Registry Tweaks

Warning: You should not use the Windows Registry Editor if you have no idea what you are doing.

It is recommended that you make a backup of your registry before using any of these tweaks:
Start > Run > type regedit > Ok > select Computer.
File > Export > type a File name > Save

Disable auto lock (when your computer goes into suspend / hibernate mode)
Start > Run > type regedit > Ok.
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System\Power
Set the value of PromptPasswordOnResume to 0.
Use this if you do not have an administrator account. Otherwise just disable the Prompt for password[...] Desktop Proprieties > S.creen Saver > Power > Advanced

Disable Windows Update
Start > Run > type regedit > Ok.
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
Create a new REG_DWORD, set its name to NoWindowsUpdate and its value to 1.
Because some people just don't want to be bothered by that Windows Genuine Advantage.

Enable Change Password
Start > Run > type regedit > Ok.
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Set the value of DisableChangePassword to 0.
Use this if your administrator has disabled the Change Password feature.

Enable Lock Computer
Start > Run > type regedit > Ok.
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Set the value of DisableLockWorkstation to 0.
Use this if your administrator has disabled the Lock Computer feature and you don't want people snooping around your personal files while you are away from your computer.

Enable LogOff
Start > Run > type regedit > Ok.
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
Set the value of NoLogoff to 0.
LogOff may get disabled by some viruses. You may use this to re-enable it.


Enable Task Manager
Start > Run > type regedit > Ok.
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Set the value of DisableTaskMgr to 0.
Like LogOff, the Task Manager may also be disabled by some viruses.

Unblock a restricted application
Start > Run > type regedit > Ok.
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\DisallowRun
Delete the string value for the application you want to use.
If your administrator has disabled an application you may get this error: 'This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator'. Use the tweak above to remove the restriction.

Unblock the Command Prompt
Start > Run > type regedit > Ok.
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
Set the value of DisableCMD to 0.
If, for some reason, your cmd has been blocked and you get this error: 'The command prompt has been disabled by your administrator' you can use the above tweak to re-enable it.

Unblock a restricted website
Start > Run > type regedit > Ok.
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains
Scroll down, find the restricted website and delete its folder.
This only works if the website has been blocked on your computer not on the proxy server.

There are virtually unlimited things you can accomplish by editing your registry.

I did not know how to do this tweaks by editing the windows registry, but now i know, thanks for that, some are usefull to me, sometimes i do find those specific tweaks useful.

If you know more useful tweaks, please be so kind to share the codes here, at least i, will apreciate it.

Those tweaks for network admins are very useful indeed, and if you know resources too, share them too please.

This post has been edited by Lyon2: Oct 20 2008, 09:45 AM

Sometimes I used third party softwares to do some registry restrictions mentioned above.

Add things to the startup list
Start > Run > type regedit > Ok.
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Click Edit>New>String Value and give it any name. Press enter.
Right click it and choose "modify". Enter the file path of the thing that you want to launch every time you boot. I did that and added my favourite .m3u