In: Categories » » Windows registry » What is displayed in the Properties dialog boxes
What is displayed in the Properties dialog boxes is dependent on which template(s) are loaded. Windows NT supplies three templates by default: common.adm Contains user interface options common to both Windows NT and Windows 95/98. winnt.adm Contains specific settings for Windows NT. windows.adm Contains specific settings for Windows 95/98. Two sections in all .adm files, CLASS MACHINE and CLASS USER, define how settings are applied.
The .adm files are text files that can be modified to suit the user's needs. A competent user should be able to write an .adm file, or modify an existing one, without too much trouble. However, those pesky "make sure you have good backup" warnings also apply if you customize your .adm files. Typically, for all machines (Windows NT and Windows 95/98/Me), you can modify the following categories: Control Panel Allows you to restrict the display of the Control Panel. Desktop Allows/disallows you to change wallpaper and/or color schemes. Shell Allows you to do the following:
• Remove the Run command from the Start menu
• Remove folders from Settings on the Start menu
• Remove the Taskbar from Settings on the Start menu
• Remove the Find command from the Start menu
• Hide drives in My Computer
• Hide Network Neighborhood
• Hide the Entire Network in Network Neighborhood
• Hide all items on the Desktop
• Disable the Shut Down command
• Not save settings at exit
System Allows you to do the following:
• Disable registry editing tools
• Run only allowed Windows applications
Windows NT System Consists of four choices:
• Parse autoexec.bat
• Run logon scripts synchronously
• Disable Task Manager
• Show welcome tips at logon For Windows 95, you can modify the following categories: Windows 95 Control Panel Consists of four sections, which allow setting the following: Network Restrict Network Control Panel Printers Restrict printer settings Passwords Restrict Passwords Control Panel System Restrict System Control Panel Windows 95 Shell Consists of one section, Custom Folders, which allows you to set the following:
• Custom Programs folder
• Custom Desktop icons
• Hide status of Start menu subfolders
• Custom Startup folder
• Custom Network Neighborhood
• Custom Start menu Windows 95 System Consists of one section, Restrictions, which allows you to do the following:
• Disable the MS-DOS prompt
• Disable the single-mode MS-DOS apps
Windows 95 Network Consists of one section, Sharing, which allows you to do the following:
• Disable file sharing
• Disable print sharing For any type of machine (Windows NT or Windows 95/98/Me), you can modify the following: Network Consists of one choice: System Policies Update Remote update
For Windows NT-only machines, you can modify the following: Windows NT Network Consists of one section, Sharing, which allows you to do the following:
• Create hidden drive shares (workstation)
• Create hidden drive shares (server) Windows NT Printers Consists of three choices:
• Disable browse thread on this computer
• Scheduler priority
• Beep for error enabled Windows NT Remote Access Consists of four choices:
• Max number of unsuccessful authentication retries
• Max time limit for authentication
• Wait interval for callback
• Auto Disconnect Windows NT Shell Consists of one section, Custom Shared Folders, which contains four choices:
• Custom shared Programs folder
• Custom shared Desktop icons
• Custom shared Start menu
• Custom shared Startup folder
Windows NT User Profiles Consists of four sections:
• Delete cached copies of roaming profiles
• Automatically detect slow network connections
• Slow network connection time-out
• Timeout for dialog boxes For Windows 95 machines, you can modify the following: Access Control Consists of one section:
• User-level access control Logon Consists of three sections:
• Custom logon banner
• Require validation by network for Windows access
• Allow logon without name or password Passwords Consists of four sections:
• Hide share passwords with asterisks
• Disable password caching
• Require alphanumeric Windows password
• Min Windows password length Microsoft Client Service for NetWare Networks Consists of four sections:
• Preferred server
• Support long filenames
• Search mode
• Disable automatic NetWare login Microsoft Client for Windows Networks Consists of three sections:
• Log on to Windows NT
• Workgroup
• Alternate workgroup File and Printer Sharing Consists of two sections:
• Disable file sharing
• Disable printer sharing Dial-up Networking Consists of one section:
• Disable dial-in
Advanced Registry Stuff
Part Overview
In this section, you'll learn how to:
• Use OLE with the registry
• Understand system.ini and win.ini
• Clean up your system
• Recover from system disasters
• Program for the registry
• Manage the Performance Monitor
legal notice
Our website is not responsible for the information contained by this article. Web-articles is a free articles resource.
