Refresh Explorer (apply settings in registry immediately) without restarting Explorer. Most of the time it works, unless you're using bullheaded OS like Windows 8/8.1...

RefreshExplorer.vb

    Declare Function SHChangeNotify Lib "Shell32.dll" (ByVal wEventID As Int32, _
        ByVal uFlags As Int32, ByVal dwItem1 As Int32, ByVal dwItem2 As Int32) As Int32

    Sub RefreshExplorer()
        SHChangeNotify(&H8000000, &H0, 0, 0)
        Dim CLSID_ShellApplication As New Guid("13709620-C279-11CE-A49E-444553540000")
        Dim shellApplicationType As Type = Type.GetTypeFromCLSID(CLSID_ShellApplication, True)
        Dim shellApplication As Object = Activator.CreateInstance(shellApplicationType)
        Dim windows As Object = shellApplicationType.InvokeMember("Windows", _
            System.Reflection.BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, Nothing, shellApplication, New Object() {})
        Dim windowsType As Type = windows.[GetType]()
        Dim count As Object = windowsType.InvokeMember("Count", _
            System.Reflection.BindingFlags.GetProperty, Nothing, windows, Nothing)
        If CInt(count) = 0 Then Exit Sub
        For i As Integer = 0 To CInt(count) - 1
            Dim item As Object = windowsType.InvokeMember("Item", System.Reflection.BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, _
                                 Nothing, windows, New Object() {i})
            Dim itemType As Type = item.[GetType]()
            Dim itemName As String = DirectCast(itemType.InvokeMember("Name", _
                System.Reflection.BindingFlags.GetProperty, Nothing, item, Nothing), String)
            If itemName = "Windows Explorer" Or itemName = "File Explorer" Then
                itemType.InvokeMember("Refresh", System.Reflection.BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, Nothing, item, Nothing)
            End If
        Next
    End Sub