By default in Windows XP, thumbnails for pictures are enabled when browsing the contents of your computer using My Computer or Windows Explorer. As you might know, the Thumbnails feature can come in handy when browsing through your digital photos and other images. Without the Thumbnails view, you have to open each image individually or use some type of photo software that provides thumbnail browsing.
Enabling thumbnails might affect your PC performance, making browsing through your files and folders a bit slower, which is worse on PCs loaded with lower memory. Therefore, if you don't need to browse through your pictures often or use photo software to view them, think about keeping the Thumbnails feature disabled.
The Thumbnails feature on Windows Vista is disabled by default. Nevertheless, you can easily enable this feature:
1. Double-click on the Computer (or My Computer) icon on your desktop.
If the Computer icon isn't on the desktop, open Windows Explorer by opening the Start Menu, clicking All Programs, choosing Accessories, and clicking Windows Explorer. By default, the Computer icon isn't displayed on the desktop. If you want to add this icon to the desktop
2. Click on the Organize button on your toolbar, and select Folder and Search Options. If your toolbar isn't visible, press one of the Alt buttons on your keyboard to make it appear.
3. Click on the View tab.
4. Uncheck the Always Show Icons, Never Thumbnails option. and then click OK to exit.
1. Open the Start menu.
By default, the Network icon isn't displayed on the desktop. If you want to add this icon to the desktop
2. In the Search box, type "regedit", as shown in Figure 4.28, and then press Enter. If you are using the Windows Classic Start menu, you need to click Run, type "regedit", and then click OK.
Be very careful when editing the Windows Registry. Mistakes can cause major problems. By major, I mean everything from a program failing to start to your computer being made unusable. One false move in the Registry can spell disaster, so be careful!
It's also a good idea to make a backup copy prior to making any changes to the Registry. Here's how:
1. Open the Registry Editor by following steps 1 and 2.
2. In the Registry Editor, click File on the menu and select Export.
3. On the bottom of the dialog box, select the All option for the Export Range.
4. Browse, find, and select a location to save the registry. It's best to save it to a removable shortage device like a flash drive, floppy disc, or CD.
5. Enter your desired file name, such as Registry_Backup_DATE.
6. Click Save and wait until it's done which may take a few minutes.
3. Navigate to the following folder:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\MuiCache
4. Locate and double-click on the following Registry entry:
@C:\Windows\system32\NetworkExplorer.dll,-1
5. Enter your desired name in the Value Data field, as shown in Figure 4.31, and click OK.
6. Close the Registry Editor.
7. To activate the new icon name, right-click anywhere on the desktop and select Refresh. The new icon name should now appear
