Windows 9x Tips&Tricks

BUG REPORTS! [UPDATED]

MS PLUS! 95 + UPGRADE 95 + WEB WAR

POWER LINKS 95

RELATED TOPICS [Hrafl@aol.com]:

- MSKB article Q132064: "REGEDIT May Not Be Able to Import Registry with

Large Keys":

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q132/0/64.asp

- MSKB article Q141014: "Emergency Recovery Utility Does Not Back Up Files":

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q141/0/14.asp

WINSET

You can forget about loading DOS mode drivers/devices/TSRs (real mode, 16bit)

from Config.sys and Autoexec.bat, under Win98/95.

Actually you can safely delete your Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files (ONLY

after making BACKUP copies) if you won't be using any weird (read memory

hungry) DOS program/game, that would require a custom PIF setup (including

custom Autoexec.bat and Config.sys files, which would provide a dedicated

MS-DOS mode) and enter the real 32-bit computing world :) (running only Win32

applications).

Most newer DOS games can be run from a PIF file under Win98/95 (READ your

game's documentation on the types/amounts of memory required to run properly,

and then modify the game's PIF file to meet those requirements).

If you need to have custom environment variables at bootup, use WINSET.EXE,

a DOS compatibility mode utility, provided with both Win95 and Win98.

Copy the file Winset.exe from the \ADMIN\APPTOOLS\ENVVARS folder [Win95 Setup

cd-rom], or the \TOOLS\RESKIT\SCRPTING folder [Win98 Setup cd-rom] to your

Windows 98/95 folder on your hard disk (default is \WINDOWS).

If you run:

WINSET /?

at a DOS prompt, you'll get this help display:

Sets or removes Windows master environment variables.

WINSET [variable=[string]]

variable Specifies the environment-variable name.

string Specifies a series of characters to assign to the variable.

Winset can be run from Win98/95's Run command, from a DOS session, or from a

DOS batch file. You can run the batch file from WIN.INI's run= command line,

found under Win.ini's [windows] section. WINSET must be followed by a SET

<variable>=<string> value/parameter. Examples:

WINSET COPYCMD=/Y

WINSET DIRCMD=/A /O:GEN /P

WINSET PATH=<your_path>

This way you can set/reset/remove the PATH, PROMPT, WINPMT, MOUSE, TEMP,

TMP, MIDI, BLASTER, SOUND, or any other SET <variable>=<string> command.

To remove a SET variable, type:

WINSET <variable>=

with nothing after the equal sign.

To see the complete list of your system's MS-DOS environment variables,

just run this command from any DOS prompt (spaces are optional):

SET | MORE

MORE is an internal MS-DOS command built into IO.SYS.

MBR REFRESH

NOTE: This BUG affects ONLY Windows 95 (original retail) and 95a OSR1

(upgraded with SP1) releases!

UNDOCUMENTED! There is a problem when installing a new hard drive on your

system under Win95. If you upgraded from MS-DOS 5.0 (or earlier), your

primary hard disk, formatted under your old version of DOS, contains the MBR

(Master Boot Record, also called the boot sector) written by the hard disk

formatting utility (FDISK) provided by MS-DOS. When you add another hard disk

under Win95, you format and partition it with the Win95 (MS-DOS 7.00) version

of FDISK.

This means that each drive was formatted and partitioned under a different

OS. Windows 95 WON'T RECOGNIZE YOUR NEWLY INSTALLED DRIVE! There is nothing

wrong, don't panic. It's "just" another glitch in the OS (something Microsoft

overlooked)!

When a drive is formatted/partitioned under Win95, the MBR tells the OS that

the drive is a Windows drive. If your drive was formatted/partitioned under

an earlier version of MS-DOS (3.0 and up), the drive is recognized as an

MS-DOS drive.

All you have to do, is to refresh the MBR, by running FDISK (the Windows 95

version) with the UNDOCUMENTED /MBR switch (repairs a boot sector by

overwriting it with a fresh copy), on the old drive. Just run:

FDISK /MBR C:

The boot record (MBR) will be refreshed without reformatting the drive!

I presumed that your primary (old) hard disk has assigned the letter C

(single logical partition), and your new (secondary) hard disk is D (also

with a single logical partition). Change the drive letters if different on

your system (and if you have more than one partition per each hard disk).

