Comments on: Three good reasons to venture into Windows' Registry

Close non-responsive programs automatically, adjust the position of your desktop wallpaper, and prevent specific programs from appearing on the Start menu's most-frequent list.

[folsco]

Thanks!

[Penguinisto]

Err, points of orders:

1) type "regedt32" - you get more to browse through.

2) don't screw up - you can break stuff.

3) Safety tip: before you change or add anything, it's a good idea to back up that bit of registry. Select the key(s) you want to save in the left hand pane, then click File -> Export. Save it as a .reg file (so you only need to double-click it to restore it). You can also choose to back up the whole registry, or just the bit you're working on. back it up to the desktop (or better yet a USB geek stick) just in case - that way you can always reach it in case of emergencies.

4) the whole concept of a registry sucks - it is the main reason why most folks' computers slow down over time as it collects detritus, corrupts, and in general sits as a single point of failure. So be careful in there... ;)


/P

[Kev_Orng]

Is this "Three good reasons to venture into Windows' Registry" or is it "Three kludgey workarounds to common issues that you really shouldn't ever have to deal with."

1. Scream at Microsoft to design a more stable OS. It will be just as effective in the long run as mucking with the registry, but without the short-term risks.

2. You don't have to learn photoshop to edit your images. There are a number of consumer-grade programs that you can use to adjust the image so it fits your screen res perfectly. Photoshop, of course, does it best.

3. Not a problem for me, can't help ya.

[MrKleinpaste]

Great. Yet another registry hack to make Windows operate as it should. Yaaaay [note: sarcasm]. It never fails to amaze me how many of Microsoft's "Fixes" are prefaced with: "WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems..."

How about just making an OS that just works correctly the first time? Oh, wait. Apple already makes that.

[MafiaPenguin]

Oh, how about making a gaming OS? Oh, wait. Microsoft already makes that.

The more software available, the more bad apps there are. However, Microsoft should make a non-changable reg entry area.

[JoyceNgo-218335993631273378369]

Eh you don't have a good point about Apple. Just because it makes it better doesn't mean it's always better. Plus I was considering one until i found out the price, I totally changed my mind until I can afford it which is not in another 5 years or so.

I also don't have any problems using Windows as of now.. No errors at all. Everything works as I want.

[c|net Reader]

Your "Put the brakes on stalled apps" doesn't mention what the change will actually do. Will Windows automatically end non-responding apps? Will it close apps faster rather than wait a while before displaying the dialog that asks whether to end the immediately or to wait longer? Without more information, that change sounds troublesome if not dangerous.

[c|net Reader]

The context menu for shortcuts in XP's Start menu provides a "Remove from this list" option which prevents that shortcut from appearing in the Start menu's MRU again. That would seem the more straightforward way to accomplish the task.