WinXP Registry Annoyance!

[gbread49]

Well, MS screwed this one up! If you are using WinXP, have you noticed that when you run "Regedit" the darn thing opens to the last viewed key instead of with the initial collapsed view.... aaaaarrrggghhhhh! What a pain if you are wanting to start from the beginning to Find a particular key or search a specific HKEY group.

There is a simple fix! you can create a script file that will open Regedit to the initial collapsed view when you run it. Here is how:

Open Notepad (a new text document).....copy/paste the below text and then save it as a ".vbs" file... EXAMPLE: registryopen.vbs
____________________________________
'Regedit Opener - bypasses Regedit opening to the last viewed key
'regopen.vbs
'This code may be freely distributed/modified

Option Explicit
On Error Resume Next

Dim WSHShell
Set WSHShell=Wscript.CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
WSHShell.RegDelete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ap plets\Regedit\LastKey"
WSHShell.Run "REGEDIT"

Set WSHShell = Nothing
____________________________________
Save the file to a folder of your choice and then create a desktop or start menu shortcut to it. When you click the shortcut, "voila", Regedit will open to the collapsed view.... Saves the trouble of using Start/Run..and typing in "regedit" too!

ADDED: Don't get paranoid either, some people think that all ".vbs" (visual basic script) files are malicious. Not so! They also serve a useful purpose when used correctly. If you are concerned that something might change the script in the file you created, just go into Properties/Attributes...and check the "Read Only" box, that locks the file so that it cannot be altered.

[Blurry]

Also, you can do this in regedit yourself if you'd like.

Winguides has a guide for this as well. It achieves the same purpose as mentioned by gbread49.

Prevent Regedit from Saving the Last Location

[Blurry]

I've been using Registry Crawler to find keys in seconds. It is basically a search engine that will find all keys with the name you are looking for. It makes it a whole lot easier to search for keys. Once you click on the key you are looking for, regedit will open up. In fact you can open regedit within Registry Crawler.

Of course such a great program like this, must be a TRIAL (30 days). Ah, too bad....

[Lion7718]

Originally posted by blury
Also, you can do this in regedit yourself if you'd like.

Winguides has a guide for this as well. It achieves the same purpose as mentioned by gbread49.

Prevent Regedit from Saving the Last Location

I used that same hack, it works.

Note: Choose Deny, this way you can always change it back later.

[bluetailfly3]

thx for this post..i had noticed this and wondered if there was a way to fix it.

[punkerdude]

is it compatible with foreign language winxp versions? such as spanish

[Lion7718]

Originally posted by punkerdude
is it compatible with foreign language winxp versions? such as spanish

It should be, you just need to find the Spanish Keys

[FrYGuY]

I actually LIKE the registry editor opening to a certain entry.

But that's me, and I'm usually editing the same entry repeatedly or some such.

I'm wierd.

[ChinaCat1120]

I do alot of reg modifying and that's a great tweak!
Thanx!
:computer: