Windows 10, File Locations

• Windows 10 Folder Comparison to XP

• To Eliminate the "Do you want to allow the program to run" Dialog:
• How to Disable the Open File Security Warning in Windows
• File Name Associations
• Power Settings
• Disable User Account Control (UAC) in Windows 10
• Turn Off Automatic Window Resizing and Docking in Windows 10
• Windows Help program
• ClearType Text Tuner
• Force Explorer to Start With the Folder You Want
  
• Remove Libraries
• Remove Favorites
• Create Junction Links
• Log-In Screen Settings
• How to Turn Off Search Indexing

• Start Menu Jump Menu
• Make Windows 10 Start Menu User Folder Buttons Open to Users Instead of Libraries Location
  
• Adding Custom Links To The Right Hand Side Of The Start Menu - Work Arounds.
  
• Add Quick Launch Bar
  
• Start Menu Customization Settings
  
• Windows Places Bar
  
• Copy Office 2007 and 2010 Quick Access Toolbars
  
• MS Office Places Bar
  

• Turn off the Internet Explorer Information Bar
  

• Windows 10 Shortcuts

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Windows 10, File Locations

[top] Start Menu Items: (4, separate locations)

• C:\Users\All Users\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
• C:\Users\Default\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
• C:\Users\<User Name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
• C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

You can find pinned apps in:

• C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar

and for the start menu apps go to:

• C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\StartMenu

Other Link Menu Items:

• Links - C:\Users\<User Name>\Links
• Favorites - C:\Users\<User Name>\Favorites
• Libraries - C:\Users\<User Name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries
• Quick Launch - C:\Users\<User Name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

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Windows 10 Changes, Customizations, and Tweaks

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[top] To Eliminate the "Do you want to allow the program to run" Dialog:

You will need to change the settings on the file or shortcut properties. You will find that the Compatibility Tab Privilege Level is frequently grayed out, but his is how it works:

1. If you are accessing the properties of an EXE, then you use the compatibility tab to set the program to always ask for your permission when it starts.
2. If you are accessing the properties of a shortcut, then you click the "advanced..." button on the shortcut tab, and there is a checkbox there "Run as administrator" that you use to make the shortcut to always ask for your permission when you double-click on it.
3. You have to do it differently for shortcuts vs. exe's.

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[top] How to Disable the Open File Security Warning in Windows

• Run "gpedit.msc",
• Open: User Configuration ’ Administrative Templates ’ Windows Components ’ Attachment Manager ’ Inclusion list for low file types.
• Click the "Enabled" radio button. In the "Specify low risk extensions" box, type the file extensions that you no longer wish to receive warnings for.
• The most common executable extensions are EXE and MSI. Note that you must type a period before each extension and separate them with a semicolon (e.g., .EXE;.MSI).

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[top] File Name Associations

Windows 10 has removed the file name association menus that were present in XP. Now, these file associations may be edited with an external program: C:\Win_Apps\File Types Mgr\FileTypesMan.exe (Shortcut on Tools Menu)
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[top] Power Settings

Control Panel > Power Options > Edit Plan Settings > Change Advanced Power Settings

• USB Settings - Suspend - disabled for both plugged in and on battery
• Power Button - Shut Down - for both plugged in and on battery

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[top] Disable User Account Control (UAC) in Windows 7

Menu: Control Panel >All Control Panel Items >User Accounts >Change User Account Control Settings
(Control Panel > Action Center > Change User Account Settings - select lowest level)
Never Notify: If you set this setting the UAC will be disabled, the UAC will not prompt for changes caused by programs or you making the changes to the Windows settings. If a user is logged on as a standard user then all the changes that require administrator privilege will denied by Windows but if you are logged in as administrator no UAC prompt will occur.
Check that the "Never Notify" option the UAC is completely disabled.
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[top] Turn Off Automatic Window Resizing and Docking in Windows 7

Windows 7 automatic window resizing: Drag a window to one edge of the screen and it would "dock" there while resizing to fill half the screen. Drag a window up top and it would enlarge to full-screen size. Drag it down again and it would return to its original size.
To Disable this feature:

• Click Start, type Ease, then click Ease of Access Center. (Control Panel>All Control Panel Items>Ease of Access Center)
• Scroll down a bit and click Make the mouse easier to use.
• Scroll down to and enable the last checkbox in that window: Prevent windows from being automatically arranged when moved to the edge of the screen.
• Click OK and you're done!

