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
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, not tweakui.exe. (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. First of all, did you know that you can type ? keyword in the address bar of any Internet Explorer window to search under that keyword? If you didn't, then this is two tips in one. In any event, Tweak UI can help you customize this feature so that your favorite search engine does the searching. Inside Tweak UI, select the General tab. Next to Search Engine, click the down arrow, take your pick, then click OK. Don't see your favorite search engine? In our next tip, we'll show you how to use it anyway
TWEAK UI: XMOUSE
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. Do you wish that Windows' focus would follow your mouse pointer so that, for example, moving your mouse over a window automatically placed the focus on that window? Open Tweak UI and, on the Mouse tab, select Activation Follows Mouse (X-Mouse). Click Apply or OK, then move your mouse pointer around the screen. Cool, eh? (Tip: If you want your mouse pointer to select the window it's over AND move it to the top of the open window pile, select Tweak UI's General tab and select Auto-Raise under Effects.)
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
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. If you open the Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs, and check out the list of programs on the Install/Uninstall tab, you'll probably see some applications you've already removed from your system. Use Tweak UI to delete them from this list. (The alternative is to edit the Registry.) Inside Tweak UI, select the Add/Remove tab. One at a time, select an item you'd like to remove from the list, click Remove, then click Yes to confirm.
TWEAK UI: RESTRICT CONTROL PANEL ACCESS
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. We frequently receive requests for security-related tips--for example, how do I keep people from messing with my Control Panel settings? Tweak UI lets you restrict access to your Control Panel by simply removing individual controls. Inside Tweak UI, select the Control Panel tab and deselect the controls you'd like to hide. Click OK. When you open the Control Panel, those controls are out of sight.
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
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. Do you wish that Windows' focus would follow your mouse pointer so that, for example, moving your mouse over a window automatically placed the focus on that window? Open Tweak UI and, on the Mouse tab, select Activation Follows Mouse (X-Mouse). Click Apply or OK, then move your mouse pointer around the screen. Cool, eh? (Tip: If you want your mouse pointer to select the window it's over AND move it to the top of the open window pile, select Tweak UI's General tab and select Auto-Raise under Effects.)
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
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 a previous tip, we showed you how to access the everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-Windows 98 reference sitting right on your installation CD, the Windows 98 Resource Kit: With the Windows 98 installation CD in your CD-ROM drive, navigate your way to the tools\reskit\help folder, then double-click rk98book.chm. If you've installed the Sampler, this help-style reference is now on your hard drive. To open the Resource Kit, select Start, Programs, Accessories, Windows 98 Resource Kit, Resource Kit Book Online. Or, open the Tools Management Console and double-click Online Documentation. (Note: If you haven't installed the Sampler and want to install just the Windows 98 Resource Kit Book Online on your hard drive, pop the Windows 98 installation CD in your CD-ROM drive, navigate your way to tools\reskit\help, and copy rk98book.chm to your folder of choice. Then place a shortcut to this file in a convenient location, such as your Start menu.)
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
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. We can't tell you how many people have written us asking for a tip on placing their favorite icons in the Taskbar tray. The answer is Quick Tray, another utility that's part of the Sampler. First, let's look at some setup. Quick Tray has to be running in order to do its thing--the icons you place in the tray won't appear unless Quick Tray is running. So if you haven't installed the Sampler, you'll definitely want to install at least the Quick Tray utility 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. The other thing you may wish to do is 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 98. In our next tip, using 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 the background when you start Windows 98? If you're curious as to what programs and utilities are starting each time you boot Windows 98[RW1], you need to investigate the System Configuration Utility. This utility contains a series of tabs that show you the contents of several major files including the Config.sys, Autoexec.bat, System.ini, and Windows.ini. The last tab is titled Startup and contains a complete list of all the items that load automatically from the Startup folder, the Win.ini load= and run= lines, and from the Registry each time Windows 98 starts. To access this utility, you can launch System Information, pull down the Tools menu and select the System Configuration Utility command. You can also access the Run dialog box from the Start menu and type the command C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSCONFIG.EXE in the Open text box.
Quickly saving files to the Desktop from the Save As dialog box
When you create and save a file that you only intend to keep temporarily, chances are that you save it to the Desktop, so that you can quickly and easily delete it when you're finished with it. You can expedite this procedure by using the View Desktop button in the Save As dialog box. Once you create the file and click the Save button, you'll see the Save As dialog box. At this point, simply click the View Desktop button, name the file, and click the Save button.
Using Windows 98's FAT32 will improve hard drive access
Is your hard drive larger than 512MB? If so, is it using the new FAT32 file system? To find out, open My Computer, right-click on your hard drive icon, and select Properties from the shortcut menu. When you see the Properties dialog box, locate the File System tag near the top of the dialog box. If it lists FAT, then you need to convert it to FAT32. Fortunately, converting your hard drive to FAT32 is easy with Windows 98's Drive Converter utility, which you'll find on the Programs/Accessories/System Tools submenu.  The Drive Converter utility uses a wizard interface to walk you through the entire procedure.
Removing the Log Off item from the Start menu
If you're the only one who uses your computer and you're not on a network, you can reduce the clutter on the Start menu by removing the Log Off item from the Start menu. To do so, launch the Registry Editor by typing Regedit in the Run dialog box and open the 
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ \Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer folder.
Next, pull down the Edit menu, select the New | DWORD Value command, and name the value NoLogOff. Now, press [Enter] twice to enable the new name and to open the Edit DWORD Value dialog box. Once the Edit DWORD Value dialog box appears, type 1 in the Value Data text box, click OK and close the Registry Editor. To complete the operation, restart your system.
Dealing with color distortion when using a 3D screen saver
When you use Windows 98's 3D screen savers you may notice that when you dismiss the screen saver by moving the mouse, the colors used to display certain items on the screen are distorted--for example, title bars in windows and dialog boxes and, many times, the icons in the system tray. Sometimes these items appear almost Day-Glo. The reason for this is that Windows 98's 3D screen savers use the OpenGL technology, which can temporarily overload your display adapter. Let's take a closer look.This advanced graphics technology in OpenGL allows programmers to create high-quality three-dimensional color images. If you use the 3D Pipes screen saver, you'll see that OpenGL allows such graphic effects as shading, lighting, and texture mapping. However, this complex technology comes with a price--it really taxes your display adapter and CPU. There are times when you'll dismiss the screen saver right in the middle of a complex calculation. When you do, the system doesn't have a chance to completely recover the color scheme as it redraws the screen. Hence, some of the colors may appear distorted.
If this happens on your system, there are two solutions: a quick fix and a permanent fix. The quick fix simply involves maximizing any open window and then restoring it. Doing so forces Windows 98 to redraw the screen and, without the pressure of the OpenGL screen saver, restore the colors accurately. However, some applications may not respond to this, and you'll have to close and reopen them. The permanent fix may or may not work for you depending on your system's video display adapter. Basically, this fix involves increasing the Colors setting to a setting higher than 256 Colors, such as High Color or True Color. To do so, open the Display Properties sheet by right-clicking the desktop and selecting Properties from the context menu. Then select the Settings tab and choose a setting higher than 256 Colors.
  • Using all upper-case file and folder names
Would you like to use like to use all uppercase letters for some of your folder and file names? If so, you've noticed that when try to name a folder or file with all uppercase letters, Windows 98 renames it using only an initial uppercase letter. To change this behavior, launch My Computer, pull down the View menu, and select the Folder Options command. When the Folder Option dialog box appears, select the View tab. Now, locate the Files And Folders branch in the Advanced Settings list box and select the Allow All Uppercase Names check box. Once you click OK, all the folders and files that were originally named with all uppercase letters will immediately be displayed as such. You can now use any combination of upper- and lowercase letters for all new folders or files that you create.
Shut down Windows 98 fast!
As you may know, when you want to shut down Windows 98, you have to go through several steps. First you have to click the Start button and select the Shut Down command. When the Shut Down Windows dialog box appears, you have to select the Shut Down The Computer option and then click Yes. That's four steps. Fortunately, we've discovered a way to shut down Windows 98 in one simple double-click. To implement this technique, launch the Create Shortcut wizard by right clicking on the desktop and selecting the New/Shortcut command from the shortcut menu. Once the Create Shortcut wizard loads, type c:\windows\rundll.exe user.exe,exitwindows in the Command Line text box,. (Make sure that there isn't a space between the comma and the exitwindows parameter otherwise the command won't work.) To continue, click Next. When the next page appears, type Shut Down Windows 98 NOW! in the Select a Name For the Shortcut text box and click Finish. Now, when you're ready to shut down Windows 98, close all your applications as you normally would, and then just double-click the new Shut Down Windows 98 NOW! icon windows icon.
Close all your applications at the same time
When you're done working on your computer for the day, you probably close each open application one-by-one. If so, chances are that you've wished that you could close all you open applications at the same time. Fortunately, we recently unearthed a hidden technique that will allow you to do so. To begin, hold down the [Ctrl] key and click on each application button on your taskbar. When you do, you'll notice that each button remains selected. Once you've selected all the application buttons on the taskbar, right-click on any one of them and select the Close command from the shortcut menu.  When you do, all your applications will close. If you have any application in which an open file hasn't yet been saved, that application will prompt you to save the file.
Exploring the gradient fill feature
One of Windows 98's fancy visual effect features is the ability to display all windows' and dialog boxes' title bars with a gradient fill. Basically, this means that the color of the title bar gradually changes from one color at the left side to another color at the right side. This visual effect can dramatically enhance Windows 98's overall appearance.
To learn all about the gradient fill feature, see the FREE article "Enhancing your title bars with the gradient fill feature" on the Inside Microsoft Windows 98 Web site at http://www.zdjournals.com/w98/9901/w989913.htm 
Clearing Phone Dialer's history list
If you use Phone dialer, you know that it keeps a history list of all the numbers that you've recently called. If you want to clear the history list you can do so by editing the Dialer.ini file, which you can find in the Windows folder.
Create email on the fly with a special shortcut
If you want to be able to quickly create an email message without having to launch Outlook Express, right-click on the desktop and select New | Shortcut from the pop up menu. When you see the Create Shortcut wizard, type "C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\Msimn.Exe" /mailurl:%1 in the command Line text box and click Next. Then,
name the shortcut Quick Message and click Finish. You can then drag the shortcut to the Quick Launch menu. Now, when you want to quickly create a new message, just click the Quick Message icon. If you want to differentiate the Quick Message icon from the Outlook Express icon, right-click the Quick Message icon and select Properties from the shortcut menu. Now, click the change Icon button and select one of the other email icons in the Change
Icon dialog box.
For your eyes only
Do you have files on your hard disk that you don't want anyone to access? If so, then you need to download a copy of Enigma for Windows 98 from Cyptosoft. This awesome utility, which received a 5-star rating from ZDNet, will allow you to encrypt, decrypt, as well as completely wipe files and folders from your hard disk. Using various encryption engines such as DES and Blowfish, this amazing utility will also work with ZIP files--allowing you to create
self-extracting encrypted zip files. Enigma for Windows 98 is easy to use and is well suited for all computer users' security needs. Enigma for Windows 98 is shareware, which means that it's free to try, but costs $69 if you decide to keep it. You can download Enigma for Windows 98 from the ZDNet Software Library at http://www.hotfiles.com 
When you arrive, type the word "Enigma" in the Search text box and click the button.
Turn Windows Explorer into My Computer
Have you ever been working in Windows Explorer and realized that the task you're performing could be done more easily in a My Computer style folder window? If so, just click the close button in the top right corner of the Folders pane. If you want to reverse the procedure, pull down the View menu, open the Explorer Bar submenu and select the All Folders option.
Tapping into newsgroups for technical support
When you have a difficult Windows 98 problem to solve, you should spend some time investigating the newsgroups on Microsoft's free public news server. As you may know, one of the most valuable resources available to you is the knowledge and experience of your peers. What better way is there to learn than by observing the successes and mistakes of others? Newsgroups are a collection of ongoing discussions that cover a particular topic and are a free service available to anyone who has access to a news server. They're great forums for sharing your knowledge and experience with others, as well as seeing what others have to say. When using a newsgroup, you can either post a message in response to an ongoing conversation thread, or pose your own question that relates to the newsgroup topic. To access the Microsoft public news server, configure Outlook Express, or whatever news reader you're using, to request the latest list of newsgroups from the msnews.microsoft.com server.
Changing hard disk icons
Have you ever wanted to change the icons used to display the hard disk in My Computer? If so, you'll be happy to know that doing so is easy. To begin, open Notepad and create a file called Autorun.inf. Then, add the commands
[autorun]
ICON=filename
where filename is the name of the file containing the icon you want to use. Now, save the file Autorun.inf in the root folder of the drive you want to change.
Customizing Web view background
When you pull down the View menu in either My Computer or Windows Explorer and select the As Web Page command, you know that Windows 98 automatically uses a cloud image for the background of the Web view. However, if you'd like to use your own image for that Web view background here's what you need to do:
1) Open either My Computer or Windows Explorer and access the C:\Windows\Web folder.
2) Locate and rename the file Wvleft.bmp.
3) Open Paint, press [Ctrl]-E and type 242 and 600 in the Width and Height text boxes respectively.
4) Create your image and save it in the C:\Windows\Web folder as Wvleft.bmp.
Quickly access the Network utility
If you regularly adjust your computer's network settings, you know that you must open the Control Panel and then double-click the Network icon to access the Network properties dialog box. However, you can save yourself time by simply right-clicking on the Network Neighborhood icon and selecting the Properties command from the shortcut menu.
Instantly access newsgroups
If you want to temporarily configure Microsoft Outlook Express exclusively as newsreader, access the Run dialog box by clicking Start/Run and then type the command msimn.exe /outnews in the Open text box and click OK. If you like this trick and want to use it all the time, simply create a shortcut by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting New/Shortcut from the menu. Then, use the above command in the Command Line text box.
Controlling the Wheel speed
If you have a Microsoft mouse with a wheel, you know that you can use the wheel to easily scroll up and down Web pages. To do so, you click in the middle of the page with the wheel to anchor the wheel pointer and then move the mouse up and down to scroll. However, if you move the mouse too much, the page will scroll by at lightning speed. You then have to scroll back up the page to read it.  Fortunately, we've discovered a cool technique that will give you much more control over the scroll speed. Once you anchor the wheel pointer on the screen, let go of your mouse and use the arrow keys on your keyboard to scroll. For example, to scroll down a page, press the down arrow key once to start the screen scrolling. Press the down arrow key again to increase the speed of the scrolling. To slow the scrolling down, press the up arrow key. To stop the scrolling, press the up arrow key once more.
Instantly launch a new browser window
As you surf the Web, there are occasions when it's convenient to have more than one Internet Explorer window open at the same time. For example, when you're investigating the results of search engine, you can leave the search results in one instance of Internet Explorer and investigate each site in a separate instance of Internet Explorer.  To do this, hold down the [Shift] key as you click links on the search results page. When you do, a separate Internet Explorer window will instantly launch and connect to that site. To investigate the results quicker, use the [Shift]/click technique to launch three or four separate instances of Internet Explorer. Then, while the second, third and fourth pages are loading, return to the first one, which should be done loading, and investigate the contents. You can then access the second page and so on.
Using Windows 98's Troubleshooting wizards
Got a problem with Windows 98? Before you call for help, you should investigate Windows 98's 15 Troubleshooter wizards. These wizards are found right in the Help system and may be able to help you quickly and easily diagnose and solve system problems. Once you launch a Troubleshooter wizard, you'll discover that each one presents a number of common problems and walks you through plain-language steps for a variety of possible solutions to those problems. Accessing the Troubleshooter wizards is as easy as selecting Help from the Start menu and selecting the Contents tab. Then, click Troubleshooting followed by Windows 98 Troubleshooters. When you do, you'll see all the Troubleshooter wizards.
Change folder window background
When you open a folder window, you see the icons inside against a white background (unless you've chosen a color scheme with a different Window color). Wish you could change this color to something a bit spiffier? You can do better than that. Similar to the Windows 98 desktop, you can apply any image or wallpaper to your folder window background. Not only that, but if you want, you can apply a different background to every folder. Open the folder window to which you'd like to apply a background and select View, Customize This Folder. In the dialog box that appears, select Choose a Background Picture, then click Next. Select any of the files (mostly wallpapers) in the resulting list; or click Browse, select an image, and click Open. Click Next, click Finish, and check out your new folder window!
Right-mouse window commands
Did you know that many of the options available through menu commands in an Explorer window are also available in the right-mouse context menu? Right-click a blank area inside an open window and check out the resulting list. There, you'll find most every command from the View menu (except Folder Options and the three toolbar commands). In addition, you'll see a couple of favorites from the Edit and File menus. Hey, why waste all that energy clicking on an exact menu command when you can right-click anywhere in a window and accomplish the same thing?
Cleaning up
One of Windows 98's handiest utilities is the Disk Cleanup tool, which is designed to help you free up hard disk space. While Disk Cleanup automatically starts when the available free space falls below a 3% threshold, you can run it at any time. To do so click Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Cleanup. When Disk Cleanup launches you'll see a Files To Remove list box that contains four check-boxes: Temporary Internet Files, Downloaded Program Files, Recycle Bin, and Temporary files. (You may find other check boxes on your particular system.) Simply select the check boxes you want and click OK. If you click the More Options tab, you'll see two more choices--Windows setup and Installed program --that allow you to easily remove unneeded Windows components or application programs.
Windows Update
Have you visited the Windows Update site yet this month? If not, you should do so. It's a good idea to visit the Windows Update site regularly in order to keep your Windows 98 system running in tip-top shape. Simply click the Windows Update link at the bottom of the Settings menu. For more information on Windows Update, see the December 1998 article "Keep Windows 98 in shape with Windows Update." If you're an Inside Microsoft Windows 98 subscriber, you can access this article on the ZD Journals Web site at http://www.zdjournals.com/w98/s_w98/9812/w9898c3.htm
Looking at the Registry Checker
As you may know, Windows 98 comes with a handy Registry maintenance tool called the Registry Checker. Each time you start your system, the Registry Checker automatically creates a backup of the Registry in the \Windows\Sysbckup folder. If you investigate that folder, you'll discover that Registry Checker actually keeps five backup copies of the Registry in compressed format as Rb001.cab, Rb002.cab, and so on. You can manually back up the Registry anytime you want. To do so, load the System Information utility   (Start/Programs/Accessories/SystemTools), pull down the Tools menu, and select Registry Checker. As soon as you do, the Registry Checker will scan your Registry for errors and then prompt you to make a backup. Click Yes to replace the oldest backup file with the new one. If you ever find that you need to restore from a Registry backup, reboot your system to an MS-DOS prompt and then type Scanreg on the command line. Now, just follow the onscreen instructions to view your backed-up Registry files and restore the most recent one.
Keep modem speaker quiet
There is a setting designed to silence your modem, but we should point out that it doesn't work for all modems. (You'll have to try it on yours and see.) Open Control Panel and double-click Modems. On the General tab, select your modem, click the Properties button, and move the lever under Speaker Volume all the way left to Off. Click OK, then Close, and from now on, that modem will connect in silence.  
Keyboard access to Control Panel
In our last tip, we suggested that you create a Control Panel shortcut on your desktop for quick access: Open My Computer, click and drag the Control Panel icon out to the desktop, let go, and click Yes to confirm that you want to create a shortcut. Would you prefer to access this oft-used window with a simple keyboard combination? Now that you've created a shortcut, you're halfway there. Right-click your new Control Panel shortcut and select Properties. On the Shortcut tab of the Control Panel Properties dialog box, you'll see your cursor inside the text box next to Shortcut key. (If it isn't there, click inside this box once.) Now just type the letter you'd like to use in combination with Ctrl-Alt to open the Control Panel, such as C. Click OK, and from now on, pressing that hot key combo--in this case, Ctrl-Alt-C--from anywhere on the system opens the Control Panel. Cool--er, we mean, hot!
Links toolbar Missing links Part 1 of 2
Do you frequently use the Address bar at the top of your open Explorer windows? Have you ever noticed the word Links on the far-right side of this bar? Double-click it (or the word Address), and watch what happens. Hey, it's another whole toolbar! The Links toolbar provides you with--what else?--links to Web sites. Now that you know about this toolbar, you have two choices: Leave the links that Microsoft put there (yeah, right), or add your favorite links. To delete a link, right-click it and select Delete. To add a link, point the current window at that Web page (type its URL on the Address bar, then press Enter), then drag that Web page's icon from the Address bar directly over the Links bar, and let go. Want your Address bar back? Double-click "Address" or "Links".  Note: If you're missing the Address bar or the Links bar from your folder window, select one or the other, or both, from the View, Toolbars window.)  
  • List of keyboard shortcuts
Microsoft has compiled a fairly extensive listing of Windows 95/98 keyboard shortcuts in their Knowledge Base. Rather than list them all here, we'll just point you to the correct URL:  http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q126/4/49.asp
  • MAKING A WINDOWS 98 STARTUP DISK
When you installed Windows 98, you were given the option to create a Startup Disk. In haste (or if you didn't happen to have a blank floppy handy), you may have opted not to create this disk, with the assumption that you would do so later. Well, later is here. If you don't have a Startup Disk, make one now. This disk is a big help if you ever have trouble starting Windows 98. It boots your system and also provides some utilities that you can use to diagnose the problem. With a blank, formatted disk in hand, open the Control Panel and double-click Add/Remove Programs. Select the Startup Disk tab, click the Create Disk button, and follow along as Windows 98 walks you through the disk creation process. When it finishes, label the disk and store it in a safe place. You never know when you may need it. 
  • Missing Properties dialog box
Have you ever opened a Properties dialog box--for example, by right-clicking the desktop and selecting Properties--switched over to some other windows for a while, and then come back to the desktop, only to discover that the Properties box is gone? Chances are you clicked the Show Desktop icon (on the Quick Launch toolbar) or pressed Windows-D. Either way, you're asking Windows 98 to reveal the desktop, meaning it sends all open windows to the Taskbar and any open Properties boxes off to oblivion. But not really. You can get it back. To reveal that hiding Properties box, press Alt-Tab to display a row of icons, each of which represents an open window. Continue holding down Alt as you repeatedly press Tab to rotate the focus through these icons. When the icon representing the missing Properties box is highlighted (you'll know by the names at the bottom of the box), let go, and the box returns to your screen. (Tip: Pressing Windows-M or right-clicking the Taskbar and selecting Minimize All Windows leaves any Properties boxes on screen, while still minimizing all other open windows.)
  • Missing Send To command
Windows user writes, "When I use Find to locate files, and then right-click a selection of the files in the Find window, the Send To command is missing. Is something wrong with my system, or have you heard from others with the same problem?" You aren't alone. Microsoft confirms that this problem exists if you attempt to access the Send To command with multiple files selected (in a Find window). The only workaround is to right-click one file at a time and select Send To.      
  • Re-create Show Desktop shortcut from scratch  
In our last tip, we showed you how to restore the Show Desktop shortcut to the Quick Launch toolbar, assuming you've deleted it by mistake: Open the Windows\System folder and locate a file named Show Desktop; then create a shortcut to this file in the Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch folder. Don't see a file named Show Desktop in your System folder? Then you'll need to create one.  Open Notepad--select Start, Programs, Accessories, Notepad--and type the following:
[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop

Select File, Save, navigate your way to the Windows\System folder, name the file Show Desktop.scf and click Save. Close Notepad. Now just create a shortcut to this file in the Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch folder, as described above, and a Show Desktop item will appear on your Quick Launch toolbar.
  • Registry technique for disabling Documents list
We can't even begin to count the number of requests we receive for tips on removing the Documents and Favorites lists from the Start menu. So although we've discussed these techniques before, over the next three tips, we show you how to remove both of these lists by editing the Registry (in case you don't have, and don't care to use, Tweak UI), and also how to accomplish either removal with a simple Tweak UI setting. In today's tip, we discuss the Registry-based technique for disabling the Documents list entirely. (Note: As always, back up your Registry files--System.dat and User.dat, hidden files on the root of your hard drive--before proceeding.)

Open the Registry Editor--select Start, Run, type

regedit and click OK--and navigate your way to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer. In the right pane, right-click a blank area and select New, Binary Value. Type the name NoRecentDocsHistory and press Enter. Right-click the new value, select Modify, and in the Value Data text box, type exactly

01 00 00 00

(Don't worry about the four zeros that are there already. Just type the above eight numbers in sequence, without the spaces.) Click OK.

Repeat the above steps to add a NoRecentDocsMenu value: Right-click a blank area in the right pane; select New, Binary Value; name the value NoRecentDocsMenu; right-click the new value and select Modify; in the Value Data box, type the above numbers; then click OK.

Close the Registry Editor, restart Windows 98, and check out your Start menu. That Documents list is gone! Now open the Windows folder, and you'll see that the Windows\Recent folder (the one that used to hold the contents of the Documents menu) is gone too!

(Note: If you change your mind and want your Documents list back, you have two options. You can delete the NoRecentDocsHistory and NoRecentDocsMenu values you just created, or change the data in each to 00 00 00 00.)
  • Convert drive from FAT16 to FAT32
In our last tip, we suggested that if your hard drive still uses the FAT16 file system, you should consider converting the drive to FAT32. This new-and-improved system stores data in smaller clusters, resulting in less wasted space. We also pointed out that you can run the FAT32 Conversion Utility (Fat32win.exe, located in the tools\reskit\config folder of your Windows 98 installation CD) to determine exactly how much space you'll regain upon conversion. Assuming the numbers convince you to convert (we can't imagine they wouldn't, since you'll be gaining more hard disk space), here's how to go ahead with the operation.

First of all, you'll need to find a time when you won't be using your system for while--say, three hours. Then close any open programs and select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Drive Converter (FAT32). Click the Details button, read all the pertinent dos and don'ts (for example, don't try to convert a compressed drive), then click Next. Select the drive you're about to convert, click Next, and wait as the wizard makes sure you don't have any incompatible programs installed. Click Next again, and you'll be asked if you want to back up your files before proceeding. If so, click Create Backup and so on (Microsoft Backup will appear to help with the operation); otherwise click Next. One last Next, and the converter is off and running! Now the question is, what are you going to do with all that extra space?

  • DELETING UNWANTED DESKTOP THEMES
In a previous tip, we showed you how to apply a Windows 98 desktop theme to your desktop (assuming you've already installed Desktop Themes from the installation CD): Open the Control Panel, double-click Desktop Themes, select a theme in the Theme list, wait for Windows 98 to display the preview, then click OK. We also suggested that you try downloading themes from one of the following sites (use an unzipping utility, such as WinZip, to extract the resulting .zip file's contents to the C:\Program Files\Plus!\Themes folder): 

http://www.pcworld.com/r/tw/1%2C2061%2Ctw-win980818%2C00.html  http://www.pcworld.com/r/tw/1%2C2061%2Ctw-win980818%2C00.html
http://www.rad.kumc.edu/win95/themes.htm 
http://www.rad.kumc.edu/win95/themes.htm
http://www.winfiles.com/apps/98/shelldesk.html
http://www.winfiles.com/apps/98/shelldesk.html

Suppose you don't like one of the themes you just installed (or one of the Windows 98 themes). Themes take up a lot of disk space--not to mention space in the Theme list--so there's no point in keeping the unwanted ones around. Inside the Desktop Themes dialog box, select any theme you want to get rid of (in the dropdown Theme list), then click the Delete button. Click Yes to confirm, and it's a goner.      
  • Empty IE cache

When you browse the Web using Internet Explorer (or any browser, for that matter) information from the pages you visit is stored in a 'cache' (folder), typically C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files. (Then, when you revisit a page, it will open more quickly.) Everyone should know about this folder and how to empty it--both for privacy reasons and to free up wasted hard disk space.

To empty your cache, open an IE browser window and select View, Internet Options. (Alternatively, right-click the IE icon on your desktop and select Properties). On the General tab, click the Delete Files button, then click OK to confirm.      

  • Hide left pane of Help window

If you're navigating your way through Windows Help and come across a fairly long topic, chances are you'll want to expand that window to a full-screen view. Then, you can view as much of that topic as possible at once and avoid all that unnecessary scrolling.

But wait. Want a true full-screen view of that topic? Before maximizing the Help window, click the Hide button (in the upper-left corner). The entire left pane, including the Contents, Index, and Search tabs, disappears. Maximize that window now, and Help extends from one edge of the screen to the other.      

  • Hide Windows 98 logo at startup

The easiest way to hide this screen 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 in Control Panel.)

Open Tweak UI and click the Boot tab. Deselect Display Splash Screen While Booting, then click OK--and enjoy your logo-less startup!      

  • HOW TO CREATE A CUSTOM SOUND SCHEME

In our last tip, we showed you how to silence any sound in the current sound scheme: Open the Control Panel, double-click Sounds, select an event, select None under Name, then click Yes to confirm. In the same manner, you can use the Sounds Properties dialog box to replace any unwanted sound with the sound of your choice. The end result is your very own custom sound scheme.

Open the Sounds Properties dialog box and select the scheme you want to edit (if it isn't already selected). One at a time, select an event, then click the down arrow under Name and select the sound of your choice. (Note: If necessary, click Browse, navigate to the desired *.wav file's location, select the file, and click OK.)

When you're finished, be sure to save all your hard work as a custom scheme. Click Save As, name the scheme, and click OK. From now on, you can select this scheme from the Schemes list.      

  • Add Control Panel shortcut to desktop or Taskbar

How many times a day do you select Start, Settings, Control Panel?  Wish there were a shorter way to access this oft-used window? There is. Place a shortcut to the Control Panel on your desktop, and you can lay your mouse pointer on those controls with one quick click (or double-click, depending on your desktop settings).

Open My Computer and you'll see your Control Panel icon inside. Click and drag this icon out to the desktop, let go, and click Yes to confirm that you want to create a shortcut. (If you want to rename it, press F2, type a new name for the shortcut, then press Enter.) Instant access.

(Tip: If you prefer to avoid desktop clutter, place your Control Panel shortcut on the Quick Launch toolbar instead.)

  • Add item to Send To list

As a quick review, to change the name of a drive, open a My Computer window, right-click the drive's icon, select Properties, type a new name containing up to 11 characters in the Label text box, then click OK. Now on to the second part of the question--adding the drive to the Send To list (the list that appears when you right-click the desktop or a folder window and select Send To).

In a nutshell, all you need to do is create a shortcut to this drive in your Windows\SendTo folder. Open an Explorer window that displays the drive's icon. Then, in a second Explorer window, display the contents of the Windows\SendTo folder. Right-click and drag the drive icon into the SendTo window, let go, and select Create Shortcut(s) Here. (Tip: If you want to rename the item, select it, press F2 for Rename, type a new name, then press Enter.)

Close all open windows. The next time you right-click somewhere and select Send To, you'll see the new drive in the list!      

  • ALT-TAB TRICK

In a previous tip, we mentioned that you can press Alt-Tab to switch among open applications. Here's a quick review: Press and hold down the Alt key as you continually press Tab (or Shift-Tab, to move in reverse) to rotate through all open windows (represented by icons in a gray box). When the window you want appears highlighted, release the Alt key.

If you find yourself frequently switching back and forth between two windows in any given work session, there's a shortcut you should know about: The last window you switched to using the Alt-Tab method is always the one that appears first in that gray box. Point being? All you have to do is press Alt-Tab once to switch to the other window. Press Alt-Tab to switch back again, and so on. You don't even need to look at the screen!      

  • Boot directly to DOS

You can boot directly to DOS (without starting Windows) every time by making a simple setting change in 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 in Control Panel.) 

Open Tweak UI and select the Boot tab. Deselect Start GUI Automatically, then click OK to close Tweak UI. The next time you start your system, you'll go straight to a DOS prompt and stay there.

(In case you forget, type  Win  at the DOS prompt to start Windows.)

  • BRIEFCASE HELPS WITH DATA FILE BACKUPS

"I don't think Windows Briefcase gets the attention it deserves, so I would like to share my use for it. I have a CD rewriter that I use to back up data files. I use Briefcase to make sure the files are kept up to date.

"Every directory that I want to back up to CD has a duplicate copy in a briefcase on a rewritable CD (that I leave in the drive). I have shortcuts to each briefcase in a desktop folder. At the end of the day, I open the folder and double-click each shortcut. The corresponding briefcase opens up and tells me if it needs updating. Very handy! I never have to worry about whether or not I remembered to back up a data file."

  • Browse using one window or many

In the days of Windows 95, you could choose to browse the contents of folders--for example, a folder inside a folder inside a folder--in one window or many. And you could change this setting right on the Browse tab of the View, Options dialog box of any Explorer window. While it may seem that this setting has been removed from the newer OS, it hasn't. You just have to look a little harder to find it.

