Windows Update Registry Hacks

Updates are additions to software that can prevent or fix problems in the future, enhance security, improve the computer performance and stability. It is free of charge as part of maintenance and support services for your Windows computer.

Remove or Disable Windows Update through Start Menu Power Button and Shutdown Dialog Window

Get annoyed with  Windows update changing the sleep/shutdown to “Install Updates and Shutdown”?

Stop Windows Update from hijacking your computer! Open your Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and go to this registry location 

 HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft

 

If you can’t find Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU Registry Keys, create one by using the Right-Click portion of your Mouse > New > Key Sub-menu

 

 

Removing the Windows Update as Default Option 

Create New Registry Value name NoAUAsDefaultShutdownOption with a value of 1

Windows XP Results

Windows Vista and 7…

If you want to get rid of the entire option, create a registry dword value name NoAUShutdownOption with a value of 1

Disable Force Auto Update Reboot while Logged On

Is Windows Update restarting your system unexpectively? Create a registry dword value name NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers with a value of 1

Prohibits Windows from searching for updates

Registry Location

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

Create a registry value name NoAutoUpdate with a value of 1

Result

Automatic Windows Update Search is Enabled

Allow Automatic Updates immediate installation

“Automatic installation of certain updates that neither interrupt Windows services nor restart Windows”

Create a registry name AutoInstallMinorUpdates with value of 1 to silently install minor updates.

Note

You can remove some updates, but not updates that affect important operating system files. You should only remove an update if you’re sure that it’s causing the problem through Add or Remove Programs (XP) and Program and Features (newer version of Windows).

That’s it! Hope this tip saves you a lot of time for fixing your computer problems…

Source(s)

MS Windows Server 2003 SP2 Policies

http://WindowsForUs.com?technetmsdnau

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Cheap CD-ROM Audio System in your Workplace

With good work place design, especially if your working at home, you can create stations at work where people will be productive, innovative and happy.

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of the things that I’m studying for the past few weeks. Designing my workstation for all kinds of people.

The thing is, you can’t work and stay at the same position the whole day. Sometimes, even if you don’t want to, you need to go outside or sometimes relax.

The truth is, I already put the system in my small computer shop business and it works flawlessly with all kinds of people the whole day. wow!!!

Here’s what you need:

• Old ATX Power Supply or any as long as it has 5v and 12v power output - find some junk PC at home and remove the power supply or just buy one around 6-9 dollars
• Old CD-ROM Drives with Play and Stop (as many as you can - in my case 3-CDROM cost $2 each)

 

Simply Plug the power supply > connect the Computer Speaker to Headphone input > put your Audio CDs and push the Play Button

That’s it! Nice and Easy way of creating your own CD-ROM Audio System Station.

Have a great day!

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Show Control Panel in my Computer for other version of Windows

 

This is one of the features in Windows XP that lets you add Control Panel icon to My Computer using the Folder Options Window.

Back in Windows XP days, users use the option using Windows Key + E to launch My Computer window and access Control Panel by clicking the icon. For other version of Windows, you can do this using a registry hack or use my software called WinBubble - to add Control Panel, Applications and other Folders as well.

Download the portable version of WinBubble (e.g. Green Background or any) and extract the file…

Launch the application and go to Tools Tab

and use the My Computer and Control Panel Items Tool

Name: Control Panel (or any name that you want)

File/Folder: Control.exe

Tool Tip: Provides system tools for managing your computer

Icon: %SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-27

Be creative by exploring more icons, adding folders and applications as well…

Time and Calculator Icon

C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe,3

Thats it! Thank you for reading the article!

Related Tip

Adding Items to My Computer and Control Panel

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Launching Welcome Center through Run Window

Welcome Center is the users introduction of offers from Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEMs) and from Windows in Windows Vista.

According to Mr. Paul Thurrott of Winsupersite.com, Welcome Center provides three core features.

“First, it provides at-a-glance information about your PC, including the currently logged-on user, the Vista product edition, some hardware, and the computer's name on the local network. Second, it provides getting started links related to Vista itself. Third, and finally, it provides a number of links to related offers from Microsoft (and, if you acquired Windows Vista with a new PC, from third parties such as the PC maker and various application makers).”

