Database Users

Reg Tweak FILES: Post/Get them here

Let's start a thread of all the reg tweaks ppl have come up with. If they are saved as .reg files (to an SD), we can install them with a mere double-click by using TRE (options>associate), and anyone can contribute to this post WITHOUT having to build .cab files! Why is this kewl; cos when u hard reset it's a real ball-ache to go back into all the forums to find the tweaks u applied and to navigate thro TRE to re-apply them all. This applies particuarly to settings (Owner info etc). Over and above, we are no longer beholden to tweak shareware, but have full and instant control over our settings.
Each tweak should have 2 reg files; Apply the tweak, and remove the tweak (if possible). In this manner, we can have a directory of reg files, and can turn on and off tweaks with a simple d.click.
Attached is a basic set I've compiled. Please let everyone know if any are a problem (ie perhaps whole key gets replaced and overrides something u have already changed). Files described below:
[*]Reg Date_In_Titlebar ON.reg
Adds the date to the title bar, with format according to your short-date format under settiings>regional (or found manually changed in another Tweak I'll cover later). I do NOT have a .reg file that will undo (ie delete) this new key, but it's easy to see what key is being added so u can delete it. <Credit: Well known PPC tweak - I probably learnt from toenailed>
Can someone please find out where we can change the font for this - it's a horrible bold font that doesn't fit in the space available?
[*]Reg Font_Menu_+_Pop_700 ON.reg
Change menus and popups to a smaller font. Nice size, makes VGA look more VGA-like, yet not so small that it fails cleartype nor looks daft. Requires a reset. <Credit: Well known PPC tweak - I probably learnt from toenailed>
[*]Reg Font_Menu_+_Pop_900 DEFAULT.reg
Reset above change to default of 900
[*]Reg Font_System_700 ON.reg
Changes system font to 2 pts smaller. I find that dialog boxes with radio buttons got a bit wierd, and you don;t get much more screen estate height cos of icon sizes staying the same in file lists, so I don't bother with this tweak. Requires a reset. <Credit: Well known PPC tweak - I probably learnt from toenailed>
[*]Reg Font_System_900 DEFAULT.reg
Turn above off
[*]Reg GPRS_+_3G_Always _On DEFAULT.reg
Awesome tweak to make sure ur phone connects to GPRS/3G and stays there. However, you'll want to switch this off overnight etc, which is the main reason I created this post and these reg files. NOTE: you will absolutely HAVE to replace the "MTN SA Web" bit with the name of your connection which you will find in this key using TRE
<Credit: BrettS http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=30277>
[*]Reg GPRS_+_3G_Always _On ON.reg
Turn off the above. Remember to change connection name in file
[*]Reg PIE_Homepage_Default.reg
When u press the E (explorer) keyboard key u go to clubimate homepage - annoying. This resets that hard button to whatever u want (current reg file is windows\default.htm)
<Credit: I forget, someone on clubimate forums>
[*]Reg TerminalServices_Cache_Larger DEFAULT.reg
AWESOME improvement in Terminal Services client horrible black blocks. Increases cache sizez - I did not notice an increase in traffic/cost
<Credit: Carnivor from MS KB http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=29996>
[*]Reg TerminalServices_Cache_Larger ON.reg
Turns above off
More coming as I go thro the wiki and toenailed tweak posts and extract usefull ones for us lonely Universal users...

can you add the actual keys to here?
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Universal_Registry
cos of this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=30396

Doh! That post came up after I started this thread.
Still this thread is useful for the actual .reg files to same n00bies some time (and to save me time too). I'll make sure everything here is duplicated there tho.

Here are a few more .reg files:
Several versions of date_in_title_bar (covered above)
Hide_Screen_Rotation icon
Hide that icon that allows u to rotate screen - but JJ does it automatically so Icon is not so necessary
Regional_settings
These are for me - u should edit file in text editor to customise 4 yourself. Best part is my short date format that keeps date in title bar small and visible
Ringtone_settings
Customise as above
Screen_Speed_Glyph_Cache
Double your screen cache. COsts a LITTLE memory, and improves screen size
Screen_font_'smaller'
Set screen font size to "smaller". This can be changed in "settings"m and I only include it here in line with my suggestion that we have a collection of files to run quickly on reset. You may want to customise as above
SIP_Settings. Ditto
All in updated zip file.

