UPMCalc

[aerDNA]

I've made a little program for calculating the UserPreferencesMask value. This seemed like the right place to share it since the idea was born while I was making a collection of reg tweaks for an unattended xp installation. If somebody's interested but sceptical about attachments from newcomers, you can also find UPMCalc on Softpedia.

[jaclaz]

Not at all skeptic, rather maybe some info is missing, let's see if this helps :

.:: UPMCalc v1.0 documentation ::.

UserPreferencesMask is a cryptic registry entry that stores many of the Windows visual effects settings and also some input and accessibility preferences. It's a bitmask stored as little-endian hex inside a REG_BINARY value. It cannot be directly edited without the use of bitwise math and understanding of functions of individual bits (which are only partially documented).

That's why UPMCalc was created, it makes it easy to decode and manipulate UserPreferencesMask data. It can be used as a tweaker but if you're looking for a full-fledged Windows visual tweaker, look elsewhere - UPMCalc has a narrow scope since it only deals with settings stored inside UPM.

It is also meant to serve as a detailed and up-to-date UPM reference because presently the only official documentation dates back from Windows 2000 and is not very descriptive.

Remarks:

- The story of missing bits. Ever since UserPreferencesMask was introduced, many bits have been flagged as "reserved for future use". These have no function, they are always 0 and even if you changed them to 1, it would have no consequence. UPM size has doubled in Vista and only a few new bits were assigned a function so now there are more unused bits that used ones. UPMCalc doesn't deal with unused bits, you can only change those that have a known purpose.

- Bit 7 (Mouse hot tracking) is practically deprecated. When it is 0, controls will still be highlighted on mouse-over, it will only affect the menus (as far as I can tell) and not in all windows (e.g. menus in Notepad will not be highlighted but shell menus will).

- When bit 31 (Enable UI effects) is set, individual effects can be turned on/off through dedicated bits, but when it is 0, it overrides those other bits and the effects are off. Disabling UI effects also disbles flat menus (a setting stored outside UPM), which can look lousy on XP. To clarify, bit 31 doesn't override all other bits, just those UI effects-related and it doesn't disable all Windows visual effects (for example, window animations are unaffected). It is generally recommended to leave bit 31 with the default setting.

- Bit 32 (Disable overlapped content) is strictly an accessibility feature. When this bit is set, it takes longer to log in. Also note that it will remove the wallpaper and turn the desktop black (not effective immediately after Apply but on next logon).

- Bit 33 (Animate controls and elements inside windows) doesn't affect current windows, only those that were created after you applied this bit. So to see the changes in UPMCalc window, you would have to exit and run it again.

- Bit 36 (Enable ClearType) can be misleading. On Vista, this bit is set if the dropbox in the Effects dialog shows "ClearType", even if font smoothing is not actually enabled. On Win7, this bit also defaults to 1 but it doesn't serve any purpose because standard font smoothing has been discontinued (many people are complaining about this so perhaps it will be reintroduced with SP1).

- For calculatory purposes, you can switch between XP and Vista/Win7 mode but of course you can only apply the data or get it from registry in the mode that corresponds to your operating system.

Note that loading the defaults in XP mode only affects bits 0-31 so after switching to Vista/Win7 mode, UPM will not necessarily have the default bit settings, unless you hit the Default button again.

- UPMCalc officially supports XP, Vista and Win7 but it should also work fine with their "relatives". Windows 2000 and Server 2003 will be treated as XP, while Windows Server 2008 will be treated as Vista. UserPreferencesMask should be exactly the same on XP and 2003, same goes for Vista and 2008, but again, I haven't verified this so I can't make it official.

Windows 2000 users should keep in mind that bits 14-18 weren't assigned a function before XP so they will be useless.

- UPMCalc window hogs a big chunk of screen and is not resizable/scrollable so it isn't suitable for resolutions < 1024x768.

