Microsoft states the following....

"TweakUI is intended for the advanced user..."

"Changes made in TweakUI change settings in the registry and can affect the behavior and appearance of Windows. While this provides a greater level of customization, it also presents a greater risk of making changes that will leave Windows in an unusable state..."

"This tool is not a part of Windows and is not supported by Microsoft. For this reason, Microsoft Technical Support is unable to answer questions about TweakUI.."

"By using this unsupported tool, you are using them at your own risk..."

What an wonderful set of opening statements for the beast that kicked this whole category off! But is it really that bad? Is it horribly flawed? Is it an evil nasty invention created to wreak unsuspecting havoc on your computer??! Ahhh no, nothing quite that dramatic. As we've stated before there seems to be a 50/50 split between user and creator responsibility so what we've done is compile the problems from both sides... it's up to you to decide which 50 they fall in to.

Note:
Do NOT use the TweakUI Windows 98 version on Windows Me
Unlike Windows 98 TweakUI was NOT supplied with either the 98SE or ME so stop looking for it on the CD

Before Installing...
Scared? Don't be. Go forth, but go forth with care as TweakUI is basically a userfriendly Registry editor so if the thought of touching your registry gives you the heebeegeebies or leaves you in a cold sweat then perhaps you should get a bit of one on one advice before you start using it... and it wouldn't hurt to practice backing up and restoring your registry just in case you need it (see "Before Making Changes" further down this page).
If you have a previous version then you MUST uninstall that first
Double click My Computer
Double click Control Panel
Double click Add/Remove Programs
Navigate you way down to TweakUI, click the file
Hit Add/Remove
Restart your computer
Now your ready to install the new version


We get a fair amount of mail stating (quite adamantly!) that TweakUi doesn't work because it either...
1. Has disappeared after it was installed
2. It just sits there doing nothing
3. Some bits are missing

To address the "disappearing" problem...
The default location for unpacking/unzipping TweakUI is C:\Windows\Temp so if you've lost it navigate your way there to locate it.
Another reason is a typo in the path that you entered. The fastest way to track it down is to hit Windows Key+F and in the search for field type in one of the unzipped file names the easiest being tweakui.inf
Lastly if you've lost it after the 'install' stage waste no time, head straight to Control Panel where you'll see the icon sitting there waiting for you


To address the "sits there doing nothing"
umm.... try right clicking tweakui.inf, select Install.

"Bits missing"???
the following files should be contained in your download
tweakui.inf
tweakui.cpl
tweakui.cnt
tweakui.hlp
there is NO .exe file nor should there be one!


The necessary Setup Instructions are as follows...
Download the file double click it (tweakui.exe) to execute the set up In Unzip folder to type in the location or use the default setting of C:\Windows\Temp Navigate your way to the chosen folder Locate the file tweakui.inf right click it and choose Install Read Introducing TweakUI close the window when you have finished Setup completes installation Make you way to your Control Panel folder and there it is ready for action


The 'Help' File...
"There isn't one!" I hear you cry but actually there is one... of sorts.
Launch TweakUI
Select the Mouse tab
Hit the Tips button down the bottom
This will lauch the Help Topic files you're looking for, not that it's extensive but it covers the basics under the following headings...
      About TweakUI
      Using TweakUI
      How To...
      Tips and Tricks
      Troubleshooting
      Issues and Limiations

Before Making Changes...
Before you make ANY changes whatsoever BACKUP your registry!!!! Don't know how? It's simple, so simple there's no excuse not to do it....
Hit Start
Select Run
In the Open box type scanregw
Hit OK
A dialog box will appear telling you if any errors have been found and would you like to back it up, hit YES. A new dialog box appears stating that the backup of registry is complete, hit OK
Now that it's done venture forth and tweak with caution!!!!

Uninstalling...
Never forget this.....Uninstalling TweakUI does NOT restore the changes it's made. If you've made a blunder and you're under the impression that uninstalling tweakUI will restore your computer back to its the original settings you're barking up the wrong tree. If you've made blunder seek help, sort the problem out then if you still want to you can remove the program. If at any stage you do decide to uninstall it, for whatever reason, the same rule applies... you'll need to restore all the original settings BEFORE uninstalling. If you remove the program then realise you missed a setting you'll need to reinstall TweakUI, adjust the setting, then uninstall the program again.



The *&%#@! thing is broken!

Sitting at the very top of the list is....
Windows Search/Find Files and Folders doesn't work anymore!
If you hit Start > Search > Find Files and Folders, type in the information, hit search and nothing happens then you're not alone as this is the most common problem we get that's related to TweakUI. Correcting this problem is simple....just go back to put the setting to where it should be!
Here's how....
Launch TweakUI
Select the Destop tab
Put a check beside Search Results
Hit OK , reboot and your done


Next on the list....
I can't get in my Control Panel any more! (Windows ME)
Does "This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator" look familiar???
This is a bit of nasty one because most people don't think it has anything to do with having 'tweaked' your system... and repairing it involves fixing your regisitry so pay close attention if this is what's happened to you. We've stumbled across a few people who have gone to the extreme, either off their own bat or based on advice from others, and completely reformatted their hard drive in a valiant (although unnecessary!) effort to resolve this problem. Please spread the word.... if you uncheck "Show Control Panel on Start Menu" (on IE tab) this will result in you no longer being able to run control panel applets...meaning you can't get back into control panel to change the setting back, so all that leaves you with is adjusting your registry settings to fix it. Firstly backup your registry in case it all goes to the wind, then
Click the Start Button
Select Run
Type in regedit
navigate your way to...
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer by clicking the + sign to the left of each entry
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\
    Software\
      Microsoft\
        Windows\
          CurrentVersion\
            Policies\
              then open the Explorer folder
and delete the value "NoControlPanel"
Save the changes and Reboot
Supporting Microsoft KnowledgeBase Article [Q274849] Unable to Start Control Panel Tools After You Use TweakUI to Disable "Show Control Panel"


It's grey! It's grey!
W98 users... if you right click the Start Button and all of sudden realise that the Open and Explore options are no longer available then start heading to the Control Panel
Launch TweakUI
Select the My Computer tab
Run down and re-check every single drive that's on the list so that there a no cleared boxes at all
Hit ok and reboot
Supporting Microsoft KnowledgeBase Article [Q188209] Commands Unavailable on Start Button Context Menu


There's a variety of other problems that'll come about due to haphazard tweaking, not as common as the ones above but important none the less so here's some of Microsoft KnowledgeBase articles that'll help...

[Q191579] Missing Drives in My Computer and Windows Explorer

[Q193913] No "Users" Icon Visible in Control Panel

[Q233518] Underlines Disappear from Menu Items

[Q199059] Toolbars Menu Commands Are Unavailable in Windows 98

[Q192400] Active Desktop Command Is Missing When You Right-Click Desktop

[Q130597] Error Message: Folder Does Not Exist

Reference Articles....
[Q145688] Microsoft Windows 95 Power Toys Readme.txt File

[Windows 98 Power Toys.txt File]


Information
Tweak UI v1.33
110KB
[www.microsoft.com - PowerToys - Networking]
Windows 95/98/98SE/2000/NT/ME
Default Location for Unzipping C:\Windows\Temp
Icon resides in the Control Panel

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