I would really appreciate if anyone can find a way to get rid of the Last Call in the dialer screen... I know its somewhere hidden in Registry, but I dont seems to be finding a way to get tru it...
Having the Last Dialed No. showing rite up on the Dialer Screen is really bothering and if you happened to press the phone button by mistake twice there we go the last dialed no. has been dialed already for you....

Bump: no-one contributing to this learning?

haven't found anything else worth posting yet m8, u got the best ones already :wink:

craigiecraigie4: Thanks for these - great idea!
I have a suggestion:
HKCU/ControlPanel/Backlight sets the backlight duration for the keyboard (in seconds). It's available through the control panel, but I like it set to more than the CP maximum of 10 seconds. Sorry - I don't know how to create a reg file.
To reset, choose another value in the backlight control panel applet.
Don't have any others to add though

Found another one:
Change the width of the vertical scroll bar and the height of the horizontal scroll bar so they take less room on the screen:
HKLM\System\GWE
Change cxVScr to (say) 10 to make vertical scrollbar narrower. Default value is 14
Change cyHScr to (say) 10 to make horizontal scrollbar narrower. Default value is 14
This change affects various scroll options in the system including the up/down arrows in selection boxes. 10 is a nice size.

This one is in this forum:
from davidberrysmith
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any body remember these reg tweaks from himalaya? they still work
*** Speed Up Your Windows Mobile Pocket PC.
1. Open your registry editor o_n your Pocket PC
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\GDI\GLYPHCACHE\
3. Change the value of 'limit' from 8192 to 32768
4. Close registry editor and soft reset.
*** disable start menu animation
Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\GWE\Menu\
Change the "AniType" value from 6 to 0.
_________________
i-mate jasjar
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

SiliconS said:
Found another one:
Change the width of the vertical scroll bar and the height of the horizontal scroll bar so they take less room on the screen:
HKLM\System\GWE
Change cxVScr to (say) 10 to make vertical scrollbar narrower. Default value is 14
Change cyHScr to (say) 10 to make horizontal scrollbar narrower. Default value is 14
This change affects various scroll options in the system including the up/down arrows in selection boxes. 10 is a nice size.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice one dude. I can't make the .reg file cos I can only create reg files of the entire key, and there are too many other things under GWE that users may have changed.

Internet Explorer
Somewhere in those forums I found the IE reg hack to make mine 5.5, this helps connecting to my bank account and viewing other secured sites.

read this somewhere
To change the ability to receive files via Bluetooth (OBEX)
The setting is at 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Obex'
The 'IsEnabled' DWORD value should be set to '1' to enable OBEX and '0' to disable OBEX.
For example, to enable the ability to receive fles via Bluetooth
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Obex\IsEnabled = 1
says receive so i dont know about send, try it!! might be it
But apparently now this is the same feature as the receive incoming beams setting in connections.

Yes, I know that's not free but 90% of all this hacks have been included in Tweaks2K2. And the other 10% are about to be included :twisted:

Yeah, true. Idea of this thread was to have a facility whereby a hard reset can be quickly restored to a working device - install a few basic apps, run the .reg files, and there u go. Takes me about half an hour from HR thro to up and running perfectly.

