Removing Right-Click Items

When you right click on a folder or file with the Explorer, a list of options is available.
As more applications get installed, this list may get too large for you.

To remove items from the list:

1. Note the text of the item you want to remove

2. Start Regedit

3. Go to the following sections in the Registry and delete the subkey with the string you noted in Step 1.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\file
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell

 Changing the Default Sound in Explorer

You can change the default sound heard when navigating to folders in the Explorer.

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ AppEvents \ Schemes \ Apps\ Explorer \ Navigating\ .current
3. Change the default value to the wav file you want to use.
4. Leaving it blank will turn off the sound.
5. This also changes the default sound when opening a page in the Internet Explorer.

 Running the Explorer in Separate Process (NT/XP Only)

By default, the Windows Desktop, Taskbar, and Explorer run in a single process using multiple threads. You can modify the registry so that the Taskbar and Desktop will run in one process with each instance of Explorer in a separate process.

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer
3. Create a DWORD value called DesktopProcess
4. Give it a value of 1

 Changing Drive Icons in Explorer

To change the icon used for specific drives in Explorer

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Explorer
3. Create a key called DriveIcons
4. Within DriveIcons, create another key with the drive letter you want to change (..\DriveIcons\K)
5. Create another key within the drive letter key called DefaultIcon
6. Set the default value equal to the icon you want to use.
7. If you have a file that has more than one icon in it, such as a DLL file, use the standard C:\full_path\icon_file.dll,x
   where x is the number of the icon within the file icon_file.dll.

 Changing Drive Labels in Explorer (Windows2000 and XP)

Normally the Explorer shows drive labels as "Compact Disk", "Removable Disk" ect.

To change the name of this label for specific drives:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Explorer
3. Create a key called DriveIcons
4. Within DriveIcons, create another key with the drive letter you want to change (..\DriveIcons\K)
5. Create another within the drive letter key called DefaultLabel
6. Give the Default Value for this key the label you want to appear for that drive letter. (Jazz Drive etc.)
7. Restart the computer

Resetting Graphics PreView in Explorer

For Windows98, ME or Windows 2000, if you have View as Web Page enabled but do not see a picture preview in Explorer:

1. Start Regedit

2. Go to Registry key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ file type \ ShellEx \ {BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}
3. Make sure the Default Value "{7376D660-C583-11d0-A3A5-00C04FD706EC}"

Keeping Filenames in the Case You Want

To stop Windows from changing the case of your filenames to upper or lower case:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Advanced
3. Double-click DontPrettyPath (or create this key with a type of REG_DWORD if it doesn't exist)
4. Set the value to 1 to keep the case as you type it or 0 to adjust the case as Explorer requires
5. Click OK
6. Close Regedit

Changing the Explorer's Web View Background

If you use Web View for your Internet Explorer, you can change the background that appears.

Edit or recreate the file >C:\Windows\Web\Wvleft.bmp

Make sure you keep the file dimensions the same 182x237 pixels

Moving Up and Down Directory Levels

• To go one directory deeper, key RIGHT ARROW
• To back out one directory level, key LEFT ARROW

Hiding the File Menu in the Explorer

To hide the File Menu in Explorer:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
3. Create a new Binary Value
4. Name it NoFileMenu
5. Give it a value of 01 00 00 00
6. Reboot the computer

Explorer Session from the Start Menu

To open the Explorer with a session on the Start Menu,
you can just right click on the START button and choose EXPLORE

Most avid windowers know that "Start | Settings | Taskbar | Start Menu Programs | Advanced..."
will start an Explorer session focused on the Start Menu directory.
This allows you to easily and quickly add/modify your Start menu.

To immediately access this Explorer session from the Start menu itself,

1. Open Explorer and open the Windows directory.
2. Right-drag EXPLORER.EXE to the desktop, then select "Create shortcut here."
3. Open the properties to this shortcut, select the Shortcut tab and add the following switches to the command line in Target: "/e,/root,c:\windows\Start Menu".
4. Double-click on the title of the shortcut and change it to "Configure Start Menu."
5. Open "Start | Settings | Taskbar | Start Menu Programs | Advanced..." and drag the shortcut just created into the window on the right.
6. This will place a configuration item in the first level of the Start Menu.

These command-line options will allow a similar Explorer session to be started with any folder as the root.

