If you don’t like keeping the Recycle Bin on your desktop, but you still want to have easy access to your deleted files, you can add the Recycle Bin to your Start Menu. It’s there when you need it without having to have the trash can icon taking up space on your eye catching wallpaper.
Steps:
1.Download the registry file from: Rapidshare(click on Free User)
Mediafire(click on Click here to start download...)
FileShare(click on Download Now)
GigaSize(enter the code and click Download)
2. Extract the file to the desktop with WinRAR(click Wizard and Finish).
3. Double Click the file and click Yes.
4.Restart your computer.
Note. If any link becomes broken or is not working please let me know with a comment.
If you are bored with your desktop and want to give it a little style, you can run a screensaver as your desktop’s background to liven it up. The screensaver will hide the desktop icons, but leave your windows and taskbar fully functional.
Steps:
1. Start a Command Prompt(Start-type in the search box "cmd",right click and select Run as Administrator)
2. Type in the following command: "aurora.scr /p65552"
Using the name of the screensaver file. Vista includes ribbons.scr, aurora.scr, mystify.scr, and sstext3d.scr.
3. Close the command prompt window.
The screensaver will execute while leaving your windows and taskbar. It does hide your desktop icons, but creates a pretty cool effect. I think that the Aurora screensaver looks the best.
To stop the screensaver “wallpaper,” open the Task Manager, select the screensaver file and click the End Process button.
Vista keeps track of the files that you have opened, allowing you easy access to your recent work. You can clear this list each time you shut down so that you have a clean slate for the new work session the next time you boot up. Follow these steps:
1.Click on Start and type in the search box gpedit.msc and press Enter.
2.When the Group Policy Object Editor appears, go to the left pane and expand User Configuration.
3.Expand Administrative Templates.
4.Select Start Menu and Taskbar.
5.Go to the right pane and double-click Clear history of recently opened documents on exit.
6. In the Properties window, select the Enabled radio button.
7.Click OK.
8. Close the Group Policy Object Editor.
Extend list of commands to add to right-click menu
With the help of this tip you will have more options into the right-click menu.
Follow the steps:
1.Go to Start and type in the search box "regedit" and press Enter.
2.Go to this location Computer\HKKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\
3.Click Edit-New-Key with the name you want to see in right-click menu.
4.Then create a new key under it called "command" and input the command as the data.
These commands have been verified in Vista and should work in XP also.
Computer Management:
CompMgmtLauncher.exe
Bluetooth Settings: (unverified)
bthudtask.exe
Character Map:
charmap.exe
Cleanup Manager:
cleanmgr.exe
Command line:
cmd.exe
Defragmenter:
dfrgui.exe
Magnifier:
Magnify.exe
Management Console:
mmc.exe
Open Sound Options:
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL mmsys.cpl
Open Power Profiles:
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL powercfg.cpl
Open Add/Remove Programs:
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL appwiz.cpl
Safely Remove Hardware:
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll
Open System Properties:
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL sysdm.cpl
Open Network Connections:
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL ncpa.cpl
Task Manager:
taskmgr.exe
Wordpad:
write.exe
Notepad:
notepad.exe
Launch Narrator:
Narrator.exe
Microsoft Configuration Utility (msconfig)
msconfig.exe
MS Paint:
mspaint.exe
Find Drivers for Unknown Devices.
Well, i’ve been playing w/vista now for about a few months and have found a very obvious but useful tip on installing non-vista / ‘unknown devices’ compatible hardware ie no vista drivers or xp drivers do not work).
I know I have a ton of usb peripherials/accessories but Vista drivers for devices are still hard to find for those smaller company hardware. If you were an early XP adopter, you remember the woes of waiting for companies to release XP drivers for their devices. so you’ve looked everywhere and tried everything but still no luck? Why not try the good old Vista system32 area.
Just one word of caution; this may not work for all devices (but what the heck eh? if none exist, trying something never hurts. worst case scenerio, you may have to boot into safe mode and delete the device if you bsod).
1. Insert/Plugin the hardware
2. You will get the ‘new hardware found’ wizard, go through it, choose to automatically install.
3. once it searches for a driver and fails, go to the Browse for driver on your computer screen.
4. put this path in or browse to this location: C:\Windows\System32 and check the search subfolders checkbox and click Next.
5. Vista will search the location and may find your hardware or may not.
Not sure why Vista doesn’t use this driver location by default at times baffles me. Perhaps its the subfolder option that lets it find more non active drivers??
hopefully your hardware is found and works! If not, you only wasted a few clicks of your time. :)
I hear many people say that they would use vista gadgets if they just did not have to use them within the sidebar. Well, you don’t. The sidebar is just a gadget holder. Running vista gadgets without the sidebar being visible is easy.
One of the knocks against Vista’s gadget system is the sidebar. However, gadgets will happily live outside the sidebar without any problems. Here is how to do it.
1. Start the sidebar
2. Load whatever gadget you want on your desktop
3. Drag the gadget off the sidebar and drop it onto your desktop
4.Close the sidebar.The gadget will stay.