This can ONLY be done from the real mode DOS prompt, after you exit Win95 to

MS-DOS (or when you boot with the "Command prompt only" option from the

bootup menu).

If the Win95 OS doesn't recognize the new drive, then you can ONLY do this

after rebooting into the old MS-DOS OS (using the dual-boot feature

implemented into Win95 OS). This means that you need to have kept your old

MS-DOS 6.xx files (including FDISK) on your primary (old) hard disk.

You also need to have kept the old drive as primary (master) and setup the

new one as secondary (slave).

When you're all done, reboot into Win95. Your newly installed hard drive

should now be recognized by the OS.

Now you can change the new drive to "master" (primary boot drive) and setup

the old one as "slave", especially if the new one is faster.

Sounds pretty complicated, but you may have to do this some day, and it's

better than reformatting the entire drive, and losing precious data.

There is still another way to refresh the MBR. Run Win95's Scandisk utility

for ALL hard drives on your system. Scandisk will automatically refresh the

MBR on your drives, as needed (if the MBR is damaged).

IMPORTANT [UPDATED 2/9/98]:

Read a related article published in PC World Magazine, the August 1996 issue,

at the bottom of page 52, under the "Bug Watch" logo. Title: "Trouble With

Windows 95's Disk Partitioning". It details the same above topic:

http://www.pcworld.com/workstyles/win95/articles/aug96/1408p052.html

PC World Magazine archives related articles: "Detect Buggy Partitions" (from

the April 1997 issue):

http://www.pcworld.com/software/opsystems/articles/apr97/1504p244d.html

Check out PC World's web site frequently for news and updates:

http://www.pcworld.com/

for online up to date info/bug reports.

UPDATE:

There is a great tool that can overcome the above Windows 95 limitation, and

make ANY hard drive compatible with ANY operating system and ANY FAT system

(and much more), called Partition Magic by Powerquest. Retails for about

30-50 bucks at popular computer stores (it's worth every penny, it saved my

"computing life" more than once):

http://www.powerquest.com/

NEW: Partition Magic 4.0 (updated) now supports Windows 95/OSR2/98

FAT32/FAT32X and Windows NT 4/5 32 bit NTFS file standards.

Also look for Partition Magic v3.0x updates, which upgrade all 3.0x versions

to the current v3.05 (free for owners):

http://www.powerquest.com/downlwd/

TIP: Read also the "FAT16 -> FAT32" and "FDISK /MBR" topics in SECRETS.TXT

(included).

FOLDER ICON

In Explorer, open a folder, any folder, click View, and select Options.

Select the File Types tab and scroll down the list of Registered File Types

to the Folder item. Select the Folder item, click Edit, and click Change

Icon. Select a new icon from an ICO, ICL, DLL or EXE icon file.

Save your changes.

All your folders will display the newly changed icon from now on!

EXTRACT CAB

The file EXTRACT.EXE is installed by default into the \WINDOWS\COMMAND

folder by Win98/95's setup routine. It extracts or lists any .CAB file on

the Win98/95/OSR2 install CD-ROM (or Win95 setup floppies).

To get a list of all Win98/95 install files in all CAB files, run this handy

DOS batch file (named LISTCAB.BAT) from any DOS prompt:

@ECHO OFf

CD\

MD \EXTRACT

FOR %%x IN (D:\WIN95\*.CAB) DO EXTRACT /D %%x >> C:\EXTRACT\LISTCAB.TXT

EDIT C:\EXTRACT\LISTCAB.TXT

Make sure you substitute the hard disk letter if other than C, and/or your

cd-rom drive letter if other than D.

Win98 users: Substitute the WIN95 folder name in LISTCAB.BAT with WIN98.

LISTCAB.BAT is included with these files.

LFNFOR

Undocumented!

LFNFOR is an internal MS-DOS mode command for those of you who like running

programs/DOS commands by writing DOS style batch files.

LFNFOR, when enabled, allows for IF, FOR, DO, ERRORLEVEL, GOTO batch style

commands to take in consideration the use of Long File Names (LFNs).

