Windows 7 Notes

Windows 7 sites:
Windows 7 Product Guide
Windows 7 Release Notes
Windows 7 forum at microsoft.com
Microsoft TechNet
The Bumper List of Windows 7 Secrets - blogs.msdn.com
Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts
Changes in Windows 7
Microsoft SharedView
Microsoft SyncToy
The Windows® Automated Installation Kit (AIK)© for Windows® 7©
Enterprise-scale desktop deployment project - Windows XP to Windows 7
Internet Explorer 8 Performance Whitepaper
Microsoft Security Intelligence Report volume 8 (July - December 2009)
Windows User Experience Interaction Guidelines
Windows Embedded Standard 7 Evaluation Edition
Microsoft Money Plus 'Sunset' Versions
CWDIllegalInDllSearch registry entry to control the DLL search path algorithm
SysKey - Prevent Windows password cracks

http://4sysops.com/archives/three-ways-to-reset-a-windows-vista-admin-password/
http://www.windowsecurity.com/articles/Group-Policy-Resource-Guide.html
http://bink.nu/news/free-ebooks-from-microsoft.aspx
http://bink.nu/news/windows-7-and-r2-guides.aspx
http://www.withinwindows.com/2009/09/27/short-windows-7-rtm-auto-elevate-white-list/
Enable Vista-style UAC, or: Windows 7's default UAC bypassed by 8 out of 10 malware samples
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/
http://tweaks.com/
http://www.howtogeek.com/
http://securitygarden.blogspot.com/
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=windows7+notes
http://4sysops.com/
http://www.askvg.com/category/windows-seven/
http://lounge.windowssecrets.com/index.php?showforum=71
Windows 7 setup secrets: http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=922&page=2

Start -> Run -> psr.exe

Windows 7 Internet Connection Sharing

http://www.win7news.net/

Want to share your Win7 computer's Internet connection with other computers wirelessly? As long 
as your system's wireless network adapter supports the new Windows 7 "virtual wi-fi" feature, you 
can do it. Intel, Broadcom, Realtek and some other NIC makers provide drivers that support this 
feature; you'll need to be sure they're installed. Then do this: 
Open an elevated command prompt by right clicking the cmd.exe link and selecting "Run as Administrator." 
In the command window, type: 
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=MyNet key=MyPassword 
(replace "MyNet" with the name you want to use for the wireless network 
and replace "MyPassword" with your chosen password for accessing it) 
Press Enter. 
Now type: netsh wlan start hostednetwork 
Press Enter. 
Open Control Panel and go to Network and Sharing Center. 
Click Change Adapter Settings. 
Right click your Internet connection and select Properties. 
Click the Sharing tab. 
Check the box that says "Allow other network users to connect." 
Choose your virtual wi-fi adapter and click OK. 
Now wi-fi enabled computers within range should see your new wireless network and others can 
connect to it if they know the password. 

Disable Adobe Flash Animations for All but White-Listed Sites in Internet Explorer 8

Details:
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/disable-flash-all-but-whitelist-sites-ie8/

Executive summary:
Create the registry key AllowedDomains under:
HCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000}\iexplore\

Windows Explorer - Disable Full Row Select

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/disable-full-row-select-explorer-windows-7/

This has other advantages, such as disabling 'auto arrange', but it didn't
disable full row select using Windows 7 64 bit until I added this DWORD value:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
FullRowSelect=dword:00000000

Disabling full-row select has also disabled my custom logon screen 
(http://www.withinwindows.com/2009/03/15/windows-7-to-officially-support-logon-ui-background-customization/), 
resetting it to the default.





There is a Kevin Baconesque connection to http://sourceforge.net/projects/classicshell/

Windows 7 hidden control panels

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10426627-56.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
Create a new folder with any name, then a period, then one of the text strings below:

{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} = (all settings combined)
{00C6D95F-329C-409a-81D7-C46C66EA7F33}
{0142e4d0-fb7a-11dc-ba4a-000ffe7ab428}
{025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D}
{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}
{1206F5F1-0569-412C-8FEC-3204630DFB70}
{15eae92e-f17a-4431-9f28-805e482dafd4}
{17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966}
{1D2680C9-0E2A-469d-B787-065558BC7D43}
{1FA9085F-25A2-489B-85D4-86326EEDCD87}
{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
{241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B}
{4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423}
{62D8ED13-C9D0-4CE8-A914-47DD628FB1B0}
{78F3955E-3B90-4184-BD14-5397C15F1EFC}

Example:
New Folder.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

Upgrade or Clean Install Windows 7

Remove Libraries from Windows Explorer

You'll have to change permissions on this key first.

