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When you pop an audio CD in your CD-ROM drive, the Windows 95 CD Player springs to life and plays the CD by default. However, if you have another player in mind for the job--for example, CD4WIN--feel free to rewrite the rules. In any Explorer window, select View, Options (or View, Folder Options) and click the File Types tab. Under Registered File Types, select Audio CD, then click the Edit button. Under Actions, select Play, then click Edit. In the Application Used To Perform Action text box, type the path of the program you'd like to use to play audio CDs, followed by a space and then /play. So for example, you might type C:\Program Files\Cd4win\Cd4win.exe /play Click OK, then click Close twice. The next time you insert an audio CD, that old CD Player stays where it belongs--out of the picture!In case you're wondering, CD4WIN is available for download from http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/file_description/0,1458,5641,00.html |
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Can't seem to get in the holiday spirit? There
are loads of holiday-related screen savers, desktop themes, clipart, and so on, available
for download off the Internet. For example, point your Web browser at http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/0,1392,,00.html
and search under the keyword "Christmas." There must be something there to get
you ho-ho-ho-ing! Other sites you may wish to try: |
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In our last two tips, we pointed you to some Web sites for downloading holiday-related desktop elements such as screen savers, desktop themes, and clipart. For example, you could point your Web browser at http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/0,1392,,00.html and search under a keyword such as "Christmas." Without a doubt, you'll download and install some items you don't like--or no longer need. And so, we'd like to offer one quick suggestion: Delete as you go. If you try something you don't like, ditch the *.zip (or *.exe) file it rode in on and any extracted files. Better still, use the uninstall program, if any, that came with the download. If you don't, you'll end up with lots of garbage on your system. And don't kid yourself--you'll never go back and search it out later. |
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In our last tip, we pointed you to some Web sites for downloading holiday-related desktop elements such as screen savers, desktop themes, and clipart. (For example, point your Web browser at http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/0,1392,,00.html and search under a keyword such as "Christmas.") Now that you've downloaded what you want, you'll need to know what to do with it. Assuming you end up with a *.zip file (and you will, in most cases), use an unzipping utility to open the resulting ZIP file (or if it's an *.exe file, double-click it to extract its files). Then follow these steps: For wallpaper: Extract or move any *.bmp files to your Windows folder. From now on, you can apply any of the new wallpapers using the Display Properties dialog box: Right-click the desktop, select Properties, select a wallpaper on the Background tab, and click OK. For screen savers: Extract or move the *.scr file(s) inside to your Windows folder. From now on, you can apply the screen saver(s) using the Display Properties dialog box: Right-click the desktop, select Properties, and click the Screen Saver tab. Select the screen saver you'd like to use (and adjust the delay, if necessary), then click OK.For startup/shutdown screens: Extract or move the files inside to the appropriate directory: Logo.sys belongs in the root directory; logos.sys and logow.sys belong in the Windows folder. (Tip: Rename the originals first, so you don't overwrite them.) For desktop themes (assuming you have Plus! for Window 95 installed): Extract or move the contents to the Program Files\Plus!\Themes folder. From now on, you can select the theme from the Desktop Themes dialog box: Open the Control Panel (Start, Settings, Control Panel), double-click Desktop Themes, and select the new theme in the Theme list. Assuming you like the preview that appears, click OK to apply it to your desktop. (Note: The above instructions apply to the majority of downloads; however, there will be exceptions. For example, some downloads include a setup program to install the item for you. When in doubt, look for a readme.txt file.) |
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If you have shortcuts to oft-used applications in your StartUp folder (in the Start menu's Programs folder), then you know that these applications open each time you start Windows 95. But what you may not know is that you can start Windows without these applications on a one-time-only basis (for example, if you want to get right to work on something else without waiting). When you start the boot process, wait until you see the Windows 95 logo on screen, then press and hold the Shift key until Windows finishes loading. Those StartUp apps are nowhere in sight. |
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We receive so many requests for tips on disabling user profiles (the Windows 95 feature that allows multiple users to apply their own unique settings to a PC) that we're re-running this five-part series. In our last tip, we showed you how to disable user profiles: Restart Windows 95, click Cancel in the logon dialog box, open the Control Panel, double-click Passwords, select the User Profiles tab, select All Users Of This PC Use The Same Preferences And Desktop, click OK, and restart Windows 95. The problem is, the logon dialog box still appears every time you start Windows 95. To make it disappear, change the current password to no password. Open the Control Panel, double-click the Passwords icon, and on the Change Passwords tab, click the Change Windows Password button. On the Old Password line, enter your current password. Press Tab to move down to the New Password line, then press Enter. You'll see a dialog box telling you your password has been successfully changed. In the next two tips, we'll discuss removing (as opposed to simply disabling) user profiles from your system. |