Now your windows won't dock or resize when you drag them to the various hotspots.
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[top] Windows Help program

(WinHlp32.exe) for Windows 7 (allows help from older programs to run properly)
32-bit version: Windows6.1-KB917607-x86.msu, 64-bit version: Windows6.1-KB917607-x64.msu
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[top] ClearType Text Tuner

For LCD screens, Clear Type makes the text look better and easier to read. In the Start menu search line, type cttune.exe and press Enter. Follow Prompts
NOTE: The ClearType Text Tuner exe file is located at C:\Windows\System32\cttune.exe.
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[top] Force Explorer to Start With the Folder You Want

Few things in Windows are more irritating than the way that Explorer always opens in the same folder (C:\ for Windows 95/98, My Documents for Windows Me/2000/XP). If you have an entry in your Start Menu to run Explorer, you can change it to "Explore" at the folder of your choice:

• Open Explorer, and go to your Start Menu folder. (Accessories>Windows Explorer)
• Find the shortcut for Explorer, right click on it, and select Properties.
• Click on the Shortcut tab, and change the Target so it reads:
  c:\windows\EXPLORER.EXE /n, /e, d:\myfolder (where c:\windows is your Windows directory, and d:\myfolder is the directory in which you want Explorer to start.)
• Tip: To have Explorer start with My Computer, so no branches are initially expanded, use the following command line options: /n, /e, /select, c:\

Note: this won't work if you try to start Explorer by right-clicking on the Start Menu. Just put a shortcut to EXPLORER.EXE in the top level of your Start Menu folder for easy access.

-- More --

Syntax: EXPLORER.EXE [/n][/e][,/root,<object>][[,/select],<sub object>]

Switches

• /n: Opens a new window in single-paned (My Computer) view for each item selected, even if the new window duplicates a window that is already open.
• /e: Uses Windows Explorer view. Windows Explorer view is most similar to File Manager in Windows version 3.x. Note that the default view is Open view.
• /root,<object>: Specifies the root level of the specified view. The default is to use the normal namespace root (the desktop). Whatever is specified is the root for the display.
• /select,<sub object>: Specifies the folder to receive the initial focus. If "/select" is used, the parent folder is opened and the specified object is selected.

Examples:

• To open a Windows Explorer view to explore only objects on \\<server name>, use the following syntax: explorer /e,/root,\\<server name>
• To view the C:\WINDOWS folder and select CALC.EXE, use the following syntax: explorer /select,c:\windows\calc.exe

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[top] Remove Libraries

To Remove Libraries from Windows 7 Explorer, follow the suggestion given below.

• Go to Registry Editor.
• Now go to following key:
  HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}\ShellFolder
• Now you'll need to change value of "Attributes" DWORD value present in the right-side section. But Windows will not allow you to change its value as you won't have proper permissions.
• To get permissions, first right-click on "ShellFolder" key and select "Permissions".
• It'll open a new window. Select "Administrators" in user list and check "Allow" box given for "Full Control" permission.
• Click on OK button to apply the changes.
• Now double-click on "Attributes" DWORD value given in right-side section and change its value to b090010d
• Log off or restart your system and "Libraries" will no longer present in Explorer window.

NOTE: If you want to restore "Libraries" in Navigation pane, change value of "Attributes" DWORD to b080010d using step 4.

• If you have 64-bit Windows 7 Installed:

To also add or remove Libraries from the "Open" and "Save as" type windows as well in 64-bit Windows 7, you will also need to do this step. If you have a 32-bit Windows 7 installed, then skip this step since doing steps 1 to 7/8 will add or remove Libraries from the "Open" and "Save as" type windows as well.

