This is not intended to be simply a cookbook, but also as a guide to hacking the Windows registry.

Amost everything in this guide applies to every Windows operating system since Windows 3.1. The main differences relate to directory names. (Normally, these are not identified.) All other known differences are identified.

• What's New
• Basic Modifications
• Modifications to the Context Sensitive Menus
• Script for Basic Registry Modifications - Copy to Clipboard, Open in Notepad, DOS Shell
• Bugs and Annoyances
  • Magic Files - desktop.ini
• Registry Overview
  • Explanations of a Few Keys
  • Some Keys Related to File Associations
  • Controlling the New Menu (The ShellNew HKCR key)
  • Examples of .reg Files
  • Additional HKCR keys
  • Windows Explorer Edit Flags
  • Magic Desktop Icons
  • Explorer Policy Key - How to make your system more secure and much less user friendly
• Hints
• Failures - Things that don't work
• Files Without Extentions
• Sharing Extensions - How to let the user select which of several applications should Display/Edit/Play this file.
• Printing Files
• Advanced Features and Disabling Scrolling Menus (stuff added when IE 4/5 is loaded)
• Command Line Options
• Windows XP - a radically different Windows Explorer
• ftp via Windows Explorer
• The Cookbook - A summary of the most useful modifications
• References

• Presentation - Configuring Windows Explorer By Hacking the Registry

Additional Windows configuration tips, not related to Windows Explorer can be found here. Included is a tool for tracing registry accesses!

Additional notes on the registry are here.

URL: http:// cpcug.org / user / clemenzi / technical / WinExplorer / index.htm