This tweak removes the shortcut arrow

·        Open Registry Editor and navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons

·        Backup the registry, using the procedure explained here.

·        In the right-pane of the Shell Icons key, create a new String value named "29".

·        Double-click 29 and set it's value as "%SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,50" (an empty icon)

·        Close Registry Editor.

To apply the changes instantly, follow this

• Right-click Desktop, choose Properties
• Click the Appearance Tab.
• Click Advanced button, choose Icon from the drop-down list
• Set it's size to 31 and press OK, OK.

The changes will be applied now. Repeat the above steps and then set the Icon size back to 32 (XP defaults)

The above steps are required to force Windows to redraw the icons. Even Tweak UI does this.

This tweak hides or displays unread messages notification on welcome (logon) screen.

·        Open Registry Editor and navigate to the following keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\UnreadMail (user specific)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\UnreadMail (all users)

·        In the right-pane of the UnreadMail key, create a new DWORD value using “MessageExpiryDays”

·        Double-click he “MessageExpiryDays” entry and set it’s value to 0 to hide, or 1 to display

·        Close Registry Editor

This tweak hides or displays user icon on welcome (logon) screen.  (Administrator for example)

·        Open Registry Editor and navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList

·        In the right-pane of the UserList key, create a new DWORD value using the users ID

·        Double-click the user ID entry and set it’s value to 0 to hide, or 1 to display.

·        Close Registry Editor.

This tweak increases the number of simultaneous TCP connections IE is allowed to open for downloading page content.

·        Open Registry Editor and navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings

·        In the right-pane of the Internet Settings key, edit MaxConnectionsPerServer & MaxConnectionsPer1_0Server DWORD values.

·        Set the values to the maximum number of simultaneous TCP connection IE is allowed to open for downloading page contents.

·        Close Registry Editor.

Taskbar and Start Menu Properties – Taskbar

All except “Hide inactive icons”

Start Menu – Customize – General

Select an Icon Size for Programs – Large Icons

Start Menu – Customize – Advanced

Start Menu Items:

Control Panel – Display as link

Enable Dragging and dropping

Help and Support

Favorites Menu

Manufacturer Link

My Computer – Display as Link

My Document – Display as Link

My Music – Display as Link

My Network Places

My Pictures – Display as Link

Network Connections – Display as Connect to menu

Printers and Faxes

Run Command

Search

Set Program Access and Defaults

System Administrative Tools – Display on the All Programs menu

Classic Start Menu – Customize

Display Run

Enable Dragging and Dropping

Use Personalized Menus

Performance Options – Visual Effects

(My Computer – Properties – Advanced – Settings)

Show window contents while dragging

Use a background image for each folder type

Use common tasks in folders

Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop

Use visual styles on windows and buttons

Tools menu – Folder Options

Set “Full Name” of Administrator Account

(this is what will be shown on login screen) (professional edition)

My Computer – Manage – Local Users & Groups – Users

User Account Pictures

Copy the Guest account suitcase image, guest.bmp, to Default Pictures folder as suitcase.bmp.  (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\)

Windows Explorer Shortcut

Target type:                  Application

Target location:             %SystemRoot%

Target:                          %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /e, "C:\"

Start in:             %HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%

Shortcut key:                None

Run:                             Normal window

Comment:                     Displays the files and folders on your computer.

Command Prompt Shortcut

Target type:                  Application

Target location: system32

Target:                          %SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe /K

C:\Documents and Settings\UTILS\BATCH\DosPrompt.bat"

Start in:             C:\

Shortcut key:                None

Run:                             Normal window

Comment:                     Performs text-based (command-line) functions.

Send To… Note Pad & Word Pad

Copy (not ‘move’ and not ‘create shortcut’) Note Pad & Word Pad shortcuts from the Start Menu – All Programs – Accessories to C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\SendTo\ & also to the SendTo folder of any other already existing accounts.

C:\Program Files\UTILS\BATCH\DosPrompt.bat:

@ECHO OFF

DOSKEY /INSERT >nul:

SET DIRCMD=/A /OGN

ECHO.

PATH=%PATH%;"additional_path_1";additional_path_2;etc;

FavIcons

Utility to keep FavIcons from disappearing as browser cache is consumed

http://www.codeproject.com/tools/faviconizer.asp

UltraMon

http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/