Windows Registry Tip: Speed Up Windows Display

I decided to add a real easy and quick RegEdit tip in addition to my previous posting tonight.

Most people get scared when using the registry editor because if you don't know what you're doing you can really mess things up and well….they're right. The key to using it is to not change anything unless you know what you are doing. As long as you only change what you are doing and leave everything else alone it will be just fine.
This tip will speed up Windows menu display. Windows has a built-in delay before selected windows are displayed. When you click on a menu in Windows or right click an item there is a 400 millisecond delay between when you click it and when the menu is displayed. Who has 400 milliseconds to spare. I sure can't wait that long in today's busy world, so lets change it so the menu displays instantly. This delay can be adjusted to anywhere from zero to 999 milliseconds. Here's how.

1. Click on the Start menu and select Run. Type in "regedit" (without the quotes) in the Open field.
2. Expand the HKEY_CURRENT_USER key.
3. Expand the Control Panel key.
4. Expand the Desktop key. Then do one of the two steps below.
   • Select MenuShowDelay. Right-click, select Modify, and enter a value from zero to 999 milliseconds.
   • If you don't have MenuShowDelay, you can create it. Here's how:
     1. Right-click on Desktop key.
     2. Select New > String Value and name it MenuShowDelay.
     3. Right-click on MenuShowDelay, set its value from zero to 999 milliseconds (default is 400 milliseconds).
5. Restart Windows.

This setting can't do any damage to your system, but playing around in the registry can. If you follow my instructions you'll be fine but still, be careful not to change any other settings.

Super Mario Brothers Synth Board

I just saw this on digg.com so I thought it would be a fun thing to post on my blog.  My first PC tip is still on the way and it will cover lots of free antivirus programs.  From time to time I’ll post other fun or interesting things here in addition to PC tips just for a bit of variety and fun.

This is a Super Mario Brothers Synth board created from the sounds in the original NES version.  You can create your own mario mix of sounds.  Ahhh memories.  I grew up on Nintendo so I’m loving this.  Enjoy!

Click here for the SMB soundboard!