Windows help

Useful commands

• System configuration
  Right click on the 'Start' icon -> execute -> msconfig
• Registry editor
  Right click on the 'Start' icon -> execute -> regedit

Startup folder in Windows 10

• Current user
  Right click on the 'Start' icon -> execute -> shell:startup
• All users
  Right click on the 'Start' icon -> execute -> shell:common startup

Switch off the caching of thumbnails

In Windows XP there was the option 'Do not cache thumbnails', this option has been removed with Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10. If you have activated the view 'Extra large icons', 'Large icons', 'Medium icons', 'Small icons', 'Tiles' or 'Contents', a 'thumbs.db' file is created for faster generation of the thumbnails of images and videos. To show this file, you have to deactivate the option 'Hide protected system files (recommended)' in the folder options under View.

There are two different ways to prevent the creation of the 'thumbs.db' file. One for Windows Standard Edition and one for Windows Pro Edition.

ATTENTION: Existing 'thumbs.db' files will not be removed.

Windows Standard Edition

Change with REG file

thumbs.db-file.zip

Change in the registry

• Run registry as administrator.
• Create a new DWORD value (32-bit) with the name 'NoThumbnailCache' and the value '1' under 
  'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer'.
  Create a new DWORD value (32-bit) with the name 'DisableThumbsDBOnNetworkFolders' and the value '1' under'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer'.
  ATTENTION: If the subkey 'Explorer' is missing, it must be created.
  Value '0' = Thumbnails are enabled (default)
  Value '1' = Thumbnails are disabled
• Restart

Windows Pro Edition

• Run the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
• User configuration -> Administrative templates -> Windows components -> Windows Explorer (in Windows 8 and Windows 10 'File Explorer')
• Activate the policy 'Disable thumbnail caching in hidden thumbs.db files'.
• Restart

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