Windows help

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

Run registry as administrator.
Create a new DWORD value (32-bit) with the name 'DisableThumbsDBOnNetworkFolders', the value '1' under
'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer' and '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

Special characters

• = Alt + 7 (Numeric keypad)
Registered ® = Alt + 0174 (Numeric keypad)
Trademark ™ = Alt + 0153 (Numeric keypad)