How to Hide or Show Desktop Icons and Gadgets in Windows 7

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OPTION ONE

Hide or Show Desktop Icons

METHOD ONE

Using the Desktop Context Menu

1. Right click on a empty area of the desktop.

2. To Show All Desktop Icons -

A) Click on Show Desktop Icons to check it. (See screenshot below step 3)

3. To Hide All Desktop Icons -

A) Click on Show Desktop Icons to uncheck it. (See screenshot below)

B) Save your current theme to help prevent these settings from being reset after you log off and on, or restart the computer.

METHOD TWO

Using a REG File Download

1. To Show All Desktop Icons -

A) Click on the download button below to download the
Show_Desktop_Icons.reg file.

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Hide All Desktop Icons – -

A) Click on the download button below to download the
Hide_Desktop_Icons.reg file.

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

4. Right click on the .reg file (on Desktop) and click on Merge.
NOTE: You can also double click on the .reg file to merge it instead.

5. Click on the Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted to approve.

6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file on desktop if you would like to.

OPTION TWO

Hide or Show Desktop Gadgets

1. Right click on a empty area of the desktop.

2. To Show All Desktop Gadgets -

A) Click on Show Desktop Gadgets to check it. (See screenshot below step 3)

3. To Hide All Desktop Gadgets -A) Click on Show Desktop Gadgets to uncheck it. (See screenshot below)

B) Save your current theme to help prevent these settings from being reset after you log off and on, or restart the computer.

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How to Prevent or Allow Themes to Change Windows 7 Desktop Icons

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Here’s How:

1. Right click on a empty area of the desktop and click on Personalize. (See screenshot below)

2. Click on the Change desktop icons link at the upper left corner. (See screenshot below)

3. To Allow Themes to Change Desktop icons -
NOTE: Any custom (changed) desktop icon you have in your current theme will be changed whenever you change the theme.

A) Check the Allow themes to change desktop icons box. (See screenshot below step 5)

B) Go to step 5.

4. To Prevent Themes from Changing Desktop icons -
NOTE: Any custom (changed) desktop icon you have in your current theme will not be changed whenever you change the theme.

A) Uncheck the Allow themes to change desktop icons box. (See screenshot below step 5)

5. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

6. Close the Personalization window. (See screenshot below step 2)

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How to Add or Remove a Default Desktop Icon in Windows 7

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OPTION ONE

Through Desktop Icon Settings in Personalization

NOTE: This will only add the desktop icon for the current user (you), and not all users.

1. Right click on a empty area of the desktop and click on Personalize. (See screenshot below)

2. Click on the Change desktop icons link at the upper left corner. (See screenshot below)

3. To Add a Default Desktop Icon

A) In the top pane, check the desktop icons that you want to add. (See screenshot below step 5)

B) Go to step 5.

4. To Remove a Default Desktop Icon

A) In the top pane, uncheck the desktop icons that you want to remove. (See screenshot below step 5)

5. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

6. Close the Personalization window. (See screenshot below step 2)

OPTION TWO

Through a REG File Download

1. To Add the “Computer” Desktop Icon for Current User Only

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Add_Computer_Desktop_Icon.reg

2. To Add the “Computer” Desktop Icon for All Users

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Add_Computer_Desktop_Icon_All_Users.reg

3. To Remove the “Computer” Desktop Icon for All Users

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Remove_Computer_Desktop_Icon.reg

4. To Add the “Users’ Files” Desktop Icon for Current User Only

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Add_Users_Files_Desktop_Icon.reg

5. To Add the “Users’ Files” Desktop Icon for All Users

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Add_Users_Files_Desktop_Icon_All_Users.reg

6. To Remove the “Users’ Files” Desktop Icon for All Users

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Remove_Users_Files_Desktop_Icon.reg

7. To Add the “Network” Desktop Icon for Current User Only

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Add_Network_Desktop_Icon.reg

8. To Add the “Network” Desktop Icon for All Users

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Add_Network_Desktop_Icon_All_Users.reg

9. To Remove the “Network” Desktop Icon for All Users

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Remove_Network_Desktop_Icon.reg

10. To Add the “Recycle Bin” Desktop Icon for Current User Only

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Add_Recycle_Bin_Desktop_Icon.reg

11. To Add the “Recycle Bin” Desktop Icon for All Users

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Add_Recycle_Bin_Desktop_Icon_All_Users.reg

12. To Remove the “Recycle Bin” Desktop Icon for All Users

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Remove_Recycle_Bin_Desktop_Icon.reg

13. To Add the “Control Panel” Desktop Icon for Current User Only

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Add_Control_Panel_Desktop_Icon.reg

14. To Add the “Control Panel” Desktop Icon for All Users

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Add_Control_Panel_Desktop_Icon_All_Users.reg

15. To Remove the “Control Panel” Desktop Icon for All Users

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Remove_Control_Panel_Desktop_Icon.reg

16. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

17. Right click the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

18. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

19. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

20. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg files if you like.