Automatically Adjusting Right-Panel Column Widths

The column widths in the right hand panel of the Explorer might not be the correct sizes to display all the file information.
To automatically adjust all the columns at once to show all the information,

1. Click somewhere on the right-hand panel
2. Simply press the Ctrl-+ key.
3. The Name, Size, Type and Modified columns will automatically adjust themselves to display all their information.

Note: The + is the one on the numeric keyboard

Inserting the Name of a File into a Document

When you need to insert the exact name of a file into a document:

1. Open the Explorer
2. Right click on the file you want to reference
3. Select Rename. You can either right click and select Rename or press the F2 key.
4. Instead of renaming it, right click on it again, and select Copy.
5. Then you can paste the exact file name into your document

Adding a second Explorer to the menu that pops up when right clicking on any folder or the Start Button.
This is handy to be able to open Explorer non-expanded and also for being able to open a second Explorer (non-expanded) while already in Explorer.

1. Open My Computer
2. Choose View-Options-File Types
3. Select the File Folder file type
4. Click Edit
5. For ACTION, type EXPLORER2
6. For APPLICATION USED, type C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE /n,/e,/select,C:\
7. Click OK and close all windows
8. Run REGEDIT
9. Expand HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
10. Locate and expand DIRECTORY
11. Locate and expand SHELL
12. Locate and expand EXPLORER2
13. Select COMMAND
14. On the right window RIGHT CLICK on DEFAULT
15. Select MODIFY
16. Remove the space and %1 at the end of the line
17. Click OK and close REGEDIT

EXPLORER2 will show up and launch a non-expanded view of Explorer whenever you right-click on the START BUTTON or any folder, even if you are already in Explorer.

The whole procedure can be done in REGEDIT, but this may be safer for users not experienced with REGEDIT

Finding Files from Explorer

To find files from a particular directory:

1. Start the Explorer
2. Go to the directory you want to search
3. Press the F3 key
4. The Find File dialog box will come up with the initial directory being the one you highlighted

Printing a Directory from Explorer

To make a Print Directory option from a right-click in Explorer:

1. In Explorer, choose View / Options / File Types
2. Highlight Folder (not File Folder)
3. Click on the Edit button
4. Click on the New button
5. In the Action box, type &Print Dir
6. In the Application use to perform action box type C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM /C DIR %1 /S /A /O:N > PRN

You can use other switches for COMMAND.COM (COMMAND.COM /?) or DIR (DIR /? | MORE) to customize to your preference.

Opening a DOS Prompt in the Directory You Want

You can use the Explorer to easily open up a DOS window to a specific directory.

1. From Explorer Option Menu select File Types
2. Highlight the object for Folder - NOT File Folder
3. Click the Edit button
4. From the 'Edit File Type' panel click the 'New' button
5. Action is '&Goto DOS Prompt'
6. Application used is C:\windows\command.com /k cd %1
7. Select OK, then Close and Close.
8. Now from Explorer secondary (right) click the folder you want to go to in DOS
9. From the menu select 'GotDOS Prompt' (or hit G) and you are in that directory with a DOS windows
10. For Win NT 4.0 same tip, but substitute cmd.exe for command.com)

Starting Explorer with No Drives Expanded

Normally when you start the Explorer, it expands the folders on the root of the C: Drive.
For those computers with multiple hard drives plus CD ROM Drives, this might not always be what you want.
If you want it to start without expanding any drives, use the following switches:

EXPLORER /n, /e, /select, c:\

This will work with NT 4.0 as well

Opening Explorer and System Properties from My Computer

By holding Shift key and double-clicking My Computer you get anExplorer view of My Computer.

By holding down Alt and key and double-clicking My Computer you get the System Properties of Control Panel.

Opening Explorer from My Computer

To open an explorer view of "My Computer", in "My Computer" or an Explorer window,

1. Select the View menu, Options.
2. Click the File Types Tab
3. Highlight the Folders entry
4. Click the Edit button
5. Highlight the action you wish (Open, Explore, Explore From Here)
6. Click the Set Default button.

This is much easier than editing the registry and easily changeable.

Undo Last Command in Explorer

When you use the Explorer to Copy, Move, Rename or Delete Files or Folders,
you can Undo your last action by pressing Ctrl-Z

File Copying in Explorer Without Opening Two Sessions

There was a previous tip regarding opening two Explorer sessions, tiling them, and drag and dropping files from one to the other.
An another way to copy files without needing to open a second Explorer session is to:

1. Highlight the file(s) you want to copy
2. Right click on the mouse
3. Select Copy
4. In Explorer, move to the target directory
5. Right click on the mouse
6. Select Paste
7. The files will now be copied

Easier File Copying with Explorer

One difference between Explorer and File Manager is that with File Manager
you could open up two windows to more easily copy files between drives.
To do the same thing with Explorer:

1. Close all running applications
2. Start two copies of Explorer
3. Press Ctrl-Esc to bring up the task bar
4. Right click on an open space
5. Select Tile Horizontally or Vertically depending on your preference

Your two Explorer sessions will now split the screen and you can copy between them by
dragging files like before.

