Hey, I am proud to introduce the results of my hard work with Mr. Gaurav Kale. It is Taskbar Pinner - the universal pinner software for your taskbar! Latest version of Taskbar Pinner is 1.1, please update. Windows 8 users, please switch to Pin to 8 application. This is most unique software from all taskbar pinners in the world. Just check the list of features! With our Taskbar Pinner you will able:
to pin ANY file regardless of its type;
to pin ANY folder;
to pin drive;
to pin Control Panel items, all them including some hidden like God Mode/All Tasks, Network Connections;
to pin Libraries;
to pin Shell Objects like Run command, "Show Desktop", Window Switcher;
to pin any drive,all folders and all files via Explorer Context Menu;
to pin any folders or files with drag and drop. Drop them on application window.
to pin any folders or files via command line:
taskbarpinner.exe "path\to\desired\location"
Note this is first pinning tool which works in Windows 7 regardless of UI language! As you may know, all of existing tools fails with non-English language of user interface. More than that, it's the only pinning tool I think that can pin just about ANYthing.
If you pin a *.website file to taskbar, you will able to set a custom icon for it.
Let me show you how its in action. I will show you Windows 8, ok? For Windows 7 all bits are the same.
Taskbar Pinner's Change log
v1.1
Windows 8 is not supported anymore. Please use the Pin to 8 software instead.
Added x64 version.
New modern "Open a folder" dialog for folder pinning.
Bug fixed: wrong check if item was already pinned.
v1.0.1 Bug fixed: if %temp% is short path to temp folder, you were unable to pin anything. Bug fixed: crash when the slash was the last character in the command line. Bug fixed: crash of the shell location dialog. v1.0 Initial release
Taskbar Pinner is portable application and does not require to be installed.
I proud to introduce my latest work - User List Enabler for Windows 8. Today me and my friend Gaurav Kale, we have done the great research related to auto logging in the last user in Windows 8. If you have multiple user accounts in Windows 8 (e.g. one for yourself and another for your family member), you may notice a new annoyance in Windows 8 – it signs in the last user automatically who shut down/rebooted the PC. This tool resolves the issue and brings back the users list for you with one click. You will be able to choose your user account at every startup. As the result of our hard research, this tool is completely different from other existing methods, including all our methods we have described in our blog.
This is unique and safest tool, because:
it does not changes access rights on any registry key
it does not break "Run as different user..." Explorer command
it uses only built-in Windows features and tools
Under the hood of User List Enabler for Windows 8
Under the hood of User List Enabler for Windows 8 is nothing more than just Group Policy's "Logoff script". Every log off event it set DWORD value mentioned here to 1. It is very annoying to set it manually because it is required to operate with your user account's SID and needs to be edited in 4 different places with many values.
So, I am happy to release this tool for you to do all the dirty job. Enjoy!
User List Enabler in action
User List Enabler for Windows 8 is free, portable tool compatible with Windows 8 x86 and x64. It will request UAC/Administrator's right when they will be required. Use "Reset to defaults" button to rollback changes.
Pin to 8, formerly known as Start Screen Pinner - the universal pinner software for Windows 8. It can pin anything to the Start Screen or Taskbar in Windows 8. Finally it got the possibility to pin anything to Taskbar! Latest version is 1.1.0.0, the change log is available below. With our Pin to 8 you will able:
to pin ANY file regardless of its type;
to pin ANY folder;
to pin drive;
to pin Control Panel items, all them including some hidden like God Mode/All Tasks, Network Connections;
to pin Libraries;
to pin Shell Objects like Run command, "Show Desktop", Window Switcher;
to pin any folders or files with drag and drop. Drop them on application window.
Note this pinning tool works properly in Windows 8 regardless of UI language.
Pin to 8 in action
Change log
1.1.0.0
Fixed a bug in "already pinned" check
New command line options are implemented: "Pin to 8.exe" /t c:\DWM\DWMLoader.exe - pins DWMLoader.exe to taskbar. "Pin to 8.exe" /s c:\DWM\DWMLoader.exe - pins DWMLoader.exe to Start Screen.