If the Welcome Center was disabled during start-up and you can’t find it through Start Menu Search especially in Windows 7...

Try launching it through the Run Window (Win Key + R) and use the command below

rundll32 oobefldr,ShowWelcomeCenter

Thanks for reading the article!

 

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Save more data by clearing Google Chrome History

Google Chrome is a browser developed by Google that combines a minimal design with new technologies that aims to be secure, fast, simple and stable.

In my experiences, Users wants to use the browser not because of its features but for its so called “branding” name.

Anyway, I’ve been using the browser since its first release and this is the first major problem that I encountered. When my hard drive was full of files and I need to save more space, Google Chrome history was one of the programs that eat plenty of space for several months now.

Clearing the Browser Data

Click the wrench icon - Select Tools - Clear Browsing data

For Google Chrome version 3 users and below, click the wrench icon -  Clear Browsing data

Select any options that you want and click “Clear Browsing Data”

That’s it!

 

To check the occupied space of Google Chrome Cache, go to this folder location (Windows Vista and 7…)

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default

 

For Windows XP

C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default

Thank you for reading the article!

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Registry Entry for Anti-Virus Programs to Scan When you open attachments

This is one of the most interesting topic that I came across while looking for the registry policy for Internet Explorer Icon – not the hack version by WinBubble.

Anyway, I’m going to post some screenshots of Microsoft Security Essentials in this guide, not because I’m a fan of MS Windows, but for the reason that in my experience - it is effective in detecting malicious viruses that you came across every single day.

According to MS, the registry policy lets you manage the behavior for sending messages to registered antivirus programs to scan files that you download by using Internet Explorer or by using Microsoft Outlook Express before you open the files. If multiple programs are registered, they will all be notified.

Note

If the antivirus program fails, the attachment file is blocked from being opened. If you do not configure this policy, Windows does not call the registered antivirus programs when file attachments are opened.

Configuring the Group Policy using the Windows Registry

Launch regedit.exe or Registry Editor using the Start Menu Search and go to this Registry Subkey location

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Attachments

If the registry subkey doesn’t exist, Create a New Key: Use the Right-Click of the Policies folder – New – Key

Create a folder named Attachments and inside the folder, Right-Click any space,  New – DWORD (32-Bit) Value and use the “ScanWithAntiVirus” name.

ScanWithAntiVirus Registry Name

By default, the Group Policy setting is set to Off - registry value of the ScanWithAntiVirus registry entry is 1. When the value is set to 3, the policy is On.

Just make sure that your virus definition is always updated

Works with Windows XP Professional and above – checked with Windows Vista.

 

Thanks for Reading the article!

 

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Changing Internet Explorer Welcome Tab URL

Once upon a time, a malicious trojan invaded my computer and automatically sets registry values to Internet Explorer and every time you open a tab, www.114116.info opens.

 

Anyway, too good to be true.

The malicious code gave me an idea to tweak Internet Explorer Tabs with my own url address!

For example, I want to have a custom address like Google or Yahoo every time I click the new Tab. Great idea Right?!

Custom IE Tab URL Address

Launch regedit.exe or Registry Editor using the Start Menu Search or Run Window (Win Key + R) and go to this location

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\AboutURLs

locate the “tabs” value name, and change the value to whatever web address that you want e.g. http://mail.yahoo.com

If the registry hack doesn’t work, try the user registry hive

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\AboutURLs

 

Thanks for reading the article!

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[Registry Fix] File not Found message with Web Browser Control

If your a developer, too busy with your work and you’ve encountered this message when your adding a Browser Functionality to your application. Here’s a quick fix and steps that you need in order to solve the problem easily.

What is a WebBrowser Control?

The WebBrowser or simply Internet Explorer Control adds browsing, document or data viewing, and downloading capabilities to your created Windows applications using Visual Basic 6, and Visual Studio .Net. Softwares created that uses this control will allow the user to browse sites on the Internet's World Wide Web, ftp, as well as folders in the local file system and on a network.

It maintains a history list that allows the user to browse forward and backward through previously browsed sites.