>From inside any folder or Explorer window, pull down the View menu and select Folder Options. Select the last setting under Windows Desktop Update, 'Custom, Based On The Settings You Choose,' then click the Settings button. Under Browse folders as follows, select either of the two options, depending on your preference, then click OK twice.

(Tip: Once you've changed this setting, you can do exactly the opposite--for example, open folders in separate windows, even if you've asked to open them in the same window--on a per-case basis. Just hold down Ctrl as you double-click a folder.)

  • Calculator help

In our last tip, we showed you how to transform a seemingly simple calculator into a scientific tool: Select Start, Programs, Accessories, Calculator; then select View, Scientific. Not sure what each of these new buttons does? All you have to do is ask. Right-click any button and click What's This to display a description of that button.

(Tip-in-a-tip: Did you know you can navigate the Calculator without any help from the mouse?Right-click any button, select What's This, and below its description, you'll see a keyboard equivalent.)      

  • Calculator's memory functions

Just complete a calculation (in the Windows 98 Calculator), the result of which you'd like to insert into another? Don't waste time writing it down. Store it in memory, so you can insert it into the next equation at the click of a button.

With the number you'd like to store in memory displayed in Calculator, click the MS button. (An M appears in the gray box above all the 'M' buttons.) Now go ahead with the other calculation, and when you need to insert the stored number, press the MR button.

(Tips-in-a-tip: To clear the number in memory, press the MC button. Or, press MS to overwrite the number in memory with the currently displayed number. To add the currently displayed number to the one in memory, press the M+ button, then press MR to display the result.)      

  • Change color around icon labels

The color in the box around each icon label is determined behind the scenes, by the current desktop color (regardless of the current wallpaper selection). Right-click the desktop, select Properties, and in the Display Properties dialog box, click the Appearance tab. Under Item, select Desktop, then choose your color of choice in the Color dropdown palette. Click OK, and the boxes around your desktop icon labels will take on a whole new hue. (Note: If you don't see the change right away, you may need to right-click the desktop and select Refresh.)      

  • Combine settings from Web and Classic style desktops

In our last tip, we showed you an easy way to switch between single- and double-click icons: Open an Explorer window; select View, Folder Options; and select Web style (for single-click icons) or Classic style. We also pointed out that there are other settings that go along with the Web style or Classic style desktop. For example, choosing Web style places an underline under each icon title. If you want to combine settings from both of these desktop styles, select the third option under Windows Desktop Update, Custom, Based On The Settings You Choose; then click the Settings button.

You'll now see the Custom Settings dialog box, where you can pick and choose your settings. For example, if you've selected the Web style desktop, but don't want all your icon titles underlined, select Underline Titles Only When I Point At Them. Select any other settings, as desired, click OK, then click Close.      

  • HANDS-OFF SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
In our last tip, we introduced the Maintenance Wizard, a utility that will run Disk Defragmenter, ScanDisk, and Disk Cleanup for you, so you don't have to bother with these time-consuming maintenance routines. To start the Maintenance Wizard, select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Maintenance Wizard. Previously, we suggested selecting Express for the easiest schedule setup; but if you'd prefer to give the wizard more customized instructions (such as setting an exact time for each task to run), go for the custom setup.

When the Maintenance Wizard appears on-screen, click the Custom button, then follow along as the wizard asks questions about each of the maintenance tasks. Select whether you want to run each utility or not and feel free to give detailed instructions for each task. Click Reschedule to select the exact time, and how often, a task should run. Click Settings to do things like choosing the exact drive to defragment. When you reach the last dialog box, detailing all of the
wizard's instructions, click Finish to set the new routine in motion.
  • ALL PLAY AND NO WORK
The week between Christmas and New Year's is pretty slow, workwise (unless you work in retail and have to deal with returns--ick). So in the event that anyone is out there reading tips today, we're sticking with the fun-and-games theme we started last week.

Had enough of the games that come with Windows 98, but don't feel like shelling out big bucks to buy some new ones? The Internet is chock-full of games to download--some shareware, some FREE.

Point your Web browser at one of the following locations, select a game category, and start searching for the perfect entertainment:

http://www.pcworld.com/r/tw/1%2C2061%2Ctw-ms98%2C00.html  
http://www.softseek.com/Games/ 
http://www.winfiles.com/apps/98/games.html  

In our next three tips, we'll show you how to download and install three old-time favorites--Space Invaders, Asteroids, and Tetris.
  • ALL PLAY AND NO WORK
The week between Christmas and New Year's is pretty slow, workwise (unless you work in retail and have to deal with returns--ick). So in the event that anyone is out there reading tips today, we're sticking with the fun-and-games theme we started last week.

In our last tip, we mentioned three Web sites packed with shareware and freeware games available for download:

http://www.softseek.com/Games/ 
http://www.winfiles.com/apps/98/games.html  

Now, we're taking a closer look at using some old-time favorites. In today's final tip of this series, we'll look at Tetris. As you may already know, there are loads of Tetris clones out there. Point your Web browser at the PC World site referenced above, type:

Tetris:
In the Search FileWorld box, then click Search. Select any one of the 11 Tetris-type programs listed (we went for Tetris Jr. PC, downloading the Windows 95 version, tetjr95.exe), then open the resulting ZIP file using an unzipping utility (or in this case, run the EXE file to play the game).
To play Tetris Jr. PC, right-mouse-click anywhere on the game and select Game 1 through 8. (Don't let those buttons fool you--they don't work.) Then, right-mouse-click the game again and select Play. In case you haven't played Tetris before, the object is to fit the falling pieces into rows, completing the rows as you go. (Completed rows disappear.) Use your cursor keys to move a piece left or right. To rotate a piece, press the spacebar.
  • LET THE PINBALL GAME BEGIN!
In our last tip, we pointed out that the Windows 98 installation CD contains pinball.inf, a file that will install your old favorite, 3D Pinball, from the Plus! for Windows 95 CD (or disks, as you'll see below). Assuming your CD-ROM drive is D, copy pinball.inf from the Windows 98 CD's tools\mtsutil folder to your hard drive, replace the Windows 98 CD with the Plus! for Windows 95 CD, then right-mouse-click pinball.inf (on your hard drive) and select Install.

If you're installing pinball from a CD-ROM drive other than D, or from Plus! floppy disks, you'll need to edit the pinball.inf to point to the correct drive before you can complete the installation. Assuming you've just copied pinball.inf from the Windows 98 CD to your hard drive and then inserted the Plus! CD or floppy disk:

Right-mouse-click pinball.inf (on your hard drive), select Properties, deselect Read-only, and click OK. Open pinball.inf using Notepad, and under [Version], replace the letter D in the line:

layoutfile = d:\pluslayt.inf

with your CD-ROM drive letter or floppy drive (depending on the location of the Plus! files). So for example, if your CD-ROM drive letter is G, this line would now read:

layoutfile = g:\pluslayt.inf

Save your changes, close Notepad, and reattach the read-only attribute to pinball.inf.

Now you're ready to proceed with the installation. Right-mouse-click pinball.inf and select Install. (Click OK if asked to insert the Plus! for Windows 95 CD-ROM.) You'll now see a dialog box telling you the font.dat file can't be found. Type your CD-ROM or floppy drive letter, then click OK.

Your pinball game is back.
  • WHEN IN DOUBT, README
In our last tip, we explained that when you start your system using the Windows 98 Startup disk, a number of files are extracted from Ebd.cab to a 2MB RAMDrive, which typically assumes the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive. We also mentioned that you can view the contents of this drive by typing:

dir X:

at the command prompt and pressing Enter. ("X" is, in most cases, the former letter of your CD-ROM drive.)

Want to know what all these utilities are BEFORE disaster strikes? Pop your Startup disk in your floppy drive and view its contents in an Explorer window. Open Readme.txt and scroll down to the section entitled "EBD.CAB File." There you'll see a list of available utilities. For more information on using some of these diagnostic tools, scroll down even further to the section entitled "Using the Tools Available on the Startup Disk." (Note: In the event that you don't do your reading before you actually need to use these utilities, you can access this same help file while booting from your startup disk. When presented with the three startup options, select the last, View Help File.)
  • BACK IT UP--I'LL TAKE IT
Remember the backup program that was part of Windows 95, Microsoft Backup? (If you're like the rest of us, you probably did everything possible to forget about it!) Not surprisingly, the backup utility that comes with Windows 98 has been improved significantly. For starters, it's a Seagate Software product. Also, it comes with a wizard that walks you through some standard backup procedures. And best of all, it supports SCSI tape drives. (The previous Microsoft Backup did not.)

Want to see the new Microsoft Backup in action? Suppose you want to back up your data files (which, of course, are all neatly filed in one main Data Files folder, divided into subfolders). Select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup. Select Create a New Backup Job and click OK. Select Backup Selected Files, and then click Next. In the left pane, click to place check marks in the boxes next to the folder(s) and/or drive(s) you want to back up--in this case,
you might select the C:\Data Files folder--then click Next. Leave All Selected Files selected, then click Next and set a destination for the backup (such as your tape backup). Click Next twice more, name the backup job, and click Start.

Now just wait while Microsoft Backup does its thing. When it finishes, a message will tell you the operation is complete. Click OK twice and rest assured--your irreplaceable data files are now replaceable! (Note: If you prefer not to use the wizard, after opening Microsoft Backup click Close, then proceed with your backup. You'll find all the options included in the wizard right on the Backup tab.)

In our next tip, revising an existing backup job.
  • BACK IT UP--I'LL TAKE IT
In the first tip in this series, we introduced Microsoft Backup, the new and improved backup utility that comes with Windows 98. To create a backup using this utility, select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup, then follow along as the wizard walks you through the creation process: Select Create a New Backup Job, click OK, and so on.

If you're already inside the Microsoft Backup window, and you decide you want to use the wizard to create a new backup job or restore files, don't waste time exiting Backup and reopening it to make the wizard appear. You can invoke the wizard anytime from inside the Microsoft Backup window. Just pull down the Tools menu and select Backup Wizard or Restore Wizard. Merlin, at your service.

(Tip-in-a-tip: You can also click the Backup Wizard or Restore Wizard icons. They look like a drive with an up arrow and a drive with a down arrow, respectively.)
  • BACK IT UP--I'LL TAKE IT
In the first tip in this series, we introduced Microsoft Backup, the new and improved backup utility that comes with Windows 98. To create a backup using this utility, select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup, then follow along as the wizard walks you through the creation process: Select Create a New Backup Job, click OK, and so on.

If you ever run into trouble and need to restore files from a backup job, you'll be happy to know that a wizard makes this process just as easy, if not easier, than creating the actual backup. Select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup. Then select Restore Backed Up Files and click OK. Select the location of the backup you want to restore, click Next, then follow along as the wizard walks you through the restoration process. (Note: If you prefer not to use the wizard, after opening Microsoft Backup click Close, then click the Restore tab and proceed with your restoration. You'll find all the
options included in the wizard right there on one page.)
  • BACK IT UP--I'LL TAKE IT
In our last tip, we introduced Microsoft Backup, the new and improved backup utility that comes with Windows 98. To create a backup using this utility, select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup, then follow along as the wizard walks you through the creation process: Select Create a New Backup Job, click OK, and so on.

Now let's assume you've already gone through the above steps and you've created a backup job named My Data Files, stored as the file MyBackup.qic. Periodically (probably daily), you'll want to update this backup to reflect any changes or additions to your data files. But of course, you don't want to start over again with a new backup job each and every time. Just call up the existing backup job and ask Microsoft Backup to back up only information that's been added or changed.

Select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup. Then select Open an Existing Backup Job, click OK, select the backup by name, and click Open. (Or click Close to exit the wizard, then choose the backup you want to update under Backup Job.) Next to "What to backup," select New and Changed Files, then click Start.

Microsoft Backup will now do exactly what you've asked--back up new or changed information only. In our next tip, restoring files from a backup job.
  • GIVE IT A TRY
Thinking about purchasing some Microsoft software? Wouldn't you know, Microsoft made room on the Windows 98 CD for trial versions of some of its programs, such as Money 98, Golf 3.0, and Return of Arcade.

To install them, select Start, Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, Trial Programs. Click Yes to accept the license agreement, and you'll be presented with the Microsoft Trial Versions Setup dialog box. Select the trial versions you want to install--if you're a Pac-Man fan, you have to try Return of Arcade--click OK, and finish the steps necessary to complete the installation of each program (accepting license agreements, selecting the destination folder, and so on).

All finished trying? You can uninstall these trial versions just as easily as setting them up. Either look for an Uninstall such-and-such command in the program's Start menu folder (for example, select Start, Programs, Microsoft Games, Puzzle Collection Trial, Uninstall Puzzle Collection Trial), or use the Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs Properties dialog box (select the program you want to remove, click Add/Remove, and so on).
  • COULD YOU EVEN FIT NINE MONITORS ON YOUR DESK?

One of the more widely touted features of Windows 98 is Multi-monitor--the ability to display your desktop on more than one monitor (up to nine, actually). But before you run out and buy a new monitor and graphics card, remember this: Both (all) graphics cards --your existing card and the new one(s)--must support multiple monitor display. For a listing of compatible PCI and AGP cards, open the Display.txt file in your Windows folder and scroll down to the section entitled "Multiple Display Support." This document is also available online (with a couple of corrections) at:

http://www.pcworld.com/r/tw/1%2C2061%2Ctw-win981117%2C00.html

  • SILENT *.WAV-ES
When you're playing an audio CD while you work, you certainly don't want some sound scheme interrupting your favorite songs. Does that mean you have to turn the sound scheme off altogether (that you otherwise really like)? Not at all. Just use the Volume Control dialog box to silence all *.WAV files while you're listening to the CD. That's what sound schemes are made of, after all.

Right-mouse-click the yellow speaker on your Taskbar and select Open Volume Controls. Or, select Start, Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, Volume Control. In the Wave box, click the Mute button, then close the dialog box. Now you can listen without interruptions. (Tip: When you want your sound scheme back, just repeat these steps to deselect the Mute option.)
  • IN SEARCH OF FILES
Can't seem to remember where you stored that article you wrote about ant farming? As long as you know a piece of the text inside--in this case, "ant farming"--Find can track it down fast. With some handy new options for refining your search, the Windows 98 version of this utility can help you avoid needlessly searching your entire system.

Select Start, Find, Files or Folders, and next to Containing Text, type the text that you know is part of the file. Next, click the down arrow beside Look In and check out the new options. If you know for sure that this file is somewhere inside a desktop folder, select Desktop. Do you store all your important data files in the My Documents folder? Select My Documents--it has to be in there somewhere. (Note: To search both these locations, select Document Folder.)

If you can narrow your search to a folder other than those mentioned above, close the drop-down list, click the Browse button, navigate to that folder, and click OK. Click the Find Now button, and in no time at all, you'll be reading all about ant farming!
  • TRASH BINS
Have you used Windows 98's Drive Converter to convert your hard drive(s) to the FAT32 file system? Then you have no need for a compression utility--remember, you can't compress a FAT32 drive. So there's no point wasting valuable time and space loading DoubleSpace and DriveSpace drivers into memory at startup. Delete those resource hogs.

Open the Find window by selecting Start, Find, Files or Folders. On the Named line, type

d*space.bin

then select the drive on which Windows is installed (on the Look in line). Click Find Now, and when the finder stops, delete all the files in the list. (If you prefer, rename these files and then wait a day or two, to be sure that their absence won't affect anything. Then ditch 'em.)
  • HAVE DRIVERS, WILL SET UP
Remember all that nonsense about not being able to reinstall Windows 95 from a CD after booting from a startup or boot disk unless you had real-mode CD-ROM drivers on that disk? Not so with Windows 98. Now, the startup disk includes the drivers necessary to communicate with most CD-ROM drives from a command prompt.

If trouble should arise (you can't start Windows 98), and you want to reinstall the operating system, turn off your machine. Pop the startup disk in your floppy drive and turn the system back on. When you see the startup options, select Start Computer with CD-ROM Support, and press Enter. Eventually, you'll see an A:\ prompt. With the Windows 98
installation CD in your CD-ROM drive, type

X:\setup

where "X" is your CD-ROM drive PLUS one letter, in most cases. So for example, if it's normally D, you would type

E:\setup

Press Enter and Windows 98 will take you through the setup process.

What's that? You don't HAVE a Windows 98 startup disk? Shame, shame. In our next tip, we'll show you how to create
one.
  • THE QUICKEST TIP IN THE WEST
Want to delete the Set Up the Microsoft Network icon from your desktop? It doesn't take some fancy Registry-editing technique that it did in Windows 95. Simply right-mouse-click the icon, select Delete, than click Yes to confirm.

