Windows98

Special Nerdworld Technical Expert Irwin Gigabyte's product review has yielded a wealth of tips and tricks for Windows 98. As he reports them to us from his command bunker, we'll post them here.

WINDOWS 98

When you try to extract desk.cpl from cabs files - says file not found.

Wndows98 cab files inadvertently named the file deskw95.cpl. Using the system file checker extract deskw95.cpl and rename to desk.cpl and problems resolved - oh - not till you throw in windows/system folder.

"rundll32 caused an invalid page fault in module rundll32.exe" before logon prompt after upgrading to 98se from 95 sr2

not hardware - think it's DirectX related - checked registry - removed "LOAD POWER PROFILE" and all errors disappeared - what will follow?

WINDOWS98 Shutdown Issues??

Having problems shutting down 98 Second Edition? I have tried hundreds of tricks to no evail. Microsoft supposedly has come up with a fix but that doesn't work either - repeat - "SHUTSUPP doesn't work". I have definitely traced the problem to a "network related issue" but until now have not been able to resolve. It does appear to be related to NDIS.VXD - This just may work for you. Here is a link for Win98 Shutdown Issues hidden very deep within Microsoft's site.

I HAVE THE FIX. I would post the answer but mickeysoft says I can't..:( - I left my email address so you could request this file BUT I must have sent this file out over a dozen times and NOT EVEN ONE PERSON replied back confirming they got the file OR that it solved their problem. Because of this, you are now on your own. Sorry. That's what people get for being so dang UN-appreciative.

Here is an interesting BBS posting from a user on Microsoft's BBS

From: Geoffrey Tierson <gtierson@zipkats.com>
Subject: Re: Shutdown problem - is there a solution??
Date: 3/23/2000 5:35:13 AM

I can feel your pain. I cannot install 98SE any longer. IT COST TOO MUCH TO SUPPORT!!! My experience is that Win 98 SE does it on all Intel boards on a network. Period. Intel points to Microsoft, Microsoft wants you yo do a dance for 3 days, stand on your head, eat spinich . . . after which going through the complete knowledge base article on troubleshooting 98SE shutdown issues no avail.

I have at least 25 machines doing this, if I have the user logoff before shut down they shut down everytime. Additionally, these machines will not hang during restart so often if you shut down immediatly after restart it works. Load Win 98 original and the problem goes away.

WINDOS - MSDOS98 - UNINSTALLMS.EXE - TROJAN -
HERE's THE ANSWER

Ya want to talk about a killer Trojan??? I recently ran into a machine that would upon boot attempt to run the WIN98 companion CD. You could cancel out of it and then attempt to run a program. When you run the program it is ok, but then when you try to reboot, it locks up. Also, when you went into AOL, it would hang. I though it was the buddylist.exe virus - NOT. Anyway, I searched around and found a line in the run= in the win.ini and it would constantly run uninstallms32.exe. Only after booting to DOS and removing the READ-ONLY attributes that this Trojan would place on the file, was I able to remove the line.

I also noticed a line in the "run" section of the registry hkey local/software/Microsoft/run that there was a file being ran called MSDOS98.exe - I removed that. Also, there was a file called WINDOS.EXE in the windows directory that I removed - When I removed it all hell broke loose. I could no longer run any executables - in the hkey classesroot/exefile/shell/open/command the default was set to windows.exe - I reconfigured to "%1" %*" and it resolved that problem - BTW, the only way I was able to do that was to export the registry to a text file in DOS mode, pull up the hive, change the default setting and re-export back to system.dat file - THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY other than associating regedit with regedit. No matter what I did, deleting, removing, modifying, renaming, I was unable to remove the booger. There had to be another file or link that I was missing.

To make a long story short, I gave it my best shot - wasted about 10 hours of my life, and ended up pulling the guys data files from his drive, FDISK ad FORMATTING the drive - BUMMER - Don't waste your time - and if you do and resolve it, LET ME KNOW.

Dave

WINDOWS KEY SHORTCUTS

We frequently receive requests for a listing of Windows key shortcuts. So without further ado...
Press:
Windows-D to jump to the desktop (minimize all open windows)
Windows-E to open Windows Explorer Windows-F to open Find
Windows-L to log off Windows
Windows-M to minimize all open windows (or Shift-Windows-M to undo this command)
Windows-R to open the Run window
Windows-Break to open the System Properties dialog box
Windows-F1 to open Help
Windows-Tab to cycle through the Taskbar buttons

WINDOWS UPDATE

As any Windows user knows, Microsoft is forever releasing downloads for Windows 98--bug fixes, patches, add-ons, and so on. There are so many that it can be impossible to keep track of what you do and don't have. Fortunately, there's Windows Update to help you make sense of it all. (Actually, you have no choice--Windows Update is the only way to download updates to Windows 98.) This "online extension of Windows 98" will check your system and let you know what you need to install.Select Start, Windows Update, and complete the steps necessary to go online, if you aren't already. Alternatively, point your Web browser at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com Click the Product Updates link, and after a few minutes, you'll see a list of all components not yet installed on your system. (To view installed items as well, click the Show Installed Updates button.) Look through the list-- particularly the Critical updates, which appear first. Select those you'd like to install, click the blue download arrow at the top or bottom of the screen, then click the Start Download button.

Protecting your system with the Registry Checker

Windows 98 provides many utilities that allow you to keep your system in tip-top condition. For example, scandisk keeps your hard drive error-free, Disk Defragmenter keeps your files organized, and Disk Cleanup reduces the amount of unnecessary clutter on your hard drive. Chances are, you're familiar with these utilities and use them all the time. However, there are several other Windows 98 utilities that are extremely beneficial to the survival of your system yet are relatively unknown to the average Windows 98 user. One of these utilities is the Registry Checker. To learn all about the Registry Checker, see the FREE article "Unveiling an essential utility: the Registry Checker" on the Inside Microsoft Windows 98 Web site at http://www.zdjournals.com/w98/9908/w989983.htm

Creating new files on the fly

In a hurry to create a new file? If so, you're in luck because Windows 98 will let you do so right from the desktop. Just right-click anywhere on the desktop and choose New from the shortcut menu. In addition to the usual Folder and Shortcut options, you'll find file types for many of the applications installed on your computer. When you choose a file type, a new icon will appear on your desktop indicating a new file of the selected type. At this point, the icon name is selected, so you can name the file by just typing the name. Then, double-click this icon to open the application and the new file.

Using the [Spacebar] for page up and down in your browser

When you're reading information on a long Web page, there are several ways that you can scroll through the page: * You can use your mouse and the scroll bars * You can use the [Page Down] and [Page Up] keys * If you have a mouse with a wheel, you can use the wheel However, there's another way to scroll through a long Web page. You can use the [Spacebar] to scroll down a page and [Shift] [Spacebar] to scroll up the page. This alternate method is nice for touch typists.

Removing the Internet Explorer icon from your desktop

If you like to like to keep your desktop free from unnecessary clutter, you may have wondered if you could remove the Internet Explorer icon from your desktop. After all it's much easier to launch Internet Explorer by clicking its icon in the Quick Launch tool bar. To remove the Internet Explorer icon from your desktop, launch Internet Explorer, pull down the Tools menu, and select the Internet Options command. When you see the Internet Options dialog box, select the Advanced tab. Then, scroll though the Settings list until you locate the Show Internet Explorer On the Desktop check box. Now, click the check box to clear it. Finally, click OK to close the Internet Options dialog box.

Using the Lasso technique to speed file management

As you probably know, you can use the [Shift] key to simultaneously select multiple adjacent files in both My Computer and Windows Explorer. To do so in Windows Explorer, you simply click on the first file in the group, then hold down the [Shift] key as you click on the last file. Windows Explorer will select those two files and all the ones in between. Well, did you know that you could make the same selection without using the [Shift] key--or touching your keyboard? A lesser-known alternative allows you to select a group of adjacent files by clicking and dragging a box around them with your mouse. When you release your mouse button, Windows Explorer selects all files within the box. We call this the lasso technique.

Using the DOS Diskcopy command

When you need to make a copy of a floppy disk, you probably use Windows 98's Copy Disk utility. To access the Copy Disk utility, you launch My Computer or Windows Explorer, right-click the floppy disk drive icon, and then select the Copy Disk... command from the shortcut menu. When you do, you'll see the Copy Disk dialog box. Unfortunately, the Copy Disk utility is actually limited when compared to its DOS counterpart--the Diskcopy command. Windows 98's Copy Disk utility is fine for making quick, single copies of disks. However, if you need to make more than one copy of a disk, the utility forces you to copy the original each time it makes a duplicate. In contrast, DOS's Diskcopy command lets you make multiple copies of the same disk without having to recopy it over and over again. Therefore, if you want several copies of a disk, you'll save time by using Diskcopy instead of Copy Disk.To do so, simply open an MS-DOS Prompt window and type the command Diskcopy A: A: You can also make a shortcut to this command and put it on your desktop for easy access.

Adding applications to the Quick Launch toolbar

Since the Quick Launch toolbar works with traditional shortcuts, adding items to it is as easy as a drag-and-drop operation. However, before you start, you should carefully consider which applications you really need quick access to and then narrow your choices to two or three applications. You don't want to add too many icons to the Quick Launch toolbar because it shares the bottom of the desktop with the taskbar. The larger you make the Quick Launch toolbar, the smaller the taskbar becomes. The easiest way to place an application shortcut on the Quick Launch toolbar is to copy the shortcut from the Start menu. Fortunately, the Windows 98 Start menu is enhanced so that you can now drag the shortcut directly from the Start menu to the Quick Launch toolbar.