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We receive so many requests for tips on disabling user profiles (the Windows 95 feature that allows multiple users to apply their own unique settings to a PC) that we're re-running this five-part series. To disable user profiles, restart your system and when you see the logon dialog box, click Cancel. Open the Control Panel, double-click Passwords, and select the User Profiles tab. Select All Users Of This PC Use The Same Preferences And Desktop, and click OK. Restart Windows 95, and user profiles are officially disabled. (Note: If there's any portion of a user profile you want to keep, such as an address book or a desktop configuration, see the last tip in this series.) In our next tip, we'll show you how to get rid of that annoying logon dialog box. |
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Do you long for the days when you used a Mac? Reminisce a bit by moving your Taskbar to the top of the screen. Click a blank area of the Taskbar, then drag it up to the top of the screen until a gray, dotted outline appears there. Release the mouse button, and the Taskbar snaps into place. Of course, you can use this same technique to move your Taskbar to any side of the screen, or to move it right back where it started. (While you're at it, you might as well rename your Recycle Bin to Trash and move it to the lower-right corner of the screen! We'll show you how in our next tip...) |
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We receive so many requests for tips on disabling user profiles (the Windows 95 feature that allows multiple users to apply their own unique settings to a PC) that we're re-running this five-part series: In the first tip in this series, we showed you how to disable user profiles: Restart Windows 95, click Cancel in the logon dialog box, open the Control Panel, double-click Passwords, select the User Profiles tab, select All Users Of This PC Use The Same Preferences And Desktop, click OK, and restart Windows 95. Great, user profiles are officially disabled, but all the information stored in each person's user profile is still on the system. To get rid of this information, you'll need to go through two steps, the first of which is editing the Registry. (Note: As always, back up your Registry files--System.dat and User.dat, hidden files in your Windows folder--before proceeding.) Open the Registry Editor by selecting Start, Run, typing regedit and clicking OK. Navigate your way to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\ProfileList\(username).To remove an individual profile, go to the left pane and right-click the (username) key that represents the profile you want to remove. Select Delete, then click Yes to confirm. To remove every profile at once, right-click the ProfileList key, select Delete, then click Yes to confirm. Close the Registry Editor. In our next tip, we'll show you the other half of removing profiles from your system. |
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Want to rename your Recycle Bin? Assuming you have the Tweak UI PowerToy, all it takes is a simple F2 operation. (Note: To obtain the Windows 95 PowerToys, point your Web browser at http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/file_description/0,1458,3889,00.html and download powertoy.exe to your folder of choice, such as a PowerToys folder on the desktop. Double-click this file to extract its contents; then, to install Tweak UI, right-click tweakui.inf and select Install. Once Tweak UI is installed, you can open it using the Tweak UI Control Panel icon.) Open Tweak UI and select the Desktop tab. Right-click Recycle Bin, select Rename, type a new name, and press Enter. Click OK, and you'll see the change on your desktop immediately. A lot easier than that Registry technique, eh? |
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Do you find that your long filenames get cut off when you're working with Explorer and viewing a folder's contents in Details view (select View, Details)? That's easy enough to fix. Resize the Name column (or any column, for that matter) to fit its widest entry: Hold the mouse pointer over the vertical line at the right edge of the column's title, and when it changes to a double-pointed arrow, double-click. |
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In our last tip, we mentioned that while viewing the contents of any Explorer window in Details view (select View, Details), you can resize a column to fit its widest entry: Hold the mouse pointer over the vertical line at the right edge of the column's title, and when it changes to a double-pointed arrow, double-click. If you think that's easy, check this out: You can resize every column to fit the widest entry in one fell swoop. With any item selected, hold down the Ctrl key as you press the plus sign (+) on your numeric keypad. (Note: For this trick to work in a two-paned Explorer window, the focus must be on the right pane. Click any item or a blank area inside the right pane, then press Ctrl+.) |
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In a recent tip, we showed you how to move your Taskbar to another side of the screen: Click on a blank area of the bar, drag it to your side of choice, and it snaps into place. Similarly, you can use the mouse to resize the Taskbar--for example, if you need multiple rows to accommodate many open window items, tray items, and IE 4.x (and beyond) toolbars. Assuming the Taskbar is at the bottom of the screen, hold your mouse pointer over its top edge. When the pointer changes to a double-pointed arrow, click and drag up until the gray, dotted line snaps into place at the desired height of the Taskbar. Release the mouse button, and the Taskbar expands to fill the space. (Note: Follow these same steps to shrink the Taskbar. Just drag the edge back to where you want it.) |
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Deleted the special properties desktop icon for Internet Explorer and another one who deleted the special properties Microsoft Outlook icon. How do you can get the icons back by reinstalling both programs, don't relish this idea. Is there any other way you can make these icons reappear?" The quickest route is to use the Tweak UI PowerToy. (Note: To obtain the Windows 95 PowerToys, point your Web browser at http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/file_description/0,1458,3889,00.html and download powertoy.exe to your folder of choice, such as a PowerToys folder on the desktop. Double-click this file to extract its contents; then, to install Tweak UI, right-click tweakui.inf and select Install. Once Tweak UI is installed, you can open it using the Tweak UI Control Panel icon.) Open Tweak UI and click the Desktop tab. Select the special icon(s) you want to restore to the desktop, then click OK. The icons will reappear like magic. |