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[top] Remove Favorites

To Remove Favorites from Windows 7 Explorer, follow the suggestion given below.

• Go to Registry Editor.
• Now go to following key:
  HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}\ShellFolder
• Now you'll need to change value of "Attributes" DWORD value present in the right-side section. But Windows will not allow you to change its value as you won't have proper permissions.
• To get permissions, first right-click on "ShellFolder" key and select "Permissions".
• It'll open a new window. Select "Administrators" in user list and check "Allow" box given for "Full Control" permission.
• Click on OK button to apply the changes.
• Now double-click on "Attributes" DWORD value given in right-side section and change its value to a9400100
• Log off or restart your system and "Favorites" will no longer present in Explorer window.

NOTE: If you want to restore "Favorites" in Navigation pane, simply change value of "Attributes" DWORD to a0900100 using step 4.
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[top] Create Junction Links

Windows 2000 and higher supports directory symbolic links, where a directory serves as a symbolic link to another directory on the computer. For example, if the directory D:\SYMLINK specified C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32 as its target, then an application accessing D:\SYMLINK\DRIVERS would in reality be accessing C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS. Directory symbolic links are known as NTFS junctions in Windows.
To create junction links. See batch file: C:\Win_Apps\Scripts\My Junction Links.bat (Note: file may need to be edited based upon current needs.). Using the program Junction v1-06, in the DOS window only, the following method may be used to create junction links:

• Delete Junctions that are not used - usage: junction -d <junction directory>
• Create new junctions that go where I want them to go - usage: junction <junction directory> <junction target>

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[top] Log-In Screen Settings:

Problem is that the login screen only shows the last logged in user and an "other users" button which allows you to input username manually. Is there any way of reverting to showing a list of all the users instead?

• First let’s login with the current user account.
• Click Start and type run in the search and hit Enter.
• Let’s type “control userpasswords2” in the run window and hit Enter
  (or use: Start Orb>Search box>type: netplwiz [enter])
• Let’s check whether the check box which says Users must enter a user name and password to use is checked. If the check box is checked then let’s uncheck the check box, click on apply and ok tab and hit enter.
• Restart the system.
• You will be able to see different users in the logon screen.

Enable Administrator account:
At a command prompt, type the following command and press Enter: [ net user administrator /active:yes]
(This command will activate the Administrator account)

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[top] How to Turn Off Search Indexing

Search Indexing can slow down the computer by constantly accessing the hard drive, causing a performance lag. Of course, if you do a lot of searching, this won't appeal to you, as some searches will be slower.

You can adjust the locations being indexed, or turn it off altogether. (If you want to leave search indexing on, but find that it occasionally slows you down, you can stop its process when you need extra speed.)

• Go to Control Panel > Indexing Options.
• Click "Modify" and remove locations being indexed and file types also.
• Go to Services, look for "Windows Search", Right-Click to open Properties, then Disable (or set to Manual).

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Start Menu Customizations

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[top] Start Menu Jump Menu (Right Side)

• The links for "My Music", "My Videos", "My Pictures" are located in the following directory: C:\Users\<User Name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries. The target for these links can be changed to the "My Stuff" directory locations by editing the properties: Properties > Library > Remove existing and Add new library targeting the "My Stuff" subdirectory.
• Change the "Downloads" path to C:\MyDocs\Downloads. Note: to do this, the link must be set to "Display as Link". Properties > Location - Change Path

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[top] Make Windows 7 Start Menu User Folder Buttons Open to Users Instead of Libraries Location

To make the Windows 7 Start Menu My Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos buttons open to the real C:\Users\(user-name) location instead of the default Libraries location for all users.
You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/92587-start-menu-user-folder-buttons-open-users-instead-libraries.html
Reg Keys located in: \Installed\Reg Keys\Start Menu User Buttons Open to Users Instead of Libraries
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[top] Adding Custom Links To The Right Hand Side Of The Start Menu - Work Arounds.