Making Windows 98 Y2K Compliant

Making sure that your version of Windows 98 Y2K compliant is an easy task. You can find FREE detailed instructions on how to get Windows 98 ready for Y2K here: http://www.zdnet.com/zdhelp/stories/main/0,5594,2401196,00.html

Duplicating files in the same folder

As you know, it's a real pain to make a copy of a file by first copying it to another folder, renaming it, and then moving it back. Have you ever wished you could copy and rename a file within the same folder? Fortunately, we've discovered several tricks that you can use to make a copy of a file within the same folder.
1.) you can right-click on the file you want to make a copy of and select the Copy command from the shortcut menu. Then, right- click on the folder background and select Paste from the shortcut menu. You'll then see a duplicate of the file with the words Copy of preceding the filename. At this point, you can rename the file by pressing [F2] and typing the new name.
2.) you can right-click on the file and drag it slightly to the right or left and then release it. When you do, a special shortcut menu appears and you can choose the Copy Here command.Again, you'll see a duplicate of the file with the words Copy of preceding the filename.
3.) you can duplicate the file by selecting it, pulling down the Edit menu, and choosing the Copy command. Then, pull down the Edit menu and select the Paste command.
4.)you can duplicate the file by using the toolbar. To do so, select the file, click the Copy button, and then click the Paste button.

ALL-IN-ONE OFFICE GEAR

HP's latest multipurpose office appliance is called the LaserJet 1100a. It prints (up to eight pages per minute), scans (at 600 dots per inch), and copies documents (even if your PC is turned off). The 1100a costs $499. Read more at http://www.hp.com/printers/lj1100/1100a.html

ANOTHER RIVA TNT2 BOARD

ELSA joins the pack of new graphics board developers with its NVIDIA RIVA TNT2-based Erazor III AGP graphics accelerator. The Erazor III offers 4X and 2X AGP modes, as well as 32 MB of memory for processing 2D and 3D graphics. The Erazor III starts at about $190. Visit ELSA's Web site at http://www.elsa.com Remember, not everyone needs a graphics accelerator with such a high level of performance. If you're just running standard business applications and don't often encounter 3D graphics in presentations or games, you're probably better off with a more inexpensive card--or just better off keeping your current graphics board.

ANOTHER WIRELESS CONNECTION

Acer America at http://www.acer.com has announced that a USB version of its WarpLink wireless home networking products (now available in ISA card plus ISA card and ISA card plus PC Card versions) will ship in the first few months of 2000. The WarpLink connects two PCs and allows you to transfer files, share an Internet connection, and play games between the networked systems.

AUDIO ENHANCEMENTS--PART 1 OF 3

Feeling dissatisfied with your computer's audio, but don't feel like spending the money on new gear? Check out the Wowthing at http://www.wowthing.com This $30 box increases the height and width of the audio image coming from your sound card, using technology from SRS Labs. Basically, it makes small speakers sound bigger.

AUDIO ENHANCEMENTS--PART 2 OF 3

Have you sampled the wonders of attaching audio files to your e-mail messages? Since most of us talk faster than we can type, you can pass on a lot more information via recorded voice messages you attach to outgoing e-mail. Now Altec Lansing at http://www.alteclansing.com offers a device that helps you create, attach, and listen to voice files in e-mail. It's called the ABA2020 VoicePod, and it has a built-in speaker and microphone, as well as Record, Playback, and Attach function buttons.

AUDIO ENHANCEMENTS--PART 3 OF 3

The adjective "flat" doesn't just apply to the latest monitors. Labtec at http://www.labtec.com has announced the LCS-2418, a three-unit computer speaker setup that includes two flat satellite speakers you can mount on your monitor, hang on your wall, or place on your desk. The $99 LCS-2418 also features a wood-trimmed subwoofer unit. Look for the LCS-2418 in February 2000.

BEFORE YOU BUY A DVD-ROM DRIVE--PART 1 OF 4

My completely unscientific survey among family and friends tells me this: People first get sucked into DVD because their computers have a DVD-ROM drive, and then, ultimately, they all end up buying a DVD player for their televisions. This is so they can enjoy the best thing about DVD--namely watching movies. To avoid getting stuck in this expensive cycle, keep the next few days' tips in mind before you order a DVD-ROM drive for your computer. First, go to a computer store and ask to watch part of a DVD movie on a computer monitor. The experience isn't actually all that bad, but if you're like everyone else, it will take only a few hours of doing this before you begin to wonder how much better it would be to watch a DVD movie on your larger TV screen while sitting on your comfy couch. That's when you've gone past the point of no return. So, sit in the computer store watching DVD until this feeling hits, then head to the electronics store and buy a DVD player instead of a DVD-ROM drive for your computer.

SET PROPERTIES FOR QUICK LAUNCH ICONS

Did you know that every icon in the Quick Launch toolbar is nothing but a shortcut? (The Quick Launch toolbar is the row of icons to the right of the Start button, by default.) That means you can set the properties for each, just as you would any other shortcut. For example, suppose you want Internet Explorer to open maximized every time. Right-click the Internet Explorer icon (on the Quick Launch toolbar) and select Properties. On the Shortcut tab, next to Run, click the down arrow and select Maximized. Click OK, and the next time you click that icon, Internet Explorer will take over the entire screen. (Tip: Follow these steps to make any application shortcut open the target program in a normal, maximized, or minimized window.)

TURN OFF MENU AND WINDOW ANIMATION

In Windows 98, menus and windows don't just appear, they ROLL onto the screen. (To quickly see what we mean, right-click the desktop or select a minimized Taskbar item to restore it. Fancy, eh?) If you're like us, you find these special effects fun the first time around, but only dizzying after that. To turn them off, right-click the desktop, select Properties, and click the Effects tab. Deselect Animate Windows, Menus And Lists, then click Apply or OK.

SHOW WINDOW CONTENTS WHILE DRAGGING

In a recent tip, we showed you how to turn off the somewhat dizzying menu and window animation that's built into Windows 98: Right-click the desktop, select Properties, click the Effects tab, deselect Animate Windows, Menus And Lists, then click OK. One effect we don't recommend turning off is the Show Window Contents While Dragging option (also on the Effects tab), which displays your entire window as you drag it across the screen. With this option turned off, clicking and dragging a window displays only an outline of the window in motion--the actual window stays in place until you release the mouse button. Ick. (Note: If your system is lacking in graphics capabilities, and you find that turning off this option enhances performance, by all means turn it off.)

START YOUR OWN Y2K COUNTDOWN

Want to know how many hours or seconds it is until the year 2000? You can display this information on your screen at any time by using a small freeware program called Millenium. Just point your browser at http://www.pcworld.com/r/tw/1%2C2061%2Ctw-w981228b%2C00.html and download Millenium.zip to your location of choice. Extract SysTray.ocx to your Windows\System folder, then use Millenium.exe to run the utility.

TASK SCHEDULER: ADDING AND DELETING TASKS

In our last tip, we introduced the Task Scheduler, a utility that runs maintenance routines, such as ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter, according to a specified schedule. To open the Scheduled Tasks window, double-click the Task Scheduler icon in the tray of your Taskbar; if you don't see the icon, select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Scheduled Tasks, and then select Advanced, Start Using Scheduled Tasks. Want to customize the task list? To add a new routine to the list, click the Add Scheduled Task item, click Next, and wait as the wizard compiles a list of options. Select an application, such as Disk Defragmenter, click Next again, and follow along to set up a schedule for the task. Click Finish, and the new task appears in the Scheduled Tasks window. Repeat these steps for each task you'd like to add to the list. To delete a task from the list, right-click it and select Delete. When you're finished adding and deleting tasks, close the Scheduled Tasks window. Then, as long as Windows and the Task Scheduler are running at the time for which tasks are scheduled, this little helper will run them for you.

TASK SCHEDULER: CHANGING TASKS

In the first tip in this series, we introduced the Task Scheduler, a utility that runs maintenance routines, such as ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter, according to a specified schedule. (To open the Scheduled Tasks window, double-click the Task Scheduler icon in the tray of your Taskbar; if you don't see the icon, select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Scheduled Tasks, and then select Advanced, Start Using Scheduled Tasks.) In our last tip, we showed you how to add or delete tasks. (To add a task, click the Add Scheduled Task item and follow along with the wizard; to delete a task, right-click it and select Delete.) You can also modify the settings for any task in the list. Right-click the task you'd like to change and select Properties. In the resulting dialog box, use the settings on the Schedule And Settings tab to adjust the task's behavior, then click OK. Repeat these steps for each task you'd like to modify, then close the Scheduled Tasks window.

TASK SCHEDULER: DISABLING TASKS

In the first tip in this series, we introduced the Task Scheduler, a utility that runs maintenance routines, such as ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter, according to a specified schedule. (To open the Scheduled Tasks window, double-click the Task Scheduler icon in the tray of your Taskbar; if you don't see the icon, select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Scheduled Tasks, and then select Advanced, Start Using Scheduled Tasks.) Is there a task in the list you'd like to disable without deleting it entirely--so you don't have to re-create it if you decide to use it again? Inside the Scheduled Tasks window, right-click the task and select Properties. On the Task tab, deselect Enabled and click OK. Back in the Scheduled Tasks list, you'll see the word Disabled in the Schedule and Next Run Time columns for that task. (To enable the task again, go back and select the Enabled option.) Want to disable every task in one fell swoop? Right-click the Taskbar's Task Scheduler icon and select Pause Task Scheduler. (To turn it back on, right-click the icon and select Continue Task Scheduler.) In our next tip, turning the Task Scheduler off altogether...

DISABLE TASK SCHEDULER ENTIRELY

When running Windows 98 and you want to get rid of the Task Scheduler in your System Tray. You try to disabled everything and still it sits there doing nothing. How do you get rid of it?" Double-click the Task Scheduler icon, and in the resulting window,select Advanced, Stop Using Task Scheduler. Close the Scheduled Tasks window, and this utility will no longer run at startup.