Oh, and if you change your mind someday and decide you want to set up MSN, you still can. Just select Start, Programs, Online Services, The Microsoft Network.
  • OUT, DARN COMPONENTS!
Are there some Windows 98 components you never use (and never will), such as the FAT32 Drive Converter or Microsoft FrontPage Express? Uninstall them to recover all that wasted disk space. You can always reinstall them later if you change your mind.

Inside the Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs, click the Windows Setup tab, and wait as Windows 98 checks your system for installed components. Select a component category then click Details to display the components inside. For example, the FAT32 Drive Converter is inside the System Tools Component.

Very carefully deselect any component you want to uninstall. Click OK to close the details view of any component, then click OK again to proceed with the uninstall operation. Insert the Windows 98 installation CD, when asked, and wait as all the necessary files are removed.

(Tip in a tip: Follow these same steps to install any component--except, of course, you'll want to select, not deselect,
these items.)
  • CH-CH-CH-CH-CHANGES
In our last tip, we showed you how to change the size of your caption buttons (the three buttons in the upper-right corner of every window): Right-click the desktop and open the Display Properties dialog box, click the Appearance tab, select Caption Buttons under Item, adjust the Size, and click OK. The thing to remember about this change, or any other change you make on the Appearance tab, is that it only sticks around until you switch to another scheme (or until you change
it again). Switch back to the scheme in which you made the setting change, and you'll find the setting undone.

The only way to make a setting a permanent part of a scheme is to save it as part of that scheme. Open the Display Properties dialog box, if it isn't already, and click the Appearance tab. Click the Save As button, type the name of the scheme to which you want to attach any changes--such as Windows Standard--then click OK. (If you don't want to overwrite the original scheme, just use a new name.)
  • AW, SEXTUPLETS!
Install/Uninstall list (of the Add/Remove Programs Properties dialog box) using the Tweak UI PowerToy: Assuming you've installed Tweak UI (it's on the Windows 98 installation CD, in the tools\reskit\powertoy folder; right-click tweak ui.inf and select Install), open the Control Panel, double-click Tweak UI, select the Add/Remove tab, select an item you'd like to remove from the list, click Remove, then click Yes to confirm.

"How do you determine which same-named item to remove without affecting the installed application? For example, every time I upgrade Netscape Navigator, it adds another entry to the Add/Remove Program List. Now I have six 'Netscape
Navigator' entries! How do I delete five of the entries without actually removing the files to Netscape?"

We can't speak for all applications, but in the case of Netscape programs, you can get all the information you need from inside Tweak UI. Select one of the Netscape entries (on Tweak UI's Add/Remove tab--to get to the tab, you may need to scroll a bit using the arrows in the top right corner), click Edit, and you'll see the uninstall command. The last three characters of this filename indicate the Netscape version number. Repeat these steps to determine which version each entry represents, and delete all but the entry representing the most current version. (They're listed in the same order in Tweak UI as they are on the Install/Uninstall list.)
  • HOT! HOT! HOT!
If you have an application that you open all the time, stop wasting time finding its shortcut (or Start menu item) every time you want to open it. You can set up a keyboard combo to open that application from anywhere on your system, no matter how many windows you have open on screen.

If you haven't already, create a shortcut to the application in your location of choice. (You can bury it in a folder, if you want--you'll only need it to set up the keyboard combo.) Right-mouse-click the shortcut, select Properties, and click the Shortcut tab. Click once inside the text box next to Shortcut Key, then type the letter you'd like to use in combination with Ctrl-Alt to open the application. (You'll notice that Windows fills in the Ctrl-Alt part for you.) For example, you might use "W" for Microsoft Word. Click OK, and your hot key is complete.

Now just forget about that shortcut (but don't delete it). Press the keyboard combo, such as Ctrl-Alt-W, and your application appears on-screen!
  • DECORATE YOUR DESKTOP
In our last tip, we mentioned that there are lots of holiday-theme desktop enhancements--wallpapers, screen savers, desktop themes, and so on--available for download off the Internet. We also pointed you to three appropriate Web sites:

http://http://www.pcworld.com/r/wts/1%2C2061%2Cwts-tw-%2C00.html  
http://www.winfiles.com/apps/98/shelldesk.html  
http://www.softseek.com/Desktop_Enhancements/  

If you're new to downloading, you're probably wondering what to do with the file you end up with after selecting an item to download. (When in doubt, look for a readme.txt file inside the downloaded ZIP file.) The following basic steps apply to most, but not all, downloads.

Use an unzipping utility to view the contents of the resulting ZIP file, and then:

- For wallpaper: Extract *.bmp files to your Windows folder. You can now select them from the Wallpaper list on the Background tab of the Display Properties dialog box (right-mouse-click the desktop and select Properties).

- For screen savers: Extract *.scr files to the Windows folder. They'll now appear in the list of screen savers on the Screen Saver tab of the Display Properties dialog box. - For desktop themes: Extract all contents (of the ZIP file) to the Program Files\Plus!\Themes folder. You can now select the desktop theme as you would any other, from inside the Control Panel's Desktop Themes dialog box.

- For startup/shutdown screens: Extract Logo.sys to the root directory; extract logos.sys and logow.sys to the Windows folder.
  • Access Windows 98 Startup menu during boot
Remember back in Windows 95, you saw a Starting Windows 95 message during the boot process, at which point you could press F8 to display the Startup menu? Well, watch your Windows 98 system's boot as closely as you want--you won't see any such message.

So how do you get to the Startup menu? After turning on your Windows 98 system, press and hold down the Ctrl key. Eventually, the Startup menu appears.
  • Accessing/installing Tweak UI PowerToy
Despite the frequency with which we mention the Tweak UI PowerToy as the easiest way to perform various setting changes, we can't tell you the number of requests we get for information on where to find and how to install Tweak UI for Windows 98. (The online documentation for the previous, Windows 95 version warns that it works only with Windows 95--although we've never had trouble running any of the Windows 95
PowerToys on a Windows 98 system.)

Unlike its predecessor, Tweak UI for Windows 98 is included right on the installation CD. Pop the CD in your CD-ROM drive, click Browse This CD, and navigate your way to the tools\reskit\powertoy folder. To install Tweak UI, right-click tweakui.inf and select Install. (When the About Tweak UI help window appears, close it to proceed with the
installation. Don't worry--you can access this same information from inside Tweak UI later.) To launch Tweak UI, open Control Panel and double-click the new Tweak UI item inside.
  • Add Quick View to Send To menu
In the first tip in this series, we introduced Quick View, a command that allows you to preview files without opening them in their native applications. Right-click a file, select Quick View, and up pops a preview of that file.

The problem with this command, however, is that it appears only in the context menu of file types for which a file viewer is available (as determined by Microsoft). Does this mean you can't use Quick View for other file types? Only if you want to follow the rules. Otherwise, you can open any file with Quick View by adding its shortcut to the SendTo menu.

Open an Explorer window and navigate your way to the Windows\System\Viewers folder. Inside, you'll see Quikview.exe. Create a shortcut to this file in your Windows\SendTo folder. (Inside a second Explorer window, open the Windows folder, right-click and drag Quikview.exe into this window, let go, and select Create Shortcut(s) Here.) With the Quikview.exe shortcut selected, press F2 (for Rename),
name the file Quick View, and press Enter. Close all open windows.

Right-click any file, select Send To, then choose Quick View in the pop-up menu. Click Yes to confirm that you want to try the default viewers, and there's a preview of your file (in rough form, of course, but that's all you wanted anyway).
  • Alphabetize Start menu
Wish your Start menu icons were in alphabetical order--folders first, then shortcuts? (If you've done any manual rearranging by clicking and dragging items to new locations, you'll notice that Windows 98 doesn't alphabetize them for you.) You could rearrange them all by hand, but there's a much easier way. With one simple Registry change, Windows 98 will restore order to the entire Start menu.

(Warning: As with all Registry-editing techniques, we recommend backing up your Registry files--System.dat and User.dat, hidden files on the root of your hard drive--before continuing.)

Open the Registry Editor--select Start, Run, type "regedit" and click OK--and navigate your way to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder\Start Menu\Menu. In the right pane, right-click Order, select Delete, then click Yes to confirm. Close the Registry Editor, restart Windows 98, and check out your newly arranged Start menu!
  • Change default audio CD player
Audio CD is one of the file types in the list of registered types. Just change its association to match the program you want to use to open audio CDs.

Inside any Explorer window, select View, Folder Options. Click the File Types tab, select Audio CD in the list of Registered file types, then click the Edit button. Select the Play action and click the Edit button. Under Application Used To Perform action, type the path of the program you'd like to use to play audio CDs, followed by a space and '/play'. For example, if you wanted use FlexiCD, you would type:

C:\WINDOWS\FlexiCD.exe /play

Click OK, click Close twice, and the change has been made. The next time you pop in an audio CD, your program of choice goes to work.
  • Change folder icons
Unfortunately, this technique isn't as straightforward as the one for changing shortcut icons described in our last tip (right-click a shortcut, select Properties, click the Shortcut tab, click the Change Icon button, and so on). To change your folder icons, you'll need a shareware program, such as AnyFolder.  Point your Web browser to

http://www.pcworld.com/r/tw/1%2C2061%2Ctw-0504msw98%2C00.html  

After downloading afolderx.zip, extract its contents to your hard drive using an unzipping utility (the result is a folder named 'afolderx'). Then, to install this program, open this new folder, right-click Folders.inf and select Install.

Now to change those folder icons. Right-click the folder you want to change and select Properties. You'll notice a brand new Icon tab inside the Properties dialog box. Select this tab, select Closed or
Open (you can use a different icon for each), and click the Change Icon button. From here, the technique is identical to changing a shortcut icon: Select a new icon and click OK twice (or click Browse, select another icon file--such as one of the new *.ico files in the afolderx\AFIcons folder--click Open, and so on).
  • Change icons on Links toolbar
In our last tip, we introduced the Links toolbar--a bar of Web site links that hides out to the left of any Explorer window's Address bar. To display this toolbar, just double-click the word Links on the right side of the Address bar. (To view your Address bar again, just double-click the word Address.) Tired of having to choose between the Address bar and the Links bar? This default arrangement of sharing a bar isn't written in stone. If you prefer, you can give each bar its very own row.

Hold your mouse pointer over the vertical bar at the left end of the Links toolbar. When it changes to a double-pointed arrow, click and drag the bar downward, then let go. Instantly, the bar expands to fill the row just below the Address bar.

(Tip: If you'd rather have the Address bar on the bottom, after following the steps above, use the vertical bar on the Address bar to drag it below the Links bar, then let go.)
  • Change Quick Launch palette into toolbar
In our last tip, we showed you how to change your Quick Launch toolbar into a floating palette: Click the vertical bar on its left edge, drag the entire toolbar bar to a new location on your desktop, and let go. >From there, you can size or move the palette, just as you would any other window.

Have you decided that you like the toolbar better? In two quick steps, you can put it right back where it started (we're assuming to the right of the Start button, with your Taskbar across the bottom of the screen). Click the palette's title bar and drag it downward until it expands to the full width of the screen (across the top of the
Taskbar). Let go, and the toolbar jumps down to its original form, but on the right side of the Taskbar.

Now just move the toolbar next to the Start button. Hold your mouse pointer over the bar's left edge, and when it changes to a double-pointed arrow, click and drag the bar to the left. When your mouse pointer is just to the right of the Start button, the Quick Launch toolbar will jump into place there. Let go of the mouse.

(Tip: You'll need to resize the other toolbars on the Taskbar to get everything back in perfect order. As a quick review, hold your mouse pointer over a toolbar's left edge, then click and drag in either direction.)
  • Change Quick Launch toolbar into palette
Do you have so many shortcuts on your Quick Launch toolbar that they aren't all visible at once? Tired of scrolling left or right to get to them all? For one-click access to all Quick Launch shortcuts, turn this toolbar into a floating palette.

See the vertical bar on the left edge of the Quick Launch toolbar? Click it, drag the entire toolbar to a new location on your desktop, and let go. And no, you aren't stuck with that huge resulting window. Resize it as you would any window--hold your mouse pointer over any corner and when it changes to a double-pointed arrow, click and drag
in either direction. Move the palette to any location on screen, and you have one-click access to all shortcuts inside.

(Tip-in-a-tip: If you want to make sure your Quick Launch palette doesn't get buried by other windows, right-click its title bar and select Always On Top.)

Want your toolbar back? We'll show you how to return it to the Taskbar in our next tip....
  • Change shortcut icon
In a previous tip, we told you how to change the icon used to represent specific desktop icons, such as the Recycle Bin or Network Neighborhood: Right-click the desktop, select Properties, click the Effects tab, select the icon you'd like to change, click the Change Icon button, and so on. You can also change the appearance of any shortcut icon (any icon with a little arrow in the lower-left corner).

Right-click the shortcut you want to change and select Properties. Click the Shortcut tab, then click the Change Icon button. In the Change Icon dialog box, select a new icon and click OK. (Tip: If you don't see one you like, click the Browse button, select another icon file--for example, Windows\System\Shell32.dll or Windows\System\Pifmgr.dll--and click Open to display its contents in the Change Icon dialog box.) Click OK one more time, and that shortcut has a brand new look!
  • Change size of desktop icons
Wish your desktop icons were just a wee bit smaller, or larger? Unfortunately, you can't change this setting in the familiar Display Properties dialog box, but if you're willing to do a little Registry editing, you can pick and choose your icon size.

(Warning: As with all Registry-editing techniques, we recommend backing up your Registry files--System.dat and User.dat, hidden files on the root of your hard drive--before continuing.)

Open the Registry Editor by selecting Start, Run, typing "regedit" and clicking OK and navigate your way to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics. In the right pane, right-click Shell Icon Size and select Modify. In the Edit String dialog box, change the number on the Value data line to match your desired icon size in pixels (the default is 32). Click OK. Close the Registry Editor, click the desktop once to place the focus there, then press F5 to refresh.

(Note: If you don't see a Shell Icon Size value, you'll need to create one: With the WindowMetrics key selected, right-click a blank area in the right pane; select New, String Value; type Shell Icon Size and click OK.)
  • Clear Internet Explorer's typed URL list
P. Smith writes, "How do you delete (individually or totally) the Web site addresses that accumulate in the address window of Internet Explorer? Every time I type in a new location, that address is added to the list."

Select Start, Settings, Control Panel and double-click Internet. (Or, open an Internet Explorer window and select View, Internet Options.) On the General tab, under History, click the Clear History button, then click Yes to confirm. Doing so wipes out the contents of your History folder AND the Address bar's dropdown list of URLs.
  • Close multiple, related windows
In a previous tip, we showed you how to close a number of related windows at once (for example, if you opened a folder inside a folder, and so on, all in separate windows): Hold down the Shift key as you click the X caption button (in the upper-right corner) of the last window you opened.

Don't want to be bothered reaching for the mouse? Try the keyboard way. Make the last window you opened active, then press Alt-Shift-F4. Presto--that window and all of its relatives close in one fell swoop!

(Tip-in-a-tip: Pressing Alt-F4 closes the currently active window.)
  • Collapse expanded folder in Explorer
In our last tip, we showed you how to fully expand a folder's contents from a two-paned Explorer window: Press the asterisk key (*) on your numeric keypad. Want to collapse it again? If you simply press the minus sign (-) at the top of the expanded branch, the folders inside will appear to collapse; but the next time you expand that folder, its
contents appear fully expanded (typically, clicking the plus sign expands only the branch one level). So what's the trick? After clicking the minus sign (-) at the top of the branch, press F5 to refresh.
  • Copy Favorites to second system
A number of readers have asked how to copy their Favorites to a second PC. Actually, it's more straightforward than you might think. Just use a floppy disk to copy the files from one Favorites folder to the other.

Open an Explorer window and display the contents of the first system's Windows\Favorites folder. Hold down Ctrl as you click on each favorite you want to copy to the second system; then, with a blank, formatted disk in your floppy drive, right-click the selection and select Send To, 3 1/2 Floppy (A).

Now just pop the disk in the second computer and copy its files to that system's Windows\Favorites folder. Open an Explorer window and display the contents of the disk. Open a second Explorer window and open the Windows\Favorites folder. Select all of the items in the floppy drive window, right-click and drag the selection into the
Favorites window, let go, and select Copy Here. Instant Favorites folder!
  • Disable user profiles
In a previous tip, we showed you how to enable user profiles so that multiple users can use different settings--wallpaper, desktop shortcuts, color schemes, and so on--on the same system: For each user, open the Control Panel, double-click Users, then follow along to complete the Enable Multi-user Settings wizard. From now on, whenever you start Windows 98, you'll get a Welcome to Windows dialog box. To log on, type your user name and password, then click OK.