Legal-like stuff:

UPMCalc is freeware - share it but don't sell it, try it but don't buy it. The author, which is me, takes no responsibility for the actions of his program or people who use it.

2010 Andrea Milanovic aka aerDNA

Isn't it peculiar that you post the app with only a reference to "UserPreferencesMask" which is, in your own words "a cryptic registry entry"?

VERY nice work!

jaclaz

[aerDNA]

True, it doesn't hurt to say what UserPreferencesMask is. Thanks.

[GrofLuigi]

Really nice app. I always wondered how come nobody created something practical that dealt with this and other cryptic registry values (StuckRects2, ShellState, CabinetState, SmoothMouseXCurve, PowerPolicies...) in an easy and humanly understandable way. TweakUI has some of it, but not all. Maybe idea for your next app?

BTW, it matches my calculated value from years ago when there wasn't so much information to be found on Internet. If you're curious, it's 30 00 00 80.

Svaka čast!

GL

[aerDNA]

Hvala!

I just made some minor updates to the documentation. This usually doesn't warrant a new program version but since the documentation is an integral part of UPMCalc, here you go:

UPMCalc_1.0.1.zip

[deathcon1]

Very good this little program, works very well, and I want post here all keys that disable all visual effects of Windows. With UPMCal, everything is disable, unitl the colors bars of windows without gradient.

Save as: disable all visual effects of windows.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

;0 = Let Windows choose what's best for my computer

;1 = Adjust for best appearance

;2 = Adjust for best performance

;3 = Custom

[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects]

"VisualFXSetting"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects]

"VisualFXSetting"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects]

"VisualFXSetting"=dword:00000003

; VISUAL TWEAKS

; Use Classic Start Menu

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

"NoSimpleStartMenu"=dword:00000001

; Show translucent selection rectangle

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

"ListviewAlphaSelect"=dword:00000000

;Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

"ListviewShadow"=dword:00000000

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

; Use background image for each folder type

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

"ListviewWatermark"=dword:00000000

; Slide taskbar buttons

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

"TaskbarAnimations"=dword:00000000

; Smooth Edges Of Screen Fonts 0=no, 2=yes

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]

"FontSmoothing"="2"

; Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing

;[HKEY_USERS\.Default\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]

;"MinAnimate"="0"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]

"MinAnimate"="0"

; Themes 00000002=Automatic,00000004=Disabled

; Same effect as Use Visual Styles On Windows And Buttons

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Themes]

"Start"=dword:00000004

; XP Visual Effects "adjust for..."

; mine = to TweakUI General Section Options, all off except optimize hard disk

;UserPreferencesMask appearance=1e,2c,07,80, performance=10,00,01,80, mine=10,00,03,80

;(All off = 90,12,01,80 All on = 9e,3e,05,80)

;"UserPreferencesMask"=hex:9e,3e,05,80

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]

"UserPreferencesMask"=hex:00,00,01,A0

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\ListviewShadow]

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

; Disable Ballon Tips

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

"EnableBalloonTips"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

"StartButtonBalloonTip"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

"ShowInfoTip"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\tips]

"Show"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

"FolderContentsInfoTip"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\AnimateMinMax]

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\ComboBoxAnimation]

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\CursorShadow]

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\DragFullWindows]

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\DropShadow]

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\FontSmoothing]

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\ListBoxSmoothScrolling]

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\ListviewAlphaSelect]

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\ListviewWatermark]

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\MenuAnimation]

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\SelectionFade]

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\TaskbarAnimations]

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\Themes]

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\TooltipAnimation]

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\WebView]

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

;Different background for each folder

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

"ListviewWatermark"=dword:00000000

;Desabilita TaskbarGlomming

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

"TaskbarGlomming"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\AnimateMinMax]

"Type"="checkbox"

"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30534"

"SPIActionGet"=dword:00000048

"SPIActionSet"=dword:00000049

"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000

"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

"HelpID"="windows.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\ComboBoxAnimation]

"Type"="checkbox"

"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30539"