TROUBLE WITH A SHARED FILE

I had a recent problem that I wanted to bring to your attention. 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 out http://www.annoyances.org/cgi-bin/ce-showtopic/005_007

TURN DUN'S REDIAL OPTION ON

Ever try to establish a DUN (dial-up networking) connection, only to wind up with a message telling you the line is busy? Frustrating, to say the least, but what's even more frustrating is that you have to keep trying the connection manually. By default, DUN's Redial option is turned off. If you want DUN to keep dialing the number for you, in the event that a connection cannot be made, open My Computer, double-click Dial-Up Networking, and select Connections, Settings. On the General tab of the resulting dialog box, select Redial and set the corresponding options (number of retries, and so on). Click OK, and say good-bye to all that unnecessary redialing.

TWEAK UI: SET DEFAULT SEARCH ENGINE FOR IE

TWEAK UI: XMOUSE

USE DESKTOP THEMES ICONS TO DRESS UP SHORTCUTS

Did you know you can use any icon that's part of a desktop theme to represent any shortcut on your system? All it takes is a trip to the Themes folder. Right-click the shortcut to which you'd like to apply a new icon, and select Properties. On the Shortcut tab, click the Change Icon button, then click Browse. Navigate your way to C:\Program Files\Plus!\Themes, and there you'll see all the icons that are part of desktop themes. (Note: Some themes may be contained in separate folders within the Themes folder. If so, open any one to reveal the icons inside.) Select the icon you want to use, click Open, then click OK twice (to close all open dialog boxes). And enjoy your new shortcut!

USE STARTUP DISK TO REINSTALL WINDOWS 98 FROM CD

In our last tip, we pointed out that the Windows 98 startup disk includes real-mode CD-ROM drivers (so that you can access your CD-ROM drive from a command prompt). To create a startup disk, open the Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs, select the Startup Disk tab, click the Create Disk button, and so on. Now the question is, how do you use the startup disk to access your CD-ROM drive? Let's assume you can't start Windows 98, and you've decided you want to reinstall it using the installation CD. Turn the system off, and with the startup disk in your floppy drive, turn it back on. In the list of startup options, select Start Computer With CD-ROM Support, then press Enter. When the A:\ prompt appears, insert the Windows 98 installation CD in your CD-ROM drive and type X:\setup where X is your CD-ROM drive plus one letter (in most cases--see the next tip for details). For example, our drive is E, so we would type F:\setup at the A:\ prompt. Press Enter, and the Windows 98 setup will begin. For our third and final tip in this series, we'll explain why your CD-ROM drive letter typically changes when you use the Windows 98 startup disk.

WHY IS THE DUN FOLDER I MADE ON THE START MENU EMPTY?

Remember a Windows 95 tip for creating a cascading DUN folder in my Start menu. I tried it in Windows 98, but the only thing that shows in the Start menu is '(Empty).' Is there something else I have to do?" First, let's review the technique. To create a cascading DUN (dial-up networking) folder, right-click the Start button, select Open, and in the resulting Start Menu window, select File, New, Folder. Type exactly DUN.{992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48} (to name the folder), then press Enter. (Tip: There's no space between the period and the opening bracket.) The result? An empty folder. The trick is, you need to add items manually by dragging them over from the original folder and dropping them inside the new one on the Start menu. A little bit of extra work, but the end result is worth it.

WHY THE STARTUP DISK CHANGES YOUR CD-ROM DRIVE LETTER

In our last tip, we showed you how to use the Windows 98 startup disk to reinstall Windows 98 (via CD) from the command prompt: Turn the system off; pop the startup disk in your floppy drive; turn the system back on; select Start Computer With CD-ROM Support; press Enter; when the A:\ prompt appears, insert the Windows 98 installation CD in your CD-ROM drive and type X:\setup where X is your CD-ROM drive plus one letter (in most cases); and press Enter. Wondering why your CD-ROM drive letter usually changes? After you choose a startup option, config.sys loads a 2MB RAMDrive that contains a number of tools useful in diagnosing common problems. In most cases, this drive assumes your CD-ROM drive's letter. (Note: To confirm the letter used to represent this RAMDrive, watch the screen during the boot process.) (Tip: To view the contents of the RAMDrive, at the command prompt, type dir X: where X is, in most cases, the former letter of your CD-ROM drive; then press Enter.)

WINDOWS 98 STARTUP DISK HAS REAL-MODE CD-ROM DRIVERS

In a previous tip, we showed you how to create a Windows 98 startup disk (a disk that, should you ever have trouble starting Windows, boots your system and provides utilities to help diagnose the problem): Open the Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs, select the Startup Disk tab, click the Create Disk button, and so on. We should point out that one of the best features of this disk is its inclusion of real-mode CD-ROM drivers. In other words, if you determine that reinstalling Windows 98 (via CD) is your best chance at recovery, you can do that--right from the command prompt. (With Windows 95, you had to add real-mode CD-ROM drivers to your startup disk manually--not the easiest thing in the world to do!) In our next tip, we'll show you how to use your startup disk (and the Windows 98 installation CD) to reinstall Windows 98.

REGISTRY TWEAK TO KEEP YOUR ICONS FROM ACTING FUNNY

Registry tweak that will cure the problem of erratic icon behavior on the Quick Launch toolbar. Apparently, if the icon cache (ShellIconCache) is "not properly updated," icons in the Quick Launch toolbar (or in My Computer, in Windows Explorer, or on the desktop) may randomly change. The tweak to which you're referring is one of a number of solutions offered by Microsoft at http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q132/6/68.asp (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. Next, navigate your way to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer. Right-click a blank area inside the right pane and select New, String Value. Type the name Max Cached Icons then press Enter. Right-click the new value and select Modify. In the Value Data field, type 2048 then click OK. Restart Windows, and your icons should behave normally. (Another possible solution is to re-create the ShellIconCache file, as described in our last tip: Restart Windows 98 in Safe mode, delete ShellIconCache--a hidden file in the Windows folder--then restart Windows.)

TWEAK UI REBUILDS ICONS

In our last tip, we showed you where to download Tweak UI if you don't have a Windows 98 installation CD--for example, if you have Windows 98 SE or if Windows 98 was preloaded on your system. Point your Web browser at http://www.pcworld.com/r/tw/1%2C2061%2Ctw-w981129a%2C00.html and download tui98.zip. (Note: If you do have the CD, Tweak UI is in the tools\reskit\powertoy folder. To install it, right-click tweakui.inf and select Install. To open Tweak UI, double-click its icon inside the Control Panel.) Now that everyone has access to this neat utility, let's discuss some of the things it can do. In a previous tip, we showed you how to rebuild your desktop icons (or Quick Launch icons) if they don't look like they're supposed to. Well wouldn't you know, Tweak UI has a Rebuild Icons feature that might solve the problem in one easy step. (You'll have to try it and see.) Open Tweak UI and select the Repair tab. With Rebuild Icons selected, click Repair Now, then wait as Tweak UI does its thing. With any luck, those icons will be back to their old selves.

REMOVE DIAL-UP ICON

You know that little icon that appears in your Taskbar tray every time you establish a dial-up connection? It doesn't have to be there. If you’d prefer to reserve that space for other, more useful icons, feel free to ditch it. Select Start, Programs, Accessories, Communication, Dial-Up Networking, and in the Dial-Up Networking window, select Connections, Settings. Deselect Show An Icon On Taskbar After Connected and click OK. The next time you go online, that icon is nowhere in sight. (Note: You can always check the status of the connection from inside the Dial-Up Networking window. Simply right-click your connection and select Status.)

REMOVE LOG OFF... COMMAND FROM START MENU

Don't need that Log Off... command taking up valuable Start menu real estate (for example, if you're the only one who uses the system)? You can get rid of it using Tweak UI. (Quick review: The Tweak UI PowerToy is on your Windows 98 installation CD, in the tools\reskit\powertoy folder. To install it, right-click tweakui.inf and select Install. To open Tweak UI, double-click its icon inside the Control Panel.) Open Tweak UI and select the IE4 tab. Deselect Allow Logoff, then click OK. Restart Windows, click Start, and voila! No more Log Off... command.

REMOVE UNWANTED COMMAND FROM CONTEXT MENU

How do you remove an entry that shows up in the pop-up menu when you right-click on the Start button? A program I had downloaded and then deleted left a Change Icon entry there." From inside any Windows Explorer window, select View, Folder Options, then click the File Types tab. Scroll down the list of Registered file types and select Folder. Click the Edit button, and you should see the unwanted action in the white Actions box. Select it, click the Remove button, then click Yes to confirm. Click OK twice to close the remaining dialog boxes. Right-click the Start button (or any other folder or folder shortcut), and that command is nowhere in sight.

SHUT THAT SYSTEM DOWN WITH ONE CLICK

Wish you could shut down Windows with one click instead of four (select Start, Shut Down, select Shut Down, click OK)? Then make a Shut Down shortcut. Right-click the desktop and select New, Shortcut. In the Command Line text box, type rundll.exe user.exe,exitwindows Click Next, name the shortcut something appropriate, such as Shut Down (or Later, Alligator), then click Finish. When you're ready to shut down, just click your new shortcut (or double-click it, as the case may be). In our next tip, one-click restarts....

RESTART WITH ONE CLICK

In our last tip, we showed you how to create a desktop shortcut that allows you to shut down with one click: Right-click the desktop; select New, Shortcut; in the Command Line text box, type rundll.exe user.exe,exitwindows and click Next; name the shortcut Shut Down, then click Finish. You can use a similar technique to create a Restart shortcut. Just follow the steps above, but in the Command Line text box, type rundll.exe user.exe,exitwindowsexec And of course, you'll want to name the shortcut Restart.