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In our last tip, we showed you how to change your window browsing option, so that Windows opens successive folders (when you double-click a folder inside a folder, and so on) in a single window: In any Explorer window, select View, Options; select the Folder tab; choose Browse Folders Using A Single Window That Changes As You Open Each Folder, then click OK. Or, if you have IE 4.x installed, select View, Folder Options; select Custom, Based On Settings You Choose; click the Settings button; select Open Each Folder In The Same Window; and click OK. Whether you've chosen to browse open folders in one window or not, you should know the shortcut that controls this option. Then, you can choose your viewing option on a whim, without going near a dialog box. Hold down Ctrl as you double-click a folder icon (inside a window already opened), and Windows will do the OPPOSITE of what you've asked. For example, if you've selected Open Each Folder In The Same Window, holding down Ctrl will force Windows to open the folder in a separate window, and vice versa. |
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In our last tip, we told you about Icon Ripper, a freeware program that will sniff out all the icons on your system. In case you missed that tip, Icon Ripper is available for download at http://worldcity.worldcity.nl/~marcoko/delphi/icon.html But wait, there's more. You can use this utility to edit icons, too. Assuming an icon is displayed in the lower-half of the Icon Ripper window, select it, then press F3 on your keyboard (or select Edit, Edit Icon). Use the tools in the resulting IconDraw windows to edit the icon, then click the Save Icon button (the one with the piece of paper, red arrow, and floppy disk on it) and save your changes as an *.ico file in your location of choice. |
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A shareware program that could identify icons on your system. Do you have this information handy?The program to which you are referring is called Icon Ripper, available for download from http://worldcity.worldcity.nl/~marcoko/delphi/icon.html It's a great time-saver, especially if you frequently dress up your shortcuts with new icons. While identifying and viewing icon files is usually a big pain in the hard drive (right-click a shortcut, select Properties, select the Shortcut tab, click Change Icon, click Browse, select a file, click Open, and so on), Icon Ripper identifies icon files and displays a preview of their contents--all in an Explorer-style window. And it's free. |
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In a previous tip, we mentioned that you can still use the old Windows 3.x File Manager in Windows 95--select Start, Run, typewinfile and click OK Here are a combination of some things to be pointed out a couple of things to keep in mind if you choose to use this utility.First, File Manager does not recognize long filenames. When you use it to view a file that has a name longer than eight characters, the name will appear truncated (six characters plus a tilde--that little squiggly thing--and then a number, as in "mydocu~1.doc"). And if you use File Manager to copy or move that file, the file will lose its long name altogether (replaced with the truncated name). Second, File Manager does not send deleted files to the Recycle Bin (although it does ask you to confirm your deletion). Therefore, a file deleted using File Manager is gone for good. |
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You can remove the arrow symbol from shortcuts
using the Tweak UIPowerToy. (Note: To obtain the Windows 95 PowerToys, point your Web
browser at |
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We frequently receive requests for the steps required to change Windows 95's registered user information--the name and organization that appears in the System Properties dialog box. (You all remember the shortcut to System Properties from a previous tip, right? Hold down Alt as you double-click My Computer.) All it takes is some quick Registry editing. (Note: As always, back up your Registry files--System.dat and User.dat, hidden files in your Windows folder--before proceeding.)Open the Registry Editor by selecting Start, Run, typing regedit and clicking OK. Navigate your way to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft \Windows\CurrentVersion. In the right pane, you'll see RegisteredOrganization and RegisteredOwner in the Name column. Right-click the one you want to change, select Modify, and on the Value Data line of the resulting dialog box, type the correct information. Click OK, repeat these steps for the other value, if desired, and close the Registry Editor. |
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How about a little Thanksgiving decor, such as
a screen saver, to get you in the mood for the big feast? There are plenty available for
download off the Internet.Point your Web browser at http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/0,1392,,00.html
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In our last tip, we showed you where to find a
few Thanksgiving-related screen savers: Point your Web browser at http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/0,1392,,00.html |
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Want to switch your Windows-style MS-DOS Prompt window to the old-fashioned, full-screen view? You have two options: Click the Full Screen button (the one with four arrows on it) or press Alt-Enter on your keyboard. To get back to the window view, press Alt-Enter one more time. |
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In our last tip, we showed you how to switch your MS-DOS Prompt window to the old-fashioned, full-screen view: Press Alt-Enter or click the Full Screen button (the one with four arrows on it). Don't see any buttons? Either you're already in full-screen mode (press Alt-Enter to return to a window), or you've hidden the toolbar by mistake. To display the toolbar, click the MS-DOS icon in the window's upper-left corner and select Toolbar. (Of course, you can use this same command to hide the toolbar.) |