Don't want to use user profiles anymore? No problem. Just disable them. Open the Control Panel and double-click Passwords. Select the User Profiles tab, select All Users Of This Computer Use The Same Preferences And Desktop Settings, then click OK. Click Yes to restart your system, and user profiles are officially disabled.

(Note: Click Cancel when you see the Welcome to Windows dialog box. In our next tip, we'll show you how to get rid of this pesky dialog box.)
  • Display Startup menu at startup
In our last tip, we showed you how to access the Windows 98 Startup menu during the boot process: After turning on your Windows 98 system, press and hold down the Ctrl key. Would you like the Startup menu to appear automatically every time you start your system? You don't need to edit the msdos.sys file, as you did in Windows 95. Windows 98 made this setting change a whole lot easier.

Select Start, Run, type "msconfig" and press Enter to open the System Configuration Editor. On the General tab, click Advanced, select Enable Startup Menu, then click OK twice. Click Yes to restart your system (or No, if you'd prefer to do it later).

Of course, if you ever decide you don't want this menu at startup, just go back and deselect the same option.
  • DOS command to send directory listing to *.txt file
In our last tip, we discussed a way to print directory listings on your Windows 98 system. A shareware utility called Directory Printer ($15) is available for download from

http://www.pcworld.com/r/tw/1%2C2061%2Ctw-0423%2C00.html

Another method is to use DOS commands to transform the listing you want to print into a text file. You can then print that file from your application of choice.

Let's assume you want to print a directory listing for drive C. First, create a text file--for example, C:\My Documents\DirListing.txt--from this listing. Select Start, Programs, MS-DOS Prompt, and type the following command line:

dir C:\ /S > C:\DirListing.txt

(Note: The /S switch searches all folders and sub-folders.) Close the MS-DOS Prompt window and open the .txt file you just created in your word processor. (Don't use Notepad--it can't handle large files.) From there, just print the file as you would any other document. The nice part is you have access to all of that program's commands, such as
page breaks.

(Tip: To print a listing of only one folder, as opposed to an entire drive, type its path after the C:\ in the above command line.)

Don't feel like dealing with a .txt file middleman? In our next tip, we'll show you how to send a directory listing right to the printer....
  • DOS command to send directory listing to printer
In our last tip, we showed you how to print a directory listing by creating a *.txt file that you can open and print from any word processor: Assuming you want to print a listing of drive C by creating the text file C:\My Documents\DirListing.txt, open an MS-DOS Prompt window and use the following command line:

dir C:\ /S > C:\DirListing.txt

Would you prefer to send that information directly to the printer (for example, if you don't need to manipulate the information using your word processor's commands)? Exit to a DOS prompt, type

dir C:\ /S > prn

and press Enter.

(Tip: To print a listing of only one folder, as opposed to an entire drive, type its path after the C:\ in the above command line.)
  • Easy way to adjust icon spacing
In a previous tip, we mistakenly said that you can't change the spacing of your desktop icons using a simple Display Properties setting. We then went on to discuss the Registry-based technique for making this change. While the Registry technique does work, there is a much simpler way to adjust your icon spacing. (We apologize for the
oversight, and a special thanks to everyone who pointed out this error--your comments keep us on our toes!)

To change your icon spacing--the easy way--right-click the desktop and select Properties. In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Appearance tab, then click the down arrow under Item and select Icon Spacing (Vertical). Click the up or down arrows next to Size to change the current spacing, then click Apply to see your change right on the
desktop. Too far apart? Decrease that number a bit, then click Apply again. However, if the icons are so close together that they're overlapping, you'll want to increase the Size setting. (Tip: We were able to fit nine desktop icons in each row by changing the vertical spacing to 30.)

If you want, follow these same steps to adjust the horizontal icon spacing (also in the Item list). Then, to save these changes as part of a color scheme, click Save As, name the scheme (or type the name of the current scheme), then click OK. Otherwise, simply click OK to close the Display Properties dialog box.
  • Edit registered user info
D. Brubacher writes, "Is there any way to change the name of the computer owner that appears on the System Properties dialog box?"

There is, as long as you don't mind editing the Registry. (Note: As always, we recommend backing up your Registry files--User.dat and System.dat, hidden files on the root of your hard drive--first.)

Open the Registry Editor--select Start, Run, type

regedit

and click OK--and navigate your way to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion. In the right pane, right-click RegisteredOwner and select Modify. Type the correct information on the Value data line of the Edit String dialog box, and then click OK. Close the Registry Editor, and the new information will now appear in
the System Properties dialog box.

  • Fully expand folder in Explorer
Subscriber A. Kalinowski writes, "Occasionally, I need to fully expand a folder (to display all folders and subfolders inside) in an Explorer window. The old Windows 3.x File Manager had a specific command for this task. What is the equivalent in Windows Explorer?"  

While inside a two-paned Explorer window, the easiest way to expand a folder is to use the keyboard way. Select any folder and press the asterisk key (*) on your numeric keypad. The result is a fully expanded view of all folders and subfolders inside.
  • Hot key/Quick Launch access to application
S. Forbes writes, "When I read one of your tips that I want to keep around for future use, I do a quick cut-and-paste into WordPad. How do I install WordPad on my Taskbar--as opposed to a desktop shortcut--so it's more easily accessible?"

There are two options you may wish to consider. The first is to create a hot key for WordPad, so you can open it at the press of a keyboard combo. Right-click the shortcut you use to open WordPad and select Properties. Click the Shortcut tab, then click inside the text box next to Shortcut key. Type the letter you'd like to use in combination
with Ctrl-Alt to open the program, for example, W (Windows 98 fills in the Ctrl-Alt part). Click OK, and from now on, pressing Ctrl-Alt-W opens WordPad.

Your other option is to add a WordPad shortcut to your Quick Launch toolbar (the row of icons to the right of your Start button). Click and drag your current WordPad shortcut down to this toolbar between two existing icons (or on either edge of the bar). A black line will appear to let you know you've chosen an acceptable place to create a
shortcut. Let go, and you now have Taskbar access to WordPad! 

(Tip: Use the above techniques to create quick access to any of your favorite applications.)

  • Install Accessibility options
Did you know there's a wizard that will help you decide which Accessibility options are right for you? Probably not, because it isn't part of the default installation. In case you aren't familiar with Accessibility options, they're a group of settings that make Windows 98 easier to use. While these settings were designed for people with disabilities, such as sight or hearing impairments, they can be useful to everyone.

In today's tip, we'll show you how to install this wizard. Then, over the next three tips, we'll show you how to use the wizard and the newest Accessibility option, Microsoft Magnifier.

Open the Control Panel--select Start, Settings, Control Panel--and double-click Add/Remove Programs. Click the Windows Setup tab and wait as Windows 98 checks your system for installed components. (Depending on your system, this may take a few minutes.) Under Components, select Accessibility, then click the Details button. Select Accessibility Tools, click OK twice, and insert your installation disk when asked. Click OK again, and wait until Windows 98 finishes copying the files it needs.
  • Installation CD Software previews
Want a demonstration of your system's multimedia capabilities? If you don't mind a lot of Microsoft hype, take a look at the software previews on your installation CD. If you're looking to purchase some new software anyway, these previews may help you make a decision.

Insert your Windows 98 installation CD in your CD-ROM drive and in the resulting blue window, click Cool Video Clips. (If your CD-ROM drive doesn't support auto-play, open My Computer and double-click your CD-ROM drive to display the blue screen.) Double-click any of the *.mgp or *.avi files in the resulting Videos window. (Try Intro.mpg
for a spunky video display that's sure to get you in the Microsoft mood.)
  • Intro to Quick View
Want a quick peek at a file? Before you waste precious time opening a document in its native application, go for the Quick View. Right-click a file, select Quick View, and up pops a preview of that file.

Don't see a Quick View command? One of two things is happening: Either Quick View doesn't have a file viewer for that file type (we'll show you a workaround for this limitation in the next couple of tips), or Quick View isn't installed on your system. To see if Quick View is installed, right-click any *.txt file and you should see a Quick View command.

To install Quick View, pop your Windows 98 installation CD in your CD-ROM drive and open the Control Panel. Double-click Add/Remove Programs, click the Windows Setup tab, and in the list under Components, double-click Accessories. Click the check box next to Quick View and click OK twice.
  • FILE AWAY FOLDER WARNINGS

Tired of getting the Folder Warning when you enter the Windows/System or Program Files folders?  Here's a quick tip to remove those annoying messages. 

-Make sure Explorer is showing hidden files (select View/Folder Options, open the View tab and click on Show All Files). 
-Next, open the target folder and rename FOLDER.HTT to FOLDER.OLD. 
-Copy and paste the FOLDER.HTT file from WINDOWS/WEB  to the folder your are modifying. 

No more messages.
  • SHUTDOWN LOCK-UPS

Documented by Microsoft:

"Some hardware devices are not compatible with the way that 98 just 'yanks the plug' when it shuts down your system and may cause a system lock-up, forcing you to do a cold boot. One work-around for this problem is to disable the fast shutdown mode.

Select Start, Run, type

msconfig

and click OK. On the General tab, click the Advanced button, select Disable Fast Shutdown, and click OK twice. Restart your system, and the next time you shut down, your troubles may be solved. I have found that by disabling the fast shutdown, you really don't lose much speed at all--not even half a second. Hope this helps some of you out there."

  • BE THE CD DJ

When you pop an audio CD into your CD-ROM drive, by default the CD Player springs to life and plays the CD. (If your CD-ROM drive doesn't have AutoPlay capability, you have to start this utility manually by selecting Start, Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, CD Player.) Wish you had a program that knew all the songs on that CD by heart and could play them in any order you wanted? You do: the CD Player. Just enter that CD's information once--title, artists and song
list--and from then on, it remembers. Select any song order you want, omit songs from the play list altogether--heck, you can even play the same song five times in a row.

Pop your favorite audio CD in your CD-ROM drive, then open the CD Player by selecting its Taskbar item. (If your CD-ROM drive doesn't have AutoPlay capability, you'll have to start this utility manually, by selecting Start, Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, CD Player.) Select Disc, Edit Play List, and in the resulting dialog box, type the CD's artist and title. In the box next to Track 01, type the name of the first track and click the Set Name button. Type the name of the second track, click Set Name, and so on, repeating these steps until all the songs on the CD appear in the Available Tracks list. Click OK.

>From now on, every time you put that CD into your CD-ROM drive, the CD Player will remember the information you entered. In our next tip, we'll explain how to select your favorite song order.

(Note: If you can't find the CD Player, you may need to install it off the Windows 98 installation CD. Open the Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs, select the Windows Setup tab, select Multimedia, click Details, select CD Player, then click OK and insert your Windows 98 CD.)

  • GET JIGGY WIT IT

Ready to make your custom play list? Still in the Disc Settings dialog box, click Clear All to wipe out the Play List. Then, one at a time, select a track under Available Tracks and click Add. Feel free to ignore songs you don't like; or just the opposite, to include a song you do like as many times as you want. Click OK, and the new order is set. Any time you play that CD, the CD Player will play its tracks in that order.

(Note: If you can't find the CD Player, you may need to install it off the Windows 98 installation CD. Open the Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs, select the Windows Setup tab, select Multimedia, click Details, select CD Player, then click OK and insert your Windows 98 CD.)

  • CD SONG SAMPLER

Want to sample all the songs on your brand new audio CD? Pop it in your CD-ROM drive and the CD Player utility springs to life. (Note: If your CD-ROM drive doesn't have AutoPlay capability, you'll have to start this utility manually, by selecting Start, Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, CD Player.) In the CD Player dialog box, select Options, Intro Play and the CD Player will play 10 seconds of the first track, move on to the next, and so on. Choose Options, Intro Play again to toggle off the command.

Find a few songs you like more than others? Stay tuned--in our next two tips, we'll show you how to set up a custom play list.

(Note: If you can't find the CD Player, you may need to install it off the Windows 98 installation CD. Open the Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs, select the Windows Setup tab, select Multimedia, click Details, select CD Player, then click OK and insert your Windows 98 CD.)

  • GIVE YOUR DESKTOP ICONS A MAKEOVER

You can change the icons for specific desktop icons--namely, My Computer, My Documents, Network Neighborhood and the Recycle Bin (full or empty)--from the Effects tab of the Display Properties dialog box. (If you used Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95, you may remember that this option was available from the Plus! tab of the same dialog box.)

To open the Display Properties dialog box, open the Control Panel and double-click Display; or right-mouse-click the desktop and select Properties. Click the Effects tab, select the icon you'd like to change, and click the Change Icon button. Select a new icon, click OK, then repeat these steps for each icon that you want to change. When you're finished, click OK to apply the changes to your desktop.

Note: If you don't see an icon you like in the Change Icon dialog box--for example, you won't see any choices for My Documents--click the Browse button, navigate your way to another icon file (such as Windows\System\Shell32.dll or Windows\System\Pifmgr.dll), select an icon, click Open, then click OK.

  • OVER THE RAINBOW

Do you get tired of the plain blue, white, and gray look of your open windows? Can't stare at that turquoise desktop for another minute? Then redecorate a little. Windows 98 comes with loads of pre-made color schemes that can give your desktop a whole new look.

Right-click the desktop and select Properties. Click the Appearance tab, and in the list under Scheme, select any color scheme to see its preview at the top of the dialog box. Try Desert for a Southwestern look, or Marine for an under-the-sea kind of feel. Continue selecting schemes until you find one that suits your style, and once you do, click OK to apply it to your desktop. With all these options, can you believe you've been settling for the default Windows colors all this time?

(Note: To switch back to the Windows defaults, select Windows Standard in the Scheme list, then click OK.)

  • BEYOND THE RAINBOW

In our last tip, we showed you how to change the color scheme of your Windows 98 desktop: Right-click the desktop, select Properties, click the Appearance tab, select a scheme in the dropdown list under Scheme, then click OK. Can't find a color scheme that matches your mood? Well then, create your own.

Follow the steps above to access the Appearance tab of the Display Properties dialog box. One at time, click on an element in the desktop preview (or select an element under Item), then adjust any of the options that appear in the lower half of the dialog box. For example, you might select Desktop, then select a new Color. Or you might select Active Title Bar, and then adjust its size and color, as well as the font, size, and color of the text on the bar. The options you can
adjust will vary depending on the desktop item you select.

Continue adjusting settings for various elements until your ideal desktop appears in the preview area. Then, assuming you want to save all your hard work, click Save As, type a name for the scheme, and click OK. (From now on, you can select your new desktop look from the Scheme list.) Click OK one more time to apply your new scheme to the desktop.

  • CAN'T LOGON TO NETWORK

Do you have the client for Microsoft Networks installed and it does not come up with the logon screen for networking?  Can you logoff and then see the normal networking logon screen?  No matter what you do it doesn't automatically pop up the logon dialogue box.  Well here is the fix.  Open up the registry - do a search for AUTOLOGON and delete the key.   Reboot!
  • LET THE GAMES BEGIN

Let's face it, this is the time of year for not getting much done. So what better way to spend your time in the office than in front of a computer game? What's that? You say you don't have any? Ah, but you do. Windows 98 comes with four: FreeCell, Hearts, Minesweeper, and Solitaire. You'll find them in the Start, Programs, Accessories, Games folder.

You probably already know how to play Solitaire, but you might enjoy some quick instructions on one of the lesser known (and more addictive) of these games: FreeCell.

Open FreeCell and press F2 to start a new game. Looks a bit like Solitaire, but it isn't. See those four empty spaces to the right of the King? Just like Solitaire, the object is to get all your cards up there, by suit, Ace through King. But unlike Solitaire, this game is all strategy, not luck. In other words, you can win every game.

You play the game by moving cards around. As in Solitaire, you can move any uncovered card to another that's the next highest number, but the opposite color (for example, black 4 on red 5). Click a card, then
click where you want it to go. Need to get a card out of the way of the one underneath it? Double-click it and it moves to a free cell--one of the four cells to the left of the King up top.

You can also move a sequence of cards to another row--for example, red 8, black 9, red 10 over to a black Jack. Again, click the bottom card, then click where you want it to go. But here's the catch: You can only
move as many cards as there are empty free cells. So in the example we just gave, you'd need three free cells open.