RESTORE PREVIEW MODE TO WINDOWS EXPLORER

Before installing an Internet Explorer upgrade, I was able to view graphic images, such as a jpeg file, as a thumbnail view in Windows Explorer. Apparently, something got corrupted, because I can no longer see the thumbnail display. Any suggestions on how to re-establish it?" We receive so many requests for this tip that we'll share the technique again. One simple solution, aimed specifically at restoring your ability to view *.jpg files, is this: Select Start, Run. IE 4 users should type regsvr32.exe /i shdocvw.dll IE 5 users should type regsvr32.exe /i shdoc401.dll Then press Enter. The much longer alternative--a solution for all file types--is to edit 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. Then, navigate your way to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\, where is the type of file you want to preview, such as .gif. With that key selected, press the asterisk key (*) on your numeric keypad to expand all keys within it. In order for preview mode to work for that file type, the following entries need to be there: Registry Key: [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\ShellEx] Registry Key: [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ type>\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] Value: (Default)="{7376D660-C583-11d0-A3A5-00C04FD706EC}" If any or all of these entries aren't there, you'll need to create them, as follows: Right-click HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\, select New, Key, type ShellEx and press Enter. Right-click the new ShellEx key, select New, Key, type {BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1} and press Enter. With the newly created key selected, right-click (Default) in the right pane and select Modify. On the Value Data line of the Edit String dialog box, type {7376D660-C583-11d0-A3A5-00C04FD706EC} and click OK.

RESTORING GRAYED-OUT TOOLBAR COMMANDS

How can I get my 'lost' Quick Launch toolbar back? It vanished, and when I go to add a new one, the option is grayed out. Actually, adding ANY new toolbar is impossible; they are all grayed out." The commands that appear when you right-click the taskbar and select Toolbars may appear grayed out if you have disabled Internet Explorer using Tweak UI. To regain access to these commands, you'll need to re-enable Internet Explorer. Open the Control Panel (click the Start menu, then choose Settings...), double-click Tweak UI, and click the IE4 tab. Click the box next to IE4 Enabled to select this option, then click OK. Restart Windows, and your toolbar commands should be back in business.

AUTO ARRANGE OPTION

We can't tell you how many people ask how to keep their desktop icons from jumping back into neat little rows every time they try to move them into a unique formation. Annoying, isn't it? By default, Microsoft made the Auto Arrange option the default. If you want free-flowing icons, you'll need to turn this option off. Right-click the desktop and select Arrange Icons. In the resulting menu, you'll see a check mark next to Auto Arrange. Select this option (to deselect it). Back on the desktop, try to relocate an icon. Much better.

AVOID CONNECT TO BOX DURING DUN CONNECTION

In our last tip, we showed you how to turn on dial-up networking's Redial option, so that if a connection cannot be made the first time, DUN will keep trying for you: Open My Computer; double-click Dial-Up Networking; select Connections, Settings; select Redial; set the corresponding options (number of retries, and so on); then click OK. While you're there, check out the settings at the top of this dialog box. Tired of seeing the Connect To dialog box every time you establish a connection manually (by double-clicking the connection inside the Dial-Up Networking dialog box)? Assuming you always want to connect using the username and password from the last successful connection, deselect Prompt For Information Before Dialing and click OK. The next time you establish a connection manually, that Connect To dialog box will stay out of sight.

CASE-SENSITIVE SEARCHES

By default, Windows 98's Find feature (select Start, Find, Files Or Folders) is not case sensitive. In other words, you can simply type a filename or some text that you know appears in a document (in all lowercase or all uppercase), and Find will track down all instances of that search criteria--caps or not. However, if you ever WANT your search to be case sensitive, you can do that, too. omplete your search, making sure to type the text or filename exactly as you'd like to find it. Then, before clicking Find Now, select Options, Case Sensitive. Now when you complete the search,Find will uncover only those files that exactly match what you typed.(Note: Case Sensitive remains selected for all future searches until you deselect it.)

CONTROL WINDOWS FROM THE KEYBOARD

Tired of dragging the mouse all the way up to the right corner of an open window to minimize, maximize, or close it? If you'd prefer toforget about those teeny-tiny caption buttons altogether, try these keyboard shortcuts instead: Press Alt-Spacebar and then press:
N to minimize the active window
X to maximize it
R to restore it (from maximized view)
C to close it
(Tip-in-a-tip: As you may remember from a previous tip, you can also press Alt-F4 to close the active window.)

CREATE WORDPAD TEMPLATE

If you frequently use WordPad to do your word processing, you're probably getting tired of formatting every document (changing the font, typing the same heading, and so on). Does this thing come with templates or what? The answer is no, but that doesn't mean you can't make one. Just take a few minutes to do the formatting once, and you'll have an instant time-saver. Open WordPad and make all the formatting changes you'd like to include in your template--for example, you might change the font and point size of the text. (Tip: Type at least one character and then assign these settings to it.) When you're finished, save the file in a convenient location using a name such as "template.tpl."Now instruct Windows to open any file with a .tpl extension in WordPad. Open any Explorer window and select View, Folder Options. On the File Types tab, click the New Type button. Next to Description Of Type, enter a description, such as "WordPad Template." Next to Associated Extension, type tpl Click New, and in the Action box of the New Action dialog box, type Open Under Application Used To Perform Action, type WordPad's path, such as C:\Program Files\Accessories\Wordpad.exe Finally, click OK three times to close all open dialog boxes.Ready to try it out? Double-click template.tpl and it opens in WordPad, complete with all your formatting. (Tip: Be sure to save it under a new name before creating a new document from the template.)

Keeping your system in great shape with Disk Defragmenter

One of the most important things that you can do to keep your system running at peak performance is to regularly defragment your hard drive with the Windows 98 Disk Defragmenter utility. This utility performs two major tasks. Of course, it reorganizes your hard drive such that the pieces of your files are in contiguous order so that they can load faster. In addition, Windows 98's Disk Defragmenter utility will move the files that you use most frequently to the beginning of the hard drive where they'll load faster. You can assure that Disk Defragmenter runs regularly by configuring the Maintenance Wizard to run the utility.

DEFRAGMENT MULTIPLE DRIVES

In our last tip, we suggested that you defragment your hard drive on a regular basis--say, once a month--to ensure that your applications start quickly. And what if you have more than one drive on your system? Defragment them all in one fell swoop. Start the Defragmenter as usual--select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter--but instead of selecting a single drive, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the list (in the Select Drive dialog box) and select All Hard Drives. Click OK, and you're off!

DELETE ALL ENTRIES FROM ADDRESS TOOLBAR

In our last tip we suggested to put the Address toolbar on the taskbar.

As with the Run command list (select Start, Run), you can delete addresses from the Address toolbar list by editing the Registry. Actually, you go to the same location in the Registry to do it. (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. Then navigate your way to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU. In the right pane, you'll see all the URLs you're trying to delete from the Address list. Select them all--"url1," "url2," and so on--right-click the selection, select Delete, then click Yes to confirm. Close the Registry Editor. To make your changes stick, close and re-open the Address toolbar: Right-click a blank area of the taskbar and select Toolbars, Address; then follow these same steps to make it reappear. If you want to delete individual entries, it's a bit trickier. More on that in the next tip....

DELETE DOWNLOADED DESKTOP ELEMENTS YOU WON'T USE

In recent tips, we've discussed how to find and use holiday-related desktop elements such as screen savers, desktop themes, and clipart. For example, you can search under a keyword like "Christmas" at http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/0,1392,,00.html Without a doubt, you'll download and install some items that you'll later decide you don't like. 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.

DELETE INDIVIDUAL ENTRIES FROM ADDRESS TOOLBAR

In our last tip, we showed you how to delete all entries from the Address toolbar on your taskbar. (To create this toolbar, right-click a blank area of the taskbar and select Toolbars, Address.) Here's a quick review: After backing up your Registry files--System.dat and User.dat, hidden files in your Windows folder--open the Registry Editor and navigate your way to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows \CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU.In the right pane, select "url1," "url2," and so on; right-click the selection; select Delete; click Yes to confirm; then close the Registry Editor. Deleting individual entries is a bit trickier, because all of the URLs are numbered. If you delete a single entry, all entries following it In the sequence won't appear in the Address list (even though they appear in the Registry). An easy workaround is this: After deleting an entry, rename the last entry in the sequence using the number of the URL you just got rid of. So, for example, if you have eight entries, and you delete "url3," right-click "url8," select Rename, and rename it "url3." To make your changes stick, close and re-open the Address toolbar: Right-click a blank area of the taskbar and select Toolbars, Address; then follow these same steps to make it reappear.

DITCH WELCOME TO WINDOWS DIALOG BOX

When I installed Windows 98, I accidentally typed a password in the Welcome To Windows dialog box. How do I delete the password so this dialog box doesn't show up and I don't have to log in anymore?" We can't begin to tell you how many requests we get for this tip: Start Windows and log in using your user name and password. Open the Control Panel, double-click Passwords, and on the Change Passwords tab, click the Change Windows Password button. On the Old Password line, type your password. Press Tab to move down to the New Password line, then press Enter (to enter no password). A dialog box will appear to tell you your password has been successfully changed. Click OK, click Close, and that Welcome To Windows dialog box won't bother you again.

DOWNLOAD TWEAK UI FOR WINDOWS 98

In a previous tip, we pointed out that the Windows 98 SE CD does not include Tweak UI, a utility we frequently discuss in these tips.Microsoft says, "A version of the program is included on the original Windows 98 CD-ROM." (Roughly translated, borrow the files from a friend?) An even better solution is to download this utility from the Net. It was recently made available for download at http://www.pcworld.com/r/tw/1%2C2061%2Ctw-w981129a%2C00.html (Note: Be sure to download tui98.zip, not tweakui.exe.)