Option 1:
The Documents, Pictures, Music, Video, Download links can be routed to whatever folder you want.(You can enable/disable these librarys from showing in your start menu by right clicking on the taskbar, going to the start menu tab, and selecting customize.) The downside of this is that you can't change the names of the libraries.
In my example, I have all my documents stored on a secondary internal HDD. (E:/)

• Step 1: Start -> Right click on Documents -> Select Properties
• Step 2: Click "Include a folder"
• Step 3: Browse to your given directory, and click "Include Folder"
• Step 4: In the Library locations box, select the directory you just chose, then click "Set save location"
  (Added C:\MyDocs and C:\MyStuff)
• Step 5(Optional): you can remove the default directories so only the directory you specified is opened when you go to the documents library
  (Removed "My Documents (C:\Users\<User Name>)" and "Public Documents (C:\Users\Public)"
• Step 6: Click Ok, and it prompts you if you want to move all the files from the old location(s) to your new directory. Be careful doing this until you verify that you want to move these (select No for the safe side).
• Step 7: Hit Start -> Click Documents to verify it points to your new directory.

Option 2:
Very similar to option 1, but with a little more customization.

• Step 1: Enable favorites menu in taskbar properties -> start menu -> customize
• Step 2: Right click on favorites when in the start menu, and select properties.
• Step 3: Under the location tab, change the directory to whatever you wish.
• Step 4: Click ok.

This option is nice because it allows you to browse the directory as a menu.
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[top] Add Quick Launch Bar

• Right click on a empty space on the taskbar, Select: Toolbar > New Toolbar.
• In the Folder line, Go to: C:\Users\<User Name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
  -or- [%appdata%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch]
• Click on the Select Folder button. (Lower right corner)
• NOTE: Click on the arrow to see your Quick Launch shortcuts.
• To Expand or Move the Quick Launch Toolbar
• • Unlock the taskbar.
  • Left click on the dotted lines and hold, then drag it to the left or right to adjust to unhide all of the icons. Release the left click when done. Lock the taskbar.
  • The text in the Quick Launch may be turned off: right-click on the dotted lines and uncheck "Show Text" as well as "Show Title" from the menu.

Quick Launch Shortcuts

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[top] Start Menu Customization Settings

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[top] Windows Places Bar

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\comdlg32\PlacesBar
By default the Placesbar key is not present; you need to create one.
Create a String value for it named Place0. Place0 is the top-most folder as it appears on the Open/Save As dialog. Type the folder name with it's full path as the value of Place0. You can create similar keys and values upto Place4. Sample places bar registry key in my system:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\comdlg32\PlacesBar]
"Place0"="C:\MyDocs"
"Place1"="C:\MyStuff"
"Place2"="E:\ "
"Place3"="e:\\UtilitiesSet 2"
"Place4"="e:\\UtilitiesSet 1"
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[top] MS Office Places Bar

In Windows 7, the Office dialog uses Explorer as the file window - no places adjustment is necessary (or possible)
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[top] MS Office - Copy Office 2007 and 2010 Quick Access Toolbars

Each application has its own QAT file. Of course, it’s different for Office 2010. In this version, the .qat files are now .officeUI files.
Copy Office 2007 and 2010 Quick Access Toolbars
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Internet Explorer

[top] Turn off the Internet Explorer Information Bar

You have to turn the following off for each type of message.

To turn off Information Bar messages about blocked pop-up windows

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, point to Pop-up Blocker, and then click Pop-up Blocker Settings.
3. Clear the Show Information Bar when a pop-up is blocked check box.

More on Information Bar
Turn off Information Bar messages Windows XP (Service Pack 2)
If the message says, "To help protect your security, Internet Explorer has restricted this file from showing active content that could access your computer. Click here for options..."

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
3. Click the Advanced tab.
4. Scroll down to Security.
5. Find: "Allow active content to run in files on My Computer"
6. Place a check mark in the box for the above phrase by clicking it.

