Desktop Icons Moving

I recently got into a conversation on another forum about creating Aqua themes for XP.

Most people there prefered hiding all desktop icons to leave a 'Clean' appearance, a few like me would prefer to see our Harddrives on the desktop a-la Aqua so here is a proper registry hack to actually move the drive onto the desktop instead of just creating a shortcut.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}]

@="Drive C"

"InfoTip"="Drive C"

"{305ca226-d286-468e-b848-2b2e8e697b74} 2"=dword:ffffffff

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\DefaultIcon]

@="%SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,8"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\InProcServer32]

@="shdocvw.dll"

"ThreadingModel"="Apartment"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\Instance]

"CLSID"="{0afaced1-e828-11d1-9187-b532f1e9575d}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\Instance\InitPropertyBag]

"Attributes"=hex:15,00,00,00

"Target"="C:\\"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\ShellFolder]

"Attributes"=hex:50,00,00,F0

"WantsFORPARSING"=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}]

@="Drive C"

The above is a .reg file you should use a unique GUID "{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}" is free on my machine. you can get utilities to generate one or find a free one with regedit just replace all the way through.

Here is a free GUID Generator that will do the trick.

This .Reg file will Create an Icon on your Desktop marked "Drive C" and clicking on it will open drive C.

To create one for another drive change C:\\ to X:\\ and "Drive C" to "Drive X" where X is the drive letter you wish to use.

remember to use a unique GUID for each drive you map.

Whth a bit of work you can also add the context menus for format and disk tools.

I usually supplement it with the following:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu]

"{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}"=dword:00000001

"{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]

"{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}"=dword:00000001

"{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}]

@="Recycle Bin"

This hides the Recycle Bin on the desktop (Doesnt remove it, so YZdock's Recycle bin docklet still works)

It also creates another copy of the recycle Bin in "My Computer" so it can still be accessed, wish I could

move it to the Start menu like the other Icons in XP, but havent found a way yet.

#26091

thanx man, i really found this tut helpful.

if u have anymore tips along these lines i would be extremely interested.

#26097

do you know how to move the network neighborhood to the desktop?

also, is this the way to do it in 9x too?

#26098

Yeah !!!

Finally I've found the way to "crack" desktop labels with specials chars !!! (ex. Drive C:\...).

Thanks man

How I can add contextual menus to these items??

#26100

context menu's would interest me aswell, when u have a little time a tut 4 that would b appreciated

-Thanx In Advance

-The Unknown

#26103

How can I get a h-drive ico on the h-drive thingi that is on the d-top??

Sorry for my english! I'm ill, and that maks me kind of braindead

#26124

magbi9:

change the section:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\DefaultIcon]

@="%SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,8"

where the string is the location of your icon for your drive, some common ones:

@="%SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,9" - Network Drive

@="%SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,113" - DVD

@="%SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,124" - Removeable Media Drive

184-199 contain various optical Media Icons.

If you have the icon as a .ico file just put it in the string

@="c:\myicons\driveh.ico"

DHSMaroon13:

No, the functionality is different under 9X

Virtual Plastic has a guide to creating shell folders under both OS's the section you will require is marked "The 98 regfile"

to add the network neighbourhood use the line:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}]

@="Network Neighbourhood"

#26248

Excuse if I insist.

I've use you tip to add the link, but if I try to click on "Properties" contextual menu, windows say me: "The item properties are not avaiable".

I think there is a way to add a working context menu, but I haven't found nothing about.

Do you now anithing??

Thankz in advance.

#26251

i figured out the menu thing

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\Item1]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\Item1\Command]
@="Path1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\Item2]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\Item2\Command]
@="Path2"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\Item3]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\Item3\Command]
@="Path3"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\Item4]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\Item4\Command]
@="Path4"

Use your own GUID's, menu text and paths, but the above is an example.

hope it helps

-The Unknown

#26252

Yep, thats how you add a shell menu, context menu handlers are slightly different The default drive ones will be covered by these three reg hacks:

This Adds a Search Menu

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell]

@="none"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\find]

"SuppressionPolicy"=dword:00000080

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\find\command]

@="%SystemRoot%\Explorer.exe"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\find\ddeexec]

@="[FindFolder(\"%l\", \"c:\\\")]"

"NoActivateHandler"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\find\ddeexec\application]

@="Folders"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\find\ddeexec\topic]

@="AppProperties"

This adds Sharing and Security

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Offline Files]

@="{750fdf0e-2a26-11d1-a3ea-080036587f03}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Sharing]

@="{f81e9010-6ea4-11ce-a7ff-00aa003ca9f6}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\{59099400-57FF-11CE-BD94-0020AF85B590}]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\{fbeb8a05-beee-4442-804e-409d6c4515e9}]

@=""

And This one should Add Drive Properties

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\Sharing]

@="{f81e9010-6ea4-11ce-a7ff-00aa003ca9f6}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\{1F2E5C40-9550-11CE-99D2-00AA006E086C}]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\{7988B573-EC89-11cf-9C00-00AA00A14F56}]

@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\{ECCDF543-45CC-11CE-B9BF-0080C87CDBA6}]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\{fbeb8a05-beee-4442-804e-409d6c4515e9}]

@=""

ATM there seems to be some problem, that sharing and security and Properties are kind of mixed up.

It needs someone to play around with it.

As usual the guids need to be unique (and match those you used to create the drive icon)

remember and change the @="[FindFolder(\"%l\", \"c:\\\")]" to the drive letter of your choice.

