Vista Tweaks and Junctions/symlinks

largeknob · #1 25th Sep 06, 04:40 PM

Been a while since I posted here. But now that Vista is looming on the horizon here are a few reg tweaks that still work in Vista:

;lets get rid of the Windows Mail splash screen
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Mail]
"NoSplash"=dword:00000001

;then we enable more simultaneous downloads for IE to 20 (default is 2)
[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Cur rentVersion\Internet Settings]
"MaxConnectionsPerServer"=dword:00000014
"MaxConnectionsPer1_0Server"=dword:00000014
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Internet Settings]
"MaxConnectionsPerServer"=dword:00000014
"MaxConnectionsPer1_0Server"=dword:00000014

; -----------------------------------------
; the we pretty up command prompt a little
; -----------------------------------------
; Modify color for command prompt font
; this is set for green but use any you
; want (Black background with green text)
; Color codes to use(HEX)
; 0 = black
; 1 = blue
; 2 = green
; 3 = cyan
; 4 = red
; 5 = magenta
; 6 = yellow/brown
; 7 = white
; 8 = gray
; 9 = bright blue
; A = bright green
; B = bright cyan
; C = bright red
; D = bright magenta
; E = bright yellow
; F = bright white

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor]
"DefaultColor"=dword:0000000a

; add command prompt to right click context menu
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\Open Command Prompt Here]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\Open Command Prompt Here\command]
@="cmd.exe /k pushd %L"
;add 'Copy to Folder' to right click context
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shellex\Con textMenuHandlers\{C2FBB630-2971-11D1-A18C-00C04FD75D13}]
;add 'Move to Folder' to right click context
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shellex\Con textMenuHandlers\{C2FBB631-2971-11D1-A18C-00C04FD75D13}]

; get rid of the word 'Shortcut' being appended to shortcuts
; this is the original value
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer]
; "link"=hex:1e,00,00,00

; this is the changed value to get rid of word 'Shortcut'
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer]
"link"=hex:00,00,00,00

Removing the word 'Shortcut' doesn't remove it from shortcuts you created prior to the reg change, just after you do it the word will no longer be appended to the shortcut.

Yes, I know that you can do the shift key thing in Vista to see the command prompt on the right click context menu, however, it doesn't work every where, the reg tweak does work every where which is a lot more handy.

I know that you can already change the command prompt font color from the command prompt, but I use this in an un-attended install to have things set up already when the install is done.

Make your own with the above or use the .reg files i've attached....also, something thats not included in the reg file:

To get rid of the shortcut arrow open up regedit and go to:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile]

In the right pane rename 'IsShortcut' to 'AriochIsShortcut'

Some reg tweaks take effect right away in Vista, some need a reboot before they work. I'd recommend you reboot after all your changes are made.

And now for something kinda neat, junctions - called symlinks in Vista. Not new but new in the sense that this is the first time a MS OS has used them as part of the basis for the file system for the whole OS and the first time a tool was included as part of the OS. Some of you might already be familiar with Junctions from past MS OS's.

1. Open command prompt in the place where you want to create the junction.
2. type mklink /? for information. So if we want to create a junction directory at the root of C:\;

mklink /J <the name of our link directory> <the target of our link>

so lets create a symlink (junction) directory named Mylnk at the root of C:\ with a target of C:\Users, we type

mklink /J Mylnk "C:\Users" and hit enter

It might be best if you open the command prompt as the Administrator.

This will help some with dual booting with WinXP because we can create symlinks that point to our stuff in the WinXP partition/Drive from Vista. For example, say we want the Vista Favorites folder to point to our WinXP Favorites folder in the other partition/drive - lets uses the Administrator user/account in this example:

1. We remove the Vista 'Favorites' folder (dont actually delete it yet until the below works OK, just move it to somewhere else right now)

2. In Vista, we open a command prompt at: 'C:\Users\Administrator\'

3. then in the command prompt we type:

mklink /j Favorites "D:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Favorites"

Where 'D:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Favorites' is the WinXP favorites location in the winXP partition/drive" and 'D:\' is the location of my WinXP drive in the dualboot i'm running - substitute your own here.

4. Hit enter and mklink tells you that it created the link, your done.

To enable Local to local to remote symlinks:
1. Both the client and server must be using Vista.
2. As admin, you need to enable 'Local to Remote' policy. Using gpedit.msc go to:

Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/System/NTFS Filesystem/ then right click on the 'Selectively Allow the evaluation of symbolic link' - choose 'Properties', then 'Settings' tab.

Have fun, remember to back up any registry entries before you change them. use these at your own risk, they work fine, but I take no responsibility for anything bad that happens to your systems.