SubscribeHow to disable the File Compression feature in Windows. These steps should work in Windows 2000, XP and Vista.
1. Hold down the Windows key and press R.
2. Type regedit and click OK.
Read more… »
How to disable the File Encryption (EFS) feature in Windows. These steps should work in Windows 2000, XP and Vista.
1. Hold down the Windows key and press R.
2. Type regedit and click OK.
3. Click the plus sign next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
then SYSTEM
then CurrentControlSet
then Control
then click FileSystem.
4. Look for an entry on the right side for NtfsDisableEncryption. If it doesn’t exist, you will need to create it. To do so, right-click on FileSystem and select New > DWORD Value. Give the value a name of NtfsDisableEncryption. Press the Enter key when you are done.
5. Right-click the NtfsDisableEncryption entry and click Modify.
6. To disable EFS set the Value data to 1. (To enable EFS again, set the Value data to 0 or delete NftsDisableEncrpytion)
7. Restart the computer to apply changes.
Now when trying to encrypt a folder, the following error will be produced:
An error occurred applying attributes to the file:
{file path and filename}
Access is denied.
Windows Vista Command
In Windows Vista, you can accomplish the same thing by simply using the following command on the Run line:
fsutil behavior set disableencryption 1
Disable the File Access Timestamp to Improve Performance
Posted on Nov 26, 2007 under Registry Hacks | 1 CommentDisabling Windows from updating the timestamp on every file when it’s accessed can increase system performance.
To do so, perform the following steps:
1. Click the Start > Run.
2. Then type regedit in and click OK.
3. Click the plus sign next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
then SYSTEM
then CurrentControlSet
then Control
then click on FileSystem
Read more… »
Keeping support available for old 16-bit applications that use the 8.3 filename format can degrade performance of your Windows Vista system. Here’s how to disable it.
Disable 8.3 filename support for the future
1. Click the Start orb and type REGEDIT in the Start Search area.
2. Open the Registry Editor.
3. Click the plus sign next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
then SYSTEM
then CurrentControlSet
then Control
then click FileSystem
4. On the right side, double-click on NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation and give it a value of 1. Click OK.
5. Close the Registry Editor.
Disable 8.3 filename support for current files
1. Press SHIFT+F10 to open a Command Prompt.
2. Type:
fsutil.exe behavior set disable8dot3 1
and press ENTER.
When you restart your computer, the old 16-bit 8.3 filenames will no longer be supported and your Windows Vista system will run faster.
See also:
How to Disable the 8.3 Name Creation on NTFS Partitions
There is a registry setting in Windows Vista that hides and shows all hidden and system files. You can access and modify this registry key with these steps:
1. Click the Start orb and type regedit.
2. Open the Registry Editor.
3. Click the plus sign next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE for to enforce for all users)
then Software
then Microsoft
then Windows
then CurrentVersion
then Explorer
then click on Advanced
4. On the right side, double-click the SuperHidden key.
5. Set this key to a value of 0 if you want to enable hidden and system files to appear.
Set it to 1 to disable hidden and system files from being viewed.
Disable Properties Option Under My Computer
Posted on Nov 26, 2007 under Registry Hacks | No CommentA registry hack that disables the Properties option under the My Computer icon.
1. Click Start > Run and type REGEDIT
2. Click the plus sign next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (KEY_CURRENT_USER if you want it to apply to only the user that’s logged in)
then SOFTWARE
then Microsoft
then Windows
then CurrentVersion
then Policies
then Explorer
3. Right-click Explorer and select New > DWORD Value.
4. Give the value a name of NoPropertiesMyComputer.
5. Double-click on the NoPropertiesMyComputer value and give it a value data of 1.
Now the Properties option under My Computer will be disabled. It will be visible, but nothing will happen when you click on it.
Make the start menu auto-scroll and reveal all options instead of requiring you to expand the menu out further.
1. Open REGEDIT
2. Click the plus sign next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER (or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE for all computer users)
then SOFTWARE
then Microsoft
then Windows
then CurrentVersion
then Explorer
3. Right-click on Explorer and select New > String Value
4. Give the String Value a name of StartMenuScrollPrograms
5. Give StartMenuScrollPrograms a value of Yes
Now when you click on Start and Programs, the options will all be seen and available to click on without scrolling.
