editor opens.
Click the Registry menu and click Export Registry File.
Verify the following items in the Export Registry File dialog box:
Save in: Desktop
File name: Registry Backup
Save as type: Registration Files
Export range: All
Click Save.
Exit the Registry Editor.
Verify that an icon labeled "Registry Backup.reg" is on the desktop. CAUTION: Do not double-click the "Registry Backup.reg" file on the desktop unless you intend to undo the changes you are making to the registry.
NOTE: This method for Windows 95/98/Me will not work for Windows NT/2000. Windows NT/2000 has additional security protection that prevents this backup from being restored.