Expanding All Subfolders in Explorer

To quickly have Explorer expand all subfolders for a selected drive or folder,
simply press the asterisk (*) key on the numeric keypad.

Starting Explorer when opening a Folder

To have an Explorer window be the default when you open up a Folder:

1. Open up any folder.
2. Select View / Options
3. Select File Types
4. Go down to Folder
5. Click on Edit
6. Highlight Explore
7. Click on Set Default
8. Click on Close
9. Click on Close again

Now when you open a folder, you will get an Explorer window with the programs or shortcuts in the right panel
and the regular explorer window in the left panel.

Explorer Shortcut Keys

• F4 - Displays the Combo Box
• F5 - Refresh the display
• Ctrl+G - Go to a specific directory
• Ctrl+Z - Undo last action
• Backspace - Go up one directory

Starting the Explorer from the Current DOS Directory

Changing the Sort order in Explorer

To change the sort order of the right window of MS Explorer
simply double click on the Name button underneath the toolbar
to change the sort order from ascending to descending, a single
click after that will toggle. The same works for Size, Type and Date Modified.

Using the Explorer's SEND TO Feature

• When you right click on a file, SEND TO is one of the options.
• To add other directories or programs, simply drag them to the SEND TO folder that is directly under the directory where you installed Win95.
• This will allow you to quickly move files to commonly used areas.
• For example, you can SEND TO applications like WinZip.

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Internet Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts

Viewing and exploring Web pages

F1	Display the Internet Explorer Help, or when in a dialog box, display context help on an item
F11	Toggle between Full Screen and regular view of the browser window
TAB	Move forward through the items on a Web page, the Address bar, and the Links bar
SHIFT+TAB	Move back through the items on a Web page, the Address bar, and the Links bar
ALT+HOME	Go to your Home page
ALT+RIGHT ARROW	Go to the next page
ALT+LEFT ARROW or BACKSPACE	Go to the previous page
SHIFT+F10	Display a shortcut menu for a link
CTRL+TAB or F6	Move forward between frames
SHIFT+CTRL+TAB	Move back between frames
UP ARROW	Scroll toward the beginning of a document
DOWN ARROW	Scroll toward the end of a document
PAGE UP	Scroll toward the beginning of a document in larger increments
PAGE DOWN	Scroll toward the end of a document in larger increments
HOME	Move to the beginning of a document
END	Move to the end of a document
CTRL+F	Find on this page
F5 or CTRL+R	Refresh the current Web page only if the time stamp for the Web version and your locally stored version are different
CTRL+F5	Refresh the current Web page, even if the time stamp for the Web version and your locally stored version are the same
ESC	Stop downloading a page
CTRL+O or CTRL+L	Go to a new location
CTRL+N	Open a new window
CTRL+W	Close the current window
CTRL+S	Save the current page
CTRL+P	Print the current page or active frame
ENTER	Activate a selected link
CTRL+E	Open Search in Explorer bar
CTRL+I	Open Favorites in Explorer bar
CTRL+H	Open History in Explorer bar
CTRL+click	In History or Favorites bars, open multiple folders

 Using the Address bar

Press this	To do this
ALT+D	Select the text in the Address bar
F4	Display the Address bar history
CTRL+LEFT ARROW	When in the Address bar, move the cursor left to the next logical break (. or /)
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW	When in the Address bar, move the cursor right to the next logical break (. or /)
CTRL+ENTER	Add "www." to the beginning and ".com" to the end of the text typed in the Address bar
UP ARROW	Move forward through the list of AutoComplete matches
DOWN ARROW	Move back through the list of AutoComplete matches

 Working with favorites

Press this	To do this
CTRL+D	Add the current page to your favorites
CTRL+B	Open the Organize Favorites dialog box
ALT+UP ARROW	Move selected item up in the Favorites list in the Organize Favorites dialog box
ALT+DOWN ARROW	Move selected item down in the Favorites list in the Organize Favorites dialog box