Suggestion: If you need fresh, daily updated content for your website, feel free to use our service. Click here for more information.
Useful tools and features
If you like this article (tutorial), please link to it from your web page using the information above.
related articles
Preventing Disaster! Overview Preventing disaster is an important thing to do. No one wants a system failure or to have to reinstall Windows XP. Not the least of your problems will be the issues with product authorization, in that Windows XP, when reinstalled, must be reauthorized! You are reading this tutorial for your own particular reason. Perhaps, as I am recommending, you are here because you want to do everything possible to prevent a disaster with your Windows XP installation. Or maybe you re...
2. You can choose from several methods to back up your registry
Backup Techniques You can choose from several methods to back up your registry, and you can store your backed-up version on a variety of media. Whether you use the Windows XP Backup program or similar utilities, DOS commands, or the Registry Editor, you should first understand what type of file systems your computer network uses. Windows XP supports two different file systems. The first file system, called FAT (File Allocation Table), is identical to the file system used with both DOS and Windows 95/98/Me. The...
3. Once you install a second copy of Windows XP
Customizing the Boot Menu Once you install a second copy of Windows XP, your boot menu will list both copies of Windows XP. This can be confusing since the descriptions will be almost identical. There is a solution: the boot menu can be customized. The boot drive's root directory contains a file called boot.ini. This file includes the boot options for each copy of Windows XP that is installed. Edit boot.ini by following these steps: 1. Open the Windows XP Control Panel in Classic view. 2. Open System Proper...
4. A registry that has been backed up using copy or xcopy is restored
Recovering a Copied Registry A registry that has been backed up using copy or xcopy is restored in the opposite manner from which it was backed up. For example, if you have the NTFS file system, then you have to restart the system using your backup copy of Windows XP. FAT and NTFS When restoring a registry on a FAT-based file system running Windows XP, it's necessary to boot DOS, Windows 95/98/Me, or a second copy of Windows XP. If you have a dual-boot installed (either DOS or Windows 95/98/M...
5. The Windows XP Recovery Console is a tool that allows recovery
The Recovery Console The Windows XP Recovery Console is a tool that allows recovery from a number of failures. Previously, all you could do was boot another copy of Windows XP and hack your way around, replacing files, even registry components, in the blind hope that you would somehow fix the problem. With Windows XP, you have two tools to use: the Recovery Console and the Safe Mode feature. The Recovery Console is a powerful, simple (no, that's not an oxymoron!) feature that is supplied with Windows XP, but it i...
6. What the registry is and the terminology used for its various components
Anatomy of the Registry–The Blood, Gore, and Guts Overview In tutorial 1, we talked a little about what the registry is and the terminology used for its various components. In tutorial 2, we covered backing up and restoring the registry. In this tutorial, we will get into more of the details of what actually is in the registry. If you're only interested in how to use (or recover) the registry, but not what the registry is, it's possible to skip this tutorial. However, if you're unsure about this,...
7. The current control set is copied into the Last Known Good control set
When Is the Current Control Set the Last Known Good Control Set? At some point in the boot process, the current control set is copied into the Last Known Good control set. In Windows XP, the process of replacing the Last Known Good control set is done after the initial logon is performed. This allows the system to catch any problems related to the logon process. HKEY_USERS: Settings for Users Let's take a closer look at SIDs. No, despite what you may think, SID is not the kid down the street;...
8. Windows XP uses only one registry editor
Registry Tools and Tips–Getting the Work Done Overview Windows XP uses only one registry editor. Gone are the separate RegEdit and RegEdt32 editors that existed in Windows 2000. No matter which command you enter in Windows XP, RegEdt32 or RegEdit, the same program (RegEdit, which is called the Registry Editor) will run. Windows XP also has a utility called REG that is included as part of the system installation no more needing to install a separate Resource Kit. This tool is run at the comman...