TWEAK UI: REMOVE ITEMS FROM INSTALL/UNINSTALL LIST

TWEAK UI: RESTRICT CONTROL PANEL ACCESS

TWEAK UI: SET CUSTOM SEARCH ENGINE AS DEFAULT FOR IE

In a previous tip, we showed you where to download Tweak UI if you don't have a Windows 98 installation CD--for example, if you have Windows 98 SE or if Windows 98 was preloaded on your system. Point your Web browser at http://www.pcworld.com/r/tw/1%2C2061%2Ctw-w981129a%2C00.html and download tui98.zip. (Note: If you do have the CD, Tweak UI is in the tools\reskit\powertoy folder. To install it, right-click tweakui.inf and select Install. To open Tweak UI, double-click its icon inside the Control Panel.) Now that everyone has access to this handy utility, we'll discuss some of the things it can do. In our last tip, we showed you how to use Tweak UI to set Internet Explorer's default search engine, so that typing ? keyword on the address bar invokes your favorite search engine: Open Tweak UI, select the General tab, select an option in the dropdown list next to Search Engine, then click OK. Don't see your search engine of choice? Not a problem. Just select Custom. Then, in the Internet Explorer Search Engine dialog box, type the appropriate URL. Sounds simple enough, but you'll need to do a little research first. Perform a search using your favorite search engine, then look at the address bar. For example, if you use Google to search for "Barbie," IE's address bar reads: http://www.google.com/search?q=barbie&num=10&sa=Google+Search The text you type in the Internet Explorer Search Engine dialog box is everything up to (but not including) your keyword, plus "%s." So to set Google as the default, you'd type http://www.google.com/search?q=%s Once you've entered the appropriate URL, click OK, then click OK again to close Tweak UI.

TWEAK UI: XMOUSE

DRESS UP FOR HALLOWEEN

Want to dress up your system for Halloween? There's no shortage of Halloween-based desktop decor--screen savers, desktop themes, clip art, and wallpaper--on the Web. For starters, head over to http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/0,1392,,00.html and search under the keyword "Halloween."

FLOPPY SHORTCUTS FOR EVERYONE

When you pop a floppy in your floppy drive, how do you access its contents--by using (A) a My Computer window, or (B) an Explorer window? How about C, none of the above. The easiest way to view the contents of a floppy is by double-clicking the floppy drive shortcut you should place on your desktop--that is, if you like to do things the short way.Open a My Computer or Explorer window, click and drag your floppy drive icon out to the desktop, and release the mouse button. Click Yes to confirm that you want to create a shortcut, and you're done. The next time you want to view the contents of a floppy, just double-click your new shortcut, and you're in.

FOR MAXIMUM PROGRAM PERFORMANCE, DEFRAGMENT

Want to make sure that when you select a program in your Start menu, that application starts as fast as possible? Be sure to defragment your hard drive on a regular basis--say, once a month--using the Disk Defragmenter. The version of this utility that comes with Windows 98 will rearrange your program files for optimum performance. Select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter, and select the drive you want to defragment. Now click the Settings button and select Rearrange Program Files So My Programs Start Faster, if it isn't already selected. Click OK twice, and let the defragmenting begin!

GET YOUR DESKTOP IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT

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: http://www.winfiles.com/apps/98/ http://www.softseek.com/Desktop_Enhancements/ http://www.rad.kumc.edu/win95/themes.htm (for desktop themes only)

WHAT TO DO WITH DOWNLOADED WALLPAPER AND SCREEN SAVERS

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. One way to find these files is to search for the keyword "Christmas" at http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/0,1392,,00.html Once 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. 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 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. (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.) In our next tip, we'll show you the techniques for using files for startup/shutdown screens and desktop themes.

HIDE INDIVIDUAL DESKTOP ICONS WITH TWEAK UI

Is there a way to get rid of the desktop icons for My Computer, Briefcase, Network Neighborhood, My Documents, etc.? I make extensive use of the MS Office Toolbar and place these icons there to be more efficient in my desktop real estate." The easiest way to hide individual desktop icons is to use the Tweak UI PowerToy. (Quick review: The Tweak UI PowerToy is on your Windows 98 installation CD, in the tools\reskit\powertoy folder. To install it, right-click tweakui.inf and select Install. To open Tweak UI, double-click its icon inside the Control Panel.) Later editions of Windows 98 did not include the utility. If you don't have it, you can download Tweak UI-98 from File World at http://www.pcworld.com/r/tw/1%2C2061%2Ctw-w981129a%2C00.html Open Tweak UI and click the Desktop tab. Deselect the icon(s) you want to remove from the desktop, click OK, and the icons disappear. Of course, if you ever want them back, just follow these same steps and reselect the icons. (Tip-in-a-tip: As you may remember from a previous tip, you can remove all icons from your desktop in one fell swoop--that is, assuming your desktop is viewed as a Web page: Right-click the desktop and select Properties, click the Effects tab, select Hide Icons When Desktop Is Viewed As A Web Page, then click OK.)

HOW TO OPEN THE SYSTEM CONFIGURATION UTILITY

I once read that there is a Win 98 utility accessible via the Run command that shows you what programs are running, and gives you the ability to enable or disable them. I tried it once and it worked great. Do you know the command to punch into the Run dialog box?" We suspect that you're referring to the System Configuration Utility. To open it, select Start, Run, type msconfig and click OK. From there, you can select the Startup tab and disable or enable any programs that start when Windows 98 starts.

MULTI-MONITOR WORKS ONLY WITH COMPATIBLE GRAPHICS CARDS

All ready to hook up more than one monitor to your Windows 98 system? True, Windows 98 supports multi-monitor display (the ability to display your desktop on up to nine--yes, nine--monitors), but only if you’re using compatible graphics cards. That includes any new graphics cards AND the one that's already in your system. For a listing of PCI and AGP cards that support multiple monitor display open the Windows folder and double-click Display.txt. Inside, you’ll find a Multiple Display Support section. Even better, point your Web browser at http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q188/4/81.asp where you'll find a revision of this same document.

MULTICOLOR TITLE BARS

Hey, want to see a neat trick? Right-click the desktop, select Properties, and in the Display Properties dialog box, click the Appearance tab. In the dropdown list under Item, select Active Title Bar. To the right of that option, you'll see two settings: Color and Color 2. Use them to select two different colors (or change only one color), then check out the title bars in the preview area! They fade from one color to the other. Cool, eh? When you find a color combo you like, click OK to keep the change. (Note: You can also select two colors for the Inactive Title Bar component.)

OPENING A FOLDER IN EXPLORER VIEW

In our last tip, we showed you how to switch any open folder window from one pane to two: Right-click the icon in the window's upper-left corner and select Explore. Now let's back up a step. Are you staring at a folder icon you'd like to open in a two-paned view? Right-click the icon and select Explore. It's a lot faster than opening a generic Windows Explorer window, and then navigating your way to that folder.

PLUS! 98: COMPRESSED FOLDERS OVERVIEW

Microsoft Plus! 98 includes a folder compression utility that allows you to archive files and folders. Similar to other compression utilities, Compressed Folders saves hard disk space by storing data in a compressed form, as a *.zip file. To create a compressed folder, right-click the desktop and select New, Compressed Folder. (You can identify a compressed folder by the zipper on its icon.) To add files or folders to this new folder, simply drag them inside. Store it anywhere you want, or zip (ha!--very punny) it off to someone else as an e-mail attachment. The recipient can unzip the file using any unzipping utility. To extract a file from a compressed folder, right-click it, select Extract, identify a destination folder, click Next, then click Finish. Alternatively, click and drag a file from inside the compressed folder to another location, then release the mouse button. (Over the next month, you'll find Microsoft Plus! 98 tips scattered throughout the Windows 98 tips of the day. Similar to Plus! for Windows 95, but even better, this Windows 98 companion includes a number of bells and whistles--desktop themes, games, utilities, and so on--not included in Windows 98. For those of you who don't own Plus! 98, these tips will serve as a sneak preview, especially if you're on the fence as to whether this add-on is worth the 33 bucks or not. Our opinion is yes, or we wouldn't be giving it so much ink. And if you already have Plus! 98--well then, these tips will show you how to make the most of this feature-packed enhancement.)

PLUS! 98: DELUXE CD PLAYER

If you frequently listen to audio CDs on your system, you're going to love Microsoft Plus! 98's Deluxe CD Player. Pop a music CD in your CD-ROM drive, and this utility appears on screen. In the New Album Found In Drive X (where X is your CD-ROM drive) dialog box, you'll see two download options--one to download information for that album, and one to download information for any new album. Take your pick, click OK, and Windows will attempt to connect you to the Internet (if you aren't already). Once the connection is made, watch the Deluxe CD Player, and like magic, artist and title and track information appear (if available)! A lot easier than typing it all in yourself, eh? (Over the next month, you'll find Microsoft Plus! 98 tips scattered throughout the Windows 98 tips of the day. Similar to Plus! for Windows 95, but even better, this Windows 98 companion includes a number of bells and whistles--desktop themes, games, utilities, and so on--not included in Windows 98. For those of you who don't own Plus! 98, these tips will serve as a sneak preview, especially if you're on the fence as to whether this add-on is worth the 33 bucks or not. Our opinion is yes, or we wouldn't be giving it so much ink. And if you already have Plus! 98--well then, these tips will show you how to make the most of this feature-packed enhancement.)