Running LFNFOR from a DOS prompt without parameters, will display the status

of LFN DOS batch usage:

LFNFOR is off

Turn it on by running:

LFNFOR ON

By default LFNFOR is off. To turn it on permanently, add this line to your

AUTOEXEC.BAT file:

LFNFOR ON

To turn it back off, run:

LFNFOR OFF

GROUP CONVERT

You can manually convert (after Setup is finished) all your old Windows 3.xx

program groups to shortcut folders in one of the following two ways:

1. Double-click on any .GRP file to automatically convert the program group to

a new Programs folder, which will be found on the Start button. Win98/95 comes

equipped with a .GRP file conversion utility called GRPCONV.EXE (located in

your Windows folder), which is automatically associated with .GRP files.

2. Another (perhaps better) way: select the Run command from the Start button

and type:

GRPCONV /M

This switch will provide you with a dialog box that searches your Windows

folder for all .GRP files, allowing you to select which program groups to

convert.

HANG... NO MORE!

If your Windows 98/95 system hangs (locks up) and the "three-finger salute"

(Ctrl + Alt + Del keypress "combo") doesn't restore your Desktop by shutting

down the "offending" program, press Ctrl + Esc. It may bring up the Start

menu from which you may be able to shut down Windows.

PRINT 2 FILE

To set up a special "printer" to print documents to a plain text file (with

the .TXT extension) follow these easy steps:

1. Open the Printers applet from Control Panel.

2. Double-click on Add Printer.

3. Select Local Printer and then click on Next.

4. Select Generic from the manufacturer list, and Generic/Text Only from the

printer list, then click on Next.

5. Select File from the available ports list, and click Next a couple times

to add this new printer.

6. Highlight the new icon, right-click on it and select Properties, then the

Paper tab, and change the paper setting to:

"continuous, no page-breaks".

Now you can select this new printer from any Windows 98/95 application,

sending the output in text format to a file (default file format is .PRN,

but you can change that to .TXT for example). You will be prompted to choose

a filename and path when you print.

GUI UPDATE/RECOVER

To update the Windows 98/95 interface, the Registry, or to recover from a GPF

(General Protection Fault) without rebooting Windows, press Ctrl + Alt + Del,

select Explorer and then click End Task.

Answer No to the Shut Down prompt screen, then click End Task again at the

next prompt.

You should see the Start menu and the Taskbar will reappear as Windows

reloads the Explorer shell. Now everything should be (hopefully) OK again.

UPDATES:

1. "Except that the system tray gets cleared, and this can be VERY annoying

sometimes (I have a bunch of system tray icons, and the network chat program,

CoolMouse and QuickRes are among them)."

This update courtesy of Yuri Khan (kukina@nioch.nsc.ru).

2. "TraySaver is an excellent tool (freeware) that allows you to retain your

System Tray icons (i.e. after an Explorer crash):

http://www.mlin.net/TraySaver.shtml

TraySaver also has the ability of hiding and unhiding tray icons."

This update courtesy of Andrew Rockwell (arock@lock-net.com).

HELP! [+]

To access any topic of a Windows Help (.HLP) file, even the ones unlisted in

the contents, press Ctrl + Shift + J or Ctrl + Alt + J. This way you don't have

to return to the contents (opening help file screen), and you can browse ANY

.HLP file, even if there is no browsing sequence defined or no browse buttons

available to that particular help file.

You can also use these key "combos":

- Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow or Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow = go to next topic

- Ctrl + Shift + Left Arrow or Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow = go to previous topic

- Ctrl + Shift + Home = go to top of file

- Ctrl + Shift + End = go to end of file.

To make this work, add the following line under the [Windows Help] section

(create it if it doesn't exist) of your WIN.INI file, located in your Windows

folder. Use Notepad to edit WIN.INI:

[Windows Help]

SeqTopicKeys=1

Save your work and restart Windows.

NOTE: This tip works with Windows/WfWG 3.xx AND Windows 98/95/OSR2.

DOS MULTITASKING

To resort quickly to the command line and do any tasks in MS-DOS mode, create

a DOS style batch file with the lines below, and name it MSDOS.BAT:

START /M COMMAND /C %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9

Put MSDOS.BAT somewhere in your path (look up the PATH line in your

AUTOEXEC.BAT file), to be able to run any DOS/Windows command/program in the

background. For example, running:

MSDOS COPY C:\WINDOWS\*.INI D:\BACKUPS

copies all .INI files in the \WINDOWS folder to the D:\BACKUPS folder in the

background, letting you work on other tasks in the foreground.