Then:

1. On the Security tab, click Custom Level.
2. To turn off the Information Bar for file downloads, in the Downloads section of the list, under Automatic prompting for file downloads, click Enable.
3. To turn off the Information Bar for ActiveX controls, in the ActiveX controls and plug-ins section of the list, under Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls, click Enable.
4. Click "OK" button to finish.

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Appendix

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[top] Windows 7 Shortcuts

If you create a new folder using an arbitrary name, followed by a period and the GUID {ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}, you end up with a categorized list of Control Panel tasks.
As with the other shortcuts, the process of turning one of these GUIDs into a shortcut that opens a shell folder or Control Panel item is straightforward. Start by right-clicking any empty space on the desktop or in a folder. Right-click and choose New, Folder. Type the name you want to appear under the shortcut, followed by a period and then the GUID shown in the list here, complete with curly braces on either end. Press enter and voila, youre done.

Shortcuts:

• Action Center.{BB64F8A7-BEE7-4E1A-AB8D-7D8273F7FDB6}
• Backup and Restore.{B98A2BEA-7D42-4558-8BD1-832F41BAC6FD}
• Biometric Devices.{0142e4d0-fb7a-11dc-ba4a-000ffe7ab428}
• Credential Manager.{1206F5F1-0569-412C-8FEC-3204630DFB70}
• Default Location.{00C6D95F-329C-409a-81D7-C46C66EA7F33}
• Devices and Printers.{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}
• Display.{C555438B-3C23-4769-A71F-B6D3D9B6053A}
• HomeGroup.{67CA7650-96E6-4FDD-BB43-A8E774F73A57}
• Location and Other Sensors.{E9950154-C418-419e-A90A-20C5287AE24B}
• Notification Area Icons.{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}
• Recovery.{9FE63AFD-59CF-4419-9775-ABCC3849F861}
• RemoteApp and Desktop Connections.{241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B}
• Speech Recognition.{58E3C745-D971-4081-9034-86E34B30836A}
• Troubleshooting.{C58C4893-3BE0-4B45-ABB5-A63E4B8C8651}
• Administrative Tools.{D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524153}
• All .NET Frameworks and COM Libraries.{1D2680C9-0E2A-469d-B787-065558BC7D43}
• All Tasks (Control Panel).{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
• AutoPlay.{9C60DE1E-E5FC-40f4-A487-460851A8D915}
• BitLocker Drive Encryption (Ultimate edition only).{D9EF8727-CAC2-4e60-809E-86F80A666C91}
• Computer Folder.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
• Default Programs.{17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966}
• Ease of Access Center.{D555645E-D4F8-4c29-A827-D93C859C4F2A}
• Font Settings.{93412589-74D4-4E4E-AD0E-E0CB621440FD}
• Get Programs.{15eae92e-f17a-4431-9f28-805e482dafd4}
• Manage Wireless Networks.{1FA9085F-25A2-489B-85D4-86326EEDCD87}
• Network and Sharing Center.{8E908FC9-BECC-40f6-915B-F4CA0E70D03D}
• Network Connections.{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}
• Network Folder.{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
• Parental Controls.{96AE8D84-A250-4520-95A5-A47A7E3C548B}
• Performance Information and Tools.{78F3955E-3B90-4184-BD14-5397C15F1EFC}
• Personalization.{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921}
• Power Options.{025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D}
• Programs and Features.{7b81be6a-ce2b-4676-a29e-eb907a5126c5}
• Sync Center.{9C73F5E5-7AE7-4E32-A8E8-8D23B85255BF}
• System.{BB06C0E4-D293-4f75-8A90-CB05B6477EEE}
• User Accounts.{60632754-c523-4b62-b45c-4172da012619}
• Windows Firewall.{4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423}
• Windows SideShow (Warning, caused my system to slow down briefly).{E95A4861-D57A-4be1-AD0F-35267E261739}
• Windows Update.{36eef7db-88ad-4e81-ad49-0e313f0c35f8}

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