#26256

You're simply great, man !

Thanks very much !!!

If anyone is intrested: I'm coding a VB app (vb for now, and C# early) to generate unique GUID, soon avaiable.

Enjoy

#26257

Ahhhh...Here is my VIA forum colleague!

Connor, welcome to our great community...you have PM's...LOL!

Glad that all is well, didn't hear from @ VIA, thought maybe you were on 'holiday'...

Glad to have you here man, now help me out with Hyperb0le's (Developer) Mac emulation 'Preview' app...

#26265

Originally posted by Connor@May 12 2003, 11:20 AM

The above is a .reg file you should use a unique GUID "{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}" is free on my machine. you can get utilities to generate one or find a free one with regedit just replace all the way through.

Here is a free GUID Generator that will do the trick.

This .Reg file will Create an Icon on your Desktop marked "Drive C" and clicking on it will open drive C.

To create one for another drive change C:\\ to X:\\ and "Drive C" to "Drive X" where X is the drive letter you wish to use.

remember to use a unique GUID for each drive you map.

The Guid Generator link is broken "404 - not found". Can you tell me about other place?

#26922

Here I am !!! :woot:

I've finish the GUID generator.

If anyone intrested, post a mail to me and I send it.

Sorry, I can't host it by myself for now.

Peace :surfer_dude:

#26928

Having problems with the icon... this is what I have in my *.reg file:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D7C43CD0-0F49-4F8D-BF19-352058998864}\DefaultIcon]

@="%SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,1"

And what I get is the "closed folder" icon... any ideas?

#27904

yea i had this problem. i fixed it by putting a "-" sign infront of the number. IE

@="%SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,-9"

im pretty sure that icon 9 is the c drive icon. if its not, tell me and when i get home ill correct it.

-The Unknown

#27906

Yeah, pretyy sure it is, but no luck with your suggestion... :cry:

Thanks anyway

BTW, is tehere a way to choose the separation of the desktop icons to the screen borders?

#27914

are you using the .reg file to put the information into the registry?

if u are, i noticed to get the icon right i had to go in and manually edit the string. for some strange reason the .reg files wouldnt giv it the right value.

just a thought

-The Unknown

#27940

Yeah, I was using the *.reg file, but after changing manually the string in the registry, the icon changed from "closed folrder" to "defalult icon" (Shell32.dll,1).

This is too weird!

#28004

what string have u manually put in the registry? have u included the minus from my other post?

also i c your a slipknot fan, (Y) nice work

-The Unknown

#28005

I am manually changing:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\\DefaultIcon]

And yep, I wrotte the minus symbol as well.

Thank you for helping a poor ignorant, I really appreciate it. And Slipknot is no more a band! :cry:

#28014

oh well, not sure what the problem is.

as for slipknot... i know, but their old music still rocks :own:

-The Unknown

#28018

this thread should be called "making a system folder on your deskop which will act as a shortcut to a hard drive". it doesnt put the drive on the desktop, its just an undeleteable folder.

try making a folder on the desktop and rename it to "Comp.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}" you will see that it will become My Computer

that's kinda the same.

you will never get the properties to work.

how do you expect a FOLDER to have tabs like Quota, Hardware, Tools, and a chart of free and used space?

windows will treat this thing as a folder!

try it, delete the DefaultIcon value of it in the registry and you will see it will have a regular folder icon

having a shortcut to your drive is a lot better IMO.

even try importing this registry file:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}]

@="Drive"

"EditFlags"=hex:d2,01,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\DefaultIcon]

@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\

00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,00,68,00,\

65,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,38,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell]

@="none"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\find]

"SuppressionPolicy"=dword:00000080

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\find\command]

@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\

00,5c,00,45,00,78,00,70,00,6c,00,6f,00,72,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,\

65,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\find\ddeexec]

@="[FindFolder(\"%l\", %I)]"

"NoActivateHandler"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\find\ddeexec\application]

@="Folders"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\find\ddeexec\topic]

@="AppProperties"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\PartitionMagic 8.0]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shell\PartitionMagic 8.0\command]

@="C:\\Applications\\PowerQuest\\PartitionMagic 8.0\\PMAGIC.EXE"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Offline Files]

@="{750fdf0e-2a26-11d1-a3ea-080036587f03}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Sharing]

@="{f81e9010-6ea4-11ce-a7ff-00aa003ca9f6}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\{59099400-57FF-11CE-BD94-0020AF85B590}]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\{fbeb8a05-beee-4442-804e-409d6c4515e9}]

@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\DragDropHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\DragDropHandlers\WinRAR]

@="{B41DB860-8EE4-11D2-9906-E49FADC173CA}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\FolderExtensions]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\FolderExtensions\{fbeb8a05-beee-4442-804e-409d6c4515e9}]

@=""

"DriveMask"=dword:00000020

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\Sharing]

@="{f81e9010-6ea4-11ce-a7ff-00aa003ca9f6}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\{1F2E5C40-9550-11CE-99D2-00AA006E086C}]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\{7988B573-EC89-11cf-9C00-00AA00A14F56}]

@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\{ECCDF543-45CC-11CE-B9BF-0080C87CDBA6}]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954D}\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\{fbeb8a05-beee-4442-804e-409d6c4515e9}]

@=""

it includes ALL the tabs of a drive! but it wont work

#28997

I agree with you that having an shortcut is much better, but could we add a shortcut when a CD is inserted?

#29006

I use a shell editor program from here to do all this.

#29131