Extend Folder Options to include your own tweaks

One can configure several options here:

Win9x/Me/WinNT4: Open My Computer -> View-menu -> Folder Options…-item -> View-tab
Win2k/XP: Open My Computer -> Tools-menu -> Folder Options…-item -> View-tab

It is possible to add your own tweaks to these options, and allowing one to create a cheap tweaking tool, by applying a registry file that modifies the following registry key:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \explorer \Advanced]

To add a new tweak item “IconCache” using Radio-Buttons:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \explorer \Advanced \IconCache]
Text = “Icon Cache Size”
Type = “group”

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \explorer \Advanced \IconCache \Max]
Text = “4096 Icons”
CheckedValue = dword:00001000 (Registry type and value)
DefaultValue = dword:00000200 (Registry type and default value)
ValueName = “Max Cached Icons” (Registry valuename)
RegPath = “Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer” (Registry Path)
HKeyRoot = dword:80000002 (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE section)
Type = “radio”

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \explorer \Advanced \IconCache \Large]
Text = “2048 Icons”
CheckedValue = dword:00000800

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \explorer \Advanced \IconCache \Normal]
Text = “512 Icons”
CheckedValue = dword:00000200

Have cheated a little, as one have to copy the non-bold registry values from Max-section to Large and Normal section.

To create a new tweak item “PaintDesktopVersion” using a Check-box:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \explorer \Advanced \Visual]
Text = “Visual Options”
Type = “group”

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \explorer \Advanced \Visual \PaintDesktopVer]
Text = “Show Version on Desktop”
CheckedValue = dword:00000001
UncheckedValue = dword:00000000
DefaultValue = dword:00000000
Type = “Checkbox”
ValueName = “PaintDesktopVersion”
RegPath = “Control Panel\Desktop”
HKeyRoot = dword:80000001 (HKEY_CURRENT_USER section)

Note HKeyRoot specifies what section of the registry the RegPath applies:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT 0X80000000
HKEY_CURRENT_USER 0X80000001
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE 0X80000002

Note one can change the icon for a group by setting the “BitMap” value:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \explorer \Advanced \IconCache]
Bitmap = “shell32.dll,4”

Note one can change the “What This”-message (Right click an option to see):

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \explorer \Advanced \IconCache]
HelpID = “update.hlp#51140”

Credits TechTrax