Got it? Try a few games, and you'll get the hang of it.
  • 'D' IS FOR DESKTOP

Irwin Giganerd writes, "I recently discovered a keyboard trick that works in Windows 98. Hold down the Windows key, press the letter "D," and the desktop appears. Press the same combo again, and all minimized windows are restored to the screen."

Here are some more keyboard combos for the Windows key (assuming you
have one). Press:

Windows-E to open Windows Explorer
Windows-F to open Find
Windows-M to minimize all open windows (or Shift-Windows-M to undo
this command)
Windows-R to open the Run window
Windows-F1 to open Help
Windows-L to log off Windows
Windows-Tab to cycle through the Taskbar buttons
Windows-Break to open the System Properties dialog box

  • NEXT TIME, TAKE THE DIRECT ROUTE

You can use the Startup tab of the System Configuration Utility to disable those elusive auto-start programs (the ones that start whenever Windows 98 starts). We also showed you how to open this utility: Select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Information; and in the resulting window, select Tools, System Configuration Utility. Whew!

There's a much easier way to get there, without all those menu
commands. Select Start, Run type

msconfig

and click OK
  • HOT! HOT! HOT!

If you have an application that you open all the time, stop wasting time finding its shortcut (or Start menu item) every time you want to open it. You can set up a keyboard combo to open that application from
anywhere on your system, no matter how many windows you have open on screen.

If you haven't already, create a shortcut to the application in your location of choice. (You can bury it in a folder, if you want--you'll only need it to set up the keyboard combo.) Right-mouse-click the shortcut, select Properties, and click the Shortcut tab. Click once inside the text box next to Shortcut Key, then type the letter you'd like to use in combination with Ctrl-Alt to open the application. (You'll notice that Windows fills in the Ctrl-Alt part for you.) For example, you might use "W" for Microsoft Word. Click OK, and your hot key is complete.

Now just forget about that shortcut (but don't delete it). Press the keyboard combo, such as Ctrl-Alt-W, and your application appears on-screen!
  • CHOOSING CHANNELS

Do you use only one or two channels on the active desktop's Channel Bar? If so, then there's no need to leave the entire Channel Bar in view, monopolizing all that real estate. Turn the channels you use into desktop icons, and ditch the rest.

Click and drag any channel from the Channel Bar out onto your desktop. Let go, and a desktop icon appears for that channel. Repeat these steps for each of your favorite channels, and when you're finished, wave bye-bye to the rest: Right-click the desktop, select Active Desktop, Customize My Desktop, deselect Internet Explorer Channel Bar,
and click OK. (Alternatively, hold your mouse pointer over the Channel Bar's edge, and when its title bar appears, click the X in the upper-right corner.) Over and out.
  • SHOVE OVER AND LET ME DRIVE

The Windows 98 startup disk includes real-mode CD-ROM drivers, meaning that if you ever need to boot from this disk, you can still reinstall Windows 98 using the installation CD: Assuming you've opted to start the system with CD-ROM support, pop the CD in your CD-ROM drive and at the command prompt type

X:\setup

(where "X" is your CD-ROM drive PLUS one letter, in most cases). Then and press Enter.

Why does your CD-ROM drive letter change (in most cases) when you boot your system from this disk? After you choose a startup option, config.sys loads a 2MB RAMDrive that contains a number of tools useful in diagnosing common problems. (These files are extracted from Ebd.cab, and wouldn't otherwise fit on a 1.44MB floppy.) Typically, this drive assumes the letter that was used to represent your CD-ROM drive.

To view the contents of the RAMDrive, type

dir X:

where "X" is the former letter of your CD-ROM drive. (Note: Watch the screen during the startup process to confirm the letter used to represent the RAMDrive.)
  • THAT DOCUMENTS LIST JUST GOT BIGGER

Did you just select Start, Documents . . . only to discover that the file you wanted to open has been bumped from the list? Don't worry, you can access all of your files from the Documents list--that is, assuming you store your documents in the My Documents folder (a pretty big assumption, we realize). Inside the Documents list, select the very top command, My Documents. Instant access to all your data files.

  • LOCAL YOKELS

You can go from an Explorer window to a Web page by typing its URL in the Address bar. Windows 98 goes the other way, too. Let's say you're browsing the Internet in an IE 4.x window and you suddenly need to locate a document on your hard drive. Pull down the Go menu, select My Computer, and instantly, you're local. Navigate your way to the folder you need, as you would inside any other Explorer window.

(Tip: To jump directly to a folder other than My Computer, type the folder's path on IE 4.x's Address bar, then press Enter.)
  • BACK TO MENU BASICS

Irwin Gigahertz writes, "Is there a way in Windows 98 to go back to the 95 way of viewing program menus? I don't like the scrolling menu."

Absolutely. You can turn this option off from the Display Properties dialog box. Right-click the desktop, select Properties, and in the resulting dialog box, click the Effects tab. Under Visual effects, deselect Animate Windows, Menus and Lists, then click OK. Back to basics.
  • WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MESSAGING OR THE FAX?

You can install Windows 95's Microsoft Fax off the Windows 98 installation CD. Pop the CD in your CD-ROM drive, navigate to Tools/OldWin95/Message/Us folder, and run awfax.exe. We also pointed out that Microsoft Fax "requires a Full MAPI Client in order to function, such as: Microsoft Exchange, Windows Messaging, Microsoft Exchange Server Client or Outlook [the full version, not Express]." The question then becomes, assuming you want to run Microsoft Fax on Windows Messaging, how do you do it if this program isn't part of Windows 98?

Well, wouldn't you know, Windows Messaging is available on the Windows 98 installation CD, too. To install it, navigate to Tools/OldWin95/Message/Us folder, and run wmw.exe. (Note: We recommend reading wmw-fax.txt, in the same folder, for more detailed information on Microsoft Fax and Windows Messaging.)

  • CHANGE EXPLORER'S FOCUS

Want an Explorer shortcut that acts just like right-mouse-clicking My Computer and selecting Explore? First, create an Explorer shortcut in your location of choice (if you don't have one already). For example, to create one on the desktop, right-mouse-click Start, select Open, then double-click Programs. Inside the Programs folder, right-mouse-click and drag the Windows Explorer item out to the desktop, let go, and select Create Shortcut(s) Here.

Right-mouse-click the Explorer shortcut, select Properties, and click the Shortcut tab. Replace the text on the Target line with exactly:

C:\Windows\Explorer.exe /n,/e,/root,,/select,C:\

Click OK, and from now on, double-clicking that shortcut is the same as right-mouse-clicking My Computer and selecting Explore.

  • IT'S SO EASY. . . EASY. . . OH-OH-OH . . .

How can you make IE 4.x the default browser (after using Netscape as the default for a period of time)?"

This one's easier than it sounds. For starters, there are three ways to access the setting (not a big surprise, since Microsoft really wants you to use IE 4.x): Right-mouse-click the Internet Explorer icon on your desktop and select Properties; or double-click the Control Panel's Internet icon; or select View, Internet Options inside an IE window. Regardless of how you get there, click the Programs tab and select Internet Explorer Should Check to See Whether it is the Default Browser. Click OK and, if and when you see a dialog box asking if you want Internet Explorer to be your default browser (probably the next time you open IE), click Yes.

  • MAXIMUM WINDOW CTRL

Ever click IE 4.x's Full Screen button in order to make that window just as big as it can be (the menus shrink and the title bar disappears)? Well here's a little secret: This trick is available from inside any Explorer window. Assuming the window is not currently maximized--in other words, you can see all of its edges--hold down the Ctrl key as you click the middle caption button in that window's upper-right corner. And watch it grow.

The tricky part is getting the window back to the size you started with. Of course, one way is to close and reopen the window. The other, less obvious route is to move your mouse pointer down to the bottom of
the screen (to make the Taskbar appear), right-click the window's Taskbar item and select Restore. (Note: If you minimize the window first, right-clicking the Taskbar item and selecting Restore will only return the window to the full screen view.)
  • START WITH A DESKTOP SHORTCUT

Do you find your desktop a handier place for shortcuts than the Start menu? Then create shortcuts to your oft-used Start menu items on the desktop. Whereas in Windows 95, this operation required you to
right-click Start, select Open, and so on..., now you can copy a shortcut using a simple click-and-drag operation.

With all open windows minimized, click Start and navigate your way to a favorite shortcut, such as Start, Programs, Accessories, Paint. Click the item you want to turn into a shortcut (here, Paint), and without letting go (or else you'll open that item), drag it out to the desktop. Let go, and there's your shortcut!
  • DR. WHO?

Have you been experiencing system faults? Before you call a Windows 98 support technician, call Dr. Watson. Dr. Watson is a troubleshooting utility that takes system snapshots of the present state of your
system that may be able to help solve a problem.

Select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Information. In the System Information window, select Tools, Dr. Watson. Click the Dr. Watson icon that appears in the tray of your Taskbar, select Dr.
Watson, and wait as this utility generates a system snapshot, resulting in (you hope) a diagnosis of the problem.

(Tip: To view nine tabs-worth of details captured by the snapshot, select View, Advanced View.) Name and save the log file. You now have a great resource for that support technician you're about to call.
  • DR. WHO, PART 2

In our last tip, we introduced Dr. Watson, a Windows 98 troubleshooting utility that takes system snapshots to help diagnose problems. A nice feature of this utility is that it takes a snapshot automatically when a system fault occurs. But--Dr. Watson has to be running in order to take a snapshot.

To be sure that Dr. Watson is running all the time, place a shortcut to Windows\Drwatson.exe in your Startup folder (likely in C:\WINDOWS\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp). From now on, this utility will load whenever Windows 98 starts.

  • ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL FOLDER VIEWING

Do you have a very favorite way of viewing a folder's contents--for example, always as a Web page and always the Large Icon view? Rather than set these options every time you open a new window, set them once and be done with it. Windows 98 will apply your view options globally (unlike Windows 95, where you had to reset these options constantly).

Open any Explorer window and select View, Folder Options. Select the View tab, click the Like Current Folder button, then click Yes to confirm. Every window you open from that point forward will look the
way you want it to.
  • BIGGER BUTTONS, PLEASE

You know those three little buttons in the top-right corner of every window? They're called caption buttons, and they don't have to be that small. If you'd like a bit more button to grab onto, crank 'em up a
couple of notches.

Right-mouse-click the desktop, select Properties, and click the Appearance tab. In the drop-down list under Item, scroll up and select Caption Buttons. (Alternatively, click one of the caption buttons in the preview at the top of the dialog box.) Click the up arrow next to Size, watching the preview to see the effect of your change. Just going from the default 18 up to 21 makes a big difference. When you like what you see, click OK to apply the change to your desktop.

(Note: You'll notice the Taskbar will grow a bit, too. For some reason, caption buttons and the Taskbar are connected.)
  • EENSIE, WEENSIE BUTTONS

Every Windows 98 window displays three little buttons in its upper-right corner. When clicked, these buttons will (from left to right) minimize, maximize/restore, or close that window. Anyone knows that, right? But here's a little secret for everyone who's tired of dragging the mouse all the way up to those tiny little buttons: There are keyboard equivalents for all of them.

To minimize the active window, press Alt-spacebar, N.
To maximize the active window, press Alt-spacebar, X.
To restore the active window, press Alt-spacebar, R.
To close the active window, press Alt-spacebar, C (or even easier,
press Alt-F4).

Who needs ya, mouse?
  • WHEREFORE ART THOU, MICROSOFT FAX?

Just buy a new Windows 98 system? Can't figure out where Microsoft Fax is located (you remember, Start, Programs, Accessories, Fax)? Well stop looking, because it isn't there. If you want to use this utility, you'll need to install it from the Windows 98 installation CD.

Pop the CD in your CD-ROM drive, click Browse This CD, and navigate to the Tools/OldWin95/Message/Us folder. Run awfax.exe to install Microsoft Fax. (Note: According to Microsoft, this utility "requires a Full MAPI Client in order to function, such as: Microsoft Exchange, Windows Messaging, Microsoft Exchange Server Client or Outlook [the full version, not Express].")
  • SIT THERE, BUT DON'T SAY ANYTHING

Want to insert an audio CD into your CD-ROM drive without playing it this very second? You can disable your system's AutoPlay feature on a one-time-only basis. (You have AutoPlay if, when you insert a CD in your CD-ROM drive, the CD Player or some other utility starts playing the CD automatically.)

Immediately after inserting the CD into your CD-ROM drive, hold down the Shift key. For how long? Well, about as long as it normally takes for AutoPlay to kick in. (Let's just say if the CD still plays, you
didn't hold it down long enough.) When you're ready to play that audio CD, open a My Computer window, right-mouse-click your CD-ROM drive, and select Play.

  • IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START UP

The Windows 98 startup disk includes real-mode CD-ROM drivers, meaning that if you ever need to boot from this disk, you can still reinstall Windows 98 using the installation CD: Assuming you've opted to start the system with CD-ROM support, pop the CD in your CD-ROM drive, and at the command prompt type

X:\setup

(where "X" is your CD-ROM drive PLUS one letter, in most cases). Then press Enter.

If you didn't make a startup disk when you were prompted to do so during setup, we highly recommend making one now. To create a startup disk, open the Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs, and
select the Startup Disk tab. Click the Create Disk button, insert a blank disk when asked, then wait for Windows 98 to finish copying files. And of course, be sure to store the disk in a safe place.

In our next tip, we'll explain why in most cases, your CD-ROM drive letter changes when you start from the Windows 98 startup disk.

  • DO THE DEFRAG

Want to be sure your applications start as fast as system-ly possible? Defragmenting your hard drive is a great place to start, especially since the new-and-improved Windows 98 version includes an option that
rearranges your program files for optimum performance.

Select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter, and in the Select Drive dialog box, select the drive you want to defragment. Before clicking OK--and here's the important part--click the Settings button and be sure that "Rearrange program files so my programs start faster" is selected. Click OK, and then click OK again to start the operation.
  • ALL-IN-ONE DEFRAG

In our last tip, we mentioned that defragmenting your hard drive is a great way to ensure that your applications start quickly. Do you have multiple drives on your Windows 98 system? Don't waste time
defragmenting them one by one. You can attack them all in one fell swoop.

Select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter, and in the Select Drive dialog box, click the down arrow to display the list of drives on your system. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the list, select All Hard Drives, and click OK. (Then go grab yourself a bagel--it's going to take awhile!)
  • TOO MUCH STATIC

In a previous tip, we showed you how to transform channels on your Channel Bar into desktop items for easy access. For example, if you use only a few channels and want to remove the rest of the Channel Bar from the desktop, just click and drag any channel from the Channel Bar onto the desktop, let go, and a desktop item appears.

However, you may find that just the opposite is true; you may use all but a few channels on your Channel Bar. If that's the case, you may as well delete the ones you don't use. To delete a channel, right-click
it, select Delete, and click Yes to confirm.
  • SEE-NOTHING CD-ROM DRIVES

To disable your CD-ROM drive's AutoPlay feature temporarily: Immediately after inserting the CD into your CD-ROM drive, hold down the Shift key for as long as it normally takes for the CD to start playing. If you find yourself using this trick more often than not, you're the perfect candidate for disabling the AutoPlay feature altogether.

Open the System Properties dialog box by holding down the Alt key as you double-click My Computer. Select the Device Manager tab, click the plus sign next to CD-ROM, then select your CD-ROM drive. Click the Properties button, and on the Settings tab, deselect Auto insert notification. Click OK, then click Close. Restart Windows 98 (at your convenience) to make the new setting stick.
  • DEEP SPACE HELP

Need help beyond the scope of Windows Help (not an unusual scenario)? Try Microsoft's Support Online. There, you can search the Knowledge Base, a library of technical support documents, with the hopes of
finding the answer you need.

You can access Support Online directly from Windows 98 Help. Assuming the Help window is already open (if it isn't, select Start, Help), click the Web Help button at the top of the window, then click the
Support Online link at the bottom of the right pane. (Note: If you aren't online, complete any necessary steps to make a connection.)

