Add "Open with Notepad" to the Context Menu for All Files

Add "Open with Notepad" to the Context Menu for All Files

The default method of opening unknown files forces you to go through a list of known applications and is generally a pain to deal with. That’s why I like to have a context menu option for “Open with Notepad” so that I can quickly open up files without having to go through a lot of trouble.

Add "Open with Notepad" to the Context Menu for All Files

Add "Open with Notepad" to the Context Menu for All Files

The default method of opening unknown files forces you to go through a list of known applications and is generally a pain to deal with. That’s why I like to have a context menu option for “Open with Notepad” so that I can quickly open up files without having to go through a lot of trouble.

Take Ownership" to Explorer Right-Click Menu in Windows

Add "Take Ownership" to Explorer Right-Click Menu in Windows

Taking ownership of system files or folders in Windows is not a simple task. Whether you use the GUI or the command line, it takes far too many steps. This method works in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10, and it maybe works in XP, though you won’t need it there.

Thankfully somebody created a registry hack that will give you a menu item for “Take Ownership” that will handle all the steps for you. We found this many years ago, and since then it’s been hosted here for everybody to use.

Here’s what the new right-click menu will look like after installing this registry hack. If you are in Windows 8, 8.1, or 10, the little shield won’t show up, but it’ll work just fine.

Installing the Take Ownership Menu

Download and unzip the files contained in the zipfile. Double-click the InstallTakeOwnership.reg file and click through the prompts. No reboot necessary.

Uninstall

Double-click the RemoveTakeOwnership.reg file and click through the prompts. No reboot necessary.

Take Ownership" to Explorer Right-Click Menu in Windows

Add "Take Ownership" to Explorer Right-Click Menu in Windows

Taking ownership of system files or folders in Windows is not a simple task. Whether you use the GUI or the command line, it takes far too many steps. This method works in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10, and it maybe works in XP, though you won’t need it there.

changing the Sleep/Shutdown button

As an avid user of the Sleep function on my laptop, I’ve been more than irritated with Windows 7 or Vista’s habit of changing the Sleep/Shutdown button into an “Install Updates and Shut Down” button whenever there are updates from Windows Update.

After the last time I accidentally clicked this stupid button when I just wanted to enter sleep mode, I decided to look for a solution.

Stop Windows Update from Hijacking the Sleep/Shutdown Button

As an avid user of the Sleep function on my laptop, I’ve been more than irritated with Windows 7 or Vista’s habit of changing the Sleep/Shutdown button into an “Install Updates and Shut Down” button whenever there are updates from Windows Update.

After the last time I accidentally clicked this stupid button when I just wanted to enter sleep mode, I decided to look for a solution.

Update: Windows 7 does the same thing to my Shutdown button, and this same registry hack fixes the problem.

Manual Registry Hack

If you’d like to manually create this hack, you can open up regedit.exe using the start menu search box and then browse down to the following key, creating the key if it doesn’t exist.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

Add a 32-bit DWORD value called NoAUAsDefaultShutdownOption with a value of 1. No reboot should be necessary.

Now our Sleep button should be back to the way it was, but if you wanted to use the Install Updates and Shut Down option, it’s still available via the shutdown menu:

Download Registry Hack

Unzip the file and double-click on the StopHijackingMySleepButton.reg file to activate the registry hack. You shouldn’t have to restart anything, as the changes will happen immediately. There’s also a registry file to uninstall the hack.

I believe there is a similar option for XP, but I’m guessing the key is located in a different place.

Lock the IE home page

Disable changing home page settings using Group Policy

If you now wish to lock the IE home page, you can use the Group Policy. Run gpedit.msc to open the Group Policy Editor and navigate to the following setting:User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet ExplorerDouble-click on Disable changing home page settings and select Enabled.The Home page specified on the General tab of the Internet Options dialog box is the default Web page that Internet Explorer loads whenever it is run. If you enable this policy setting, a user cannot set a custom default home page. You must specify which default home page should load on the user machine. For machines with at least Internet Explorer 7, the home page can be set within this policy to override other home page policies. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the Home page box is enabled, and users can choose their own home page.Click Apply and Exit.

How to Lock all Taskbar settings in Windows 8 | 7

Using Windows Registry

Open Regedit and navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

In the right hand side, look for a value named TaskbarLockAll. If it exists, right-click on it and click Modify. The following are the values:

• 0 : Unlock all Taskbar settings
• 1 : Lock all Taskbar settings

Control Panel

Restrict access to Control Panel

Using Group Policy Editor

If your version of Windows 8 has the Group Policy Editor, Run gpedit.msc to open it. Navigate to the

Restrict access to Control Panel

Using Group Policy Editor


If your version of Windows 8 has the Group Policy Editor, Run gpedit.msc to open it. Navigate to the following setting:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates, and Control Panel

In the right pane of Control Panel, double click/tap on Prohibit access to Control Panel and PC settings.