MULTIPLE ASSOCIATIONS

To be able to open text (.TXT) documents in either Notepad or Wordpad, start

Explorer and click View -> Options -> File Types. Find the Text Document type

in the Registered File Types window, click Edit to edit this type, and you'll

see that the Actions list includes Open and Print. Choose New. The New Action

dialog box shows up. Call this new action "Open in WordPad", and click the

Browse button to select Wordpad as the application to perform this action.

From now on when you right-click a text (.TXT) file, you'll see this new

action on the drop-down menu.

You can use this workaorund to reestablish file associations overwritten by

"misbehaved" application installations.

Example: MS Word takes control of .DOC (Document) and .RTF (Rich Text Format)

files after installing it. To have all .RTF files associated with WordPad for

speed reasons, add an "Open in WordPad" action to the Microsoft Word Document

association.

Another way to restore eventual file associations changed by a program you

have installed, is to start File Manager (filename WINFILE.EXE, located in

your Windows folder), highlight the file type you want to modify, click File

-> Associate... and scroll through the registered file types in the

"Associate with..." box. Select the application you want your file type

opened with. Click OK when done.

MULTIPLE DESKTOPS

If you share your Win95/98 system computer with others, or have different

setups for performing different tasks, you may want to have multiple custom

desktops, each with its own Desktop icons, Start menu, and/or Program Groups.

Click Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Passwords.

To set up Windows 95/98 for multiple configurations, make sure you're in the

User Profiles dialog box, and select the second option. Different users can

customize their own preferences and Desktop settings. Check both boxes under

User Profile Settings.

When you click OK, Windows asks to restart to set up the new configuration.

As it reloads, it prompts you to set up a new user name and password. You can

leave the password field blank if security is not an issue on your computer.

Answer Yes when asked whether to save the settings for that particular user.

Any desktop customizing you do will be unique to the configuration stored

under this name.

To create additional configurations, just reboot Windows and type a different

name when prompted. To change configurations, choose Start -> Shut Down ->

Close all programs, and finally log on as a different user.

MS NATURAL KEYBOARD [+]

Windows 95 and 98 come with built-in support for Microsoft Natural Keyboard

and similars, using the Windows 9x special keys (these are 104-105 or more

touch keyboards).

This is a list of the WinKey shortcut "combos":

- WIN Open Start menu

- WIN + D Maximize all open windows

- WIN + E Start Windows Explorer

- WIN + F Start Find Files/Folders dialog box

- WIN + M Minimize all open windows

- WIN + R Start Run dialog box

- WIN + F1 Start Help

- WIN + Tab Cycle through Taskbar open apps buttons

- WIN + Pause/Break Start Systems Properties Panel

- WIN + Ctrl + F Start Find Computer dialog box

- WIN + Shift + M Undo Minimize all

- WIN + U + S + Enter Shut down Windows

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS - Part 1

Useful keyboard shortcuts (hot "combos") in Windows 98/95:

1. Taskbar:

Action Keys

--------------------------------------------

Open the Start menu Ctrl + Esc

Choose an option from the Start menu Ctrl + Esc

Find a file or folder Ctrl + Esc or Esc + F3

Minimize all windows Ctrl + Esc or Alt + M

2. Desktop, Explorer, Folder/Drive Windows, Common Dialog Boxes:

Action Keys

------------------------------------------------------------

Find a file in Explorer or folder window F3

Open drop-down folder/drive list F4 (with no other list box active)

Move up one level in Explorer/folder window Backspace

Refresh or update a window F5

Select file or folder First letter of desired option

Select all items Ctrl + A

Select multiple contiguous items Hold Shift + cursor keys

Select multiple noncontiguous items Hold Ctrl + cursor keys or Space

See shortcut menu for selected item Shift + F10

Delete selected item without sending to Recycle Bin Shift + Del

Open properties sheet for selected item Alt + Enter

Rename selected item F2 -> rename -> Enter

3. While Windows GUI loads:

Action Keys

----------------------------------------------------

Do NOT launch Startup folder executables Hold CTRL or SHIFT

Do NOT Autorun the cd-rom Hold SHIFT

UPDATES:

- Read the "KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS - Part 2" topic in TIPS95.TXT (included).