PLUS! 98: DELUXE CD PLAYER OPTIONS

In our last tip, we introduced the Deluxe CD Player, a utility for people who like to play audio CDs on their system. Pop a music CD in your CD-ROM drive, click OK to download information for that album, wait as Windows establishes an Internet connection, if necessary, then watch as artist and title and track information appear (if available). There are a couple of options you should know about for keeping those CD controls close at hand. On the Deluxe CD Player, click Options, then select Preferences. Select Show Control On Taskbar and click OK. From now on, you have access to the Deluxe CD Player's controls right from the Taskbar. (Right-click the icon, select an option, and so on.) Feel free to close the main player window. Your CD will keep on playing.If you prefer to keep the Deluxe CD Player's window open all the time, select Options, Tiny View, and it won't hog so much screen space. You may also wish to keep its window on top of all others on your desktop, so it doesn't get lost. Select Options, Preferences; choose Always Make Player Topmost Window On Desktop; then click OK.Stay tuned--we'll cover this utility in more detail in future tips! (Over the next month, you'll find Microsoft Plus! 98 tips scattered throughout the Windows 98 tips of the day. Similar to Plus! for Windows 95, but even better, this Windows 98 companion includes a number of bells and whistles--desktop themes, games, utilities, and so on--not included in Windows 98. For those of you who don't own Plus! 98, these tips will serve as a sneak preview, especially if you're on the fence as to whether this add-on is worth the 33 bucks or not. Our opinion is yes, or we wouldn't be giving it so much ink. And if you already have Plus! 98--well then, these tips will show you how to make the most of this feature-packed enhancement.)

PLUS! 98: DESKTOP THEMES

Over the next month, you'll find Microsoft Plus! 98 tips scattered throughout the Windows 98 tips of the day. Similar to Plus! for Windows 95 (but even better), this Windows 98 companion includes a number of bells and whistles--desktop themes, games, utilities, and so on--not included in Windows 98. For those of you who don't own Plus! 98, these tips will serve as a sneak preview, especially if you're on the fence as to whether this add-on is worth the 33 bucks or not. (Our opinion is yes, or we wouldn't be giving it so much ink.) And if you already have Plus! 98--well then, these tips will show you how to make the most of this feature-packed enhancement. Upon installing Plus! 98, one of the first things you should check out are the new desktop themes that have been added to your system. Open the Control Panel, double-click Desktop Themes, and scroll through the Themes list to see the new additions: Architecture, Cathy, Cityscape, Corbis Photography, Doonesbury, Falling Leaves, Fashion, Foxtrot, Garfield, Geometry, Horror Channel, Jazz, Peanuts, Photodisc, Rock-n-Roll, Science Fiction, Space, Windows 98, Windows 98 Default, World Traveler--whew! Select any one to see its preview, then click OK to apply it to your desktop.

PLUS! 98: ROTATE THROUGH DESKTOP THEMES

In our last tip, we pointed out that Plus! adds 20 or so new desktop themes to your system. To apply one to your desktop, open the Control Panel, double-click Desktop Themes, select a theme in the Themes list, then click OK. Can't decide which one you like the best? Try them all on for size. Look down in the lower-right corner of the Desktop Themes dialog box, and you'll notice that Plus! 98 has added a Rotate Theme Monthly option. Select it, and Windows applies a new scheme to your desktop at the first of each month. (Note: You must have the Task Scheduler enabled in order for this feature to work. To enable the Task Scheduler, if it isn't already, select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Scheduled Tasks; in the resulting dialog box, select Advanced, Start Using Task Scheduler.) (Over the next month, you'll find Microsoft Plus! 98 tips scattered throughout the Windows 98 tips of the day. Similar to Plus! for Windows 95, but even better, this Windows 98 companion includes a number of bells and whistles--desktop themes, games, utilities, and so on--not included in Windows 98. For those of you who don't own Plus! 98, these tips will serve as a sneak preview, especially if you're on the fence as to whether this add-on is worth the 33 bucks or not. Our opinion is yes, or we wouldn't be giving it so much ink. And if you already have Plus! 98--well then, these tips will show you how to make the most of this feature-packed enhancement.)

WHAT TO DO WITH DOWNLOADED STARTUP SCREENS AND DESKTOP THEMES

In a recent tip, we pointed you to some Web sites for downloading holiday-related desktop elements such as screen savers, desktop themes, and clipart. One way to find these files is to search for the keyword "Christmas" at http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/0,1392,,00.html Once 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. If it's an *.exe file, double-click it to extract its files. Then follow these steps: 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: 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 (select Settings, Control Panel from the Start menu), 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.)

PLUS! 98: HELP RESOURCES

We can't possibly cover everything about Microsoft Plus! 98 in this series, so for our last tip on Microsoft Plus! 98 (for now, anyway), we'd like to point you to some resources. Upon installing Plus!, a new help folder is added to Windows Help. Select Start, Help, click the Contents tab, and then select Using Plus! 98 Features. In addition to providing tips on Plus! 98's components, these help topics provide direct links to its games and utilities (in case you can't find them in the Start menu). For more information on Microsoft, SegaSoft (Lose Your Marbles), and McAfee (VirusScan) technical support, open the Using Plus! 98 Features help folder, select Registration And Support For Plus! 98, then select Get Technical Support.

PLUS! 98: NEW AND IMPROVED MAINTENANCE WIZARD

When you read that Maintenance Wizard is one of Plus! 98's components, your first reaction is probably, "Big whoop--I've already got it." However, this is the new and improved Maintenance Wizard. Now, in addition to everything it has always done, this utility will clean out your Start menu (by removing orphaned shortcuts and empty folders) and run virus scans at the intervals you specify. Once you've installed Plus! 98, opening the Maintenance Wizard--select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Maintenance Wizard--automatically opens the new version. Choose the Express setup, and the scheduled maintenance routines will include both a Start menu cleanup and a virus scan. (Over the next month, you'll find Microsoft Plus! 98 tips scattered throughout the Windows 98 tips of the day. Similar to Plus! for Windows 95, but even better, this Windows 98 companion includes a number of bells and whistles--desktop themes, games, utilities, and so on--not included in Windows 98. For those of you who don't own Plus! 98, these tips will serve as a sneak preview, especially if you're on the fence as to whether this add-on is worth the 33 bucks or not. Our opinion is yes, or we wouldn't be giving it so much ink. And if you already have Plus! 98--well then, these tips will show you how to make the most of this feature-packed enhancement.)

PLUS! 98: NEW AND IMPROVED DISK CLEANUP

In our last tip, we pointed out that the Maintenance Wizard that comes with Plus! 98 is a new and improved version, including a Start menu cleanup and a virus scan. Similarly, Disk Cleanup has been improved upon. The version of the utility that comes with Plus! 98 includes a non-critical file cleaner that can scan your hard drive for entire classes of files that are seldom used--for example, lost clusters, zero-byte files, or even screen savers or help files. The end result being, of course, that you can rid your system of these space wasters. To start this new version of Disk Cleanup (assuming you've installed Plus! 98), select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup. To use the non-critical file cleaner, select this option under Files To Delete, click OK, then click Yes to confirm. You'll now be presented with a Non-Critical Files dialog box, where you can choose whether to delete the files it found (based on the program's color-coded recommendations). (Over the next month, you'll find Microsoft Plus! 98 tips scattered throughout the Windows 98 tips of the day. Similar to Plus! for Windows 95, but even better, this Windows 98 companion includes a number of bells and whistles--desktop themes, games, utilities, and so on--not included in Windows 98. For those of you who don't own Plus! 98, these tips will serve as a sneak preview, especially if you're on the fence as to whether this add-on is worth the 33 bucks or not. Our opinion is yes, or we wouldn't be giving it so much ink. And if you already have Plus! 98--well then, these tips will show you how to make the most of this feature-packed enhancement.)

PLUS! 98: ORGANIC ART SCREEN SAVER

One not-so-obvious component of Plus! 98 is the Organic Art screen saver. Select Start, Programs, Microsoft Plus! 98, Organic Art Screen Saver, and you'll find yourself on the Screen Saver tab of the Display Properties dialog box. (You could also right-click the desktop, select Properties, click the Screen Saver tab, and select Organic Art in the Screen Saver list.) Set the delay after which the screen saver should kick in, then click OK. When the screen saver kicks in, abstract images dance around on screen. Every 60 seconds, a new set of images appears on its own unique background. It's actually quite mesmerizing! (Over the next month, you'll find Microsoft Plus! 98 tips scattered throughout the Windows 98 tips of the day. Similar to Plus! for Windows 95, but even better, this Windows 98 companion includes a number of bells and whistles--desktop themes, games, utilities, and so on--not included in Windows 98. For those of you who don't own Plus! 98, these tips will serve as a sneak preview, especially if you're on the fence as to whether this add-on is worth the 33 bucks or not. Our opinion is yes, or we wouldn't be giving it so much ink. And if you already have Plus! 98--well then, these tips will show you how to make the most of this feature-packed enhancement.)

PLUS! 98: PICTURE IT! EXPRESS

Do you like to send people scanned photos (or photos developed on disk) via e-mail? Before sending them off, touch them up a bit with Picture It! Express. For example, you can do things like crop a picture into a heart shape, soften its edges, and remove red eye. To open a picture in Picture It! Express, select Start, Programs, Microsoft Plus! 98, Picture It! Express. Click Get Picture, and in step 1, click the down arrow and navigate your way to the folder that contains the picture you want to use. Previews of all pictures inside that folder will appear. Drag one or more pictures down to the filmstrip, click Done, then double-click any picture (in the filmstrip) to display it on screen. >From there, just use the buttons under Workbench to edit your picture as desired. When you're done, click Save, Print & Send, and select an option. (Over the next month, you'll find Microsoft Plus! 98 tips scattered throughout the Windows 98 tips of the day. Similar to Plus! For Windows 95, but even better, this Windows 98 companion includes a number of bells and whistles--desktop themes, games, utilities, and so on--not included in Windows 98. For those of you who don't own Plus! 98, these tips will serve as a sneak preview, especially if you're on the fence as to whether this add-on is worth the 33 bucks or not. Our opinion is yes, or we wouldn't be giving it so much ink. And if you already have Plus! 98--well then, these tips will show you how to make the most of this feature-packed enhancement.)