1.0.0.1 Provided x64 version, which contains most complete list of "Special Items" of Windows 8 x64.
1.0 Initial release, based on Start Screen Pinner
Pin to 8 is a portable application and doesn’t require to be installed. Just unzip and run it.
Take your attention: White Windows for Windows 8 software was incapsulated by Aero8Tuner and not exists anymore! Latest version of Aero8Tuner is 1.1. Please update. Here is my brand new work for Windows 8. Aero8Tuner is the successor of my famous Aero Tuner (for Windows 7) and White Windows (for Windows 8 ). It allows you to change all settings of DWM/Aero at Windows 8 RTM+.
Warning! This version is for Windows 8 RTM and above! For Windows 7 and Windows 8 CP/DP/RP you may use previous Aero Tuner software.
With Aero8Tuner you will able:
to set any color of windows.
to disable windows coloring. If you will enable this undocumented feature, the color of windows borders in Windows 8 will be always white. The taskbar will use Aero color. So, this is way to have separate color for windows and taskbar.
to change color balance (affects the intensity).
to force High Contrast mode for regular themes. The blurless buggy Aero transparency will be appeared in this case.
Aero8Tuner in action
Animations slowdown video
Why some features of "classic" Aero Tuner is missing in this version?
Microsoft changed DWM in Windows 8. Some parameters was completely removed, such as Transparency and amount of Aero Srtipes. Some parameters like second Aero color, Blur, balance between colors has no effect in Windows 8 because DWM ignores their values.
This is a free and portable application and does not require to be installed. It works only on Windows 8 RTM and does not require any additional software.
Yet another tool that i have created for Windows 8. Its Ribbon Disabler for Windows 8.
Latest version is 2.5, a critical bug is fixed. Please update ASAP. See the change log below, I'll share the details
Ribbon Disabler is compatible with Windows 8 from Consumer Preview up to Windows 8 RTM. Ribbon Disabler will allow you to disable Ribbon in Windows 8 Explorer and preserve Paint and Wordpad working. Aslo it has an option to restore ribbon. There is no system files what will be modified by this tool.Since version 2 the Ribbon Disabler modifies your explorerframe.dll but makes backup. It is safe. Here is example of Explorer without Ribbon:
Change log
Please always use only latest version. v2.5 Fixed critical issue in the code. Every time you remove/restore ribbon in Explorer it causes wrong NTFS permissions to be set for some system files. It can cause other user accounts to be unable to work in Windows 8. This is fixed. v2.0.0.1 Command line options are implemented so you can use Ribbon Disabler in your scripts. v2.0 A new code base, with support for Windows 8 x86 and x64. v1.0 first release with Windows 8 x64 support only
Ribbon Disabler command line options
Ribbon disabler.exe /d - delete the ribbon silently Ribbon disabler.exe /r - restore the ribbon silently
For Windows 8 x64: Ribbon disabler x64.exe /d - delete the ribbon silently Ribbon disabler x64.exe /r - restore the ribbon silently
Ribbon Disabler is portable application and does not require to be installed.
Most annoying thing in Windows 8's appearance, beside Metro and Charms Bar of Desktop, is transparent Taskbar. It does not fit the opaque window frames and looks ugly. I decide to fix it. Last night my friend Tihiy, the author of StartIsBack solution, has shared with me the way to disable tasbkar transparency via DWM API. So I have created Opaque Taskbar for Windows 8. Latest version is 2.5, see the change log below. With help of this simple and lightweight application you will be able to make your taskbar Opaque in any time you want it. Also it can optionally run in the background or it can run once and then exit without taking memory. You can close it after you have disabled the transparency.
Since version 2.0 the new command line option is available:
opaquetaskbar.exe /resident
It allows you to keep Taskbar opaque even if theme or Aero color was changed. In resident mode Opaque Taskbar for Windows 8 will stay in memory and will show a tray icon with context menu. Use that menu or just double click on the tray icon to toggle the transparency. Also, "startup" checkbox will ask you if you want to keep the application in memory after startup.
Change log
v2.5 The application was slightly improved. New features are following:
Taskbar will become opaque even you will restart Explorer (The resident mode of Opaque Taskbar is required).