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"I have a computer that is never shut
down and, for security reasons, needs a password to unlock the keyboard. occasionally,
someone will try to get into this computer by rebooting it. Windows then comes up with the
Not Shut Down Properly message and wants to run Scandisk. Since the keyboard is locked, no
one can press any key to continue, so there it sits. Is there any way to tell Windows 95
not to want to run Scandisk after an improper shutdown, or to have Scandisk run without
pressing a key?" "I have discovered the answer to my question. By adding one of
the lines below to the hidden, read-only MSDOS.SYS file in C:\, you can change the
behavior of Scandisk on Windows boot-up." |
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In the recent tip on changing the behavior of
ScanDisk at startup, the solution was to add a line to the |
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As you've surely noticed, we frequently
discuss the Windows 95 PowerToys--a set of tools that adds a number of new features and
settings to Windows 95. And when we do, we tell you how to obtain these tools: Point your
Web browser at http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/file_description/0,1458,3889,00.html |
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Need to reorganize your Start menu's Programs list? If you have the Active Desktop (that's part of IE 4 and beyond) installed, all it takes is a simple click and drag--or two, or three.... Display your Programs list--select Start, Programs--right-click an item you'd like to move, then drag it up or down the list to the desired location. Release the mouse button, and all the other programs shove over to make room. (As you're dragging up or down the list, a horizontal black line will show you where you can drop the item; that is, it will indicate whether you're hovering over a legitimate new location for the item. If you don't see the line, don't release the mouse button.) Follow these steps for every item you'd like to relocate. |
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Tired of the little ditty that plays (or the
silence) when you start Windows 95? Then try starting your day with a MIDI file. Just
place a shortcut to any *.mid file on your system in the Startup folder, and it'll play
every time you start Windows. |
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The next time you need to open the System Properties dialog box, don't waste your time opening the Control Panel and double-clicking System (unless you're already in the Control Panel). Assuming you're staring at your desktop, there's a much faster way. Just hold down Alt as you double-click My Computer. Who knew? |
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Want to listen to an audio CD as you work
without any interference from your sound scheme? Don't mute your system sound (click the
yellow speaker on your Taskbar and select Mute); if you do, you won't hear anything, not
even music. Instead, before playing the CD, use your master volume control to mute only
Wave sounds. (A sound scheme is nothing more than a collection of *.wav files.)
Right-click the yellow |
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In our last tip, we offered you two programs
that do so on the tray of your Taskbar or in the title bar of the currently active
application window, respectively: |
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In Win95, can the date be displayed beside the
system clock in the tray area?" We've received numerous requests for this tip, and
for good reason. It would be nice to view the date at a glance. Windows 95 doesn't let you
display the date, but there are a number of shareware programs that do. TrayDay displays
an icon with the current date on it (two digits only--you'll need to know the month by
heart!) right on the Taskbar. As an added bonus, you can double-click this icon to insert
the current date into the currently active document. (Click the icon once to select a
format.) To download TrayDay, go to http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/file_description/0,1458,3277,00.html |
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Throughout these tips, we frequently refer to
Windows 95 components that need to be installed off the installation CD--things such as
the Character Map, Mouse Pointers, ClipBook, and so on. Don't have the CD? Not a problem.
Microsoft has made most of these extra components available for download (the ones on the
CD, but not on the floppies). Point your Web browser at http://support.microsoft.com/support/downloads/PNP178.asp |
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The games that come with Windows 95 are not part of a typical installation. Therefore, you need to install them manually. Open the Control Panel (Start, Settings, Control Panel), double-click Add/Remove Programs, and click the Windows Setup tab. In the list of Components, double-click Accessories. Click the check box next to Games, click OK twice, and insert your Windows 95 installation disk when asked. You can now access Solitaire (as well as Hearts, Minesweeper, and FreeCell) by selecting Start, Programs, Accessories, Games, Solitaire. Don't see Games under Accessories? More in our next tip.... |
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In our last tip, we showed you how to install
the games that come with Windows 95: Open the Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove
Programs, click the Windows Setup tab, double-click Accessories, select Games,click OK
twice, and insert your Windows 95 installation disk when asked. Don't see Games in the
list of Accessories? Believe it or not, administrators can remove this component from the
Windows Setup tab altogether. Someone doesn't want you wasting time! If you're an
administrator and want the technique, check out http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q203/4/92.ASP |
