tips

Random Tips and Bits

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Windows Me Press Site:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/windowsme/materials.asp

Right-click on the My Computer icon and select Properties from the context menu. Click on the Device Manager tab, then the Print button. Select the "All Devices and System Summary" radio button, then click on OK. This will give you more information about your hardware, IRQs, ports, memory usage, devices and drivers than you ever wanted to know. Keep this printout handy for future reference.

When you save a Web page, all you really save is the HTML; images and other components remain at the original site. But IE5 lets you save an entire Web page, including graphics. Select Save As from the IE5 File menu and choose Web Page/Complete from the Save As Type drop-down menu.

It's hard to find an icon on a Desktop that's cluttered with dozens of them. Here's a quick way to locate the one you're looking for-all you need to know is the name under the icon. Click anywhere on the Windows desktop and press the first letter of the icon's label. Windows will highlight the first icon it comes to beginning with the letter - if that's not the one you're looking for, keep pressing the letter and watch the highlight as it cycles through the matching icons.

To launch your favorite screen saver without navigating dialog boxes, drag and drop your screen saver files from the Windows/System folder (they're the ones with the SCR extensions) using your right mouse button and make shortcuts for them on the desktop. In the future, whenever you want to launch your favorite screen saver, all you have to do is double-click on its file on your desktop.

Closing all these open folders down one by one can take quite a few clicks. Take the easy way out: To close the whole kit and kaboodle in one fell swoop, hold down the Shift key and click the Close button on the last window you opened. That will close all the windows you opened from that last window all the way back to My Computer.

Some applications add themselves to the Context menu's cascading New menu that appears when you right-click on the Desktop or within a folder. You may find that even after you've deleted a particular application, it stays on the New menu. If you want to remove it, launch My Computer, select Options from the View menu and click on the File Types tab. Find the offending application on the list, select it and click on the Remove button. Click on Yes when it asks for confirmation.

* * WARNING * *
If you use ICQ Don't authorize " Kiana" ICQ num. 20298531 He/she will send you viruses.

Maintain your hard drive by performing these steps at least monthly, in this order:
1.) Delete all files and folders with dates older than one week from C:\WINDOWS\TEMP.
2.) Purge your browser's history and Internet cache files.
3.) Run ScanDisk. Corrupted sectors and physical errors on your hard drive will affect performance. You can clean your disk using Windows 9x's built-in ScanDisk utility. Its location is under Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/ScanDisk. Select the Standard radio button and enable Automatically Fix Errors. Click on Advanced and, under Log File, pick Replace Log; for Cross-Linked Files, select Delete; click Free under Lost File Fragments; under Check Files For, check "Invalid dates and times;" and disable "Check host drive first," unless you've compressed your hard drive.
4.) Empty the Recycle Bin.
5.) Defragment your Hard Drive. It is advisable to Defrag your Hard drive regularly, especially when un-installing programs or working constantly with or moving large graphics or files. Find it in Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Defragmenter.
Make a shortcut to these two utilities on your desktop as a reminder

Although the Disk Defragmenter utility speeds up file access, it doesn't defrag your swap file, which is the file Windows uses as virtual memory. You can get additional performance gains by disabling your swap file, defragging your disk, then re-enabling the swap file. The new swap file will be effectively defragged and therefore faster. To do so, right-click on My Computer and select Properties from the Context menu. Click on the Performance tab, then the Virtual Memory button. Select the "Let me specify my own virtual memory settings" radio button, then select Disable Virtual Memory. Click on OK, then OK again. After defragging your disk, follow the same procedure above, but this time select "Let Windows manage my virtual memory setting."

* * WARNING * *
If you receive a news letter from the American Company "Shopping Planet" be very careful it contains a virus so please delete it.

You can close a bunch of open programs, folders and documents all at once in Win98 and IE 4.0: Press and hold the Ctrl key, click on the taskbar icon of each program you want to close, then right-click on any one of them and select Close from the Context menu.

Here's a great way to get at your most important documents fast: Move them into your C:\WINDOWS\START MENU folder. If you have dozens or even hundreds of documents, keep them in separate subfolders to categorize them. Best of all, the menu changes as the folder's contents change.

