The Great Geek Manual

Despite the fact that I am a dedicated Firefox user, I do keep a fully patched and updated version of Internet Explorer at hand as well. Sort of like the same way you keep both your children around, even though you only love one of them. And, as is so often the case when Microsoft chooses to steal a feature of some superior piece of software and brands it as innovation, I’m having a damned hard time adjusting to the changes.

There are any number of things that irritate me about IE7, but the most urgent complaint I have is the extremely inconvenient location of the address bar. In IE7, the address bar is at the very top of the browser, just beneath the title bar, making me feel as if I should be saying “excuse me” to the menu bar each time I reach up to type in an address, like I’m grabbing the butter at an over-crowded dinner table.

Luckily, while Microsoft software, like the Borg, may be ugly, aggressive, and utterly devoid of human sentiment, it is also adaptable. With a simple tweak to the registry, the address and menu bars can be returned to their proper order. Here’s how it’s done:

• If you have all the technical aptitude of Dr. Smith, you may want to backup your registry before trying this. As a matter of fact, if you’re old enough to have caught that allusion without checking the link, you may want to stop now…
• If IE7 is running, close it before continuing.

• Open the registry editor by hitting Start, choosing Run, typing “regedit,” and clicking “OK”
• Navigate the registry editor by clicking on the following folders on the right hand side of the editor: HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ InternetExplorer \ Toolbar \ WebBrowser

• Make certain that the WebBrowser file is selected on the left-hand side of the registry editor.
• Right-click in the right-hand side of the registry editor and click New and DWORD Value

• Rename the new Value “ITBar7Position” by right clicking on the value that you’ve just created and selecting Rename.

• Double click “ITBar7Position”
• Enter “1″ under Value Data
• Select “Decimal” under Base

• Once you’ve reopened IE7 your menu bar should be back at the top of the browser, with the address bar beneath.

Warning: Serious problems can arise when Window’s registry is modified. When possible, back up your registry before making any changes, and be prepared to consult with an IT professional if you experience difficulty. Try this at your own risk!