A sample .reg file:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:b090010d

----------------------------------------------------------------



After a reboot, this will hide your sissy Libraries 
while still letting you use them from:
\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries
and they are still available in File -> Open and Save boxes



The 'HomeGroup' icon will remove itself if:

You didn't set up a homegroup

You stop the two HomeGroup services







The 'Favorites' link can be removed by changing the 'Attributes' dword from a0900100 to a9400100:
('Favorites' will still be available in 'File Save' dialogs)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a9400100
"PinToNameSpaceTree"=""

------------------------------------------------------------------


The 'Favorites' link can be renamed at:
------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
\CLSID\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}]
@="Horatio"

------------------------------------------------------------------
Favorites will still work.

Related keys:
"Computer\\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Classes\\CLSID\\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}\\ShellFolder"
"Computer\\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\CLSID\\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}\\ShellFolder"
Different attributes give different right-click options. 
Changing the attribute to 10 gives the rename menu.
Changing the attribute to 20 gives the delete menu, which has no effect:

Other attributes give the standard options, i.e. 'Cut', 'Copy', etc.

Favorites icon: 
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}\DefaultIcon]

Restore favorite links icon: 
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}\shell\restorefavoritelinks]
"Icon"="D:\\Home\\morejunk\\NewIcons\\folder-eye.ico"

  Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

  [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
  "DisableSearchBoxSuggestions"=dword:00000001

  Search history is stored at:
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\WordWheelQuery
  You can delete individual items or the whole WordWheelQuery key

Highlight colors in web pages with IE8

In April 1999, I found a Microsoft web page:
http://web.archive.org/web/19990508113656/http://microsoft.com/windows/Ie/WebAccess/default.ASP
offering accessories for IE5. One that I've used ever since
is 'text highlight', but I've added cyan and fuschia...which
are easy to change to normal colors.

The .reg file:
----------------------
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MenuExt\Highlight - Cyan]
"contexts"=hex:10
@="C:\\WINDOWS\\WEB\\highlight-cyan.htm"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MenuExt\Highlight - Fuschia]
"contexts"=hex:10
@="C:\\WINDOWS\\WEB\\highlight-fuchsia.htm"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MenuExt\Highlight - Yellow]
"contexts"=hex:10
@="C:\\WINDOWS\\WEB\\highlight-yellow.htm"

----------------------

The default location was c:\windows\web. Each color has it's own
.htm page in this folder. Here is the .htm for cyan:

<HTML>
<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript" defer> 
var parentwin = external.menuArguments;
var doc = parentwin.document;
var sel = doc.selection;
var rng = sel.createRange();
var str = new String(rng.text); 
rng.execCommand("BackColor",0,"CYAN");
</SCRIPT>
</HTML>

Using notepad or a reasonable facsimile, change CYAN to
whatever and save it using the filename in the .reg file above.

  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930526
  How can I enable the DVD Library in Windows Media Center 
  on a Windows Vista-based computer?

  "
  To enable the DVD Library, follow these steps:
  If Windows Media Center is running, close it.
  Click Start. 
  In the Start Search box, paste or type regedit.
  In the Programs list, click regedit.
  If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type your 
  password, or click Continue. 
  Locate and then click the following registry subkey: 
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\DvdSettings
  In the details pane, right-click ShowGallery, and then click Modify.
  Delete the contents that appear in the Value data box.
  In the Value data box, type Gallery, and then click OK.
  Close Registry Editor.
  "

  http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvd.html -- 30 day free trial!

Windows 7 right-click menu

A sample .reg file:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\rightclickmenu]
@="(¯`·.¸(¯`·.¸  Kevin  ¸.·´¯)¸.·´¯)"
"position"="Top"
"Icon"="D:\\Home\\morejunk\\NewIcons\\fiveanddime.net.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\rightclickmenu\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Internet Explorer\\iexplore.exe\" -extoff"

----------------------------------------------------------------

The icon is 16x16.



