1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam
3. Change the vaule of BagMRU to whatever size you want (hex)

• 1000 - 3e8
• 2000 - 7d0
• 3000 - bb8
• 4000 - fa0
• 5000 - 1388

Not Displaying Logon, Logoff Status Messages
To turn these off:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
3. If it is not already there, create a DWORD value named DisableStatusMessages
4. Give it a value of 1

Remembering Folder Settings
If XP does not remember your folder settings, delete or rename the following registry keys:

1. [HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU]
2. [HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags]

Preventing Applications from Stealing the Focus
To prevent applications from stealing the focus from the window you are working:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop
3. Edit the key ForegroundLockTimeout
4. Give it a value of 00030d40

Disable Passport Pop-Up
Normally, WindowsXP will prompt you 10 times that You Need a Passport to use WindowsXP Internet communication features. To disable this:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ MessengerService
3. Edit the binary key PassportBalloon
4. Give it a value of 0A (0A 00 00 00)

Show Hidden Devices
You can show hidden devices in the Device Manager. One way is by making a simple registry change. Registry Change:

1. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ ControlSet001 \ Control \ Session Manager \ Environment
2. Create a string DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES
3. Give it a value of 1

Disable the Remote Desktop Sharing (RDS) icon's menu
To Disable the Remote Desktop Sharing (RDS) icon's menu:

1. Start regedit.exe
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \Software\Microsoft\Conferencing\Mcpt
3. Create a new string value (Click on Edit > New > String Value)
4. Name the value Nx
5. Double-click on it and set it's value to 1
6. Close the registry
7. Now the menu options will be grayed out

Removing Thumbs.db Files
When viewing a folder with the Thumbnail view, WindowsXP creates a thumbs.db file. This is a cache of the current pictures in that directory. If you want to turn this feature off and save a little disk space:

1. Start the Windows Explorer
2. Go to Tools / Folder Options / View
3. In the first section under Files and Folders, check Do not cache thumbnails
4. Now you can search for the thumbs.db file on your computer and remove them
5. No more should be created

Restoring Access to CD ROMs
If after you remove CD Burning software, you can no longer access your CD ROM's, the following registry keys need to be deleted:

• Locate and delete the UpperFilters and LowerFilters values under the following key in the registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

Clearing the Page File on Shutdown
If you want to clear the page file on each shutdown:

• Start Regedit
• Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\ClearPageFileAtShutdown
• Set the value to 1

Change Windows Product Key after install
Do you need to change your product key so that you can activate Windows properly? You can use a great command line tool that will help you do this very easily. Just follow these steps:

• Click on the Start Button and key in command prompt so that it shows up on your start menu search list. Right click on the Command Prompt shortcut and select Run As Administrator.
• At the administrator command prompt, type in "slmgr.vbs -ipk <insert your product key here>"
• To activate windows after changing the key, run "slmgr.vbs -ato"

Logging in as Administrator
To unhide the Administrator account so it does show up:

• Start Regedit
• Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon \ SpecialAccounts \ UserList 3. Unhide the Administrator key by giving it a value of 1

Getting Rid of Unread Email Messages
To remove the Unread Email message by user's login names:

• Start Regedit
• For a single user: Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\UnreadMail
• For all users: Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\UnreadMail
• Create a DWORD key called MessageExpiryDays
• Give it a value of 0

No GUI Boot
If you don't need to see the XP boot logo:

• Run MSCONFIG
• Click on the BOOT.INI tab
• Check the box for /NOGUIBOOT

Hiding the Windows Version on the Desktop
If your version of Windows XP is displaying on the desktop and you would like to remove it:

• Start Regedit
• Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop
• Edit or Create the DWORD entry PaintDesktopVersion
• A value of 0 will hide the version from the desktop
• Logoff or reboot

To make this change for all future users, edit:
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop in the same manner.

Saving Desktop Settings
If you desktop or folders on your desktop do not retain their settings:

• Start Regedit
• Go go HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Program Manager\Restrictions
• Create or edit the DWORD value NoSaveSettings
• Give it a value of 0