Tray icon stays visible even you will restart Explorer (The resident mode of Opaque Taskbar is required).
Taskbar will become opaque even you will move it to the another side of screen (The resident mode of Opaque Taskbar is required).
Added the "Disable Updates Check" option according to users requests.
v2.0 The new command line option: opaquetaskbar.exe /resident allows you to keep taskbar opaque even if theme or Aero color was changed. In resident mode Opaque Taskbar for Windows 8 will stay in memory and will show a tray icon with context menu. Use that menu or just double click on the tray icon to toggle the transparency. Also, "startup" checkbox will ask you if you want to keep the application in memory after startup.
v1.1.0.1 I have resolved dual display issues and improved the code.
v.1.1 A minor bug with check box state is also fixed. Please update as soon as possible.
v1.0 Initial release
Opaque Taskbar for Windows 8 in action
Opaque Taskbar for Windows 8 has special option to run at Windows startup. Please note that Windows 8 uses delayed start for desktop apps, so your Taskbar will become opaque with some delay. This is not a big price for portable lightweight software, isn't it?
Opaque Taskbar for Windows 8 is free, portable application and does not require to be installed. It is compatible with Windows 8 x86 and Windows 8 x64.
ElevatedShortcut is my project from the past. It was created in early 2010 and it was never introduced here. So let me fix this mistake. ElevatedShortcut is a free portable application which supports Windows 7 and [now] Windows 8. It can create the special shortcut which will suppress UAC prompt in case if it is usually appeared, i.e application will be started elevated without any prompt. Here how it looks:
Latest version is ElevatedShortcut 2.0.0.8, please see the change log below
The key features of ElevatedShortcut are following:
Create new elevated shortcut or convert existing shortcut to elevated.
Delete the previously created shortcut.
Explorer context menu integration for exe, cmd, bat and com files.
Russian and English UI language.
All elevated shortcuts will be created using Windows Task Scheduler, so you will be able to use them even if you have deleted the ElevatedShortcut application.
An application which is started from the elevated shortcut will have NORMAL priority instead of BELOW NORMAL (like Task Scheduler does it by default) for better performance.
Demo video:
Change log
v2.0.0.8 Added the "Working directory" option which can be used by application. Fixed Czech translation.
v2.0.0.7 Fixed a crash in Windows 7 x64
v2.0.0.6 Fixed crash for empty shortcut target
v2.0.0.5 Added Czech translation Fixed Setting dialog title
v2.0.0.4 Fixed issue with spaces in path.
v2.0.0.3
AD/Domain workaround
Minor UI changes
Fixed application multiple instance issue
"*.*" as default option is "Choose a file" dialog.
v2.0.0.2 Fixed 'below normal' priority issue for newly started apps
v2.0 Added an option to convert regular shortcuts into elevated
v1.5 Added an option to delete previously created shortcuts.
As you may know, Windows 8 has introduced a new format for themes - *.deskthemepack files. For example, almost all Panoramic themes in official Microsoft theme gallery are deskthemepack files. Deskthemepack Installer is unique solution for Windows 7 users which allows to install Windows 8 themes with one click.
As you can see, the user interface is very simple. The following options are available:
Install a deskthemepack file - self explained. Click this option to browse for desktheme file and install it into Windows 7.
Associate with *.deskthemepack files - installs an association for deskthemepack files in Windows 7. You will be able to apply Windows 8 theme just like regular theme pack of Windows 7.
Remove *.deskthemepack associations - removes the association which was set with option mentioned above.
Please read
Deskthemepack Installer is portable application that does not require to be installed.
It works in Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate.
Deskthemepack Installer does not work in Windows 7 Home Basic and Starter. I will implement support of those editions of Windows 7 with next major release of Personalization Panel 3.0. Please be patient.
Deskthemepack Installer does not provide autocolorization of window frames and/or panoramic view of wallpapers like in Windows 8. It just converts Windows 8 themes into format compatible with Windows 7.
Even you are free to place Deskthemepack Installer anywhere you want, in any folder, you should keep in mind the following: if you have set the *.deskthemepack files association and then moved DeskthemepackInstaller.exe to another folder, your associations will be broken - Windows will be not able to find it. To fix the issue, you have to run Deskthemepack Installer from new location and click the Remove *.deskthemepack associations button and then click Associate with *.deskthemepack files again.
