Desktop Patterns from Previous Windows Versions

If you've been around previous Windows versions you more than likely remember some of the hideous desktop patterns that were available. They're still here in XP waiting to be resurrected. Hey, they can't be any worse than the default XP scheme, can they? On second thought, maybe they can.

The desktop patterns from previous versions are stored in the registry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Patterns. The names and values are shown in the screen capture below:

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]
Registry Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Modify/Create the Value Data Type(s) and Value Name(s) as detailed below.
Data Type: REG_SZ [String Value] // Value Name: Pattern
Setting for Value Data: [Use the data value from the chart above or Key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Patterns]
Exit Registry and Reboot

Disable Save Desktop Configuration on Exit

Default behavior for XP is to save the desktop configuration on exiting the operating system. To prevent saving the desktop configuration, implement the following registry edit.

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]
Registry Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Modify/Create the Value Data Type(s) and Value Name(s) as detailed below.
Data Type: REG_DWORD (Dword Value) // Value Name: NoSaveSettings
Setting for Value Data: [0 = Disabled / 1 = Enabled]
Exit Registry and Reboot

Customize Windows Media Player Title Bar

Allows you to change the title bar to read Windows Media Player provided by , so if I had entered text of [The Elder Geek], it would read: Windows Media Player provided by The Elder Geek

The Procedure is:--

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]
Registry Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft
Create the Key [WindowsMediaPlayer].
Modify/Create the Value Name [TitleBar] according to the Value Data listed below.
Data Type: REG_SZ [String Value] // Value Name: TitleBar
Value Data: [Enter the text to be displayed in the title bar.]

Note: Whatever text you enter as the value data will be preceded by:
Windows Media Player provided by, so if I had entered text of [The Elder Geek], it would read:
Windows Media Player provided by The Elder Geek
Exit Registry and Reboot