Why Should you Try out the Windows Registry?

The Registry is a database for keeping settings and options for the 32 bit versions of Microsoft Windows including Windows 95, 98, ME and NT/2000. It includes information and settings for all the hardware, software, users, and preferences of the PC.

To make your machine more usable you should venture into the soul of Windows with the help of the Registry Editor. Create a backup by setting a restore point via System Restore before you make any Registry changes.

• Putting the brakes on stalled apps

Sometimes programs crash and that is a normal phenomenon with regards to PC life. However, you don't need to wait for effortless actions by Windows waiting for the stuck process to become active. You can close frozen apps in no time by changing a key value in the Registry.
Ensure your restore point is in place, click Start > Run (in XP) or just Start (in Vista), type regedit, and press Enter. After that you can navigate to and choose this key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

If using XP, right-click the key AutoEndTasks in the right window and select Modify (or simply double-click the key). If using Vista, you may be asked to create this key by right-clicking in the right pane and choosing New > String Value. Next, type AutoEndTasks and press Enter. Then double-click the new key. In XP you should change the Value data to 1. With Vista, you should enter a Value data of 1.

• Repositioning your desktop wallpaper

If you want to adjust your wallpaper's placement on the desktop, you should reopen and select the same Registry key as in the above tip:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

But this time you should, double-click WallpaperOriginX in the right pane, or right-click the key and choose Modify.
Enter the number of pixels from the left edge you want the image to start and click OK. Now repeat the steps for the WallpaperOriginY key, but enter the number of pixels from the top edge you want the image to appear. You are allowed to enter a negative number to move the left or top edge of the image off the screen that number of pixels.
If you want to check the position of the wallpaper, then right-click the desktop, select Properties, and finally, click OK or Apply to refresh the screen.

• Blocking programs from appearing on the Start menu's list of frequently used apps

Generally, people like the way the Start menu lists the programs. But at times you might prefer a program you use to not be displayed on the Start menu. So to prevent an application from being shown along with the other programs you often access, you must open the Registry Editor as stated above, navigate to and choose this key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications

Then you should select the key referring to the executable file for the program you want to keep off the menu. Let‘s say, choose the Winword.exe key if you want to exclude Microsoft Word. So, right-click in the right pane, after that choose New > String Value, type NoStartPage, and finally press Enter.
If you happen to open the Registry Editor regularly, then you should create a desktop shortcut which opens the utility. All you have to do is right-click the desktop, select New > Shortcut, enter the path to the Registry Editor executable file (it's probably C:\Windows\regedit.exe), give the shortcut a name, and press Enter in order to create the shortcut.

Futhermore, add a keyboard shortcut that opens the utility. To do so, right-click the shortcut you just created and choose Properties. After that click the "Shortcut key" text box under the shortcut tab, enter the key combination of your choice (Ctrl-Alt-R is one possibility), and click OK.

Resources:
Description of the Registry
Understanding the Registry
Explore Windows Registry