- Read the "Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows" MSKB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q126/4/49.asp

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS - Part 2

More useful keyboard shortcuts (hot "combos") in Windows 98/95:

- Hold CTRL = Copy a file when dragging it

- Hold CTRL + SHIFT when dragging a file = Create a shortcut

- Hold SHIFT when closing a folder = Close its parents as well

- CTRL + TAB = Move through pages/tabs in a Properties dialog box

- Hold SHIFT = Do NOT Autorun the cd-rom

- F1 = Help

- F5 = Refresh Desktop settings (with any Desktop icon highlighted)

- F10 = Menu mode

- CTRL + C = Copy

- CTRL + V = Paste

- CTRL + X = Cut

- CTRL + Z = Undo

- DEL = Delete

- SHIFT + DEL = bypass Recycle Bin (permanent DELETE!)

- ALT + ENTER = Properties

- ALT + Double-click = Properties

- SHIFT + Right-click = Show Open With on Context menu

- SHIFT + Double-click = Explore

- SHIFT + Close button (upper right corner X) = Close all open windows

- CTRL + ESC = Display start menu

- ALT + ESC = Cycle forward through ALL open (top level) windows

- ALT + SHIFT + ESC = Cycle backwards through ALL open (top level) windows

- ALT + TAB = Move to next active application/window.

In Explorer:

- CTRL + G = Select Go To command

- CTRL + A = Select all

- BACKSPACE = Go up one level

- SHIFT + F10 = Select Context Menu

- Hold SHIFT = Move a file/folder when dragging it between drives.

UPDATES:

- Read the "KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS - Part 1" topic in TIPS95.TXT (included).

- Read the "Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows" MSKB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q126/4/49.asp

MINSPS

At some point in your computing life, while working in Windows 98/95, you may

receive the following message:

"There are no spare stack pages. It may be necessary to increase the setting

of "MinSPs" in System.ini to prevent possible stack faults. There are x

currently SPs allocated."

To prevent this from happening (haven't you had enough of Microsoft's

annoying error messages?!), add the following line to the [386enh] section of

your SYSTEM.INI file (located in your Windows folder):

MinSPs=4

To do this, open/edit SYSTEM.INI with Notepad. Save/close the file and

restart Windows for this change to take effect.

HTML VIEW

To enable an Explorer Quick View option for web pages (HTML and HTM files):

Open Explorer, choose View, and then Options from the menu. Click the File

Type tab and find the association for web HTML pages. The name for those

files is determined by the default web browser you're currently using, that

created the association and should be something similar to "Internet

Document" (Microsoft Internet Explorer 3/4/5) or "Netscape Hypertext

Document" (Netscape Navigator/Communicator 3/4/5).

Select that association and click Edit. Check the "Enable Quick View" box.

From now on you'll have the option to view HTML/HTM files by right-clicking

on your file and selecting View.

MOVIE FRAME COUNT

Windows 98/95 keeps count of dropped frames during video playback, if using

Mplayer (MPLAYER.EXE, located in your Windows folder), the Windows default

multimedia clip player.

To display this feature, after you have played a video clip, hold Ctrl and

press F5. A box called "Send MCI String Command" appears. Type "Status

Frames Skipped" in the Command box and click Send. Windows will tell you how

many total frames were displayed.

Mplayer.exe can play (among other media file formats): .AVI, .MOV, .MMV,

.MPG, .MPEG, .MPE, .MID, .RMI, .WAV, .FLI, .FLC etc.

To have all your media files (at least the ones listed above) associated

with Mplayer, you need to install the required 3rd party codecs/drivers for

each video/audio format not included with MS Video for Windows 32-bit

drivers bundled with the OS (Windows 98/95 Setup installs them by default).

Example: to play .MOV files (Apple QuickTime movies), you need to install

the Apple QuickTime 32-bit drivers/codecs/player (freeware):

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/

Then open File Manager (FM = WINFILE.EXE, located in your Windows folder),

highlight any .MOV file, click File -> Associate..., scroll down through the

registered file types in the "Associate with..." box till you find something

like "Media Clip (Mplayer.exe)", and then click OK.