craigiecraigie4 said:
Yeah, true. Idea of this thread was to have a facility whereby a hard reset can be quickly restored to a working device - install a few basic apps, run the .reg files, and there u go. Takes me about half an hour from HR thro to up and running perfectly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With your .reg files as inspiration I'm just about getting there in the same way. I've written down all the steps and I just run through them. I've done this since I had my XDA2 and it makes a hard reset so much less traumatic:
Code:
Hard reset. Wait for Today screen then soft reset.
Connect cable to ActiveSync. Set up guest connection.
Turn off beams, error reporting
Set basic clock accuracy
Copy Step 1 files to root of PPC [These are the CABs for the programs I install]
Run CABs. Leave O2 Connections CAB. Put gps.CAB and PIMAddin onto storage card
Run TRE registry editor. Associate .reg files to TRE
Open the .reg file [This applies my registry settings. See below]
Run O2 connections CAB
Copy all Step 2 files to root of PPC [This adds shortcuts to StorageCard-installed programs to my Start Menu and gives me my freeware email client and PZP icons and profiles]
Run SDK Certs CAB
Run OzVGA. Change all fonts to same size as qVGA
PPC: edit registry: browse to HKLM\ControlPanel\GPS Settings. Delete the DWORD marked "hide"
CPL > Personal > Buttons: match Button 2 to [Task switcher], Button 4 to <Rotate Screen>; Set button lock
CPL > Personal > Menus: ActiveSync, File Explorer, Internet Explorer, nPOPw, Pocket Informant, Task Manager, TomTom Navigator
CPL > Personal > Owner: set owner information
CPL > Personal > Phone: change band to GSM
CPL > Personal > Today: set items to Date, PZP, PocketPlus, PocketBreeze, Messaging; set theme to Windows Default
CPL > System > Clock: Show time on all screens
CPL > System > Regional: Set locale to UK
CPL > Connections > GPS: set program port COM0
Soft reset
Set password for PPC
PC: backup previously sync'ed files folder
PC ActiveSync: delete previous partnership. Don't delete sync'ed files folder
CPL > System > About: Set DeviceID = XDAExec
Connect PPC and PC with cable
Sync only Contacts, Calendar (all), Tasks, Favourites
Sync files. Replace the items on the device
PocketBreeze: import settings
PocketPlus: import settings
PocketInformant: run and let it fanny about
PocketWeather (on PocketBreeze tab): import settings
Run ListPro. Enter registration code
Disconnect from PC
Set up phone speed dials
Set up voicedial tags
Set up ActiveSync via Bluetooth to Workstation
Set up bond to headset
Set up bond to GPS thingy. Choose Serial Port as profile
Start TomTom Navigator. Run through startup.
InternetExplorer: sort out view settings. Set default page to about:blank
Choose Transcriber input method. Import settings file
This is my .reg file that does almost everything I need done in one step:
Code:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ControlPanel\GPS Settings]
"Group"=dword:00000002
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\Backlight]
"QKeyLedTimeout"=dword:0000001e
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client]
"Keyboard Layout"="00000409"
"BitmapPersistCacheSize"=dword:00000001
"BitmapCacheSize"=dword:00000015
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\GDI\GLYPHCACHE]
"limit"=dword:00004000
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\nls\overrides]
"SSDte"="d/M "
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\OEM\KEYBD]
"PieHomePage"="about:blank"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shell]
"TBOpt"=hex:\
13,00,00,00
It makes a massive difference using commercial software that has a reliable import/export process for the settings and this, IMHO, is usually the biggest difference between paid-for software and freeware alternatives.

Silicon, don't u want to re-post your post here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=31697
We need more of these 'standard' configs to help new users get up n running without giving up on their universal.

dude, your screen - how?
craigiecraigie4
how did you make htc look like that?
is it standard? emailable? I don't really want the merc style if it can be changed, but its a nice screen all the same

Re: dude, your screen - how?
simon_darley said:
craigiecraigie4
how did you make htc look like that?
is it standard? emailable? I don't really want the merc style if it can be changed, but its a nice screen all the same
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't want merc!! well u can just f off then! ;-)
It's WisbarAdvance2 with WAD - see another post I started in this forum. u can put in on any universal, with whatever walpaper u want, and there are plenty of free skins

Re: dude, your screen - how?
craigiecraigie4 said:
It's WisbarAdvance2 with WAD - see another post I started in this forum. u can put in on any universal, with whatever walpaper u want, and there are plenty of free skins
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whatever it is, it's distracting to have such a big picture in your signature in such text-based forums.
Sorry craigiecraigie4. Don't mean to offend. Just MHO.

Can anyone help with any of these???

Hi guys! Had my M5000 for about 10 days now and finally getting used to it but I wonder if anyone canm help with any of the following questions??
1. How do we edit the dictionary?? I can't even find how to add words and that would be REALLY handy as I normally use the phone pad for typing!
2. Can we select a default input method? (I use the phone pad but it always reverts to popup keyboard)
3. Can we change what the soft keys to on the today screen? (I'd dearly love to change Calendar to Messaging!)
4. I prefer to keep event, program and notification sounds all turned on but can I disable the start button click and the noise it makes when opening programs or settings??
5. My device is set to turn off after three mins - Is there a way to make it turn on again when I press ANY button? (I swear the power button moves in the dark lol)
6. When I go into my games menu it takes just over 40 seconds to list them all (I have about 20 games all installed on my memory card) - Does anyone know what might cause this??
7. Is there a way to get these phones to receive files over bluetooth from other make of phone? Mates with both Nokias and Sony have tried sending me pictures over BT but no luck
Think that's it for now - Sorry if any of these are stupid questions with obvious answers that I've missed but I'm pretty sure I've tried every damn menu on the device now lol! I'm also hoping that there's things here that other people would also like ot know!
Thanks