Deskthemepack Installer for Windows 7 in action
How to report a bug
Send me an email and provide the link to theme you have issue with brief description of the issue.
Winaero Theme Switcher is an application which allows you to change a Windows theme from the command line. It has GUI: But it is primarily intended to be used with the command prompt or in a batch file where you want to automate the applying of a custom theme. The syntax is as follows:
ThemeSwitcher.exe path_to_file.theme
e.g., to apply the Windows 8's "Earth" theme, you can run the following command:
If theme is located in one of the following folders: C:\Windows\Resources\Themes C:\Windows\Resources\Easy of Access Themes C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Themes
then you need not specify the full path to the theme file or even its extension, just specify the file name. So, the example above can be shorten to
Our friend KNARZ has discovered some hidden and fun options of boot manager in Windows 8. According to him, he get that options via Embedded Environment. So, i used his research and made a new tool for you: Boot UI Tuner Latest version 1.0.1 allows you to enable verbose logon messages. With help of Boot UI Tuner you will be able:
to enable advanced options of boot menu - such options as safe mode, debugging and so on will be available before every boot of your Windows 8;
to enable editing of boot options - this allows you to specify an addition options for kernel. They are similar to good old boot.ini features;
to disable blue Windows Logo during boot;
to disable spinning circle during boot;
to disable text messages during boot - messages like “Please wait”, “Updating registry – 10%” and so on;
to disable whole modern boot UI and turn it into legacy mode;
RegOwnershipEx is an application which allows you to do the following tasks:
you will be able to take ownership of a registry key with one click (useful to get the full access to the key).
you will be able to jump directly to desired registry also with one click.
RegOwnershipEx features the following options:
take ownership and provide full access to selected registry key.
registry browser for easy registry key selection.
favorites - for quick access to your favorite registry locations. It is shared with Favorites menu of Registry Editor.
restore ownership feature allows you to restore the ownership and access rights that you have changed early. i.e. this is opposite action for "take ownership".
registry jump feature - you can open the selected key in Registry Editor. It is very handy option when you read some tweaking related article and want to jump to the key mentioned in article.
shortcuts for root keys - you may use HKCU instead of HKEY_CURRENT_USER, HKLM instead of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and so on.
Multi language support - you will be able to translate application into your native language by simple ini file. Beginning with RegOwnershipEx, all Winaero apps will support such way of localization.
See the screenshot with all windows:
RegOwnershipEx in action
How to translate RegOwnershipEx in your native language
Currently the list of available translations looks like follows:
English - created by Winaero
Russian - created by Winaero
Czech - created by Milan Benes
Romanian - created by Adrian Putina
Ukrainian - created by Dmytro Zikrach
Dutch - created by "UltraWindows"
Arabic - created by "AirportsFan"
European Portuguese translation by Pedro Almeida
Swedish - created by Åke Engelbrektson.
Many thanks to all translators!
If you want to translate RegOwnershipEx into your native language, then rename the Languages\English_template.ini file into YouLanguage.ini and translate all strings included into that file. Don't forget to share with me your translation - i will include it with the app. Thanks in advance. My Email is here.
How to report a bug
If you found out a bug, please provide the following info:
what you are tired to do.
which registry key caused the bug.
if you issued the unhandled exception, please click "details" button and copy text provided by .NET framework.
RegOwnershipEx is available for Windows 8 and Windows 7, both x86 and x64 platforms are supported. You can use this app in Vista x86/x64 too, but you may need to install the .NET 3.5 framework.
RegOwnershipEx is free and portable application, as usual.
Lock Screen Customizer is a new software by Winaero. It allows you to tweak and extend the options of the Lock Screen in Windows 8. It has nice UI with live preview of the changes you made: It allows you to change the following options of the Lock Screen:
background image;
date language;
time format (12/24 hours)
color set for sign in screen;
add Lock Screen Slideshow with autochanging background images every time you sign in.
enable verbose logon messages (see video below);
disable Lock Screen.