FIXED SWAP FILE

Setting a Win98/95 fixed size swap file of about 2.5 times your system's

installed RAM will drastically reduce the thrashing (frequent access) your

hard disk takes from Win98/95's Dynapage VXD [Virtual eXtended (protected

mode) Driver].

To do this, open My Computer -> Performance -> Virtual Memory Settings, and

disable Virtual Memory.

Restart Win98/95 (make sure you load a minimal setup, or choose "Safe

Mode"), and then Defrag(ment) all your hard disk(s)/partitions. Then restart

again, and reopen My Computer -> Performance -> Virtual Memory Settings, and

set up your swap file by setting the Minimum and Maximum sizes the SAME.

There will be much less waiting around for your hard disk to decide what it

wants to do from now on.

You can also do this by adding or modifying these two lines (i.e. with

Notepad) under the [386enh] section of your SYSTEM.INI file (found in your

Windows folder):

MinPagingFileSize=41280

MaxPagingFileSize=41280

Save the file and restart Windows.

In this example Windows 98/95 swap file fixed size is 40 MB (41,280 KB),

recommended on a 16 MB IBM compatible PC. The System.ini lines above need

to have the size of your swap file specified in KiloBytes (KB). To convert

the size from MegaBytes (MB) into KiloBytes (KB), use this formula (using

the example above: 40 MB):

40 MB x 1032 = 41280 KB

Adapt these settings depending on the amount of installed memory on your

machine.

Also read both "SWAP FILE - Parts 1 & 2" topics in MYTIPS95.TXT (included).

My recommended optimal fixed swap file settings depending on your installed

memory (RAM), considering 2.5 times your RAM as a rule of thumb in most

cases below:

Installed RAM Swap file size

------------------------------

4 MB Definitively get more RAM!

8 MB Get more RAM!

12 MB 40 MB (and get more RAM!)

16 MB 40 MB (and get more RAM!)

32 MB 80 MB (and get more RAM!)

40 MB 100 MB

64 MB 100 MB

80 MB 100 MB

128 MB 80 MB

192 MB 40 MB

256 MB 40 MB or none

512 MB You're a lucky dog! :) (40 MB or none)

1 GB You're not human! :) (40 MB or none)

These are ONLY MY OWN estimates. You'll have to figure out yours, to have

your system run smoothly.

UPDATE:

This web page has comprehensive details on optimizing your swap file in

Windows 98/95:

http://epsilon.silicon.net.my/adrian/Speed_Demonz/Swapfile_Optimization/Swapfile_Optimization_01.htm

ORDERED SHORTCUTS

By default, all Files/Programs/Shortcuts/Folders are in alphabetical order

(with the Folders on top) structured into Win98/95's Start Menu (accessed when

you push the Start button).

You can change this order by renaming your most frequently used Shortcuts:

Default: Custom: Or:

------------------------------------------

Clock 1. Clock A. Clock

Notepad 2. Notepad B. Notepad

Paint 3. Paint C. Paint

You can organize them so the most frequently used Files/Shortcuts/Folders are

together at the top of your list, in the Start Menu, or at the bottom,

depending on your preferences.

UPDATE:

"This approach has one more good point: these labels become shortcut keys!"

This update courtesy of Yuri Khan (kukina@nioch.nsc.ru).

TROUBLESHOOT PRINTER

If you ever have printer problems, use the Enhanced Printer TroubleShooter

(EPTS) found on your Windows 95 install CD-ROM, in the \OTHER\MISC folder.

The file is called EPTS.EXE, and is similar to the Printer TroubleShooter

found in Windows Help, but with more horsepower. [... And we can all use a

little extra "power". :-)]

F5 STAMP

This concerned Windows 9x user (groetz@tiac.net) sent me these 2 tips. Many

thanks!

"1. While working in Notepad, pressing F5 inserts the current time and date

stamp, at the location of the cursor. This is also valid with the

Windows/WfWG 3.1x version of Notepad.

2. When you highlight an icon on your Desktop, or a file/item in Explorer,

holding SHIFT and pressing F10 is the same as right-clicking your mouse, and

the 'Open With' menu is also available."

