Windows Registry Hacks/Internet Explorer

This chapter deals with tweaks related to visual enhancement, performance and miscellaneous factors related to Internet Explorer Custom Information pages There are 10 information pages in total which include "navigation failure", "web page unavailable", "about:tabs" etc. The pages along with their default paths are: Value Default Data ( in IE 6) Default Data ( in IE 7)blankres://mshtml.dll/blank.htmres://mshtml.dll/blank.htmNavigationFailureres://shdoclc.dll/navcancl.htmres://ieframe.dll/navcancl.htmDesktopItemNavigationFailureres://shdoclc.dll/navcancl.htmres://ieframe.dll/navcancl.htmNavigationCanceledres://shdoclc.dll/navcancl.htmres://ieframe.dll/navcancl.htmOfflineInformationres://shdoclc.dll/offcancl.htmres://ieframe.dll/offcancl.htmPostNotCachedres://mshtml.dll/repost.htmres://ieframe.dll/repost.htmNoAdd-ons value not availableres://ieframe.dll/noaddon.htm NoAdd-onsInfo value not availableres://ieframe.dll/noaddoninfo.htmSecurityRisk value not availableres://ieframe.dll/securityatrisk.htmTabs value not availableres://ieframe.dll/tabswelcome.htm Note: "res://" in above paths stands for "resource". The Key and data type are: System Key: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\AboutURLs Data type : REG_SZ Sample registry to change "Navigation Failure" page HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\AboutURLs NavigationFailure REG_SZ path to custom html page TIP: * In case of a browser hijack, the values will be changed to reflect a particular URL. Putting back the default values can help in counter measures. All the default pages can bee seen by copy-pasting the path to Run dialog box (e.g. pasting "res://shdoclc.dll/offcancl.htm" in Run dialog box will open up the "web page unavailable offline" page. Or they can be seen by typing in the Run Dialog box OR IE address bar the following: about:<value> replacing <value> with one of the values from table above as below about:OfflineInformation about:Tabs Background bitmap for explorer toolbars Description: Internet explorer can be customized to use a bitmap image as a background for toolbars. Note: Only images with bmp as extension will work. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar BackBitmapShell < This is the name of your new "String Value" String Value (Right click on right-hand pane and select "New > String Value") Enter the direct path to your bitmap image (e.g. C:\WINDOWS\Resources\"New Folder Name") Custom loading icon and animation Description: Internet Explorer uses static and dynamic icons which can be seen at top-right. 4 Values are needed for customization which are: Value DescriptionBigBitmap A 38x38 pixel bitmap image which is in use when no data transfer takes place.SmallBitmap A 22x22 pixel bitmap which is in use when no data transfer takes place.BrandBitmap A 38x38 pixel GIF image which is in use when data transfer takes place.SmBrandBitmap A 22x22 pixel GIF image which is in use when data transfer takes place. Registry to use custom "BigBitmap". Other Values also have same properties except for "value" HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar BigBitmap REG_SZ path to 38x38 bitmap image Custom title bar text Description: The title-bar in Internet Explorer can be customized to show personalized text. Registry to change title bar text to "Wikibooks" HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main Window Title REG_SZ Wikibooks Change hyperlink colors Description: Hyperlink and visited hyperlink colors are shown in blue (0,0,255) and purple (128,0,128) respectively. Changing the hover text color requires the setting to be enabled first. It can be done by using the following registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Settings Use Anchor Hover Color REG_SZ Yes The format for colors is RRR,GGG,BBB (in decimal) Registry for changing the hyperlink color to green. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Settings Anchor Color REG_SZ 0,255,0 Registry for changing visited hyperlink color to red. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Settings Anchor Color Visited REG_SZ 255,0,0 Registry for changing hover color to blue. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Settings Anchor Color Hover REG_SZ 0,0,255