 Editing

Press this	To do this
CTRL+X	Remove the selected items and copy them to the Clipboard
CTRL+C	Copy the selected items to the Clipboard
CTRL+V	Insert the contents of the Clipboard at the selected location
CTRL+A	Select all items on the current Web page

 

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 Remap the Right-Alt Key to be the Windows Key

Submitted 11/10/01

Create a Scancode entry in the Registry as follows:

1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout
2. Create a new binary entry called Scancode Map with the following values
3. 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 5B EO 38 EO 00 00 00 00
4. Reboot the computer

Submitted by Julian Toler

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Disabling the Windows Key with NT or Windows2000

To disable the use of the Windows Key for the two operating Systems,

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Keyboard Layout
3. Add a Binary Value called Scancode Map
4. Give it a value of 00000000000000000300000000005BE000005CE000000000
5. Reboot the computer

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Undo

Submitted 2/18/98

Press CTRL + Z to undo things like renaming a file in Explorer

Submitted by Melissa Gaugert

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Minimizing All Windows

To minimize all windows:

1. Press Ctrl-ESC to bring up the Task Bar
2. Press Alt-M

This makes it a lot easier to minimize windows when all your open applications are full screen.

Submitted by Imar Spaanjaars

Note from Bob: With the Microsoft Keyboard, you can accomplish the same thing by pressing the Window-M key.

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Shortcut to System Properties

Submitted 2/4/98

To access the System Properties screen quickly, simply hold down the ALT key while double clicking on the My Computer icon.

Submitted by Stuart H

Submitted 11/2/97

While holding the windows key, press the Pause / Break key.
This will open up the System Properties box.
From here you can easily get to the Device Manager

Submitted by Emperor

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Duplicating the Right Mouse Click

Submitted 1/21/98

Pressing the Shift-F10 key will be the same as clicking the right-mouse button.

Submitted by Roberto Magistrelli

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Accessing Programs from the Start Button

Submitted 9/13/97

To access your programs more quickly from your start button, with out aid of a mouse, hit ctrl+esc to open your start menu.
Then, type the letter for the directory you are looking for.
For example, to access the ever popular game of solitaire, CTRL+ESC, then "P" for programs, "A" for accessories, "G" for games, then "S" for Solitaire.
If there is more than one entry for the letter, keep hitting the letter until you reach your desired location. Then, hit enter.

Submitted by Derek Wittstruck

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Quickly Starting Explorer

Submitted 7/29/97

You can quickly start an explorer session by holding down the Windows key on a Microsoft Keyboard and pressing the E.key

Submitted by David Thorne

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Internet Explorer Shortcuts

Here are a few IE keyboard shortcuts:

Go ‘Back’ to the previous page	Alt+Left Arrow
Go ‘Forward’ to the next page	Alt+Right Arrow
Add to Favorites on the current web page	Ctrl+D
Open the History folder	Ctrl+H
Open the Organize Favorites window	Ctrl+B
Lets you open a new web page	Ctrl+L
Open a new browser window	Ctrl+N
Reload the current page	Ctrl+R
Close the active Internet Explorer window	Ctrl+W

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Bringing up the Properties Window

While holding the ALT key double click on an icon to bring up the properties.

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Resizing and Moving a Window

To Resize or Move a window:

1. Press Alt-Space
2. Press the S key - To Resize
3. Press the M key - To Move

You can now use the arrow keys to resize or move the window

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Key stroking is faster than mouse moving

Submitted 1/23/96


1. In desktop you can press "m", "My Briefcase is highlighted, press "enter" will open this applet.
2. If you do not press "enter",
3. The next "m" key stroke will highlight "My Computer".
4. "Ctrl"-"Esc", press "P" for Programs, "enter","M""enter", you get to the first program or folder that starts with "M"
5. Other applets will also be opened the same way.

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Explorer Shortcut Keys

• F4 - Displays the Combo Box
• F5 - Refresh the display
• Ctrl+Z - Undo last action
• Backspace - Go up one directory

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Quickly Search for Files

To quickly open up the Find all Files window

1. Press Ctrl+ESC ESC
2. Press F3

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To copy a file with a Mouse/Keyboard combo

Drag the file while holding down the CTRL key - A + will appear on the icon

To move a file with a Mouse/Keyboard combo

Drag file while holding down SHIFT key - Nothing appears on the icon

If moving a icon with the mouse and an arrow appears, it will create a shortcut.
You can press shift or ctrl at anytime during the drag
and it will change this little part of the icon.