[Mosaic1]

The question of removing the icon overlay on shortcuts has baffled us for a while now. I think I have it. The new shell32.dll changed our ability to use Tweakui to remove the shortcut overlays.
The new Shell32.dll was a part of the March7 Security Update from MS.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/d...29/Default.asp


Tonight I decided to play with it once more. I reinstalled the new shell32.dll.

I deleted the ShellIconCache (not sure if this was necessary)

I went into the registry and found this key:
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{63B51F81-C868-11D0-999C-00C04FD655E1}]
@="Shell Icon Overlay Manager"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{63B51F81-C868-11D0-999C-00C04FD655E1}\InProcServer32]
@="C:\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM\\SHELL32.DLL"
"ThreadingModel"="Both"




I decided to modify the default value of the InProcServer32 to an empty String Value that is this -->> ""

So now the exported key looked like this:
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{63B51F81-C868-11D0-999C-00C04FD655E1}]
@="Shell Icon Overlay Manager"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{63B51F81-C868-11D0-999C-00C04FD655E1}\InProcServer32]
@=""
"ThreadingModel"="Both"



I rebooted and no more Arrows. There was need to use TWEAKUI. It was set to show arrows. But changing this key removed the arrows anyway. And I have the new Shell32.dll in Windows\system.

What I need please, is for a few of you to try this and see if you have any problems. I have rebooted twice and so far so good. I seem to be OK. But you know how that goes. Side effects etc. I don't want to be overconfident.

Thanks in Advance,

Mo

Please. No pressure. If you are not comfortable in the registry, don't do this.

[Ratboy]

Edited Registry and rebooted. Arrows gone.

I'll let you know if I run into any issues.

[IMM]

I'd guess the only likely issues would be from other overlay icons from shell32 - but there aren't many

[TonyKlein]

Same here: installed patch, edited reg key, rebooted: no more arrows, and no strange happenings!.

Great work, Mo!

[RandyG]

Changed key, rebooted, no more arrows!

Will notify you if there are any problems.

Win98SE with all the latest updates.


BTW, would this work on other OS'?

[TonyKlein]

If the patch has the same result on other operating systems, I can't see why it shouldn't.

Why not try?

Just remember to back up the key before you edit it.

[RandyG]

OK, for giggles sake, I searched for Shell32.dll on both my systems, and on the 98SE I found 1. Properties revealed an interesting detail:

Created: 15 March 2002 09:53:04
Modified: 06 December 2001 23:25:08



On the 2000Pro system, I found 2, one in c:\WINNT\system32 and the other in c:\WINNT\system32\dllcache, but both are exactly the same. They have a similar date conflict:

Created: 04 February 2002 01:09:07
Modified: 04 May 2001 12:05:02


How the heck could that happen?

[Mosaic1]

Thanks to all who tried it. I didn't think there would be side efects but you never know with windows. Strange things can happen for "no apparent reason" It's good to be careful.

IMM,
That's a consideration. Other shellicon overlays. Like you said there are not that many. So far, I havent seen any differences other than the shortcut arrow. I don't always notice these things right away though. I am kind of unconscious in that respect.

Randy,
I think that's normal. The "created" is the date you installed the file on your computer, I believe.
The 98SE Modified date must be a date MS last modified the file.

It's the same as mine. I have noticed this with a few other files.

I have gotten into the habit of Downloading these updates to disk. I then use Winzip to extract the contents to a folder. Open that and have a look at what the update is about. The files and then the inf to tell me what Registry changes the update is going to make.

In this case, there is no actual shell32.dll. In fact the file which matches the modified date is named:
shel95.dll and there is another file too shelnt.dll but has a different date.
When the update is installed shel95.dll becomes shell32.dll? MS is confusing.

[Timmo]

Mo-

a year later, I was relieved to find your solution, and it appears to as good a solution now, as then. Hope you'll be alerted to this post. I'm still using w98se and was also annoyed that a MS security update overruled the tweakUI icon fix. Going thru the usenet postings now on Google gave me nothing other than going back to the old shell32.dll, which I wasn't crazy about. And a suggestion I just read in PC-World to use Fresh-ui, got rid of the arrows but also all the keyboard shortcuts I have assigned to desktop/start menu items.

Luckily another PC-World column reminded me of the Tech Guy forums and I quickly found your solution. Seems to work great and thought you could use another pat on the back.

Timmo
Lincoln, NE
USA

REMOVING SHORTCUT ARROWS

Open the Registry by running REGEDIT.EXE , which you will find at
C:\WINDOWS\REGEDIT.EXE & which you can also put onto your Start
Menu, and go to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ lnkfile ... and delete the value ... IsShortcut

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ piffile ... and delete the value ... IsShortcut

Close the Registry Editor and Re-Boot your computer.

And others which may be of interest too:
___________________________________________________

NO ENCRYPT

In the Key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\UserAs sist

HUNDREDS of encrypted entries can be found.

In these two sub-keys:

{5E6AB780-7743-11CF-A12B-00AA004AE837}\Count ... and
{75048700-EF1F-11D0-9888-006097DEACF9}\Count

Add two KEYS with the Word (Entry) "NoEncrypt = Dword = 00000001"

... and put the Dword entry ... in ... BOTH

{5E6AB780-7743-11CF-A12B-00AA004AE837}\Count ... and
{75048700-EF1F-11D0-9888-006097DEACF9}\Count

___________________________________________________

REMOVING OUTLOOK EXPRESS SPLASH SCREEN

Registry Settings for removal of Splash Screen from Outlook Express.
User Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities\{xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx}\Software
\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0]

DWORD Value = NoSplash
Value Data: 1 = no splash screen, 0 = splash screen on

[Timmo]

i had previously tried the fix that involves deleting the registry values for lnkfile and piffile . and while I got rid of the arrows, I also lost the keyboard shortcuts to my icons and other programs in my start menu, not on the desktop (using win98se).

Cool!

I sure am glad that this thread floated to the top. I miss Mosaic1 from my original haunt.

Tried it and it worked perfectly for me. My arrows are gone for the first time ever.

Thank you Mosaic1 whereever you are.

Thank you too Timmo for digging this out.

Mowergun