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In a recent tip, we showed you how to install the games that come with Windows 95: Open the Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs, click the Windows Setup tab, double-click Accessories, select Games, click OK twice, and insert your Windows 95 installation disk when asked. Wondering what other goodies you might be missing out on? For a one-stop list of all components that are (and aren't) installed during the Typical, Custom, or Portable setup of Windows 95, go to http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q123/8/76.asp It's a lot quicker than searching through all those components on the Windows Setup tab. What's more, if you have installation floppies (not a CD), the same page lists all the components you're missing. (Tip: As we mentioned in a previous tip, most of the CD-ROM Extras can be downloaded from Microsoft's Web site at http://support.microsoft.com/support/downloads/PNP178.asp Select a category, then select a file to start the download process.) |
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In our last tip, we showed you how to change your hard drive's icon: Open Notepad, type exactly[autorun] icon=PATH,# where PATH is the path of the icon file containing the icon you want to use, and # is its number. Save the file as AUTORUN.INF on the root of your hard drive. Want to change the icon back to its default? Don't worry--you don't have to search out the original icon and type its path and number in the Notepad file. Simply delete Autorun.inf from your system, and that icon will return to its normal, boring self. Oh, and one more hard drive icon tip: You can change the icon of more than one drive. Just create a separate Autorun.inf file for each and store it in the root of the corresponding drive. |
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If you frequently print documents using different printer settings, such as black and white drafts versus color documents, you're probably getting tired of changing these settings each time you print. You can avoid this busywork by tricking Windows into thinking you have two different printers. "Install" the same printer twice, then set the Properties for each to match your most commonly used settings. From then on, the only setting change you'll have to make is selecting the printer you want to use. To "install" your printer again, select Start Settings, Printers and click Add Printer. Follow along with the installation instructions and, when asked, opt to keep the existing driver. Also, be sure to give this "second" printer an appropriate name, such as Color Docs. When the installation is complete, you'll see two different printer icons in the Printers window. To adjust their Properties, one at a time, right-click an icon, select Properties, then make the changes you'd like. The next time you want to print a document, use the native application's Print command, select a printer in the resulting dialog box, and click OK. (Tip-in-a-tip: You may also wish to place shortcuts to these printers on your desktop. Then, you can drag and drop the document you want to print on your printer of choice.) |
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"How can I save my dial-up networking
password in Windows 95? I failed to save it on the original setup, and now the Save
Password check box is gray. "The problem you're having is a common one, and is
answered in detail in the Microsoft Knowledge Base. (No point rehashing it all here.)
Point your Web browser at |
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When you double-click a folder on your desktop (or inside another window), by default, that folder opens in a single-paned view. But if you prefer, you can open any folder in a double-paned Explorer view. Just right-click the folder and select Explore. If you've already opened a single-paned window, but would prefer a double-paned Explorer view, right-click the icon in the window's upper-left corner and select Explore. |
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Do you frequently view open folder windows in Details mode (select View, Details)? Tired of having to enlarge these windows to see all the information you're after--for example, the far-right Modified column? You can size down any column to make more room for the rest. Hold the cursor over the vertical line at the right edge of the column's title, and when it changes to a double-pointed arrow, click and drag left. (Everything to the right of the column you're resizing will scoot over, too.) When everything you want to see fits in the window, let go. (Tip-in-a-tip: Just the opposite, if you find a column too narrow, so that you can't read its contents, you can size that column to fit its widest entry. Hold the cursor over the line to the left of that column, and when it changes to a double-pointed arrow, double-click.) |
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Want to start your system at the command prompt, without booting all the way to the Windows 95 desktop? Turn your system on and, during the boot process, watch for the Starting Windows 95... message. When you see this message, does one of two things: press F4, or press F8 and then choose Command Prompt Only. Either way, you'll find yourself at a C:\ prompt. |
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In our last tip, we showed you two ways to go directly to a command prompt at startup: During the boot process, when you see the Starting Windows 95... message, either press F4 or press F8 and then choose Command Prompt Only. Another shortcut for jumping directly to a DOS prompt at startup: When you see the Starting Windows 95... message, press Alt-F5. Take your pick. |
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Need a quick way to switch from one open window to the next, without having to reach for that pesky mouse? While holding down the Alt key, press the Tab key to make a box of all open windows appear. (Each open window is represented by an icon.) Still holding the Alt key, press Tab continuously until the window you want is highlighted (with a box around it). Let go, and that window jumps immediately to the top of the open window pile.(Tip-in-a-tip: To move backward through "icon row," still holding down Alt, press Shift-Tab repeatedly.) |
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If you have Internet Explorer 4 or higher installed on your system, then you have the Quick Launch toolbar next to your Start button (unless you've removed it). This bar of icons includes the Show Desktop icon, which, when clicked, minimizes all windows to display your desktop. Great, everyone knows that, right? But what you may not know is that after clicking this icon once to display your desktop, clicking it AGAIN restores all windows to their original position (before clicking the button). Who knew? (Note: If you do anything on the desktop before clicking the icon again--for example, if you open and close a window--you may have to click the icon twice to restore your windows.) |
