Create an Application Alias
October 23rd, 2007You can edit your Windows registry so that you can create aliases for your programs. By creating aliases for your programs, you could create Alias.exe that, when executed, which actually launch and run ActualProgram.exe.
This is great if you’re watching dirty movies at work.
I mean if you are legitimately using a secret software to make sure your kids are not looking at dangerous sites.
How to Create an Application Alias (Registry Tweak Instructions)
For registry fix “Create an Application Alias,” you’ll need to:
Backup your system and its important files before editing your registry.
Now, open your registry. You can open your registry by using the Registry Editor (REGEDIT.exe), which is a program automatically included with most Windows operating systems. The Registry Editor lets you view, edit, and search data within the your system’s registry. You can launch your Registry Editor many ways, and the easiest way to is to click the “Start” button, select “Run,” and type “regedit” inthe “Open” box (click here for a sample image of Registry Editor and instructions on how to use Registry Editor).
When you want to create an alias for one of your programs, create a registry sub-key first and give it the same name of your alias (e.g., “Alias.exe”). Next, change the default value of this registry sub-key to the full file path and name of the program you want executed when you launch the alias (e.g., “c:\Windows\folder\ActualProgram.exe”).
To test your application alias, close your Windows registry. Type the name of your application alias (e.g., “Alias.exe”) in the Start > Run command, and the actual program should execute.
Data Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Value Name: (Default)
Value Data: The actual application’s name (i.e., “c:\Windows\folder\ActualApplications.exe”)
Click here for more about registry settings.
Now you can exit your registry and Registry Editor. You’ll probably need to log out of Windows for this registry tweak to take effect.
Remember:
Modifying your system’s registry can cause serious problems that may require reinstalling your Windows OS. We can’t guarantee any problems resulting from your modifying your Window registry can be fixed. You’re using these manual Windows registry fix or registry repair instructions at your own risk. It’s highly recommended you backup your system and its important files before editing your registry.
Using a Registry Editor to Create an Application Alias
When you want to perform a registry fix such as Create an Application Alias, it’s necessary to understand how to use your Windows system’s Registry Editor.
Once you’ve launched Registry Editor - or “REGEDIT.exe” - you’ll notice on the left-hand side of the Registry Editor window there is a tree of folders, and on the right-hand side of the window the contents - or the “values” - of the folder you’ve selected are displayed.
Similar to when you’re using web browser Internet Explorer, when you want to expand a branch of your registry’s folder tree and see the structure of a section of the registry, you simply double-click on the folder or click once on the plus sign (+). To see the contents of a key - or “folder” - you simply click on the key and view the values listed in the right-hand side of the window.
To add a key or value, you’ll right-click the “Edit” menu with your mouse, then select “New.” You can also rename almost any key and any value in about the same way you’d rename a file on your computer: just right-click the registry key or value and select “Rename,” slowly click on the registry key or value twice, or simply press F2 on your keyboard. You can delete a registry key or registry value by clicking on it to select it and pressing “Delete,” or by right-clicking the registry value or key and selecting “Delete.”
You should backup your registry before you make any changes to it. Editing your registry can be intimidating to you if you’re not a computer expert, and when you change or a delete a critical registry key or registry value, there’s a chance you may need to reinstall your entire Windows operating system, or damage your PC beyond repair.
About Registry Settings
Data Type
The “Data Type” refers to the type of data - or data format - of the registry value. Data types are usually:
- REG_BINARY, in which the value is stored in raw binary code.
- REG_DWORD, which is typically used for boolean values in your registry and is a four-byte number. This registry data type might show in your REGEDIT tool as a decimal or hexadecimal format.
- REG_EXPAND_SZ, which is a string of variables that are replaced when this data type is called to action by software.
- REG_MULTI_SZ, which is used for registry values that are composed of multiple values or lists. In this data format, each of these values or lists are seperated by a null character type.
- REG_SZ, which is used for text values and strings.
System Key
“System Key” stands for the location of a Windows registry value. Usually your computer’s system keys can be found under “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE”, and because of this system keys will affect your entire system.
User Key
Your “User Key” in your registry stands for the location of a specific Windows registry value. Typically, your computer’s user keys can be found under “HKEY_CURRENT_USER”, and because of this, user keys only affect the settings of the current Windows system user or account.
Value Data
“Value Data” refers to what data is acceptable to be written to the registry value.
Value Name
The “Value Name” refers to what the name of a registry value that you’ll be creating or editing. Typically, value names are not case sensitive.
Windows Tips and Tricks with Registry Tweaks and Registry Hacks
Registry hacks and registry tweaks are not limited to improving your system’s processing speed and repairing registry problems — you can also edit your Windows registry to simply enhance your Windows operating system.
And learning how to Create an Application Alias isn’t the only registry tweak for your Windows operating system –there are various registry tweaks you can perform that will also improve your Windows operating system. With a simple edit to your Windows registry, you can set your Windows system to automatically update without having to register your personal information, you can edit your registry and correct your Windows OS registered company or owner, and you can also tweak your registry and modify the folder in which Windows installs new software.
If you’re a computer expert, you can browse the other security registry tweaks below to improve your Windows operating system.
Registry Tweaks Related to Create an Application Alias
» Tweak PC: Easy PC Tweaks
» Set Your Paged and Non-Paged Pool Memory Size
» Make Your Core System Perform Better
» Set Up CoolSwitch to Switch Applications
» Set a Max Amount of Automatic Logins
» Get Windows Updates without Registering
» Make Users Log Into Windows
» Create an Application Alias
» Customize Text at Login
» Open Your "Favorites" in New Window
» Disable the "Open with Web Service" Prompt
» Fixing Freezing from AMD Athlon Processor
» Universal Plug and Play Security Fix
» Optimize Your PCI, AGP, and DRAM Memory
» Rewrite Windows Security and Logon Dialogue Titles
» Stop Spam on Windows Messenger Service
» Customize the Text of "Start" Button
» Control What Tasks Your CPU Puts First
» Slow PC? How to Fix Your Slow PC