Complete the Registration information (if this is your first time using the Knowledge Base), then follow the steps to initiate a search--select a product, type in a question or keyword, and click Find. If the Knowledge Base has any articles that match your search criteria, they'll appear in list form. (Or you may get a very annoying 'Server too busy' message, in which case you'll need to try again later.) If an article sounds like it may answer your question, right-click it and select Open in New Window. (That way, if it isn't the right one, you can get back to the list without having to click Back and wait for the page to reload.) Good luck!
  • COVER YOUR TRACKS

How can I remove the stored searches from the Named pull-down list in the Find dialog box?"
The easiest way is to use the Tweak UI PowerToy. (If you haven't installed this utility, see note below.) Open the Control Panel, double-click Tweak UI and select the Paranoia tab. Select Clear Find Files History At Logon, click Clear Selected Items Now, then click OK. (Tip: If you don't want the list cleared every time you log on, deselect the Clear Find Files option before closing Tweak UI.) Open Find, pull down the Named list, and you'll see that it's clean as a whistle. (Note: To install Tweak UI, insert your installation CD in your CD-ROM drive, click Browse This CD, and navigate your way to the tools\reskit\powertoy folder. Right-mouse-click tweakui.inf and select Install. Close the About Tweak UI help window to complete the installation. You'll now find a Tweak UI item inside the Control Panel.)
In our next tip, we'll show you a faster way to clear the Find list (although it has its price).
  • CLEAR FIND LIST USING REGISTRY
In our last tip, we showed you how to clean out Find's list of stored searches using Tweak UI: Open the Control Panel, double-click Tweak UI, select the Paranoia tab, select Clear Find Files History At Logon, click Clear Selected Items Now, then click OK. (If you don't have Tweak UI on your system, check out the quick review near the end of this tip.) If you'd prefer, you can remove individual items from the list using the Registry Editor. (Note: As always, back up your Registry files--System.dat and User.dat, hidden files in your Windows folder--before proceeding.) Open the Registry Editor by selecting Start, Run, typing regedit and clicking OK. Navigate your way to HCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Doc Find Spec MRU. In the right pane, right-click any entry you'd like to remove from the Find dialog box, select Remove, then click Yes to confirm. Close the Registry Editor. 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
  • CLEAR FIND LIST USING TWEAK UI

Want to clear the Find list of stored searches from Find? (To view the list we're talking about, select Start, Find, Files Or Folders, then click the down arrow next to Named.) Start with a clean slate using the Tweak UI PowerToy. (You'll find a quick review on how to install Tweak UI below.) Open the Control Panel, double-click Tweak UI, and select the Paranoia tab. Select Clear Find Files History At Logon, click Clear Selected Items Now, then click OK. The next time you open Find and pull down the Named list, you'll find just what you'd expect--absolutely nothing. Quick review: The Tweak UI PowerToy is on your Windows 98 installation CD, in the ools\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
  • ALL-FOR-ONE HISTORY LISTS

In our last tip, we told you that you can use the Tweak UI PowerToy to clear the list of searches from the Find dialog box (in the drop-down list under Named): Open the Control Panel, double-click Tweak UI, and
select the Paranoia tab. Select Clear Find Files History at Logon, click Clear Selected Items Now, then click OK.

There's another way to clear this Find history, but you have to be willing to do away with your Documents list, as well as the list of previously typed URLs in IE 4.0. Select Start, Settings, Taskbar & Start Menu. Select the Start Menu Programs tab, click the Clear button (under Documents menu), wait a few seconds until your hard drive stops thrashing, then click OK. All three lists will be wiped clean.
  • ONE-STEP FLOPPY ACCESS

When you want to view the data on a floppy disk, do you open a My Computer or Explorer window and then double-click your floppy drive icon? You can cut this operation down to a single double-click: Create a floppy drive shortcut on your desktop. From then on, you can view the contents of a floppy disk by simply double-clicking that shortcut.

To create a floppy drive shortcut, locate your floppy drive icon in a My Computer or Explorer window. Right-mouse-click this icon, drag it out to the desktop, and let go. In the menu that pops up, select
Create Shortcut(s) Here, then rename the shortcut to something appropriate, such as "Floppy Drive."

To try out your new shortcut, pop a floppy in the drive, double-click the shortcut, and the contents of the disk appear on-screen.
  • IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE... NO, IT'S A PLUG

Windows 98's Power Management features a set of controls that powers off your monitor and/or hard drive after a certain period of inactivity. To access these controls, open the Control Panel (select Start, Settings, Control Panel) and double-click Power Management.

If you find your work habits changing from one day to the next, you may wish to set up a couple of different power schemes, and then use the one that's most appropriate. To create a scheme, one at a time,
select a period of inactivity next to Turn Off Monitor and Turn Off Hard Disk. At the top of the dialog box, click Save As, type a name for the scheme, and click OK. Repeat these steps for each scheme you'd
like to create. From now on, you can select each of these schemes by name in the Power Schemes list.

(Tip: For quick power scheme switching, click the Advanced tab and select Show Power Meter on Taskbar. Click your Taskbar's new plug icon and select your scheme of choice in the resulting menu.)
  • HAVE ADDRESS BAR, WILL TRAVEL

You may already know that you can get to the Internet by typing a Web address on the Address bar of any Explorer window. But did you also know that with a little tweaking, the Taskbar will perform the same
function? Just add the Address toolbar to the Taskbar.

Right-click a blank area on the Taskbar, select Toolbars, and in the pop-out menu, select Address. Presto--there's your Address bar. You now have Internet access on screen at all times. No open windows
necessary!

(Tip: As with any toolbar, to resize the Address bar, hold your mouse pointer over the vertical bar at the toolbar's left edge, and when the pointer changes to a double-pointed arrow, click and drag in either
direction.)
  • ADDRESS TOOLBAR NOT WORKING
In a previous tip, you suggested adding an Address toolbar to the taskbar for instant access to Web pages. Great idea, but when I type an address and press Enter, nothing happens. Microsoft confirms this quirky little Internet Explorer 5 "bug" in its Knowledge Base. It seems you must have another toolbar enabled on the taskbar in order for the Address toolbar to work. Right-click the taskbar, select Toolbars, and select Quick Launch, Links, or Desktop. The Address toolbar should now work as expected.
  • IF ONLY YOUR TV HAD 3000 CHANNELS!

Can't find any interesting Active Channels to view? Have no fear, there are many more channels (over 3000) to choose from. Click the Channel Guide symbol at the top of the Channel Bar (or click the View Channels shortcut on the Quick Launch toolbar), then click the Channel Guide link at the top-right of the page. Click Search, then use the options on the resulting page to find the type of site you're looking for--for example, select a category and type some keywords, then click Search. Click a logo under Search results to preview a channel.

If you decide you want to add the channel to the Channel Bar--the one on your desktop and/or the one that appears when you open an Explorer window and select View, Explorer Bar, Channels--click the blue Add
Active Channel link. Select a subscription option, click OK, and that channel joins the rest.
  • BLAME IT ON THE MANAGEMENT

Have you noticed that when you leave your system for a while--say, 15 minutes or longer--your screen goes black? (How could you not notice?) This isn't some new low-budget screen saver. It's just Power Management doing its job. By defaut, the feature powers off your monitor after 15 minutes of inactivity. Press any key or move the mouse, and your monitor comes to life again (after what can seem like a long delay).

Of course, if you find this feature a hindrance, you may wish to turn it off altogether or increase the delay time before the monitor powers off. Open the Control Panel (select Start, Settings, Control Panel),
and double-click Power Management. To prevent the monitor from powering off altogether, click the down arrow next to Turn Off Monitor and select Never. To increase the delay, select a new time in this
same list. Either way, click OK, and the new setting will be applied to the current power scheme.

(Tip: Use the Turn Off Hard Disk list to adjust the delay before which Windows 98 powers off your hard drive.)
  • NO-SEE-'EM MENUS

In a previous tip, we showed you how to enlarge any Explorer window to full screen view (just like clicking the Full Screen button in IE 4.x): Assuming the window is not currently maximized--in other words, you can see all of its edges--hold down the Ctrl key as you click the middle caption button in the window's upper-right corner.

Still not enough viewing space for you? Try hiding the toolbars too. Right-click a blank area on the menu bar (at the top of the screen) and select Auto Hide. Poof! The menu and button bars disappear from view. If and when you need them, move your mouse pointer up to the top edge of the screen, and they slide back into place.

(Tip: To undo this option, right-click the menu bar and deselect Auto Hide.)
  • BACK AND FORWARD--THEY'RE NOT JUST FOR URLS ANYMORE

As you're surfing the Web in your favorite browser window, how do you get back to a page you were viewing previously? You press the Back button, right? And then, to go forward to the page where you started, you use the Forward button. As you may have noticed, these buttons--Back and Forward--appear in every Explorer window. Point being, if you've navigated your way through folders inside that window, you can go back the way you came (and forward again) without all that double-clicking.

For example, suppose you started in the Windows folder, pressed the Up One Level icon to jump up to your hard drive, and then navigated your way to the Program Files\Internet Mail and News\[username]\Mail
folder. Now, you want to go back to the Windows folder. Just click the down arrow on the Back button, select the Windows folder, and you're there. Forgot to do something in the Mail folder? Click the down arrow next to the Forward button and select Mail. Cool, eh?

  • IT'S NOT MY DEFAULT

Have you noticed since upgrading to Windows 98, all the apps want to open and save files to the My Documents folder by default? If you don't want everything there, how do you make it stop?"

Unfortunately, you'll need to change the default directory of each application by hand. (Fortunately, you'll only need to do it once.) In many cases, an application provides this capability. For example, in Microsoft Word, you can change the default directory as follows: Select Tools, Options, click the File Locations tab, select a file type, click Modify, navigate your way to the folder of your choice,
and click OK.

If an application doesn't offer this feature (WordPad is a good example), you'll need to change the default directory at the Windows level. Locate the shortcut you use to open the application (most likely in the desktop or Start menu), right-mouse-click it and select Properties. Click the Shortcut tab, type the path of the desired default directory in the "Start in" text box, then click OK. From now on, as long as you use this shortcut to open the application, your selected default will stick.

(Note: In a given work session, if you navigate your way to another folder inside the Open or Save dialog box, that folder will remain the "default" until you switch to another or close and re-open the application.)

  • DELL FLOPPY PROBLEM?

Can't use the A: drive on your Dell?  The problem as being caused by software. Make sure the floppy is enabled  in the system setup. There may be something stepping on the BIOS. If so, the  NVRAM will need to be cleared. To clear the NVRAM go to the System Setup  (press DELETE when you see the message "Press DEL to enter setup"  right at the beginning of the boot process) and under the Advanced Menu set  the Reset Configuration Data to Yes, strike the F10 key at the top of the  keyboard to Save and Exit. Reboot the system for this to take effect.

  • WINDOWS 98 FLOPPY DRIVER

If you're considering upgrading to Windows 98, here's another item for the "pro" column on your decision chart. Microsoft updated the floppy driver (HSFLOP.PDR) from the Windows 95 releases. And the improvements are all about performance. You should notice faster writes and reads to and from floppies under Windows 98.   
  • HOW VERY RESOURCE-FUL OF YOU    

Some of the tools that are part of the Windows 98 Resource Kit Sampler--such as Quick Tray--are more convenient if they're run right from your hard drive, as opposed to the installation CD. Rather than install each tool individually, why not install the whole kit and kaboodle? (That is, assuming you have an extra 12MB to spare.)

Pop the installation CD in your CD-ROM drive, click Browse this CD, and navigate your way to the tools\reskit folder. Double-click setup.exe and follow along as the setup program does its thing. The best part is, now you don't have to worry about locating that CD each and every time you want to use a Resource Kit tool. Setup places a Windows 98 Resource Kit folder in your Start menu (after you restart Windows 98).

To access one of the now-resident tools, select Start, Programs, Windows 98 Resource Kit, Tools Management Console. Inside the console, click Close to exit the Tip of the Day, then navigate your way to your tool of choice in the Tools Categories or Tools A to Z folder. Double-click a tool in the right pane, and it springs to life.  

  • WHAT'S A SYSTEM.1ST?

System.1st is the Registry that Windows 98 Setup creates upon completion. (For those of you who aren't familiar with the Registry, it's a set of instructions that tells Windows 98 exactly how to operate. For example, the Registry tells Windows 98 which color to use for your desktop. Your Registry files are System.dat and User.dat, both of which are hidden files in the Windows folder.)

The fact that System.1st is a hidden file, and also that it's listed in the Windows 98 Resource Kit under Key System Files, means that you should definitely leave it alone.

 
  • WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T TURN BACK TIME?

You probably know how to change your system's time zone: Open the Control Panel, double-click Date/Time, select the Time Zone tab, select your time zone, and click OK. Select Automatically Adjust Clock . . ., and Windows 98 will even adjust your clock for daylight saving changes.

But did you also know that you can actually edit a time zone--for example, to change the daylight saving rules? Take a minute to dig through the files on your Windows 98 installation CD, and you'll find the Windows Time Zone Editor. Previously available for download as one of the Windows 95 Kernel Toys, the Time Zone Editor lets you modify existing time zones and even create new ones.

Pop the installation CD into your CD-ROM drive, and if the Windows 98 CD-ROM window doesn't appear on its own, open up My Computer and double-click your CD-ROM drive. Point and click where it says Browse This CD, then navigate your way to the tools\reskit\config folder. Double-click Tzedit.exe, and the Time Zone Editor springs to life.

To edit a time zone, select that zone under Time Zones, click Edit, and adjust any of the settings in the Edit Time Zone dialog box. Click OK, click Close, then--assuming you want to apply the new zone to your system immediately--select the revised zone using the Control Panel's Date/Time dialog box.  

 
  • STOP STARTING ALREADY!

The new Windows 98 System Configuration Utility allows you to turn off any annoying auto-start programs using simple check boxes. Select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Information. In the resulting window, pull down the Tools menu and select System Configuration Utility. Select the Startup tab, and you'll see a list of all programs that start whenever Windows 98 starts. Deselect the one(s) giving you grief, click OK, and they won't bother you again (unless you select them again in this dialog box).

 
  • FROM WEB TO WALLPAPER

Are you staring at a really cool graphic in an IE 4.0 browser window? You can turn that image into Windows 98 wallpaper at the click of a button. Right-mouse-click the graphic and select Set As Wallpaper. Now minimize all open windows (or click the Show Desktop icon on the Quick Launch toolbar) and check out your newly decorated desktop!

(Note: The wallpaper will appear Tiled, Centered, or Stretched, depending on the options currently selected in the Display Properties dialog box. To change the wallpaper's appearance, right-mouse-click the desktop, select Properties, and on the Background tab, select a new option under Display.)

 
  • WITH A TWEAK, TWEAK HERE . . .

Dying to get your hands on that Tweak UI PowerToy you've heard so much about? (In case you haven't heard, this utility offers tabs and tabs of settings that allow you to tweak the Windows user interface.)

There's no need to surf over to Microsoft's Web site to get it, as you would if you were still using Windows 95. This powerful utility is actually ON your Windows 98 installation CD. (Does this mean Tweak UI is now supported by Microsoft? No. You'll find a disclaimer in the Readme.txt file: ". . . Keep in mind, this tool is not a part of Windows and is not supported by Microsoft.")

Anyway, here's how to get tweaked. Pop the installation CD into your CD-ROM drive, and if the Windows 98 CD-ROM window doesn't appear on its own, open up My Computer and double-click your CD-ROM drive. Point and click where it says Browse This CD, then navigate your way to the tools\reskit\powertoy folder. Right-mouse click tweakui.inf, select Install, and Windows 98 will install this utility on your hard drive (or update the existing version, if you already had it when you upgraded to Windows 98). Close the About Tweak UI help window to complete the installation, and when you're ready to do a little tweaking, open the Control Panel and double-click Tweak UI.

 
  • YOU CAN'T JUDGE A CALCULATOR BY ITS COVER

When you select Start, Programs, Accessories, Calculator, what do you see? A pretty basic calculator, right? But try this: Pull down the View menu and select Scientific.

Now THAT'S a calculator!

 
  • HAVE YOUR FOLDER NAMES YOUR WAY

Remember back in your Windows 95 days, when you tried to name a folder using all caps, pressing Enter would "decapitalize" all but the first letter? Grumbling all the way, you resolved to use lowercase names.

Well, now's your chance to have it your way. Windows 98 actually ALLOWS all-cap folder names. Create a new folder, type the all-cap name of your choice, press Enter, and watch what happens. Nothing. The name stands tall, just as you typed it.

 
  • OLD HABITS DIE HARD

Quick fix for those using an older version of Microsoft Office on a Windows 98 system (and apparently, there are a lot of you out there!):

Windows 98 no longer supports the MS-DOS command Share.exe.  Word 6.x requires it to run correctly, fortunately, the work-around is easy. Open Notepad and save a blank file under the name 'Share.exe' in the Windows System folder (not System32). This 'fake' file solves the problem.