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How to Speed Up Windows 7 Desktop and Shutdown

Share Posted by Windows 7 Themes

METHOD ONE

Through a REG File Download

1. Click on Save, and save the .zip file to the desktop.

2. Open the .zip file and extract the .reg file to the desktop.

3. Right click the .reg file (On Desktop) and click on Merge.

4. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

5. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg and .zip files on the desktop if you like.

METHOD TWO

Through a Registry Script

Here is a registry script that you can paste into notepad and save as a .REG file. Then follow step three above.
(details are given at the end of the code to explain what each registry command does)
Please save your registry before you make these changes. To do so, type in start menu ”regedit”. Select file and export. (Name the file Full registry around 35 megs). You may also write down original settings and reset.

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Policies\Explorer]
"NoLowDiskSpaceChecks"=dword:00000001
"LinkResolveIgnoreLinkInfo"=dword:00000001
"NoResolveSearch"=dword:00000001
"NoResolveTrack"=dword:00000001
"NoInternetOpenWith"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"AutoEndTasks"="1"
"HungAppTimeout"="1000"
"MenuShowDelay"="0"
"WaitToKillAppTimeout"="2000"
"LowLevelHooksTimeout"="1000"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Control]
"WaitToKillServiceTimeout"="1000"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control]
"WaitToKillServiceTimeout"="1000"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control]
"WaitToKillServiceTimeout"="1000"

[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-19\Control Panel\Desktop]
"AutoEndTasks"="1"
"HungAppTimeout"="1000"
"MenuShowDelay"="0"
"WaitToKillAppTimeout"="2000"

[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Control Panel\Desktop]
"AutoEndTasks"="1"
"HungAppTimeout"="1000"
"MenuShowDelay"="0"
"WaitToKillAppTimeout"="2000"

NoLowDiskSpaceChecks = Low Disk Notification 
deactivated

LinkResolveIgnoreLinkInfo = Determines whether Windows traces shortcuts back 
to their sources when it cannot find the target on the user's system.

NoResolveSearch = Prevents the system from conducting a comprehensive search 
of the target drive to resolve a shortcut.

NoResolveTrack = Prevents the system from using NTFS tracking features to
resolve a shortcut.

NoInternetOpenWith = Specifies whether to use the Microsoft Web service
for finding an application to open a file with an unhandled file association. 

AutoEndTasks = Specifies whether user processes end automatically when 
the user either logs off or shuts down Windows .

HungAppTimeout = Specifies how long the system waits for user 
processes to end after the user clicks the End Task command button in 
Task Manager. 

MenuShowDelay = Specifies the interval from the time the cursor is 
pointed at a menu until the menu items are displayed.

WaitToKillAppTimeout = Specifies how long the system waits for user 
processes to end after the user attempts to log off or to shut down 
Windows. When the time specified in this entry expires, the End 
Task dialog box appears, stating that the process did not respond. 
If the value of AutoEndTasks is 1, the system ends the process
automatically.

LowLevelHooksTimeout = This tweak changes the time to wait to kill 
a service, which is not responding

WaitToKillServiceTimeout = Determines how long the system waits 
for services to stop after notifying the service that the system is 
shutting down.

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How to Set Default Associations for a Program in Windows 7

Share Posted by Windows 7 Themes

Here’s How:1. Open the Control Panel (All Items view), and click on the Default Programs icon.

2. Click on the Set your default programs link. (See screenshot below)

3. In the left column, select (highlight) a listed program that you want to change it’s default file associations for. (See screenshot below)

4. To Set All of the Default Associations to the Program -
NOTE: This will associate the selected program as the default used by Windows 7 to open all of the file types and protocols that it can open.

A) Click on Set this program as default. (See screenshot below step 3A)

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Manually Set the Default Associations to the Program -
NOTE: This will associate the selected program as the default used by Windows 7 to open the selected file types and protocols by you from the list that the program can open

A) Click on Choose defaults for this program. (See screenshot below step 3A)

B) Check the file extension associations you want this program to open by default, and uncheck the ones you do not want this program to open. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: These are the default settings for each listed default program.

C) Click on the Save button to apply. (See screenshots above)