Command-line parameters for IE8:
http://iefaq.info/index.php?action=artikel&cat=42&id=145&artlang=en 

  In regedit, go to: 
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Shell Icons 
  ...you'll probably have to create the key 'Shell Icons' (with a space) 
  New -> String Value where 'String Value' is the path to the icon 
  0 = Default icon 
  1 = Default document 
  2 = Application 
  4 = Active folder in Explorer and Regedit 
  29 = Shortcut overlay 
  28 = Share overlay 
  34 = Desktop icon 

  ------------------------------------------------
  Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

  [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Shell Icons]
  "4"="D:\\Home\\morejunk\\NewIcons\\icons-XP-otherpeoples-2005\\FushiaFolder.ico"

  --------------------------------------------------
  This will also change the active folder icon in regedit.exe

Windows 7 logon UI background customization

<http://www.withinwindows.com>
First, a check is made to determine if the customization functionality is enabled or not. More 
precisely, a DWORD value named OEMBackground in the HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows
\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\Background key is checked. Its data, of Boolean 
type, defines whether or not this behavior is turned on, i.e. 1 for enabled, 0 for disabled.
Afterwards, if customization is enabled, the primary monitors screen height and width are 
retrieved via calls to GetSystemMetrics. These values are used in the computation of the 
screen width (w)/height (h) ratio. For example, my desktop resolution is 1920×1200. The 
ratio, computed by the division of w/h, is 1.6:1.

The result of this computation is looked up in an internal table that drives what image to load 
on disk. Although I dont have a large enough monitor to test, it appears resolutions higher 
than 1920×1200 will force the loading and zooming of an image of closest compatibility (i.e. 
same ratio, smaller image).

As this is an OEM feature images are derived from %windir%\system32\oobe\info
\backgrounds. Like the registry value, this folder may not exist by default. The following files 
(sorted by width-to-height ratio) are supported in this folder:

backgroundDefault.jpg 
background768×1280.jpg  (0.6) 
background900×1440.jpg  (0.625) 
background960×1280.jpg  (0.75) 
background1024×1280.jpg (0.8) 
background1280×1024.jpg (1.25) 
background1024×768.jpg  (1.33-) 
background1280×960.jpg  (1.33-) 
background1600×1200.jpg (1.33-) 
background1440×900.jpg  (1.6) 
background1920×1200.jpg (1.6) 
background1280×768.jpg  (1.66-) 
background1360×768.jpg  (1.770833-) 
NOTE: Images must be less than 256kb in size. Thanks for pushing me to investigate, Jay C.

The backgroundDefault.jpg image is loaded and stretched-to-fit when a resolution/ratio-
specific background cannot be found. The other resolution/ratio-specific files are self-
explanatory. If the background cannot be loaded (e.g. image physically too large, incorrect 
ratio, etc.), the default SKU-based image is loaded from imagesres.dll. Youll see a Windows 
Server-themed grayish background in there, too, suggesting this functionality is not specific 
to client SKUs.

Text styles:
http://www.withinwindows.com/2009/06/13/tweak-your-windows-7-logon-ui-button-set/#comments
<quote>
To change your button set, simply jump to 
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI
 and add a DWORD value named ButtonSet. The supported integer values range 
from 0 to 2, with each value defined below.
0 ? Lighter text shadows, darker (more opaque) buttons (Windows default) 
1 ? Darker text shadows, lighter (more translucent) buttons (for lighter backgrounds) 
2 ? No text shadows, opaque buttons (for darker backgrounds) 
</quote>



Add video from your networked storage into Movie Maker
http://www.withinwindows.com/2009/08/18/add-video-from-your-networked-storage-into-movie-maker/
"The network share housing your media must allow unfettered Guest access."
"...HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live\Movie Maker and add 
a DWORD value named AllowNetworkFiles. Afterwards, simply double-click it and 
set its data to either 0 (disabled) or 1 (enabled)."

