Appendix D. Class IDs (CLSIDs) of System Objects

Windows keeps track of its various components with Class IDs, 33-digit codes consisting of both letters and numbers, enclosed in curly braces { }. Table D-1 shows a list of commonly used system objects.

Table D-1. Commonly used system objects and their corresponding Class IDs

Object	CLSID
ActiveX Cache Folder	{88C6C381-2E85-11d0-94DE-444553540000}
Briefcase	{85BBD920-42A0-1069-A2E4-08002B30309D}
Compressed Folder	{E88DCCE0-B7B3-11d1-A9F0-00AA0060FA31}
Control Panel	{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Desktop	{00021400-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
Dial-Up Networking	{992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48}
Favorites	{1A9BA3A0-143A-11CF-8350-444553540000}
Fonts	{BD84B380-8CA2-1069-AB1D-08000948F534}
Internet Explorer	{FBF23B42-E3F0-101B-8488-00AA003E56F8}
Internet Explorer Cache	{7BD29E00-76C1-11CF-9DD0-00A0C9034933}
My Computer	{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
My Documents	{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}
My Network Places	{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
Printers	{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
Recycle Bin	{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
Scheduled Tasks	{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}
Subscriptions	{F5175861-2688-11d0-9C5E-00AA00A45957}
The Internet	{3DC7A020-0ACD-11CF-A9BB-00AA004AE837}
The Microsoft Network	{00028B00-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
URL History Folder	{FF393560-C2A7-11CF-BFF4-444553540000}

Here are some tips for working with Class IDs:

• Class IDs are stored in the Registry under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID. Locate the key named for a Class ID under this branch to change any settings or behavior of the corresponding object. Use the Registry Editor's search feature to find the Class ID for an object not listed here by searching for the name of the object.

• A good way to avoid having to type these codes is to do a search in the Registry. For example, if you're looking for the Recycle Bin Class ID, do a search in the Registry Editor for Recycle Bin. When it's found, make sure the code matches the one listed here (because there may be more than one). Right-click on the key named for the code, then select Rename. Next, right-click on the highlighted text in the rename field, and select Copy. The Class ID will then be placed on the clipboard, waiting to be copied anywhere you please.

• To create a copy of a virtual folder or system object, such as Dial-Up Networking, create a new folder anywhere (such as on your Desktop or anywhere on your hard disk), and call it Dial-Up Networking.{992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48}. Make sure to include the dot between the name and the Class ID. Replace the name and ID with any others from the table. Note that all objects listed here should be able to exist as movable folders, except for Network Neighborhood. See Section 2.3.2 for more information.

• By placing references to Class IDs in other parts of the Registry, you can make Windows do cool tricks. See Section 4.1.2 for more information.