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Table 5-14 describes the settings in the Taskbar category. Most notably, you can disable balloon tips by setting the REG_DWORD value EnableBallonTips to 0x00. Create this value if it doesn't already exist.
Setting | Name | Type | Data |
---|---|---|---|
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced | |||
Enable balloon tips | EnableBalloonTips | REG_DWORD | 0x00 | 0x01 |
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer | |||
Warn when low on disk space | NoLowDiskSpaceChecks | REG_DWORD | 0x00 | 0x01 |
The settings in the Grouping category, as described in Table 5-15, enable you to control how buttons group on the taskbar. Using the TaskbarGroupSize value, which you create if it doesn't already exist, you determine the applications that Windows XP collapses into groups first:
Group least used applications first. Windows XP groups least frequently used applications first, and groups more frequently used applications as necessary.
Group applications with the most windows first. Windows XP groups applications that have the most open windows first, and groups applications with fewer open windows only as necessary.
Group any application with at least N windows. Windows XP groups applications that have N windows open on the desktop.
Setting | Name | Type | Data |
---|---|---|---|
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced | |||
Group least used applications first | TaskbarGroupSize | REG_DWORD | 0x00 |
Group applications with the most windows first | TaskbarGroupSize | REG_DWORD | 0x01 |
Group any application with at least N windows | TaskbarGroupSize | REG_DWORD | N |
Windows XP uses the same REG_DWORD value for all three cases. If you set TaskbarGroupSizeto 0x00, Windows XP uses least-used grouping. If you set it to 0x01, Windows XP uses most-windows grouping. Finally, if you set it to any other value, Windows XP groups any application that has that number of open windows.
Windows XP displays the most frequently used programs on the bottom of the Start menu. This handy feature prevents you from having to hunt for applications you use often. Some applications don't belong on this list, however. I tire of seeing Notepad on the Start menu just because I happened to use it to view a text file. I also don't like seeing Command Prompt on the Start menu every time I type cmd in the Run dialog box. The solution is to tell Windows XP which applications you don't want it to add to the Start menu. Do that in the key HKCU\Software\Classes\Applications.
In Table 5-16, look up the application that you want to keep off the Start menu's list of frequently used programs. If you don't find the program in Table 5-16, find the program's file name by looking in the Program Files folder or at the program's shortcut on the Start menu. Then add a subkey to Applications, in which the name of the subkey is the program's file name (omit the path). Add the REG_SZ value NoStartPage to the program's subkey, and leave it blank. For example, to keep Notepad off the Start menu, create the subkey Notepad.exe in HKCU\Software\Classes\Applications, and add the value NoStartPage.
Application | File Name |
---|---|
Accessibility Wizard | Accwiz.exe |
Address book | Wab.exe |
Backup | Ntbackup.exe |
Calculator | Calc.exe |
Character map | Charmap.exe |
Command prompt | Cmd.exe |
Data sources (ODBC) | Odbcad32.exe |
Narrator | Narrator.exe |
Notepad | Notepad.exe |
On-Screen Keyboard | Osk.exe |
Outlook Express | Msimn.exe |
Paint | Mspaint.exe |
Pinball | Pinball.exe |
Remote Assistance | Rcimlby.exe |
Disk cleanup | Cleanmgr.exe |
FreeCell | Freecell.exe |
Files and Settings Transfer Wizard | Migwiz.exe |
Hearts | Mshearts.exe |
HyperTerminal | Hypertrm.exe |
Internet Backgammon | Bckgzm.exe |
Internet Checkers | Chkrzm.exe |
Internet Explorer | Iexplore.exe |
Internet Hearts | Hrtzzm.exe |
Internet Reversi | Rvsezm.exe |
Internet Spades | Shvlzm.exe |
Magnifier | Magnify.exe |
Minesweeper | Winmine.exe |
MSN Explorer | Msn6.exe |
Remote Desktop Connection | Mstsc.exe |
Solitaire | Sol.exe |
Sound Recorder | Sndrec32.exe |
Spider Solitaire | Spider.exe |
System Information | Msinfo32.exe |
System Restore | Rstrui.exe |
Tour Windows XP | Tourstart.exe |
Utility Manager | Utilman.exe |
Windows Media Player | Wmplayer.exe |
Windows Messenger | Msmsgs.exe |
Windows Movie Maker | Moviemk.exe |
Windows Update | Wupdmgr.exe |
WordPad | Wordpad.exe |
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