Quick and easy Solution

• Launch the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) using the Start Menu Search or the Run Window (Windows Key + R)
• Press Ctrl + F for search, and type “ieframe.dll\1”

Usually, This is the location of the value in the registry

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{EAB22AC0-30C1-11CF-A7EB-0000C05BAE0B}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{EAB22AC0-30C1-11CF-A7EB-0000C05BAE0B}\1.1\0\win32

Fix the problem by changing the default value to  “ieframe.dll” only

Thanks for reading the article!

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How to delete Virtual CD/DVD ROM Drive from My Computer

Mysterious Extra Virtual HD DVD-ROM Drive because of installation of Virtual Drive Software such as Daemon tools, Magic Disk and Virtual Clone Drive? or maybe previously removed, now non-existent CD-ROM drive… These are some simple problems that we can encounter everyday in using Windows.

Open the Device Manager

Click the Virtual Driver, and select the device

Go to the Properties and Disable the Selected Device

Result

Uninstalling the Driver

If you want to remove them permanently - the uninstall option is the quickest way to solve the problem.

That's it. Thank you for reading the article and have a great day!

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Hung App Time, Freeze Time and Auto End Tasks for Windows Application

If your computer is connected to a local area network and most of the time you use your computer for gaming. Sometimes, applications running slow and freezes after a few minutes… These are the problems that we can encounter every day in Windows XP, Vista and 7.

In the real world, some users became annoyed with the long waiting time of apps to responds but surprisingly, some users also preferred to see if other computers hangs in real time :(

In my research, I also observed that some children are prone to this kind of computer problems. The computer will just hung again and again even in different machines.

Registry Entries to Control Hang App Time in Windows

HungAppTimeout

This registry value specifies how long the system waits for user processes (applications) to end after the user clicks the End Task button in Task Manager.

Basically, it is a registry key to control the timeout for the task manager to determine whether or not an application is hung.

Launch the registry editor

and navigate this folder

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

Default value in Milliseconds

5000                           >>> 5 seconds

You can alter the value to any value that you want, e.g. 0.9 seconds (900 seconds) and afterwards, you need to restart your Windows.

 

Advance Troubleshooting Guide

Windows Error Reporting (For Hangs)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13880_3-9900788-68.html

 

AutoEndTasks

Determines whether user processes (applications) end automatically.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

Default value

0 or 1

Value

Meaning

0

Processes do not end automatically. The system waits until the process ends.

1

Processes end automatically.

 

Stay tuned for more tips and softwares!

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Start Menu and Sub-Menu Speed in Windows

 

In this topic, we will discuss how to change the start menu load speed. This tweak also changes the speed in which the start menu and other menu such as right-click desktop menu and sub-menu for files and folders.

How to Control the Start Menu Display Delay

Go to Start Menu Run option

If you can’t see the Run Window e.g. hidden, press Win+R

 

Type “regedit” to open the registry editor…

Navigate the Registry editor to this path as shown in the picture above

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

Find the MenuShowDelay value name and double-click to change the value data

Default Value

The number is in milliseconds

400 milliseconds = 0.4 seconds

You can use any number between 0 to 4000 milliseconds

e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9

Note

If you use an entry of 0, according to Microsoft there is no menu display delay… The great thing, it feels like there is no lag while navigating any menu.

Microsoft Description

Determines the interval from the time the cursor is pointed at a menu until the menu items are displayed.

Have fun!

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Amazing Free Microsoft Wallpapers for Windows XP/Vista/7

This is not an official release or news but simply a hack version to get Wallpapers from Microsoft for FREE.

You can get a high resolution images without any charge and directly download it from Microsoft Website and do some manipulation, editing and tricks.

It’s amazing and can be used in XP, Vista and Windows 7

How to get the Free Wallpapers

The truth is… the wallpapers can be downloaded through the personalization gallery and was designed for Windows 7.

Desktop Backgrounds

You will noticed that there are only few images that you can download. To get more desktop backgrounds (wallpapers), you need to do some tricks first.

• Download the best themes that you like from here

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• You need to install 7-zip to extract the themes http://WindowsForUs.com?7zip

• Afterwards, right-Click the file .themepack and extract the file

 

Open the folder and start exploring the files!!

Have Fun!!!

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