17 Tips and Tricks for Customizing Windows via Registry

Before you edit or modify the Windows registry, back up from that registry. Fatal errors in changing the registry can cause the operating system to not run normally.

In some cases, registry damage can only be repaired by reinstalling the operating system and resulting in data loss. Make sure to back up the registry. Then you can return it in case of problems.

Windows Registry Editor

Opening Windows Registry Editor, you can by:

  1. Press the keyboard keys (WIN + R) to open the “Run” dialog box.
  2. Then type “regedit” and click the OK button to open it.
  3. If a confirmation window appears from UAC, click the Yes button to allow it.

1] Changing Wallpaper

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Control Panel/Desktop

Double-click on the wallpaper and enter the desired image path in Value Data.

2] Rename the Recycle Bin

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/CLSID/{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

Double-click on the option (Default value) and give Value Data a new name.

3] Bring up Rename on the Recycle Bin

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/CLSID/{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}/ShellFolder

Double-click on “Attributes > Edit Binary Value”. In Value Data, change the number to 0000 50 01 00 20.

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4] Hide the Recycle Bin

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/Desktop/NameSpace

Delete the {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} subkey, and then restart the computer to see the results.

To reappear, recreate the number combination {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}.

5] Add Shortcut Menu Contents to Recycle Bin

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/CLSID/{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}/ShellFolder

Double-click Attributes and replace the numbers in Value Data with the following numbers:

0000 50 01 00 20 > Rename

0000 60 01 00 20 > Delete

0000 70 01 00 20 > Rename & Delete

0000 41 01 00 20 > Copy

0000 42 01 00 20 > Cut

0000 43 01 00 20 > Copy & Cut

0000 44 01 00 20 > Paste

0000 45 01 00 20 > Copy & Paste

0000 46 01 00 20 > Cut & Paste

0000 47 01 00 20 > Cut, Copy & Paste

6] Add Shortcut Menu Contents to Recycle Bin with Options Menu

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/CLSID/{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}/Shell

Click the “Edit > New > Key” menu and give it the desired name (For example: Go to Windows Explorer).

Under the new key, press the “Edit > New > Key” menu again and create a new key named Command.

Double-click the option (Default), and in the Value Data section, fill in the path of Windows Explorer (C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.exe).

7] Restore lost Documents folder in My Computer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/DocFolderPaths

Select the “Edit > New > String Value” menu and name it according to the username used in Windows (for example: Chippers)

Double-click on the value and enter the path where your Documents are located (e.g., D:Documents)

8] Get rid of stored files from my computer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/MyComputer/NameSpace/DelegateFolders

Delete the {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee} subkey by pressing the Del key.

9] Hide My Recent Documents

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Policies/Explorer

Click the “Edit > New > DWORD Value” menu and name it NoRecentDocsMenu.

Then double-click on the DWORD Value, and give it the number 1 to activate it.

10] Hide the Find Menu

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Policies/Explorer

Click the “Edit > New > DWORD Value” menu and name it NoFind.

Then double-click on the DWORD Value and give it the number 1 to activate it. Restart the computer.

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