Windows

Start Menu

Values that control various Start menu and Explorer options
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer

Speed up the Start Menu

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Control Panel\ desktop] Create the string value MenuShowDelay. Set it to a number from 0 (fast) to 10 (slow).

Add programs to the Shell

Available when right-clicking the Start button
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ Directory\shell]
Create the key MS-DOS Prompt (or whatever); Default = " DOS Command " (or whatever name you want to appear)Create the subkey command ; Default = " command.com /k cd %1 " (or any other program)

Add an expanding Control Panel to Start menu

This will also work with most special folders.
Under [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*], find the system ID of the folder you want to add.
Right-click Start button and chose Open.
Create a new folder with the name of the folder followed by a dot and the folder ID.
Example: Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Control Panel:{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Printers:{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
Dial Up Net:{992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48}

How to Edit the Registry
Windows 98, Windows Xp & Windows 2000

To open Registry Editor, click Start, click Run, type Regedit, and then click OK.
NOTE:  You should not edit your registry unless it is absolutely necessary. If there is an error in your registry, your computer may not function properly. Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system. Before making changes to the registry, you should back up any valued data on your computer.

Back up the Registry First!!!

Windows 95, Windows 98 & Windows Me:

NOTE:  Do not follow these steps to export a whole registry hive (for example, the HKEY_CURRENT_USER hive). If
you must back up a whole registry hive, back up the whole registry instead.
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
Locate and then click the key that contains the value that you want to edit.
On the File menu, click Export.
In the Save in box, select a location where you want to save the .reg file, in the File name box, type a file name,
and then click Save.
To Back up the whole registry:
Click Start, then click Run. The Run dialog box appears.
Type regedit and click OK. The Registry Editor opens.
Click the Registry menu and click Export Registry File.
Verify the following items in the Export Registry File dialog box:
Save in: Desktop
File name: Registry Backup
Save as type: Registration Files
Export range: All
Click Save.
Exit the Registry Editor.
Verify that an icon labeled "Registry Backup.reg" is on the desktop. CAUTION: Do not double-click the "Registry Backup.reg" file on the desktop unless you intend to undo the changes you are making to the registry.
NOTE:  This method for Windows 95/98/Me will not work for Windows NT/2000. Windows NT/2000 has additional security protection that prevents this backup from being restored.

How to back up the Windows 2000 registry

http://support.microsoft.com/ default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;322755

Windows 2000

NOTE:  Do not follow these steps to export a whole registry hive (for example, HKEY_CURRENT_USER). If you must back up whole registry hives, back up the whole registry instead. Click Start, and then click Run. In the Open box, type regedt32, and then click OK. Locate and then click the key that contains the values that you want to edit. On the Registry menu, click Save Key. In the Save inbox, select a location in which to save the .reg file, type a file name in the File name box, and then click Save.
Windows xp Home edition does not include the Backup utility by default. To install it:
Insert your Windows xp cd.
Open up Windows explorer.
Navigate to X:\VALUEADD\MSFT\NTBACKUP\ (replace X with appropriate cd-rom drive letter) Double-click NTBACKUP.MSI and follow the on-screen instructions.

Windows Xp & Windows 2003 Server

NOTE:  Do not follow these steps to export a whole registry hive (for example, the HKEY_CURRENT_USER hive). If you must back up whole registry hives, back up the whole registry instead. Click Start, and then click Run. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK. Locate and then click the key that contains the value that you want to edit. On the File menu, click Export. In the Save in box, select a location where you want to save the Registration Entries (.reg) file, in the File name box, type a file name, and then click Save.

How to backup the registry in XP

http://support.microsoft.com/ default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q322756

Alphabetize your Start Menu

Don't you hate how Windows adds new programs to the end of the start menu? The fix is quick and simple, right click on the menu and select sort by name. Ah isn't that better?

Brand your copy of Windows XP in the Start Menu

Have you used someone's new Hewlett Packard with their OEM version of Windows XP? You've seen that HP has their own icon in the Start Menu, underneath Run, that goes to their Help Site. Now, you can have your icon that does anything you want (website, program, etc) and says anything you want. Basically, you are "branding" Windows XP (Home or Pro), great for if you are a computer builder and sell them, or you just want to make Windows XP your own. It involves Regedit.
NOTE:  You should NOT install this over a FACTORY BRAND. (UNLESS YOU EXPORT THE FILE FIRST)
1. Start up Notepad and create a new registry file (*.reg) and copy and paste the following into it:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}]
@="YOUR TITLE HERE"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\DefaultIcon]
@="YOUR ICON HERE"
00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d, 00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,68,00,70, 00,6c,00,69,\00,6e,00,6b,00,2e, 00,69,00,63,00,6f,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\InProcServer32]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73, 00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f, 00,6f,00,74,00,25,\00,5c,00,73, 00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d, 00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,00,68, 00,\64,00,6f,00,63,00,76,00,77, 00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,00,00 "ThreadingModel"="Apartment"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\Instance]
"CLSID"="{3f454f0e-42ae-4d7c-8ea3-328250d6e272}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7- 11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\ Instance\InitPropertyBag]
"CLSID"="{13709620-C279-11CE- A49E-444553540000}"
"method"="ShellExecute"
"Command"="YOUR TITLE HERE"
"Param1"="YOUR FUNCTION HERE"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7- 11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7- 11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\ shellex\ContextMenuHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7- 11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\ shellex\ ContextMenuHandlers\ {2559a1f6-21d7-11d4- bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}]
@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7- 11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\ shellex\MayChangeDefaultMenu]
@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7- 11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\ ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:00000000

2. Edit where it says YOUR ICON HERE to a path to an icon (ex. c:\\icon.ico), it must be 24x24 pixels and in .ico format.

3. Edit both places where it says YOUR TITLE HERE to what you want it to say in the
Start Menu (ex. Elranzer Homepage).

4. Edit where it says YOUR FUNCTION here to what you want it to do when you click it, it
can be anything... your website, a local HTML document, a program, a Windows function, whatever your imagination can provide (ex. http://www.elranzer.com).

5. Save this file as brand.reg, double-click it to enter in your information, and refresh Explorer (log off/on)to see it in the Start Menu!! This works in both Home and Professional.

Disabling New Programs Alert

To get rid of this alert is really easy:
Right click the start bar and click properties.
Go to the start menu tab and click customize.
Click on the advanced tab.
De-select "Highlight newly installed programs"
This is only applicable if you have the new XP start menu not if you are using classic.