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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