</http://www.withinwindows.com>
http://www.withinwindows.com

  In the Target box you will see: 
  %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe

  Change it to: 
  %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /root,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
  or:
  C:\Windows\explorer.exe /n,/e,/select,c:\,,/separate

  Command-Line Switches for Windows Explorer

Temporary Internet Files in Windows 7 with IE8

I keep Temporary Internet Files on a RAM disk, so to view the 
folder contents, I have to run a batch file containing:
attrib /D /S -S -H z:\*
It will only work for me after I've opened the browser for the first time, because
the folders aren't created until then. If you're a normal person who keeps TIF files
where Microsoft told you to, you might be able to run it at startup.

TIF cookies aren't the only place They use to watch you. Another 
method is 'Flash cookies'; those settings, for your personal
computer, can only be changed by visiting the adobe website:
http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager03.html
Thanks, adobe!

Flash UserData:
C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Macromedia\Flash Player
This one is interesting; web sites you know, and some you don't, have
their own folders here. A gold mine for snoops.


UserData:
C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\UserData

Introduction to DOM Storage:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc197062(VS.85).aspx

The 'UserData persistence' setting for IE8 can be different
for every zone:
Tools -> Internet Options -> Security -> * -> Custom Level


http://googlesharing.net/
http://panopticlick.eff.org/

  Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

  [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OEMInformation]
  "Model"="HP HDX18T Notebook PC"
  "Manufacturer"="Omigosh Spatula Co Unlimited"
  "SupportHours"="8:00am - 4:00pm (UTC+5:30)"
  "SupportPhone"="888-555-MCRSFT"
  "SupportURL"="http://www.fiveanddime.net/windows7-notes/index.html"
  "LogoOLD"="C:\\ProgramData\\Hewlett-Packard\\images\\hp_logo_120x120.bmp"
  "Logo"="D:\\Home\\INIregDAT\\oemlogoVista.bmp"

Clear Page File At Shutdown

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management 
(Hexadecimal or Decimal). This setting allows inactive 
Pages in the Paging File to be cleared (overwritten with zeros) during shutdown. 
When set to 0 (Default) inactive Pages are not written with zeros having no effect on 
shutdown time and making Page File data readable. 
A value of 1 enables inactive Pages to be cleared during shutdown with longer shutdown 
times. 

Internet Explorer 8 Window Title

  The Internet Explorer Window Title can be found at 
  [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Window Title] 
  New -> String Value 
  ...note the space between 'Window' and 'Title' 

Change the search box icon in IE8

------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A}]
"FaviconURLFallback"="D:\\Home\\morejunk\\NewIcons\\2008\\schoolhouse.ico"
"FaviconPath"="D:\\Home\\morejunk\\NewIcons\\2002\\catface.ico"

---------------------------------

Remove the search box in IE8

Remove the search box in IE8 (and IE7)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Infodelivery\Restrictions] 
"NoSearchBox"=dword:00000001 

Windows XP Home doesn't have that key by default; go to 
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft 
right-click it and select New -> Key, name it Internet Explorer (with 
a space), right-click that and New -> etc. 

  Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Open with Notepad]
  "Icon"="D:\\Home\\morejunk\\NewIcons\\2009\\skull-and-crossbones-white.ico"

  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Open with Notepad\command]
  @="c:\\windows\\notepad.exe %1"

**************

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Files2Folder\command]
@="cmd.exe cd && /c mkdir \"%1\"-dir && move \"%1\" \"%1\"-dir"

**************

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AU]
"NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers"=dword:00000001

**************

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\View Source Editor\Editor Name]
@="C:\\chester.exe"


**************

If you get an error editing a registry key:
right-click the key and select 'Permissions'
click the 'Advanced' button
click the 'Owner' tab
select your name in the 'Change owner to:' box, put a checkmark in
       the 'Replace owner on subcontainers and objects' box, and
       click 'OK'
back in the previous window now, click the 'Add...' button
enter your login name in the 'Enter the object names to select' text
      box, click the 'Check Names' button, and if there are no errors,
      click the 'OK' button
back in the previous window again, select your name in 'Group or user names:' 
      box, then click the 'Allow' checkbox in the 'Permissions for xxx' box
click the 'OK' button

Windows 7 notes
Windows Vista notes
Windows XP notes
Windows 9x notes
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