Desktop Customization

DESKTOP
CUSTOMIZATION

June 1997

Changing the Taskbar Size
Simply grab the edge with the mouse and drag.

Changing the Taskbar Location
The Taskbar can be moved to the top or either side simply by clicking and dragging.

Changing Taskbar Options
Right-click on the Taskbar and select properties; options include always on top, auto hide, showing small icons in the menus, and showing the clock. You can also edit your start menu from this point, and clear the list of documents you have recently opened.

Deleting or Modifying Icons

Note: These instructions were written before the Tweak UI Control Panel applet was released by Microsoft. Unless you're an expert with the Windows 95 registry, I'd recommend downloading a copy of Tweak UI from Microsoft's Power Toys page. In case you were wondering Tweak UI stands for "Tweak User Interface".

Renaming 'My Computer'
Right-click on the icon for 'My Computer', and select 'rename'

Changing the Icon for 'My Computer'

Launch the Registration Editor, 'RegEdit'
Open 'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\DefaultIcon'
Change Default value to ' filename, nn ', where filename is the name of the ICO, DLL, or EXE containing the icon you want to use, and nn is the number of the icon in that file to display
Exit RegEdit
Click on the desktop, and press 'F5' to refresh the Desktop

Deleting the Network Neighborhood Icon

Run the System Policy Editor, poledit, from the Windows 95 CD-ROM or from the Microsoft Web Site.
When asked to open a template file, choose 'admin.adm'.
Select 'Open Registry' from the 'File' menu.
Double-click on 'Local User'.
Open 'Local_User\Shell\Restrictions'.
Check 'Hide Network Neighborhood'.
Click 'Okay', and 'Save' under the file menu.
Click on the desktop, and press 'F5' to refresh the desktop.

Changing the Icon for 'Network Neighborhood'

Launch the Registration Editor, 'RegEdit'
Open 'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}\DefaultIcon'
Change Default value to ' filename, nn ', where filename is the name of the ICO, DLL, or EXE containing the icon you want to use, and nn is the number of the icon in that file to display
Exit RegEdit
Click on the desktop, and press 'F5' to refresh the Desktop

Deleting the Inbox Icon
Right click on the 'Inbox' icon, and select 'delete'.

Changing the Icon for 'Inbox'

Launch the Registration Editor, 'RegEdit'
Open 'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\DefaultIcon'
Change Default value to ' filename, nn ', where filename is the name of the ICO, DLL, or EXE containing the icon you want to use, and nn is the number of the icon in that file to display
Exit RegEdit
Click on the desktop, and press 'F5' to refresh the Desktop

Deleting the MSN Icon
Right click on the MSN Icon and select 'delete'.

Renaming the 'Recycle Bin'

Launch the Registration Editor, 'RegEdit'
Open 'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID'
Using 'Find' under the 'Edit' menu, search for 'Recycle Bin'
Double-click 'Default' and type in the new name.
Press 'okay' and exit RegEdit
Click once on the desktop and press 'F5' to refresh the desktop

Changing the Icon for the 'Recycle Bin'

Launch the Registration Editor, 'RegEdit'
Open 'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F0800AA002F954E}\DefaultIcon'
Change Default value to ' filename, nn ', where filename is the name of the ICO, DLL, or EXE containing the icon you want to use, and nn is the number of the icon in that file to display
Exit RegEdit
Click on the desktop, and press 'F5' to refresh the Desktop

The original version of this page can be found at the Windows 95 Tips & Tweaks site. This is a great site with tons of power user tips and info on customizing Windows 95.