[XP/Vista] Change your shell to Command Prompt!

[Govind]

On XP and Vista, it is possible to completely disable the Desktop and Taskbar, which will vastly improve your computer's speed at login. Of course, you will still need a way to operate your computer and browse your file system, which is what Command Prompt is for.

If you don't know how to use command prompt to browse your filesystem and operate Windows, you shouldn't be reading this tutorial. If you are knowledgeable enough, here's what to do.

Open notepad and create a file with the following contents:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon]
"Shell"="CMD.EXE"

Save it as "CMDShell.REG" and double-click to import it to the registry. Log out and then back in.

To revert back to Windows Explorer as your default shell, use the following registry file:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon]
"Shell"="Explorer.exe"

 

[sliced]

Hmm thanks didnt know about this before am going to try this out on my other computer when i get some time.

 

[Inventor]

I'm considering this for speed purposes but if I changed it my sister would bug out "where's my AIM!@?!?@?!"

 

[Govind]

The key is HKEY_CURRENT_USER. It only changes the shell for the user that's currently logged in.

 

[trevor267]

something like This happens to me when i boot up, all that is there is a documents folder and the blue screen, can i use something like this to fix it?

EDIT, TYVM for this all i had to do was the

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon]
"Shell"="Explorer.exe"

 

[B.Y.O.B]

Can it harm your computer in any way?

 

[Govind]

Nope.

 

[bl00dknight]

ty i helped the speed a lot