While some of those settings like background image or color set are available via the Modern Control panel of Windows 8, others are inaccessible and have no user interface. Lock Screen Customizer tries to fix this and provide to you options to take the full control of your Lock Screen.
For example, you can change the background image of the Lock Screen. However, when you sign out, you will see not your image but that green Seattle picture. This is the "default" Lock Screen, which has no customization options!
With help of Lock Screen Customizer you will be able to apply all your preferences to that default Lock Screen.
Lock Screen Slideshow
Lock Screen Customizer has a nice feature that I called as "Lock Screen Slideshow". If enabled, it will change Lock Screen background image every time you sign in. So every time you logged in you will get the new image at Lock Screen.
You can also enable this feature for the default Lock Screen, so it's background will be also changed with image of your Lock Screen.
Lock Screen Customizer in action
Lock Screen Customizer supports both Windows 8 x86 and x64. It is portable, freeware and supports multi-language UI.
How to translate Lock Screen Customizer in your native language
Currently the list of available translations looks like follows:
English - created by Winaero
Russian - created by Winaero
Czech - created by JaGoTu and moderate
Arabic - created by "AirportsFan"
Hungarian - created by "BlueEyes Helpdesk".
Ukrainian - created by Dmytro Zikrach
German - created by Wolfgang Lenz
Khmer - created by Leakhanak Nguon
Spanish - created by Andrés Pedraza Granados and Jose
Brazilian (Portuguese-BR) - created by Daniel Pablo Sheng
Romanian - created by "sas33".
Many thanks to all translators! If you want to translate Lock Screen Customizer into your native language, then rename the Languages\English_template.ini file into YouLanguage.ini and translate all strings included into that file. Don't forget to share with me your translation - I will include it with the app. Thanks in advance. My Email is hb860[nice little dog]live.ru.
Also, I would like to say thanks to my friend Vishal Gupta for the following article which was useful for me.
Lock Screen Customizer's tweaks and tricks will be described in our blog soon, so follow the news in case you are interested.
Lock Screen Customizer can be downloaded from here:
Here you can get the Aurora screensaver for Windows 7 and Windows 8. It was shipped with Windows Vista but was removed in Windows 7 and 8.
Download the file at link below, extract it and run. It contains the Aurora screensaver for 32bit and 64bit Windows versions. Use appropriate file. Note that exe file is nothing more than just handy GUI for file copy operation. The source code of installer is provided at the end of this article.
Screensavers shipped with Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Vista by default has lots of settings. All of them are inaccessible because configuration dialogs are missing for unknown reason. Winaero Screensavers Tweaker is a new implementation of my old software (which I made early in 2009). It allows you to change all hidden settings of Windows Screensavers parameters easily.
New version of Winaero Screensavers Tweaker has nothing common with first release, it has really nice UI, stable code, x64 support and useful Live Preview feature.
Latest version is 1.0.0.1, it contains small bugfix for the 'Bubbles' screensaver. The following tweaks are available: Bubbles screensaver
Change radius
Change bubbles count
Change turbulence force, octaves & speed
Shadows, transparent background and transparent bubbles
Here is example how Bubbles screensaver can look after tweaks:
Winaero Screensavers Tweaker in action
Winaero Screensavers Tweaker is free, portable app that does not require to be installed. It is available for Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8, for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of appropriate OS. Windows Vista users might need to install .NET Framework 3.5.
This PC Tweaker - my brand new work. This application allows you to customize items inside the "Computer/This PC" folder. At this moment it allows you do to the following:
to add a new item to the Computer/This PC folder. You can put the shell localtion inside the "Folders" category or inside the "Other" category using the appropriate checkbox. This works in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.
In Windows 8.1 you can show/hide Computer folder's items from the navigation pane of Explorer.
You can remove any item from the Computer/This PC folder.
This PC Tweaker has access to all usable shell locations in Window and provides them for you. You will be able to add even God Mode to the "computer" folder. Tip: if God Mode (All tasks, all settings items) does not showing in This PC/Computer, you should log off/log in back or restart Explorer.
Currently This PC Tweaker supports Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 completely. However, this is a not feature-complete application. See the roadmap below.
