Microsoft
Windows offers a feature-rich interface and several customization
options that make it one of the most user friendly operating systems in
the world. However, computer geeks would still love tohack the Windows
Registryso as to add more extra features and functionalities to their
operating system.
If you’re one such geek who would like to customize
Windows in your own way, here is a list of 8 interesting registry hacks
that you need to try:
1. Disable USB Devices:
Disabling USB ports
can be a smart idea to add security to the computer. This can be really
handy if the computer is on a public place where the chances of virus
and other malware infection is really high. You can easily disable
access to USB ports with the following registry hack:
1.Open the Registry Editor (Start -> Run -> Typeregeditand hit Enter)
2.In the registry, navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UsbStor
3.In the right-side pane, double-click on “Start”.
4.In the “Value data” field enter4and click on “OK”.
5.Close the Registry Editor and reboot.
To enable USB devices, follow the same procedure as above except in the step-4 enter3in the “Value data” field.
Works on Windows XP, Vista and 7.
2. Disable Notification Balloons in Windows 7 and Vista:
You
can now disable the annoying notification balloons that keeps popping
up frequently with warning messages and reminders. Here is a
step-by-step procedure to do that:
1.Open the Registry Editor and navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
2.Right-click on the right-hand pane, and create a new “DWORD”.
3.Rename
it toEnableBalloonTips, double-click on it and set the “Value data”
to0. Reboot the computer to see the changes in effect.
3. Add “Recycle Bin” to My Computer in Windows 7 and Vista:
Would
you like to add the “Recycle Bin” icon to My Computer so that you need
not go back to the desktop to access it when required? Well, here is how
you can do that:
1.Open the Registry Editor and navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace
2.Right-click on “NameSpace” and select New -> Key. Name the key with the following name:
{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
3.Now, open “My Computer” and hit F5 to refresh the screen. This should show up the “Recycle Bin” icon.
4. Disable the Windows Task Manager:
Need to limit access to your computer by disabling the Task Manager? Here is a simple registry hack to do this:
1.Open the Registry Editor and navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
2.Right-click on “Policies”, select New -> Key and name the key asSystem.
If
you are on Windows XP, you need not create the new key “System” as it
is already present in it. So, you can directly navigate
to:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Systemin
the Step-1 itself.
3.Right-click on “System”, create a new “DWORD” and name it toDisableTaskMgr.
4.Double-click on the DWORD “DisableTaskMgr” and set the “Value data” to1(0=Enable, 1=Disable).
5.To enable the Task Manager, Set the “Value data” back to0.
