Windows Registry Tips
Windows registry is a database that stores the information regarding computer hardware, software, configurations, users’ preferences, users’ profiles and installed programs etc. It contains the information that Windows normally require during the normal operations. Registry is based on the two main elements i.e. keys and values. Keys are similar to the folders and it contains the subkeys and the values the data that is actually stored in these keys. Whenever a user makes changes in the control panel settings, preferences, system policies and the software applications these changes are reflected into the registry. Windows registry needs to be remain up-to-dated all the time for the proper functioning of the computer.
Registry also defines the relationships for the different parts of the computer software and hardware. It stores the user and machine configurations separately. For the novice computer users it is recommend to use the Windows interface instead of making the manual changes in the registry. Though it can also be edited through the regedit.exe or regedt32.exe but it is not recommend for the inexperienced computer users. Sometimes it is required to do some changes in the Windows registry to fix the registry errors and perform the different system maintenance, debugging, performance and security tasks. Modifying the registry incorrectly can lead to the serious problems with your computer include the systems crash.
Disable CD Burning
This trick is used to disable the built-in CD recording function of the Windows. You need to create a new DWORD value or modify the existing value called NoCDBurning.
Settings |
User Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer]
System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer]
Name: NoCDBurning
Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value: (0 = Allow CDR, 1 = Disable CDR) |
Disable File and Printer Sharing
This trick is used to disable the file and printer sharing in the Windows by creating the two DWORD values named named "NoFileSharing" and "NoPrintSharing" and setting either “1” for sharing and “0” for disabling.
Settings |
User Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Network]
System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Network]
Name: NoFileSharing, NoPrintSharing
Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value: (0 = file sharing, 1 = disabled) |
Clear the Page File at System Shutdown
Windows does not automatically clear the page file and this can lead to a degrade system performance and security threat. Enabling the settings through the registry will make the page file to be cleared automatically at system shutdown.
Create a new DWORD value or modify this “ClearPageFileAtShutdown” with the below settings.
Settings |
System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\
Memory Management]
Name: ClearPageFileAtShutdown
Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled) |
Hide the Network Neighborhood Icon
Network neighborhood icon is enabled on the systems desktop when the networking components are installed in the computer. You can disable the network neighborhood icon by the following trick.
Settings |
User Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer]
System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer]
Name: NoNetHood
Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled) |
Optimize the Windows Server Service
Windows server service is used in the Windows servers like Windows 2000/2003. You can optimize the Windows server service by the following tip.
Create a new DWORD value or modify this value 'Size' by the following settings.
Settings |
System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver\
parameters]
Name: Size
Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value: "1" = minimize memory, "2" = balance or "3" = maximize network throughput |
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