Disable the Shared Documents folder from appearing on the network.
1. Click Start>Run and type REGEDIT and press ENTER
2. Click the plus sign next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER
then Software
then Microsoft
then Windows
then CurrentVersion
then Policies
then Explorer
3. Right-click on Explorer and Create new DWORD value named NoSharedDocuments
4. Double-click NoSharedDocuments and set its value data to 1
5. Restart Windows.
The Shared Documents folder will now be disabled.
Enable “Are you sure you want to uninstall” Prompt
Posted on Nov 19, 2007 under Registry Hacks | No CommentWhen you go to Add/Remove programs and try to remove a program, you don’t get the prompt:
Are you sure you want to uninstall program name
and you wish to bring it back.
1. Click Start, type REGEDIT and press ENTER
2. Click the plus sign next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER
then Software
then Microsoft
then Windows
then CurrentVersion
then Explorer
then DontShowMeThisDialogAgain
3. Delete the value {948e51fb-0a48-44f0-86ac-33c36def540c}
4. Restart Windows.
Vista: Disable Drive Letters From Showing Under “Send to”
Posted on Nov 19, 2007 under Windows Vista Tips | No CommentPrevent drive letters from appearing under the Send to menu.
1. Click Start, type REGEDIT and press ENTER
2. Click the plus sign next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER
then Software
then Microsoft
then Windows
then CurrentVersion
then Policies
then Explorer
Read more… »
Enable/Disable “Manage” Option Under My Computer
Posted on Nov 19, 2007 under Registry Hacks | No CommentEnable or disable the “Manage” option when you right click on the My Computer (Or Computer in Vista) icon.
1. Open REGEDIT
2. Click the plus sign next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER
then SOFTWARE
then Microsoft
then Windows
then CurrentVersion
then Policies
then Explorer
3. Double-click on NoManageMyComputerVerb if it exists.
4. Set this value to 1 to disable the Manage option.
Set this value to 0 to enable the Manage option.
5. Restart the computer.
Vista: Enable/Disable Ability to Write to Removable Disk
Posted on Nov 19, 2007 under Registry Hacks, Windows Vista Tips | 1 CommentDisable or enable the ability to write to a removable disk such as a flash thumb drive.
1. Click START and type REGEDIT in the Start Search Box and select REGEDIT.
2. Click the plus sign next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER
then SOFTWARE
then Microsoft
then Windows
then CurrentVersion
then Explorer
then Advanced
3. Double-click on EncryptionContextMenu if it exists.
If it doesn’t, right-click on ADVANCED and Select NEW–>DWORD VALUE and name it EncryptionContextMenu
4. Set this value to 1 to disable writing to a removable drive.
Set this value to 0 to enable writing to a removable drive.
The default setting is 0, but you may need to enable this value if you get the error message below.
The disk is write protected
Remove the write protection or use another disk
Vista: Disable Welcome Center
Posted on Nov 19, 2007 under Registry Hacks, Windows Vista Tips | 1 CommentDisable the annoying Welcome Center that appears in Windows Vista.
1. Click START–>RUN and type REGEDIT. Click OK.
2. Click the plus sign next to HKEY_LOCAL_USER
then SOFTWARE
then Microsoft
then Windows
then CurrentVersion
then Run
3. Right-click on the WindowsWelcomeCenter key and select Delete.
Vista: Enable/Disable Glass Effects
Posted on Nov 19, 2007 under Registry Hacks, Windows Vista Tips | No CommentEnable or disable the glass effects in Windows Vista.
1. Click on the start button and key in regedit and hit Enter.
2. Click the plus sign next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER
then Software
then Microsoft
then Windows
then DWM
3. Set Composition to 1 and CompositionPolicy to 2 to enable glass effects.
Set Composition to 0 and CompositionPolicy to 1 to disable glass effects.
4. From a command prompt type net stop uxsms. Then type net start uxsms also at command
Prevent Other Windows From Popping Up and Stealing Focus
Posted on Nov 19, 2007 under Registry Hacks | No CommentStop other applications from placing a popup window in your way while working. This setting will prevent this from happening.
1. Click START–>RUN and type REGEDIT. Click OK.
2. Click the plus sign next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER
then Control Panel
then Desktop
3. Change the DWORD value for ForegroundLockTimeout to 00030d40