Win98 comes with an improved Backup utility. If you want to use it for automatic backups launched by the Win98 Task Scheduler, you'll need to make a change.
Open the Backup utility Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Backup)
Click on the Open button.
Click on the Options button at the bottom of the window and open the Report tab.
Select the "Perform an unattended backup" option.

You'll increase your chances of getting out of virtually any computer problem if you follow this rule of thumb: Never install a program unless you own it, and have the executable setup file and installation CD or installation floppy disk handy. The same rule goes for programs you download from the Internet: Always save the installer files. Create a folder called C:\Setup, C:\Downloads or C:\Installers and store the setup files in subfolders named for each program and version number. Even better, store them on a second hard drive or partition. You should also copy the Favorite shortcut to the program's Web site to the program's folder. If there's a program serial number or license file, store that too. If you ever have to reinstall your applications, you'll be prepared.

Need to convert Favorites/Bookmarks back and forth between IE and Navigator? Microsoft's free FavTool utility lets you do just that. (http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/ieplatform/favtool/favtool.asp)

If you forget your Win9x password, just press Escape at the password box, bring up the MS-DOS Prompt and enter dir *.PWL at the WINDOWS folder to find your .PWL files. Delete the one with your name in front of it. Restart your system and enter a new password when prompted.

** This tip provided by http://www.winmd.com **
** this tip is for users who are familiar with the Registry Editor **
Use this Registry setting to disable the Display icon in Control Panel, as well as the Properties option when a user right-clicks on the desktop. By disabling these options, you will stop the user from changing settings that control monitor resolution as well as screen saver and wallpaper options. To disable this option for a user, open the Registry Editor and go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Edit the value "NoDispCPL" (DWORD value) and set the value equal to "1"(without quotes) to disable the Display icon (if the value/key does not already exist, create it). To re-enable the option, delete the above value or set the value to "0". The setting will take effect immediately and does not require a reboot.

* * Places to go * *
If you want to check if your computer is open to access from hackers, try this url: It will let you know.http://www.rootshell.com/smbcheck.cgi
If you want protection against hackers visit this url: http://www.zonelaps.com
If you're looking for fonts try http://www.mediabuilder.com/fontlibrary.html
MediaBuilder FreeFont Library - http://gamma.sil.org/computing/fonts/nrf2.htm
Fonts In Cyberspace - http://www.homebusinessmart.com/freefonts.htm
Home Business Mart - Freeware fonts http://www.astigmatic.com/aoeff/freefonts.html
Astigmatic One-Eye Foundry - Free fonts - http://members.xoom.com/UAtype/fonts.htm
UA Type - Freeware fonts - http://www.netspace.net.au/~joison/uddi/fonts/fonts.htm
If you need a good laugh or your children do - try this site. Beware it only works in Internet explorer 4.?? or ´higher.http://www.mediafarm.no/forsoksgard/kukaster.asp
Here is the URL where you can find some smart tips and tricks for WIN '98.
http://www.windows-help.net/windows98/all-tips.shtml#tune

* * Virus Warning * * Name: acid.com
Type: unspecified type (application/octet-stream) Encoding: x-uuencode
Looking at the hex, it says: - TheDraw COM file Screen Save. Unsupported Video Mode
And then later: YOUR STONED DRY GOOD LUCK WITHOUT A SYSTEM AREA. Seems McaFee and Norton Antivurs cannot detect it, take care, don't open a program with that name.

This is where you can see what your browser tells when you access a web site: http://privacy.net/anonymizer/

Have you ever been in a sitatíon wher you need a certain DLL-file?
Richard in Arizona has found a great place: http://solo.abac.com/dllarchive/

The quickest way to put a file or folder on a diskette is to right click on it, select Send To from the context menu and choose "3 1/2 Floppy (A)."

Had problems with damaged files or strange behavior in '98? WIN98 has a great program that can scan all your files but more important it can repair them. It can extract the damaged files from your cd containing win98 and replace them.
Click on start then Run and in the field type sfc.exe - You will be surprised and that program has always been there, why do Micorsoft hold this as a secret? Don't ask me!