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In its infinite wisdom, Microsoft has issued two versions of CTL3D32.dll, an important shared file on 95/98 systems. One version is for 95/98, and the other is for NT. "The problem crops up when a programmer releases software that has the NT version in it. When the user loads the software, it overwrites the current CTL3D32 file and replaces it with the NT version. From then on, many applications (especially TWAIN operations) will not work. HP products, such as scanners, are very vulnerable. "When this hit us at work (a school), it not only rendered our scanner useless but also our digital camera and an HP laser printer. It also provided enough error messages with other apps to keep a techie busy for weeks! "We finally tracked the problem and a solution on the Net. However, it was a frustrating two days while we tried to figure out what the problem was." One preventive measure: Make a backup copy of CTL3D32.DLL so that you can restore it should trouble arise. And for more info, check outhttp://www.annoyances.org/cgi-bin/ce-showtopic/005_007 |
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Does your desktop wallpaper slow down your Windows 95 startup? (If you aren't sure, try removing it and see if that startup moves along a little faster--chances are it will.) If it's a faster startup you're after, but you can't bear to look at a plain-Jane, solid-color desktop all day, there's a happy medium. Try a pattern. Right-click the desktop, select Properties, and on the Background tab, select any pattern. Click OK, and a two-color pattern appears all over the desktop. To change the color of the pattern (not black--the other color), just change your desktop's background. Right-click the desktop, select Properties, and click the Appearance tab. With Desktop selected under Item, click the down arrow under Color (on the Item line), select a new color, and then click OK. In our next tip, we'll show you how to make your own pattern (or edit an existing one). |
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Do you find it a nuisance that every time you attempt to delete an item, you have to click Yes to confirm? If you don't need this second safety net ("second" because deleted items only go to the Recycle Bin anyway, where you can restore them, if need be), turn it off. Right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select Properties. In the resulting dialog box, deselect Display Delete Confirmation Dialog Box, then click OK. The next time you delete an item, it will go directly to the Recycle Bin--no questions asked. (Note: If the option Do Not Move Files To The Recycle Bin is selected inside the Recycle Bin Properties dialog box, the delete confirmation option will be grayed out. Windows thinks you should have at least one safety net.) |
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When working in Windows 95, there's nothing more frustrating than having to go through more steps than necessary to get to what you need. So we recommend placing shortcuts to the items you use all the time--the Control Panel and your Floppy Drive--right on the desktop. Open My Computer and, one at a time, click and drag the Control Panel and Floppy Drive icons to the desktop, release the mouse button, and click Yes to confirm that you want to create a shortcut. Close the My Computer window. From now on, accessing the Control Panel or your floppy drive is a one-step operation. Just a simple double-click (or click, depending on your Active Desktop settings), and you're there. |
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Looking over some of the older tips that were
saved and found that the links for the files Print Directory and File Split no longer
work. Would it be possible to print the new links?" Links do change quite frequently.
We've mentioned a number of third-party utilities that print directories and that split
files into smaller pieces. Here is a couple of each, with current links: |
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If you frequently open files of a particular type in an application other than the one with which it's associated, it's time for a change. An association change, that is. Change the application, with which that file type is associated, so that double-clicking the file opens it in your application of choice. For example, suppose you prefer to open *.txt files in Microsoft Word instead of in Notepad. So you typically open Microsoft Word, select File, Open, and so on. Now watch this: Click once on any *.txt file in order to select it, then hold down Shift as you right-click this file. In the menu that appears, select open with. Select the application you'd like to use to open files of this type--in this case, Winword for Microsoft Word--select Always Use This Program To Open This Type Of File, and click OK. Double-click any *.txt file and it opens in Word automatically (and will from now on)! |
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The next time you're tooling around a dialog box and don't understand a particular button or option, remember that help is just a click or two away (and no, not clicking Start, selecting Help, and so on). Right-click the button or option, and if you see a gray What's This? Button, click it. (If no button appears, you're on your own--there's no Help topic associated with that option.) Alternatively, click the question mark caption button in the dialog box's upper-right corner, then click the option or button with which you'd like some help. |
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Do you have your costume all ready for Halloween? If you really want to get in the Halloween spirit, dress your system up, too. There are loads of Halloween-related screen savers, desktop themes, wallpaper, and so on, all over the Web. If you aren't sure where to start, point your browser at http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/0,1392,,00.html and search under the keyword Halloween. |
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Do you have a Windows key on your keyboard?