PLUS! 98: USE PICTURE IT! EXPRESS TO MAKE A COLLAGE

In a recent tip, we showed you how to open pictures in Picture It! Express: Select Start, Programs, Microsoft Plus! 98, Picture It! Express; click Get Picture; navigate your way to the folder that contains the pictures you want to use; drag one or more pictures down to the filmstrip; click Done; then double-click any picture (in the filmstrip) to display it on screen. How about creating a collage of pictures? Assuming you've already opened all the pictures you want to use in the collage (by following the steps above), select File, New, choose Portrait or Landscape (and choose a proportion, if you wish), and click Done. One at a time, right-click a picture (on the filmstrip) and select Add To Collage. When all the pictures you want in the collage appear on the page (one on top of the other, for the moment), click on each, one at a time, and move it to where you want it. You can now use all of the options under Workbench to edit each picture. When you've finished making changes, be sure to select Save, Print & Send to save all your hard work! (Over the next month, you'll find Microsoft Plus! 98 tips scattered throughout the Windows 98 tips of the day. Similar to Plus! for Windows 95, but even better, this Windows 98 companion includes a number of bells and whistles--desktop themes, games, utilities, and so on--not included in Windows 98. For those of you who don't own Plus! 98, these tips will serve as a sneak preview, especially if you're on the fence as to whether this add-on is worth the 33 bucks or not. Our opinion is yes, or we wouldn't be giving it so much ink. And if you already have Plus! 98--well then, these tips will show you how to make the most of this feature-packed enhancement.)

PLUS! 98: USE PICTURE IT! EXPRESS TO MAKE WALLPAPER

In our last tip, we showed you how to open pictures in Picture It! Express: Select Start, Programs, Microsoft Plus! 98, Picture It! Express; click Get Picture; navigate your way to the folder that contains the pictures you want to use; drag one or more pictures down to the filmstrip; click Done; then double-click any picture (in the filmstrip) to display it on screen. Once you use the Workbench options to edit your picture--for example, to remove red eye, crop the picture, or change its tint--you can turn it into desktop wallpaper. Click Save, Print & Send, select Save As Wallpaper, then click Save As Wallpaper again. Right-click your desktop and select Properties. On the Background tab of the Display Properties dialog box, under Wallpaper, select Picture It! Wallpaper. Choose Center under Display, click OK, and your desktop's got a brand new look! (Over the next month, you'll find Microsoft Plus! 98 tips scattered throughout the Windows 98 tips of the day. Similar to Plus! for Windows 95, but even better, this Windows 98 companion includes a number of bells and whistles--desktop themes, games, utilities, and so on--not included in Windows 98. For those of you who don't own Plus! 98, these tips will serve as a sneak preview, especially if you're on the fence as to whether this add-on is worth the 33 bucks or not. Our opinion is yes, or we wouldn't be giving it so much ink. And if you already have Plus! 98--well then, these tips will show you how to make the most of this feature-packed enhancement.)

PLUS! 98: THREE NEW GAMES

Have a little spare time? Plus! 98 adds three games to your system: Spider Solitaire, Lose Your Marbles, and Microsoft Golf 1998 Lite. We could spend weeks just discussing the ins and outs of these games (they all take a bit of time to learn), but instead, we'll just show you how to get started. Select Start, Programs, Microsoft Plus! 98, Games, and take your pick. First impressions? Lose Your Marbles has some pretty cool graphics, and the golf game must be a blast--once you learn how to play. (If you don't know golf, it may take a while.) For more information on playing any of these games, open the game, then use the Help features inside. (Over the next month, you'll find Microsoft Plus! 98 tips scattered throughout the Windows 98 tips of the day. Similar to Plus! for Windows 95, but even better, this Windows 98 companion includes a number of bells and whistles--desktop themes, games, utilities, and so on--not included in Windows 98. For those of you who don't own Plus! 98, these tips will serve as a sneak preview, especially if you're on the fence as to whether this add-on is worth the 33 bucks or not. Our opinion is yes, or we wouldn't be giving it so much ink. And if you already have Plus! 98--well then, these tips will show you how to make the most of this feature-packed enhancement.)

PLUS! 98: UPDATING MCAFEE VIRUSSCAN

Plus! 98 includes McAfee VirusScan, a program that detects and destroys viruses that make their way onto your system. Of course, new viruses are discovered every day, so at regular intervals--say, the recommended once a month--you should update this program. Otherwise, VirusScan won't be able to protect you against the newer viruses. As a Plus! owner, you automatically get six months of free updates. To update VirusScan manually, open VirusScan--select Start, Programs, Microsoft Plus! 98, McAfee VirusScan, VirusScan--then select File, Update VirusScan. Click Update, complete the registration information, wait as an Internet connection is established (if necessary), then wait as the program checks to see if it needs updating. If so, click OK, and so on, following the steps necessary to complete the update. Eventually, you'll end up with a downloaded, executable file. (Note: Even if you don't update manually, the program will notify you if its files are out of date. When this message appears, click Update and so on.) (Over the next month, you'll find Microsoft Plus! 98 tips scattered throughout the Windows 98 tips of the day. Similar to Plus! for Windows 95, but even better, this Windows 98 companion includes a number of bells and whistles--desktop themes, games, utilities, and so on--not included in Windows 98. For those of you who don't own Plus! 98, these tips will serve as a sneak preview, especially if you're on the fence as to whether this add-on is worth the 33 bucks or not. Our opinion is yes, or we wouldn't be giving it so much ink. And if you already have Plus! 98--well then, these tips will show you how to make the most of this feature-packed enhancement.)

RESOURCE KIT SAMPLER: WINDOWS 98 RESOURCE KIT BOOK ONLINE

RESOURCE KIT SAMPLER: CLIPTRAY PREVIEW MODE

In the first tip in this series, we showed you how to install 12MB worth of handy utilities right on your hard drive: Pop the Windows 98 installation CD in your CD-ROM drive, navigate your way to the tools\reskit folder, double-click Setup.exe, then follow along to complete the installation. You can now access any Sampler tool from within the Tools Management Console: Select Start, Programs, Windows 98 Resource Kit, Tools Management Console. As this series continues, we'll show you how to use some of the Sampler's tools. In our last tip, we introduced ClipTray, a utility that stores text items you frequently paste into documents (for example, a letter closing). Open this utility using the Tools Management Console, or if you've added a shortcut to cliptray.exe in your Startup folder, simply start Windows 98. To add a text entry to ClipTray, copy it to the clipboard, right-click the ClipTray icon, select Add, type a name for the item, click the Paste button, then click the Add button, followed by Close. To insert a ClipTray entry into another document, right-click the ClipTray icon, select the entry (to copy it to the Windows Clipboard), then paste it wherever you want it. Can't identify an entry by name? Use preview mode to take a quick peek. Right-click the ClipTray icon and select Options, Preview Mode. Right-click the icon again, select an entry, and a preview appears. Click OK to close the preview. (Tip: The last entry you preview is automatically on the clipboard.) Wish the entry list were a bit longer, so you didn't have to scroll up or down to see all your entries? Extend it beyond the default 20 entries. Right-click the ClipTray icon and select More. Under Menu Size, move the scrollbar button to the right to set the maximum number of items allowed in the list, then click Close. In our next tip, a few more ClipTray techniques....

RESOURCE KIT SAMPLER: CLIPTRAY LIST MANAGEMENT

In the first tip in this series, we showed you how to install 12MB worth of handy utilities right on your hard drive: Pop the Windows 98 installation CD in your CD-ROM drive, navigate your way to the tools\reskit folder, double-click Setup.exe, then follow along to complete the installation. You can now access any Sampler tool from within the Tools Management Console: Select Start, Programs, Windows 98 Resource Kit, Tools Management Console. In this last tip in the series, we'll show you how to manage ClipTray's list. In a previous tip, we introduced ClipTray, a utility that stores text items you frequently paste into documents (for example, a letter closing). Open ClipTray using the Tools Management Console, or if you've added a shortcut to cliptray.exe in your Startup folder, simply start Windows 98. To add a text entry to ClipTray, copy it to the clipboard, right-click the ClipTray icon, select Add, type a name for the item, click the Paste button, then click Close. To insert a ClipTray entry into another document, right-click the ClipTray icon, select the entry (to copy it to the Windows Clipboard), then paste it wherever you want it. Not happy with the order in which ClipTray arranges your entries (which, by default, is the order in which they were added)? Then by all means, rearrange them. Right-click the ClipTray icon and select More. Select an entry you'd like to move, then use the Move Up or Move Down button to adjust the entry's position. When you're finished, click Close. One last tip: Remember to delete unused entries in order to keep the ClipTray list down to a manageable size. Right-click the ClipTray icon and select More. Select the unwanted entry, click Edit, click the Delete button, then click Yes to confirm. Click OK, then click Close.