1. The dictionary can have words added to it by making a document in Word (named, for example: 'Personal dictionary') and saving it. Any word you add will be in the dictionary from that point on (as long as the document is not deleted).
3. Try registry hack here: http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Universal_Registry
5. Try 'Settings' - 'Buttons' - Lock tab - 'Do not lock buttons'

4. Not sure if there's a reg hack for it, I've searched for the filenames below and their paths to no avail. but the only other way would be to remove the following files from \Windows:
hwandsw.wav
MenuPop.wav
If you remove or copy these to a different location, then you won't hear anything. During the old XDA / XDA2 and i phases, I used to swap the WM2002/3 sounds for PC Windows noises. Later, when it came to 2005, I used the set contained on here as they were much nicer.
6. If they're on the SD card then presumably it has to search the SD for all of the .exe files. This could be improved by perhaps defragging your card (StorageTools is a good app for this). Another thing may be to try creating links to your game .exes in a folder on the PHONE, and replace the Start > Programs > Games icons with links to the PHONE copies. You can add / remove these by going to \Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Games
7. http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Universal_Registry - look for the section entitled To change the ability to receive files via Bluetooth (OBEX)
Ant

Hi
The registry obex 'hack' does exactly the same thing as going to settings, comms, beam, and clicking the selection box 'recieve all beams' Beam = Ir AND Bluetooth.
I find that the button lock setting does not work. With it set to 'do not lock' you still cant press any button to switch the unit on
Nigel

Thanks for the tips guys
Maybe I should have been more specific with the dictionary thing - I want to be able to add words to the predictive text (Town/friends names for example) - Does adding them to the dictionary do this??

Yes, adding any words to the dictionary adds them to predictive text, as well. The predictive text uses the dictionary.

Plus you'll find that as you type more and more, it will automatically add words you spell out it doesn't recognise.
Ant

Thanks guys - Especially for the registry link - Some REALLY great stuff there
hmmmmm... One quickie though:
For example, to change the left-hand softkey to start Pocket Excel you would set
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Today\Keys\112\(Default) = Pocket Excel
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Today\Keys\112\Open = \windows\pxl.exe
Anyone know how I set this to open contacts???

How to remove installed input methods on Windows Mobile 5

Hi all,
I don't have any use for the input methods "Block Recogniser", "Letter Recogniser" or "Transcriber" and I'd like to remove them.
I've recently installed another virtual keyboard, and I can't get it to load - I've been lead to believe this can occur if you've got too many keyboards loaded (only the default ones + the CoPilot keyboard) or too much stuff loaded in the Today screen (*cough* maybe LOL).
Is it just a registry setting (like the today screen) or is it something more fundamental?
Thanks
Jon

I dont thnk you can remove the defaults SIP as they are in the ROM, however you may remove them from the list. Check the wiki at WM5 section for the reg tweak to it.
As for your second question, I'm not sure, but I have 3 additional SIP there, it seems working just fine, and I have 3-4 things on my Today screen.

Ok, now the other question, how to manually ADD SIP? Other than copying files, one may need some regitstry tweaks... Any idea?
For example, i want to add japanese SIP to English ROM...

Use a CAB manager to open up the SIP CAB installation file, and look at what they've done.
BTW, a 'friendly' warning, doing things on the SIP registry can potentially freeze your phone upon any softreset, hence making your phone useless without hardreset. So, make a backup before doing anything and prepare for a hardreset.