You may already know that pressing this key displays the Start menu, but did you also know
that you can hold it down and press: |
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In our last tip, we showed you how to shrink any column in Details view (in an open window, select View, Details), to make room for the rest: Hold your mouse pointer over the vertical line at the right edge of the column's title, and when it changes to a double-pointed arrow, click and drag left until the column is the right size. Now, let's take this tip to the extreme. Want to remove the column from view altogether? Follow the steps above, but drag the mouse pointer as far left as possible (to the next column or to the left edge of the window). Poof! The column disappears.Gone for good? No such luck. When you want your column back, click just to the right of where you left it, and when a double-pointed arrow with two black lines appears, drag to the right. |
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Are WordPad's toolbars getting in your way? (For a simple word processor, this thing sure has a lot of commands and buttons taking up valuable workspace.) You can hide or move them at will. To hide a toolbar completely, pull down the View menu and select (or deselect, really) Toolbar, Format Bar, Ruler or Status Bar. (A check mark means the bar is showing on screen.) Repeat these steps to display the bar again. If you want access to your toolbars, but need as much vertical workspace as possible, try changing the Toolbar or the Format Bar into a floating palette. Then, you can position it anywhere you want. Click a blank area around the edge of the Toolbar of the Format Bar, then drag it to any location on screen--even outside the WordPad window. To return the bar to its original location, drag the palette back to the toolbar area, and when the dotted outline changes to a solid line, let go. |
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Want to hide some of the items in your Start menu from someone else who is using your system? Just mark the top-secret items hidden. As long as your system is set to hide "hidden" files, those items stay out of sight. Right-click the Start button, select Open, and navigate to an item you want to "remove" from your Start menu. Right-click the item, select Properties, and in the resulting Properties dialog box, select Hidden. Click OK, and then repeat these steps for each item you'd like to hide. Restart Windows 95, click Start, and the hidden items are nowhere in sight. (Note: If the items still appear in the Start menu, in any Explorer window, select View, Options, and on the View tab, select Hide Files Of These Types. If you have Internet Explorer 4 or higher installed, select View, Folder Options, and on the View tab, select Do Not Show Hidden Files.) |
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Wondering why the computer in the office next door is emitting all these wild and crazy sounds, and yours isn't? Chances are that person is using one of Windows 95's sound schemes (or a scheme he or she downloaded form the Internet--but that's another story). The schemes to which we're referring--Jungle, Musica, Robotz, and Utopia--aren't part of Windows 95's default setup, but as long as you have your installation CD handy, installing them is a snap. Open the Control Panel and double-click Add/Remove Programs and select the Windows Setup tab. Under Components, double-click Multimedia, and you'll see a list of available schemes. Select any or all of the schemes, depending on which you want, click OK twice, then follow the steps to complete the installation (insert your CD and so on). You can now access these schemes from the Control Panel's Sounds Properties dialog box. Open the Control Panel, double-click Sounds, and select a scheme in the dropdown list under Schemes. Click OK, and make sure to turn your system's volume up nice and loud! |
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Have you ever wished your screen saver would kick in on command--for example, when you walk away from your desk? Set up a shortcut to it, and you can quickly invoke your screen saver at any time. Open an Explorer window and locate your favorite screen saver (*.scr) in the Windows\System folder. Now create a shortcut to it: Right-click and drag the *.scr file onto the desktop or Start menu (or anywhere else you want it), release the mouse button, and select Create Shortcut(s) Here. Need to step away from your desk? Double-click the shortcut, and the screen saver kicks in immediately. |
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In our last tip, we showed you how to set up instant access to your favorite screen saver: Open the Windows\System folder, locate the corresponding *.scr file, and place a shortcut to it in your location of choice, such as the desktop. You can now invoke that screen saver by double-clicking the shortcut. Want even faster access to that screen saver, right from your keyboard? Set up hot key access to the shortcut you just created. Right-click the screen saver shortcut, select Properties, and in the resulting dialog box, click the Shortcut tab. Click once in the text box next to Shortcut Key to place the cursor there, then type the letter you'd like to use in combination with Ctrl-Alt to invoke your screen saver. Click OK. Now to try it out: From anywhere on your system, press the shortcut key, and there's your screen saver. |
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If you're a left-handed mouse user, you
probably find it difficult reaching all the way over to the left side of the keyboard to
reach the commonly used Cut, Copy, and Paste shortcuts--Ctrl-X, Ctrl-C, and Ctrl-V,
respectively. (It's either that or pick your left hand up off the mouse.) But what would
you say if we told you there are equivalents on the right side of your keyboard? Many
applications support the following CUA (common user access) commands: |
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In our last tip, we listed the keyboard shortcuts for the Windows key. Don't have one? Before you run out and buy a new keyboard, try making your own Windows key by using the Keyboard Remap Kernel Toy. Point your Web browser to http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/file_description/0,1458,746,00.html and download krnltoys.exe. Double-click this file to extract its contents, then right-click the Keyremap.inf file and select Install. Open the Control Panel, double-click Keyboard, and select the new Remap tab. Under Right-hand Side, select a key to use for your Windows key--such as Right Alt--on the left; and on the right, select Windows. Click OK and the key you specified will now act like a real, live Windows key! |