RESOURCE KIT SAMPLER: INTRO TO CLIPTRAY

In the first tip in this series, we showed you how to install 12MB worth of handy utilities right on your hard drive: Pop the Windows 98 installation CD in your CD-ROM drive, navigate your way to the tools\reskit folder, double-click Setup.exe, then follow along to complete the installation. You can now access any Sampler tool from within the Tools Management Console: Select Start, Programs, Windows 98 Resource Kit, Tools Management Console. As this series continues, we'll show you how to use some of the Sampler's tools. Remember ClipBook, that old Windows for Workgroups utility that manages items you frequently paste into documents (for example, a block of text)? Windows 98 offers a simpler, more compact version of this utility, ClipTray, as part of the Sampler. Open the Tools Management Console, navigate your way to ClipTray (double-click the Tools Categories or Tools A To Z folder, and so on) and double-click it. You'll now see a ClipTray icon in your Taskbar tray. To add an item, such as a letter closing, to ClipTray, select it (in its native application), then press Ctrl-C to send the selected text to the clipboard. Right-click the ClipTray icon in your Taskbar, and in the pop-up menu, select Add. In the Name Of ClipTray Entry box, type a name for the item, such as "letter closing." Click the Paste button, then the Add button, and finally click Close. Right-click the ClipTray icon, and you'll see the new entry in the pop-up list.To insert a ClipTray entry into another document, right-click the ClipTray icon (in your Taskbar tray), and in the pop-up menu, select that entry. Place the cursor in the destination document wherever you want the text, press Ctrl-V, and there it is! (Note: If you haven't installed the Sampler and plan to use ClipTray, you'll want to install ClipTray on your hard drive: With the Windows 98 installation CD in your CD-ROM drive, navigate your way to tools\reskit\desktop and copy the three ClipTray files--cliptray.cnt, cliptray.exe, and cliptray.hlp--to your folder of choice. Then place a shortcut to cliptray.exe in a convenient location.) (Tip: Place a copy of cliptray.exe in your Startup folder so that ClipTray starts whenever you start Windows 98.)

RESOURCE KIT SAMPLER: LINK CHECK WIZARD

In our last tip, we showed you how to install 12MB worth of handy utilities right on your hard drive: Pop the Windows 98 installation CD in your CD-ROM drive, navigate your way to the tools\reskit folder, double-click Setup.exe, then follow along to complete the installation. You can now access any Sampler tool from within the Tools Management Console: Select Start, Programs, Windows 98 Resource Kit, Tools Management Console. In this series of tips, we'll show you how to use some of the Sampler's tools. Have you ever double-clicked a shortcut and then watched as a flashlight waved back and forth inside a dialog box? If so, that shortcut's target has been moved or deleted. To avoid these holdups, track down all "orphaned" shortcuts using the Link Check Wizard. Open the Tools Management Console, navigate your way to the Link Check Wizard, which is listed as "Checklink" (double-click the Tools Categories or Tools A To Z folder, and so on), and double-click it. Click Next, wait a few minutes, and the Link Check Wizard will present you with a list of "dead" links. Assuming you want to delete them all, click the Select All button, click Finish, then click OK. (Tip: To delete only some of the links, select each one individually, then click Finish, and so on.) (Note: If you haven't installed the Sampler, you can run the Link Check Wizard off the Windows 98 installation CD: Navigate your way to the tools\reskit\desktop folder and double-click chklnks.exe. Or, to install just this tool on your hard drive, copy chklnks.exe to your folder of choice, then place a shortcut to it in a convenient location, such as your Start menu.)

RESOURCE KIT SAMPLER: SETTING UP QUICK TRAY

RESOURCE KIT SAMPLER: USING QUICK TRAY

In the first tip in this series, we showed you how to install 12MB worth of handy utilities right on your hard drive: Pop the Windows 98 installation CD in your CD-ROM drive, navigate your way to the tools\reskit folder, double-click Setup.exe, then follow along to complete the installation. You can now access any Sampler tool from within the Tools Management Console: Select Start, Programs, Windows 98 Resource Kit, Tools Management Console. As this series continues, we'll show you how to use some of the Sampler's tools. In our last tip, we introduced one of the handier tools in the Sampler, Quick Tray. If you haven't installed the Sampler, but still want to use this utility, you'll want to install Quick Tray on your hard drive: Pop the installation CD in your CD-ROM drive, navigate your way to tools\reskit\desktop and copy quiktray.exe to your folder of choice. Regardless of whether you've installed the entire Sampler or just Quick Tray, you'll probably want to place a shortcut to quiktray.exe in your Startup folder. That way, its icon--and hence, all of your custom icons--will appear in your Taskbar tray whenever you start Windows. Okay, enough background. Ready to use this thing? Open the Tools Management Console, navigate your way to Quick Tray (double-click the Tools Categories or Tools A To Z folder, and so on) and double-click it. (Or, simply start Windows 98, assuming you've added Quick Tray's icon to your Startup folder.) Click the Quick Tray icon that appears in your Taskbar tray. To add an icon to the Taskbar tray, click the Add button and navigate your way to that item--file, folder, or application. Select the item, click Open, and its icon appears in the tray. Repeat these steps for each item you'd like to add, then click Close (not Exit, or the new items will disappear). To delete an item, select it in the Quick Tray window, then click Remove.

RESOURCE KIT SAMPLER: USE TEXTVIEWER TO EDIT AND CREATE TEXT FILES

In the first tip in this series, we showed you how to install 12MB worth of handy utilities right on your hard drive: Pop the Windows 98 installation CD in your CD-ROM drive, navigate your way to the tools\reskit folder, double-click Setup.exe, then follow along to complete the installation. You can now access any Sampler tool from within the Tools Management Console: Select Start, Programs, Windows 98 Resource Kit, Tools Management Console. As this series continues, we'll show you how to use some of the Sampler's tools. In our last tip, we introduced TextViewer, a utility that allows you to view most text-based files of 25KB or less--for example, *.txt, *.ini, *.inf, *.htm, and *.bat files--in a two-paned window similar to that in Windows Explorer. Open this utility using the Tools Management Console, then use the two dropdown boxes to select the drive and file type of the file or files you want to view. In the left pane, navigate your way to, and double-click, the folder containing the file or files you want to view; all text-based files (of the type specified) inside the folder will appear at the bottom of the left-pane hierarchy. Double-click any file to display its contents in the right pane. But that's not all. TextViewer has a few more tricks up its sleeve. You can also use this utility to edit text files or to create new ones. To edit a file, open it, as described above, then make your changes in the right pane. When you're finished, select File, Save,and so on, to save your changes. To create a new text-based file, select File, New, and start typing in the right pane, as if you were in Notepad. Once again, select File, Save, and so on, to save your work.

RESOURCE KIT SAMPLER: USE TEXTVIEWER TO VIEW TEXT FILES

In the first tip in this series, we showed you how to install 12MB worth of handy utilities right on your hard drive: Pop the Windows 98 installation CD in your CD-ROM drive, navigate your way to the tools\reskit folder, double-click Setup.exe, then follow along to complete the installation. You can now access any Sampler tool from within the Tools Management Console: Select Start, Programs, Windows 98 Resource Kit, Tools Management Console. As this series continues, we'll show you how to use some of the Sampler's tools. Do you frequently view and edit text files inside a text editor, such as Notepad? With TextViewer, one of the many tools in the Sampler, you can view most text-based files of 25KB or less--for example, *.txt, *.ini, *.inf, *.htm, and *.bat files--in a two-paned window similar to that in Windows Explorer. Open the Tools Management Console, navigate your way to TextViewer (double-click the Tools Categories or Tools A To Z folder, and so on) and double-click it. To view a file, use the two dropdown boxes below the menu commands to select the drive that contains the file or files you want to view, as well as the file type. In the left pane, navigate your way to, and double-click, the folder containing the file or files you want to view. All text-based files (of the type specified) inside the folder will appear at the bottom of the left-pane hierarchy. Double-click any file to display its contents in the right pane. Double-click another file, and its content s appear. (Note: If you haven't installed the Sampler, you can run the TextViewer off the Windows 98 installation CD: Navigate your way to the tools\reskit\file folder and double-click textview.exe. Or, to install just this tool on your hard drive, copy textview.exe to your folder of choice, then place a shortcut to it in a convenient location, such as your Start menu.) In our next tip, more TextViewer tips....

PRESS F3 TO ACCESS FIND WINDOW

Looking for a quick way to access a Find window? From the desktop or any Explorer window, press F3. It's the same as selecting Start, Find, Files or Folders. (Note: When you press F3, Find will open with its focus on your current location. For example, if you're on the desktop, the Look In line will point to the Desktop folder.)

RIGHT-CLICK TO FIND

In our last tip, we told you that you can press F3 from the desktop or any Explorer window to open Find (focused on that folder). If you're more of a mouse person, another way to open Find is to right-click the folder or drive you want to search and select Find. Again, Find will open with the focus on that folder.

ADJUST SYSTEM CLOCK

Just realize your system clock isn't set quite right? (No wonder you're always late!) Changing this setting is a snap. Simply double-click the time on your Taskbar and make your changes in the resulting dialog box. Select the portion of the time you need to adjust (probably minutes), type the correct number, and click OK.

AN EASTER EGG IN NOVEMBER?

Here's an Easter Egg you might want to check out: Right-click the desktop, select Properties, and click the Screen Saver tab. Under Screen Saver, select 3D Text, then click the Settings button. Type volcano on the Text line and click OK. Watch the preview screen (on the Screen Saver tab) or click Preview, and you'll see the names of famous volcanos!

Creating a TV channel shortcut

If you have a specific channel that you like to watch on WebTV for Windows, you can create a shortcut to that channel. Doing so allows you to quickly access the channel that you want without having to launch WebTV for Windows and then click the channel changer on the TV toolbar. To create a shortcut to channel 29, right-click on the desktop and select New/Shortcut from the shortcut menu. When the Create Shortcut wizard appears, type TV:29 in the Command Line text box. You can also use the station's call letters instead of the channel. For example, you could type TV:HDLN in the Command Line text box. You can then click next and name your shortcut. Now, when you want to watch the channel, you can simply double-click your new shortcut.

Studying Startup with the System Configuration Utility

Have you ever wondered what goes on in t