Windows/Explorer Tweaks

This is a collection of registry tweaks for Explorer under Windows XP. They may or may not work under other versions of Windows.

Most of the time when I get onto a XP host the defaults settings of Explorer drive me nuts. Microsoft is trying to protect the common user but I feel like I'm handed crutches.

Registry Tweaks

Disable hidding of known file extensions

One of the worst offenders for me is hidding of known file extensions. So this is one of the first things I do get rid off. Setting the value after /d to 0 will do the trick. To re-enable it set to 1

reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced /v HideFileExt /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Show hidden files and folders

Being able to see all the files on the FS is important when digging deep into the underbelly of windows. For example looking for huge files eating up disk space. Setting the value to 1 will show hidden files and folders. Setting it back requires the value of 2

reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced /v Hidden /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

References

• Sysinternals with Process Monitor was used to find the Registry Keys