A few notes:
1) All SIPs are registered under HKCR\CLSID\{SIP CLSID} If you do a search of those keys looking for value containing SIP name as it appears on the menu you will find it. To disable SIP delete its key.
But as hanmin already pointed out: Be careful when messing with registry and SIPs in particular!
2) Generally built in SIPs don't count for the "too many SIP" scenario. If you have 5 or more 3rd party SIPs installed that could be the problem. Other wise it might be missing DLL, bad registry or internal problem with the software. Also in AKU 2 and up devices 3rd party SIPs may stop loading after a while (like a day of use or so) until you soft reset device.
This can be prevented by toggling through them on startup. There is an app on the forum here somewhere to do just that.
3) SIP registry (assuming it doesn't need custom settings) looks like this:
HKCR\CLSID\{SIP CLSID}
default (string) SIP Name
HKCR\CLSID\{SIP CLSID}\InProcServer32
default (string) sipdll.dll
HKCR\CLSID\{SIP CLSID}\IsSIPInputMethod
default (dword) 1
Unfortunately, usually there is no way to find SIPs CLSID from the outside to create the key.
However, every SIP must contain a DllRegisterServer function, which when called will create the needed registry entries. If you can find something similar to regsvr32.exe for the PPC you should be able to safely register the SIP.
Once again: putting the DLL under windows and registering the SIP does not guarantee that it will work or that your device recovers from soft reset.
Be sure to backup your data!
{ok, I think that's enough fun with styles and colors for now}

You could also try Tweaks2K2.NET. With this program you can hide the SIP's you don't want to show on your device

Thanks for the info levenum. I will analyse working Japanese ROM SIP now... Will report if find something usefull...

Does removing an SIP from the list make it pop up faster when clicking the arrow to bring up the list??

Extend you ProgrammLauncher menu

Last night i was playing around with the Program Launcher menu and discovered that you can extend it by simply adding some values in the registry.
The registry key to do all this is:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/HTC/Manilla/ProgramLauncher
Standard the subkeys are numbered from 0 to 29.
You can extend your Launcher menu by adding a new group of 3 empty program buttons by adding 30, 31 and 32 (so new subkeys). Always add keys in groups of 3. So 33, 34 and 35 and so on. Don't know if there's a limit on this one.
A number subkey should contain the following values:
String - DispName
String - IconPath
DWORD - IsReadOnly, dec value 0
String - Path
You can leave the string values open because they are automatically filled in when you add a new shortcut.
Don't forget to adjust the following value also. It's in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/HTC/Manilla/ProgramLauncher/totalItemCount (dword, dec value), change to the max number op empty program places. I tried with 50.
You can now disable TF3D and re-enable it again to see the new empty program buttons or you can simply soft reset your device (reboot windows mobile).
This should work perfectly. But some problem I'm having is, after having installed the cabfile with which you can wipe the first 4 (unremovable) program shortcuts, I'm not able to add any program shortcuts anymore. Well i can select a program which i like in the program launcher as a shortcut, but the shortcut is not added to the launcher menu. I uninstalled the cabfile, and rebooted windows mobile, but the problem isn't solved with that. Some one know a solution to this?

TheWizzard2203 said:
Last night i was playing around with the Program Launcher menu and discovered that you can extend it by simply adding some values in the registry.
The registry key to do all this is:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/HTC/Manilla/ProgramLauncher
Standard the subkeys are numbered from 0 to 29.
You can extend your Launcher menu by adding a new group of 3 empty program buttons by adding 30, 31 and 32 (so new subkeys). Always add keys in groups of 3. So 33, 34 and 35 and so on. Don't know if there's a limit on this one.
A number subkey should contain the following values:
String - DispName
String - IconPath
DWORD - IsReadOnly, dec value 0
String - Path
You can leave the string values open because they are automatically filled in when you add a new shortcut.
You can now disable TF3D and re-enable it again to see the new empty program buttons or you can simply soft reset your device (reboot windows mobile).
This should work perfectly. But some problem I'm having is, after having installed the cabfile with which you can wipe the first 4 (unremovable) program shortcuts, I'm not able to add any program shortcuts anymore. Well i can select a program which i like in the program launcher as a shortcut, but the shortcut is not added to the launcher menu. I uninstalled the cabfile, and rebooted windows mobile, but the problem isn't solved with that. Some one know a solution to this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great tip!
I have the same problem that the shortcuts are not added though...
What does work is to add the path and name manually...
To easily create more keys you can also export 1 key and edit the key name in notepad (increase the number by 1) and import the key again.
I think you need to edit some more keys.
Could it be you need to add the program path as a string value in the root of ProgramLauncher as well?
At least I increased the totalItemcount to 32.

of course you can add the shortcuts manually through the registry, but that's not quite the solution. Are there more people having this problem?

Yeah I have the same problem, I get empty boxes to add more programs but can't seem to make the button register a program unless done manually via registry.
Great find though, Thanks

i use mine own cabfile, works great, to find it goto xperia rom forum, and one of the sticky post is called FTP, by mostberg, goto mostbergs ftp and goto rom, touch x, addons, there you will finjd the cabs needed for top icons, not home atm, so cant post the cab right now sorry, but goto ftp there it is...