  • CHECK YOUR RESOURCES

Want to go beyond the basic online help and delve deep into the workings of Windows 98? The Windows 98 Resource Kit includes anything and everything you could ever want to know about Windows 98 (and more). And the best part is it's FREE.

Pop your Windows 98 installation CD in your CD-ROM drive, click Browse this CD, and navigate your way to the tools\reskit\help folder. Double-click rk98book.chm and start reading! (It's set up the same as the regular Windows 98 Help--navigate your way through topics in the left pane; read them on the right.)

  • MISSING LINKS

Ever select a shortcut, only to see that little flashlight-inside-a-dialog-box, frantically searching for the item you're after? The flashlight appears when the link between the shortcut and the target has been severed (because you've moved or deleted the target). To avoid such holdups, search your system for all severed links. And no, not by manually testing each and every shortcut. The Link Check Wizard will check your whole system for you in a matter of seconds.

The Link Check Wizard is part of the Windows 98 Resource Kit Sampler, located on your installation CD. If you've installed the entire sampler (by running setup.exe in the CD's tools\reskit folder), you can start the Link Check Wizard as follows: Select Start, Programs, Windows 98 Resource Kit, Tools Management Console; click Close to exit the Tip of the Day; navigate your way to Tool Categories\Desktop Tools; then double-click Checklinks in the right pane. If you prefer to install only the Link Check Wizard (as opposed to the entire sampler), simply copy chklnks.exe from the installation CD's tools\reskit\desktop folder to your location of choice. And if you don't want to install it at all, you can always run it right off the installation CD.

To run the wizard, double-click chklnks.exe, click Next, and wait. When the link checker finishes its search, you'll see a list of all "dead" links. Select each one you'd like to remove (or click Select All), click Finish, then click OK.

  • FOOTLOOSE AND ICON-FREE!

Ever find yourself thinking "I'd like to have a clean desktop?"

First, place shortcuts to these items in the Quick Launch toolbar as follows: Click and drag one of the icons, such as My Computer, to a spot next to an existing icon on the Quick Launch toolbar (a black line will appear). Let go, then click Yes to confirm that you want to create a shortcut. Repeat these steps for each desktop icon you'd like to access from the toolbar.

Now for the clean desktop part. As long as you're willing to view your desktop as a Web page--one of IE 4.0's Active Desktop features--you can view an icon-free desktop. If you aren't already viewing your desktop as a Web page, right-mouse click the desktop, select Active Desktop, then choose View As Web Page. Then, right-mouse-click the desktop and select Properties to open the Display Properties dialog box. Click the Effects tab, select Hide Icons When the Desktop Is Viewed as a Web Page, then click OK . . . and watch your desktop icons disappear!

 
  • HOW FAT IS FAT?

If you upgraded a not-so-new Windows 95 system to Windows 98, chances are your hard drive still uses the FAT16 file system. Well, now that you're using Windows 98, you have the option of converting that drive to the new-and-improved FAT32 system. (FAT32 stores the data on your hard drive in smaller clusters than the older FAT16 system, so you end up with less wasted space.) Before you take the plunge, however, you'll probably want to know exactly how much space you'll regain upon conversion. Conveniently enough, the Windows 98 installation CD offers the FAT32 Conversion Utility to calculate this information for you.

Pop the installation CD into your CD-ROM drive, and if the Windows 98 CD-ROM window doesn't appear on its own, open up My Computer and double-click your CD-ROM drive. Point and click where it says Browse This CD, then navigate your way to the tools\reskit\config folder. To run the utility, double-click the Fat32win.exe file, select a drive, and click Scan. (Those numbers are pretty encouraging, eh?)

The FAT32 Conversion Utility is also available for download from Microsoft's Web site at

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/bin/W98FAT32.EXE
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/bin/W98FAT32.EXE

 
  • HOW FAT IS FAT?  PART 2

Let's convert from the FAT16 file system to FAT32 to start saving storage space.

Choose a time when you won't need your system for a while (up to three hours). Save anything you may be working on and close all open programs. Select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Drive Converter (FAT32). (We recommend clicking Details and reading all the warnings about converting. For example, you can't convert a compressed drive.) Click Next, select the drive you want to convert, then click Next again. (You'll need to wait as the wizard checks to see if you have any incompatible programs installed. If it finds any, you may wish to exit the wizard, uninstall these programs, and come back to the converter). Click Next, and you'll be presented with an option to back up your files. Click Create Backup to invoke Microsoft Backup and complete a backup operation, or click Next.

Ready set? Click Next one last time and go find something else to do for a while!

 
  • FOR STARTERS, A STARTUP DISK

Upon installing Windows 98, you're given the option to create a Startup Disk--a disk that, should you ever have trouble starting Windows 98, boots your system and provides some utilities to (you hope) diagnose the problem. If, in your haste to get started with Windows 98 (or because you didn't have a blank disk handy), you opted to skip this step, we recommend you take a minute to make the disk now. You'll be mighty glad to have one, if and when you need it.

First, locate a blank, formatted disk. If you can't find one, a disk that contains some old, useless files will do; just beware that they'll be wiped out in the process.

Open the Control Panel (select Start, Settings, Control Panel) and double-click Add/Remove Programs. Select the Startup Disk tab, then click the Create Disk button. Now just follow along as Windows 98 walks you through the disk creation process. When it finishes, be sure to label the disk and keep it in a safe place. (While you're at it, switch that little plastic tab on the back of the floppy disk to the down position--you'll be able to see through the disk--to write-protect it.)

 
  • MAKE YOUR OWN WINDOWS KEY

Wish you had a Windows key on your keyboard, just like your friends with Microsoft Natural Keyboards? Then make one. All you need to complete the operation is the Keyboard Remap Kernel Toy and your Right Ctrl or Right Alt key.

Point your Web browser at

http://www.microsoft.com/windows95/info/kerneltoys.htm

and click the Windows 95 Keyboard Remap link. Download the file to your location of choice, then double-click Keyremap.exe to extract its contents. Right-mouse-click the resulting Keyremap.inf file and select install.

To use this utility, open the Control Panel, double-click Keyboard, and select the new Remap tab. Under Right-hand Side, select the key you want to transform--such as Right Alt--in the left-hand box. In the right-hand box (still under Right-hand Side), select Windows. Click OK, and you now have a Windows key. See for yourself--press the key you transformed once and up pops the Start menu!

Holding down your Windows key:
* Press E to open Windows Explorer.
* Press R to open the Run dialog box.
* Press F to open the Find dialog box.
* Press F1 to open Help.
* Press M to minimize all open windows (Shift-Windows-M to undo Minimize All).
* Press Tab to cycle through the Taskbar buttons.
* Press Break to open the System Properties dialog box.

 
  • STRIP WALLPAPER WITH EASE

Each wallpaper listed on the Background tab of the Display Properties dialog box is nothing more than a bitmap (BMP) file in your Windows folder. To delete a wallpaper from your system, open the Windows folder, find the *.BMP file with the same name, and delete it. For example, to delete the Clouds wallpaper, delete Windows\Clouds.bmp.

Tip in a tip: If you never use the wallpapers that come with Windows 98, you can delete a number of them in one fell swoop. Open the Control Panel, select Add/Remove Programs, and click the Windows Setup tab. Select Accessories, click Details, deselect Desktop Wallpaper, and click OK twice.

 
  • GET 'EM WHILE THEY'RE HOT!

Assuming you've already placed a shortcut to the Control Panel on your desktop (or on the Quick Launch toolbar), right-mouse-click it and select Properties. Select the Shortcut tab, click once inside the Shortcut key field to place the cursor there, then type the letter you'd like to use in combination with Ctrl-Alt to open the Control Panel. (How about C?) Click OK, press Ctrl-Alt-C, and there's the Control Panel!

 
  • BELLS ON THEIR TOES . . .

D.V. Narasingarao writes, "I understand that you can make Windows 95 alert you if the Caps Lock or Num Lock keys are pressed. How?"

This is a great feature if you frequently hit these keys by mistake and want to be alerted before you've typed an entire page in ALL CAPS (or with numbers all over the place). Open the Control Panel and double-click Accessibility Options. On the Keyboard tab, select Use Toggle Keys, then click OK. From now on, you'll hear a beep every time you press Caps Lock or Num Lock.
  • LET MEMORY SERVE

Trying to figure out how to get old DOS software programs to run, but keep getting insufficient memory messages? After countless hours of monkeying around with boot disks and even tampering with Config.sys and Whatchamacallit.bat and messing up the system and still no luck?

Create a shortcut to the .EXE or .BAT file of the pesky DOS program, right-click the shortcut and select Properties, click the Memory tab, and simply SPECIFY how much memory you want to allocate to the program.
  • EN-SCRIPT-ED MESSAGES

Here's one for when you're really bored:

Want to spiff up the reminder/warning messages that pop onto your screen, such as, "You cannot move or copy this item . . .blah-de-blah-de blah . . "?

You can make them look much nicer by changing the font Windows uses to write them. (Just be careful not to choose something that's almost impossible to read, such as NuptialScript!) Right-mouse-click the desktop, select Properties, click the Appearance tab, and under Item, select Message Box. At the bottom of the dialog box, change the Font (and Color, too, if you dare), then click OK.

To test your change, open the Control Panel, then click and drag any item onto the desktop. A stylin' error message will appear!
  • LET YOUR TRUE COLORS SHINE THROUGH

Right-mouse-click the desktop, select Properties, and click the Settings tab. Click the down arrow under Colors and you'll find four choices: 16 Colors, 256 Colors, High Color (16 bit), and True Color (32 bit). These four options determine the number of colors Windows uses to display what's on your screen. Select one, click OK, then restart Windows to see the change in effect.

For maximum performance, opt for 16 Colors. The fewer colors Windows has to display, the faster it can throw an image up on the screen. Of course, you'll have to put up with mottled images.

The 256 Colors setting still gives you decent performance (256 is a relatively small number of colors, as you'll see in a minute), but it allows you to view more realistic images on-screen. This is probably the most common setting.

If you prefer realistic images, you'll want to select the High Color setting. Then, Windows will use over 65,000 colors to display images. Of course, this setting can slow your video performance down significantly.

And last but not least, there's True Color. Would you believe this setting allows for around 16.8 million colors? You definitely don't need this setting unless you work with graphics for a living. It doesn't look any different from High Color (at least, not to the untrained eye), and as you might expect, it can really drag down performance.

(Note: The effect these settings have on system performance will depend on your video hardware.)
  • ONE-CLICK CONTROLLING

What's the most frequently accessed window on your system? More often than not, it's the Control Panel. This window provides one-stop shopping for all of your system settings (not including the Registry Editor, of course). Windows 98 provides easy access to this oft-used window in the Start, Settings menu, but for even quicker access, place a shortcut within arm's reach--either on the desktop or in the Quick Launch toolbar.

To add a Control Panel shortcut to the desktop, double-click My Computer, then right-mouse-click and drag the Control Panel icon out to the desktop. Let go and select Create Shortcut(s) Here. If you'd prefer to have Control Panel access from the Taskbar, follow these same steps but this time drop the icon on the Quick Launch toolbar. (Tip: Don't let go of the icon until you see a black line to indicate where it will end up.)

  • GET FLOPPY-HAPPY

Tired of opening an Explorer or My Computer window every time you want to see the contents of a floppy disk? For instant floppy viewing, add a floppy drive shortcut to your desktop.

Double-click My Computer, then right-mouse-click and drag your floppy drive icon to the desktop. Let go, select Create Shortcut(s) Here, and there's your shortcut. The next time you pop a floppy into the drive, just select this icon to view its contents in one quick step. No Explorer windows necessary!

SPACED-OUT ICONS

Depending on your current desktop resolution, a certain number of icons fit in each row (for example, seven fit in a row with the resolution set to 800 by 600). But if you prefer, you can adjust this icon spacing to fit as many or as few icons as you wish.

Right-mouse-click the desktop and select Properties. In the resulting Display Properties dialog box, click the Appearance tab. Click the down arrow under Item and select Icon Spacing (Vertical). Adjust the Size down or up, depending on whether you want the icons closer together or farther apart, respectively, then click Apply to see the result on-screen. Keep adjusting the size until you're happy with the results, then repeat these steps to adjust the Icon Spacing (Horizontal) item, if you wish. Click OK to keep your changes. (Tip: By adjusting the vertical spacing from 43 to 30, we were able to fit nine icons in each row comfortably.)

One more thing. If you want these changes to stick around, save them as part of a color scheme. Before clicking OK to close the Display Properties dialog box, click Save As, name the scheme (or type the name of the current scheme), then click OK.

  • ICON BE AN INDIVIDUAL

Can't figure out why every time you try to move an icon to a new location on your desktop, it jumps back into formation on the left side of your screen? This feature is called Auto Arrange, and it's the default for the Windows 98 desktop. To give those icons some freedom of movement, right-mouse-click a blank area on the desktop, select Arrange Icons, and deselect Auto Arrange.
  • POP! GOES THE TASKBAR

Click a blank area of the Taskbar, drag it over to any side of the screen, and let go. However, no matter where you move the Taskbar, it still occupies valuable desktop real estate. For maximum viewing space, keep this bar out of sight until you need it.

Right-mouse-click a blank area of the Taskbar and select Properties. On the Taskbar Options tab, select Auto Hide, then click OK. From now on, the Taskbar will shrink off the screen when you aren't using it (click anywhere on the screen and watch it disappear). When you need the Taskbar, hold your mouse pointer over its visible edge, and it pops right back into view.

(Tip in a tip: Press Ctrl-Esc to display the Taskbar without using the mouse.)
  • OUT OF MANY WINDOWS, ONE

As you double-click a folder, inside a folder, inside a folder, do you find that the contents of each folder open inside a separate window?

How annoying. Then you have to close each and every window when you're finished.  In Windows 95, you could change this setting (to open all subsequent folders in the same window) on the Browse tab of the View, Options dialog box of any Explorer window. Windows 98 makes you do a bit more digging to undo this annoyance.

Open any Explorer window and select View, Folder Options. On the General tab, select Custom, based on settings you choose, then click the Settings button. Under Browse folders as follows, select the first option, then click OK, Close.

(Tip: You can override this setting on a one-time basis by holding down Ctrl as you select any folder. For example, if you've set this option to open subsequent folders in the same window, holding down Ctrl as you select a folder will open its contents in a new window.)
  • TIME KEEPS ON TICKING . . .

Need to adjust your system time? Or the date? You could open the Control Panel and select the Date/Time item, but there's a much easier way to get to these settings. Just right-mouse-click the time on your Taskbar and select Adjust Date/Time in the pop-up menu. In the resulting dialog box, select the portion of the time you need to adjust and type your changes. To change the date, adjust the year using the up or down arrows, select a month in the drop-down list, and then click a date on the calendar. Click OK to save your changes

  • FAMILY CLOSING

Suppose you've opened a number of related windows (a folder inside a folder, and so on). Now you want to close them all. Instead of taking the time to click that little "x" in the top-right corner of each window, try this trick: Hold down the Shift key as you click the "x" in the last window you opened, and all the "parents" of that window will close, too.
  • UN-TIE A YELLOW SPEAKER

To ditch that speaker, right-mouse-click it and select Adjust Audio Properties. (You could also open the Control Panel, select Multimedia, and click the Audio tab.) Deselect Show Volume Control on the Taskbar, click OK, and the speaker disappears. (Tip: To get it back, go back to the Audio tab of the Multimedia Properties dialog box and reselect this option.)
  • PUT A MUZZLE ON IT

Did the big boss just come into your office for a visit? Unless you work behind soundproof walls, it may be a good idea to silence your system for a bit (especially if you've got one of those crazy sound schemes selected). Click the little yellow speaker on your Taskbar, and in the Volume box that pops up, click the box next to Mute. When the coast is clear, just click the speaker again and deselect this option.
  • PICK A SIDE, ANY SIDE

By default, the Windows 98 Taskbar chooses to sit along the bottom of your screen. However, if you feel like doing a little desktop reorganization, feel free to stir things up a bit and move it to your side of choice.

Click a blank area of the Taskbar (a good spot is right on top of the clock) and drag toward the side you have in mind. When that mouse pointer gets close enough, a fuzzy gray line will appear along that side to let you know where the Taskbar will end up when you let go.

Let go of the mouse, and the Taskbar falls right into place. It looks a little strange at first, but sometimes a change of scenery is all you need to feel a little more motivated!

Don't forget to submit your tips

Hit Counter