"SPIActionGet"=dword:00001004

"SPIActionSet"=dword:00001005

"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000

"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

"HelpID"="windows.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\CursorShadow]

"Type"="checkbox"

"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30531"

"SPIActionGet"=dword:0000101a

"SPIActionSet"=dword:0000101b

"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000

"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

"HelpID"="windows.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\DragFullWindows]

"Type"="checkbox"

"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30533"

"SPIActionGet"=dword:00000026

"SPIActionSet"=dword:00000025

"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000

"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

"HelpID"="windows.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\DropShadow]

"Type"="checkbox"

"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30532"

"SPIActionGet"=dword:00001024

"SPIActionSet"=dword:00001025

"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000

"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultByAlphaTest"=dword:00000000

"HelpID"="windows.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\FontSmoothing]

"Type"="checkbox"

"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30535"

"SPIActionGet"=dword:0000004a

"SPIActionSet"=dword:0000004b

"CheckedValue"=dword:00000001

"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000001

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

"DefaultByFontTest"=dword:00000001

"HelpID"="windows.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\ListBoxSmoothScrolling]

"Type"="checkbox"

"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30544"

"SPIActionGet"=dword:00001006

"SPIActionSet"=dword:00001007

"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000

"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000000

"HelpID"="windows.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\ListviewAlphaSelect]

"Type"="checkbox"

"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30540"

"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced"

"ValueName"="ListviewAlphaSelect"

"CheckedValue"=dword:00000001

"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000000

"DefaultByAlphaTest"=dword:00000001

"HelpID"="windows.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\ListviewShadow]

"Type"="checkbox"

"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30541"

"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced"

"ValueName"="ListviewShadow"

"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000

"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000000

"DefaultByAlphaTest"=dword:00000001

"HelpID"="windows.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\ListviewWatermark]

"Type"="checkbox"

"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30543"

"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced"

"ValueName"="ListviewWatermark"

"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000

"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000000

"MinimumMEM"=dword:00000054

"HelpID"="windows.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\MenuAnimation]

"Type"="checkbox"

"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30536"

"SPIActionGet"=dword:00001002

"SPIActionSet"=dword:00001003

"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000

"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000000

"DefaultByAlphaTest"=dword:00000001

"HelpID"="windows.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\SelectionFade]

"Type"="checkbox"

"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30546"

"SPIActionGet"=dword:00001014

"SPIActionSet"=dword:00001015

"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000

"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000000

"DefaultByAlphaTest"=dword:00000001

"HelpID"="windows.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\TaskbarAnimations]

"Type"="checkbox"

"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30530"

"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001

"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced"

"ValueName"="TaskbarAnimations"

"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000

"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000000

"DefaultByAlphaTest"=dword:00000001

"HelpID"="windows.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\Themes]

"Type"="checkbox"

"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30538"

"CLSID"="{AABE54D4-6E88-4c46-A6B3-1DF790DD6E0D}"

"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000

"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000000

"HelpID"="windows.hlp#51140"

"NoApplyDefault"=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\TooltipAnimation]

"Type"="checkbox"

"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30547"

"SPIActionGet"=dword:00001016

"SPIActionSet"=dword:00001017

"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000

"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000000

"DefaultByAlphaTest"=dword:00000001

"HelpID"="windows.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\WebView]

"Type"="checkbox"

"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30537"

"CLSID"="{01E2E7C0-2343-407f-B947-7E132E791D3E}"

"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000

"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001

"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000000

"HelpID"="windows.hlp#51140"

; Force The Control Panel Classic Display Style

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

"ForceClassicControlPanel"=dword:00000001

; Force The Control Panel Classic Display Style

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

"ForceClassicControlPanel"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState]

"Settings"=hex:0c,00,02,00,1b,01,e7,77,60,00,00,00

"FullPath"=dword:00000001

"FullPathAddress"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM]

"ColorizationOpaqueBlend"=dword:00000001