Is this the menu you see when long-clicking on the Hang up key?

Deleted. Sorry.

Thanks
Thanks a lot. I've finally reached to remove that "Business mail" locked shortcut on my TD2. I can now replace it by another one !

here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=534596

smaberg said:
i use mine own cabfile, works great, to find it goto xperia rom forum, and one of the sticky post is called FTP, by mostberg, goto mostbergs ftp and goto rom, touch x, addons, there you will finjd the cabs needed for top icons, not home atm, so cant post the cab right now sorry, but goto ftp there it is...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I cant find the file...
i ave add 6 new space for program in the start menu but i cant add the programs... i add the link in the registry, but doesnt work...
help!

any working solution yet??

[TUT]Baby steps with ceregeditor - comparing for registry changes

A brief 'how to' about finding which registry keys control simple settings.
(There are other methods and software, but the principal of save file, make changes, compare to file is common throughout)
HKCR - Hot Key Classes Root - not really sure, never really looked though, i always ignore it.
HKCU - Hot Key Current User - Holds short term info and user settings for the most part. Expect lots of changes found when you search this branch.
HKLM - Hot Key Local machine - Generally hard system settings, pretty static.
Get 'ceregeditor' and install it,
connect the phone to usb and allow it to connect to activesync,
in ceregeditor click connection - connect, jump to tools - unlock registry
(skip this step unless you get an error pops up later saying you cant make changes)
Now, down the left you see your registry main keys in a standard tree layout, HKCR, HKCU, HKLM
and on the right, the keys and values within the selected branch when you select on the left.
So, you want to find out which registry key controls, for example, phone keypad tones, long, short, off.
Select HKCU on the left, right click and choose export - and save it as something, HKCU would be the obvious choice, it doesn't matter.
Do the same for HKLM.
It will save all the sub keys of wehatever you select on the left.
you can select to start from sub keys by selecting the appropriate key in the left column, assuming you know which part of the registry you want to search.
most hardware settings are held in HKLM, with things like user preffs found in HKCU, but be warned HKCU changes frequently, so expect a long list of changes when you run a registry compare.)
Once you have saved the files (in all honesty, i dont create them both, usually i check HKLM first, and if i dont find what im looking for only then do i check HKCU)
make your change on your phone
(set phonepad keytones to off, for instance) then back in ceregeditor, right click the selected registry key and choose reload selected.
This makes sure ceregeditor is now aware of the new registry value from the phone.
Now go to compare - compare registry.
It will ask you for a file, point it to the one you just saved, and let it run, , ,it will tell you what keys have changed.
You may occasionally get unconnected changes thrown up, but use a little common sense and you can usually tell what is usefull and what isnt.
In the results window, down the left are the items that have changed, with details of the change on the right.
In our example with the keytones, (not a great example since the target is in the HKCU and so is lost among lots of other changes) you should be able to figure out that the keytone settings are held in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\Sounds\Keypress beepmode
Its usually fairly obvious which is the key you are after amid the noise of random system state changes.
When you find your target, put a tick in the box and hit export. You can now save that key (or keys if there are several changes you want to save)
Save it as .cereg and you will be able to simply run that file on your phone to apply those settings.
Or, with wincecabmanager (my other recommended piece of software alongside ceregeditor) its easy to import the reg file into a cab. You can keep adding to that cab as you find and extract more personalised settings.
Keep it in your autoinstall folder on your sd card, and it will always be applied when you hard reset.
My own 'my tweaks.cab' file is fat with various settings, tweaks, etc and i still add to it regularly.
It's true that it's often easier to trawl <searchengine></searchengine> and find the answer, and maybe even a cab to turn it on and off, but its a nice way to start p0king at your registry and seeing how things work, plus you can make one cab for yourself, adding tweaks one by one, without remembering to store loads of different ones and re apply them when you restore/hard reset.

you know, i've never thought of exporting the whole hkcu or hklm directory before. i'm going to have to try that. it'll be interesting to read through a lot of that.
I too have a registry tweak CAB for both my Wizard & Rhodium. Haven't made one for the HD2 yet, since most of the tweaks I've made were through one of the many different tweaking apps.
also, what's this about an autoinstall folder?
*edit* disregard the last part. I always use official roms so the autoinstall doesn't apply