EXIT TO DOS

A. To create the "Exit to DOS.pif" (Program Information File) executable:

You will need to shut down Windows and restart in MS-DOS mode, then go back

into Win98/95 in order for the "Exit to DOS.pif" file to be created in your

Windows folder. According to this MicroSoft Knowledge Base (MSKB) article:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q138/9/96.asp

to define custom Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files to be processed when you

restart your computer using the "Restart (the computer) in MS-DOS mode" Shut

down... option, follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button -> click Shut Down -> click "Restart (the computer)

in MS-DOS mode" -> click Yes/OK.

2. At the MS-DOS command prompt -> type "EXIT" (without quotation marks) ->

press Enter.

NOTE: Steps 1-2 are IMPORTANT if you have never used the "Restart (the

computer) in MS-DOS mode" option before. The "Exit to DOS.pif" file

is not created until you perform these steps the first time.

3. Start Windows Explorer.

4. Highlight the "Exit to DOS" file in the Windows folder. Right-click on it

-> select Properties.

5. Click the Program tab -> click Advanced -> deselect the "Warn before

entering MS-DOS mode" box.

6. Check the "MS-DOS mode" box -> click the Advanced tab -> check the "Specify

A New MS-DOS Configuration" option.

7. Define the custom Config.sys file in the "Config.sys For MS-DOS Mode" box.

Define the custom Autoexec.bat file in the "Autoexec.bat For MS-DOS Mode" box.

8. Click OK/Apply to close all dialog boxes.

From now on, each time when you'll restart your system using the "Restart (the

computer) in MS-DOS mode" option, your custom Config.sys and Autoexec.bat

files will be processed.

B. To shut down Windows 98/95 to the true/native/real MS-DOS prompt from a

Desktop icon, follow the same steps above, except select the "Use current

MS-DOS configuration" instead of "Specify A New MS-DOS Configuration" at step

#6. Name this new batch file EXIT2DOS.BAT, place it a folder of your choice,

and then create a shortcut to it on the Desktop. Also, you can skip steps 1-2

above when creating EXIT2DOS.BAT.

NOTES: - Read the "2 DOS OR NOT 2 DOS" topic in MYTIPS95.TXT (included) for

details on all Windows 98/95 "boot to DOS" options.

- Read the "General Tips for Using MS-DOS Mode" MSKB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q134/4/00.asp

HINT: This tip is valuable for those who would like to play a VGA/SVGA/3D

DOS game that won't run from a DOS box/session within the Win9x GUI.

[Sounds familiar?! :-)]

(AFTER) BOOT CHOICES

The topic below is only valid if you kept the old MS-DOS and Windows/WfWG

versions on your disk, taking advantage of Win98/95's dual-boot feature.

NOTE: For details on Win98/95/OSR2 dual-boot capabilities, READ the "DUAL

BOOT" topic in MYTIPS95.TXT (included).

WARNING: BEFORE attempting to boot into a previous MS-DOS version (6.xx) if

you are using Win95 B/C OSR 2.x or Win98 you MUST READ the "DUAL-BOOT

IN OSR2/WIN98" topic in OSR2TIPS.TXT (included).

To boot directly to the MS-DOS mode, the MSDOS.SYS file (located in the root

folder of your boot drive, usually C:\) must include these lines under the

[Options] section:

BootMulti=0

BootMenu=0

Logo=0 -> Optional

BootGUI=0

BootMenuDefault=6 -> With Networking/TCP/IP enabled, or:

BootMenuDefault=5 -> Without Networking/TCP/IP enabled

NOTE: For all MSDOS.SYS parameters/details, read the first topic in

MYTIPS95.TXT (included): "COMPLETE MSDOS.SYS REFERENCE".

To edit MSDOS.SYS, you'll need to run these DOS commands, from a DOS prompt:

ATTRIB -H -R -S C:\MSDOS.SYS

EDIT C:\MSDOS.SYS

ATTRIB +H +R +S C:\MSDOS.SYS

HINT: You can use the batch file SYS95.BAT (included here) to automate

the MSDOS.SYS editing/attribute changing.

Save your changes and reboot (change the drive letter if different on your

system).