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If you need to free up hard disk space, a good place to start is your Recycle Bin. Remember that when you delete items, they aren't actually removed from your system. Rather, deleting items only moves them to the Recycle Bin, another folder on your system. To remove deleted items from your system once and for all (and regain the space they're wasting), empty the Recycle Bin. To empty the Recycle Bin--after checking inside to make sure there's nothing you want back--right-click its desktop icon and select Empty Recycle Bin. Click Yes to confirm, and those deleted items are really deleted. (Tip-in-a-tip: If you see something in the Recycle Bin that you don't want to send off into oblivion, right-click it and select Restore to send it back where it came from.) |
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Just delete a file, and now you need it back? Good thing Windows 95 comes with a built-in Recycle Bin. As long as you haven't emptied the Recycle Bin since you deleted the file, you can put that file right back where it came from. Switch to the desktop and double-click the Recycle Bin icon. Locate the item you'd like to un-delete, right-click it and select Restore. Whew! (Note: This tip assumes you have the Recycle Bin set to receive deleted items. To be sure, right-click the Recycle Bin icon, select Properties, and make sure Do Not Move Files To The Recycle Bin is not selected. Also, if you permanently delete a file the first time around, by pressing Shift-Delete and then clicking Yes, the Recycle Bin can't help you.) |
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In our last tip, we showed you how to restore a deleted item from your Recycle Bin (as long as you haven't emptied the bin since you deleted the file): Open the Recycle Bin, right-click the file you want to un-delete and select Restore. If you catch your mistake immediately, there's another way to un-delete an item. Assuming you haven't performed any mouse operations since the deletion, right-click the location from which you deleted the item (file, shortcut, whatever) and select Undo Delete. In the same way, you can undo a Move, Copy, or Rename. Just right-click the desktop or window in which you performed the operation and select Undo [whatever command you just used]. (Tip: You can also press Ctrl-Z to undo the most recent operation.) |
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Do you like doodling in Paint? Ever create a picture that you like so much that you want to look at it every time you turn on your system? (Or better yet, did some little tyke you know just create a great work of art?) Then slap it on your desktop as wallpaper. Select Start, Programs, Accessories, and Paint (unless Paint is already open) and open the picture you'd like to use as desktop wallpaper. Save the file, if you haven't already, then select File, Set As Wallpaper (Centered). Close Paint, then check out your desktop. Now that’s homemade wallpaper! From now on, you can choose this wallpaper by name from the Wallpaper list in the Display Properties dialog box. |
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"Is it possible to minimize a window using keystrokes? If so, how?" We get lots of requests for this one, so here's the technique again: Press Alt-Spacebar to display the context menu of the currently active window. Then press N for Minimize. So for the quick version, press Alt-Spacebar-N. |
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Last month, we suggested a number of text-highlighting shortcuts for use in most word processors. Here are two more tricks for highlighting an entire document (other than the two we mentioned previously--place the cursor at the very beginning of the document and press Ctrl-Shift-End; or, with your cursor anywhere, press Ctrl- A): *Triple-click in the left margin *Hold down the Ctrl key as you click anywhere in the left margin. |
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If you've spent a lot of time using Windows 95, you know that double clicking a file of a particular type (with a certain extension) open that files in a particular application. For example, double-clicking a text file opens that file in Notepad. But what you may not know is that you can open a file in any application you want--without first opening that application. Click once on the file you want to open to select it, then hold down the Shift key as you right-click that file. In the resulting menu, you'll see a brand new menu command, Open With. (Now why couldn't Microsoft has placed that command in the regular right-mouse menu?) Select this new command, and up pops the Open With dialog box. Select the application you'd like to use to open the file and click OK. (Tip-in-a-tip: Make sure the option Always Use This Program To Open This Type Of File is NOT selected before clicking OK. Otherwise, you'll change that file association permanently. Just the opposite, if you would like to change an association--for example, you'd like to open all *.txt files with WordPad--follow the steps above, selecting WordPad in the Open With dialog box; but before clicking OK, select Always Use This Program To Open This Type Of File.) |
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"My Print Screen key on my keyboard doesn't seem to get any response at all. Any suggestions?" Pressing the Print Screen key sends the current screen to the Clipboard (not to the printer, as one would expect). To print the contents of the Clipboard, you'll need to use a separate application, such as Paint. Open Paint--select Start, Programs, Accessories, Paint--select Edit, Paste, and if you see a message stating that the image is larger than the current bitmap, click Yes to confirm that you'd like it to enlarge the bitmap. The image on the Clipboard now appears on screen. From there, you can use Paint's Print command to print the screen. (Tip-in-a-tip: If you're printing an entire screen, switch to Landscape mode first--select File, Page Setup, select Landscape, and click OK--so the image will fit on a standard letter-size page.) (Another tip-in-a-tip: Hold down Alt as you press Print Screen to send only the currently active window to the Clipboard.) |
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Want a printout of all your system settings--a handy resource for troubleshooting hardware problems? Ask the Device Manager to make one for you. Hold down the Alt key as you double-click My Computer. In the resulting System Properties dialog box, click the Device Manager tab. Click the Print button, select the type of report you'd like to print, then click OK. |
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Need to print a file--fast? There are two ways to do this without manually opening the application in which it was created.The easiest route is to right-click a document icon and select Print. Windows 95 opens the file's native application and prints the file. If you prefer, you can place a printer shortcut on your desktop. (Open My Computer, double-click the Printers folder, right-click and drag your printer |