This PC Tweaker's roadmap
The following features are planned and will be implemented soon in This PC Tweaker:
Full Windows 7 support.
Explorer navigation pane customization: add, remove items.
Control Panel customization to re-arrange it and add there all hidden applets.
I decide to release this [incomplete] version because I think that most users will find it already useful for Windows 8/Windows 8.1 customizations. Stay tuned for new versions which will be more feature-rich.
Explorer Toolbar Editor is powerful and easy-to-use software that helps you add or remove buttons from the Windows Explorer toolbar in Windows 7. Unlike other existing programs, Explorer Toolbar Editor supports multiple folder types and displays the current set of buttons for each one. Also, you can use it to reorder the toolbar buttons. Latest version is 1.0.0.1, it contains bugfixes and Windows x64 native binaries.
Features
Explorer Toolbar Editor allows you to:
view current button sets for each folder type
add/remove buttons to individual or all folder types
change the order of buttons on the toolbar
restore the default set of buttons
Explorer Toolbar Editor How to
Before you get started with configuring the Explorer toolbar, you need to be aware of two button display modes.
File or folder selected means that a button is only displayed when you select a file or folder. This mode is useful for adding buttons that deal with file management, e.g. Copy, Paste, Cut, Rename, etc.
Nothing selected means that a button is only displayed when there’s nothing selected in a folder. This mode is useful for adding buttons that deal with the Explorer display, e.g. Preview Pane, Navigation Pane, Details Pane. Note: it makes perfect sense to also add such buttons when a file or folder is selected, so you can always see them on the toolbar. In the Explorer Toolbar Editor, each display mode has a dedicated tab: Keep this in mind when you’re adding, removing, or sorting buttons.
How to quickly configure the Windows Explorer toolbar
It takes about five minutes to get the desired set of buttons on the Explorer toolbar.
Open the File or folder selected tab.
In the left pane, select folder types. Tip: use CTRL or SHIFT to select multiple or better all folder types.
In the right pane, select the buttons you don’t want to have on the toolbar and click Remove Buttons.
Click Add Buttons and select the file management buttons you want to display on the toolbar.
That’s it! Now open a folder or press F5 in an existing one, select a file or folder, and you’ll see your buttons.
How to reorder buttons
If you want to reorder buttons, select an individual folder type in the left pane, then select a button in the right pane and use arrows to move it to the desired position.
How to revert your changes
You can roll back any changes you made with Explorer Toolbar Editor by pressing the Restore defaults button. You will get the set of buttons that you had before you used Explorer Toolbar Editor for the first time.
Pin to 8, formerly known as Start Screen Pinner - the universal pinner software for Windows 8. It can pin anything to the Start Screen or Taskbar in Windows 8. Finally it got the possibility to pin anything to Taskbar! Latest version is 2.0.0.0, the change log is available below. With our Pin to 8 you will able:
to pin ANY file regardless of its type;
to pin ANY folder;
to pin drive;
to pin Control Panel items, all them including some hidden like God Mode/All Tasks, Network Connections;
to pin Libraries;
to pin Shell Objects like Run command, "Show Desktop", Window Switcher;
to pin any folders or files with drag and drop. Drop them on application window.
Note this pinning tool works properly in Windows 8 regardless of UI language.
Pin to 8 in action
Change log
2.0 * improved user folders' location detection in case when folder redirection is enabled via Group Policy * fixed crash of app when it was started from a network share * fixed the file/folder pinning issue when the target file is located on a network share. Many thanks to Alexey Maximov for the extremely useful bug report. 1.1.0.0
Fixed a bug in "already pinned" check
New command line options are implemented: "Pin to 8.exe" /t c:\DWM\DWMLoader.exe - pins DWMLoader.exe to taskbar. "Pin to 8.exe" /s c:\DWM\DWMLoader.exe - pins DWMLoader.exe to Start Screen.
1.0.0.1 Provided x64 version, which contains most complete list of "Special Items" of Windows 8 x64.
1.0 Initial release, based on Start Screen Pinner
Pin to 8 is a portable application and doesn’t require to be installed. Just unzip and run it.