If you ever dreamed of your own domain but thought it too costly?
Well at this url: http://www.idirections.com/ you can register your own domain...FREE

You can select groups of icons or folders on the desktop or within folders by clicking outside the body of icons and, while holding the left mouse button, dragging a rectangle to surround all the icons you want to select, then letting go. You can then move, copy or delete them en masse.

Some Registry changes require restarting Windows before the changes take effect. However, there's a way to reinitialize your Registry and refresh your Desktop without fully restarting the OS. Save your work, then press Ctrl+Alt+Del to bring up the Windows task list. Select the Explorer entry and click on End Task. If the Shutdown screen appears, click on Cancel. After a few seconds an error message will appear. Click End Task & Windows Explorer will reload with any new Registry settings.

When you "add a folder" to your Start menu by dragging and dropping it onto the Start button, you're really just adding a shortcut to the folder. It's usually better to put the actual folder there instead of a shortcut. The Start menu is just a special folder in the Windows folder called, unsurprisingly, "Start Menu." If you put folders that contain your documents into this folder, you gain three advantages. First, what you see on the Start menu is always correct; delete a folder, for example, and it disappears from the Start menu as well, while a shortcut would remain. Second, actual folders appear on the Start menu as cascading menu items, whereas shortcuts to folders just open the folder on your Desktop when selected. And finally, the Start menu is always available, even if your Desktop is packed with clutter.

Some programs tell Windows to launch them at start-up by placing a shortcut in the StartUp folder. To remove start-up programs, right-click on the Start button and select Open. Double-click on the Programs folder, then the StartUp folder. Delete shortcuts to programs you don't want to run at start-up. Or just drag the shortcut out to the Desktop to remove temporarily it from the folder. You can drag it back or delete it later.

You can set performance parameters on practically every computer that comes with built-in CD-ROM. Go to Control Panel/System/Performance, click File System button under Advanced settings & open the CD-ROM tab. You can increase your cache size & inform Windows 9x of your CD-ROM's speed so it can optimize access to the CDs you use.

Both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator allow you to use the Tab key to flip forward through the links on a Web page. Hit Shift-Tab to flip backward.
That way you can keep your hands on the keyboard & make life easier when you surf :-)

You can check the names of new viruses or trojans from this url:
http://vil.nai.com/villib/alpha.asp

If you need some music for your site please visit John's site http://w1.422.telia.com/~u42208310 An interesting site apart from the midi's

* * JOKE * *
Bill Gates died in a car accident. He found himself at "the Pearly" Gates being sized up by god. "Well bill, I really confused on this call". I'm not sure where to send you, Heaven or Hell. After all, you enormously helped society putting a computer in almost every Home in the world, yet you created the ghastly windows95. I'm going to do something I've never done before. In your case I'm going to let you decide where you want to Go. Bill replied. "Gee thanks God." What's the difference between the two. God said "I'm willing to let you go to both places briefly if it will help you make the decision. Fine but where should I go first.?. God said, "ok then lets try hell first". So Bill went to hell. It was beautiful, sandy Beach with clear Waters. There were thousands of beautiful women running around, playing and laughing and frolicking in the Water. The Sun was shining and the Temperature was perfect. Bill was very pleased. " This is great" he told God, If this is Hell I really want to see Heaven. Fine said God, so off they Went. Heaven was a high Place way up in the Clouds, with angels drifting about playing harps, Singing. It was not so enticing as Hell. Bill thought for a minute & rendered his decision. Hmm I think I prefer Hell. Fine replied God, "as you desire." So Bill Gates went to Hell. Two weeks later God decided to check on the Billionaire to see how he was Going in Hell, when God arrived in Hell he found Bill Shackled to a wall, screaming amid the hot flames in a Dark Cave. He was being burned & Tortured by Demons. How is everything going Bill.?, God Asked. Bill responded his voice full of anguish, "This is awful, this is not what I expected. I can't believe this happened. What happened to that other Place with the Beaches & the Beautiful Women Playing in the Water. "OH!", God says, "That was just the screen saver".