You can also have different "after-boot" choices to start with: Win98/95,

Win31, or native/true MS-DOS mode. To make this happen, add the following

lines as the last lines into your Autoexec.bat file (located in the root

folder of your boot drive, usually C:\):

CHOICE /N /C123 Boot with: 1=Windows 95; 2=Windows 3.1; 3=MS-DOS Mode

IF ERRORLEVEL 3 SET WIN=C:\WIN95\DOSSTART.BAT

IF ERRORLEVEL 2 SET WIN=C:\WIN31\WIN.COM

IF ERRORLEVEL 1 SET WIN=C:\WIN95\WIN.COM

%WIN%

You can open Autoexec.bat for editing with Notepad in Windows, or with

EDIT.COM in DOS.

You will need to change the directory/folder names where your Windows 98/95

and/or your Windows/WfWG 3.1x reside, if different on your machine.

Save your changes and reboot. From now on, all you have to do is choose a

number to start your favorite Windows version, or to run your favorite

MS-DOS programs/games.

NOTE: To be able to run Windows/WfWG 3.1x under the Win98 or OSR2 OS, you

need to disable the 32-bit File Access feature in Windows/WfWG

3.1x, from: Control Panel -> 386 enhanced icon -> Virtual Memory ->

uncheck 32-bit File Access box -> Restart Windows/WfWG 3.1x, or

modify this System.ini line (using Notepad or Sysedit) to read

32BitDiskAccess=off under the [386enh] section. System.ini is

located in C:\Windows. Restart Windows/WfWG 3.1x when done.

WINBOOT.INI

Winboot.ini is a temporary file created by Windows 95 installation process,

and by default should be deleted from your system, when Windows 95's setup is

completed. In some cases (buggy installations), Winboot.ini can still be

found in the root folder of your boot drive (default is C:\).

Winboot.ini contains the same sections/settings as MSDOS.SYS, and the same as

Msdos.sys, has the Hidden, Read-only and System attributes.

Windows 95's bootup routine looks first for Winboot.ini in your root folder,

before loooking for Msdos.sys.

So to speed the bootup routine with a second or so, you may want to create a

Winboot.ini file (into the root folder), and you will notice a shorter wait

delay next time you boot up into Win95.

To make this happen, run the following commands from a DOS prompt:

COPY C:\MSDOS.SYS C:\WINBOOT.INI

ATTRIB +H +R +S C:\WINBOOT.INI

Press Enter after each line (change the drive letter if different).

Then reboot your system.

NOTE: Do not DELETE, MOVE or RENAME Msdos.sys from C:\ root! Win95 WILL

NOT boot/start if you do!

What you can do, is remark with a semicolon (;) all the lines in your

Msdos.sys, so Win95 boot routine won't have to process the same lines now

also found in your newly created Winboot.ini, and thus saving a second or 2

at bootup.

Winboot.ini, unlike the other root folder Win95 system files is not renamed

when you boot into your old DOS version 6.xx (because it does not have a

corespondent in MS-DOS 6.xx system files, that could confuse the Win95 OS

at startup).

FIND SHORTCUT

This tip is brought to you by rwbadour@texas.net. Many thanks!

"To create a shortcut to the Find function, just highlight the Find folder on

the Start menu, go to File and highlight Save Search.

Presto!"

SMART RESTORE

This fancy "backup/restore" tip and included batch file below are brought to

you courtesy of Patricio O. (porio@ll.ciq.uchile.cl). Enjoy.

"Installing Win98/95 programs

This is about your 'RESTORE AFTER INSTALL' section [quoting the MYTIPS95.TXT

topic]: I thing backing up my complete Windows and System directories is a

little exaggerated thing to do every time I install a new program.

It's useful in case of a program that makes the system crash after the

install. However, if you install and try a program for some time, and then you

want to delete it, you should have a backup of the System before every program

installed. Even that wouldn't help you delete the registry entries, .DLL files

and other things concerning ONLY the program you are deleting. I wrote the

batch file below and it helps me to know what modifications have been made to

my system after a program is installed. It creates a set of log files which I

can consult when I decide to delete something.

The BATch must be run BEOFRE and AFTER a program is installed, using the

Run... item in the Start menu, and typing:

spy xxxxxxx

where xxxxxxx stands for the name of the log file you will obtain. It must be

the SAME before and after the installation. Before installing you have to

select option 'B', and after installing you have to select option 'A'.

It is also very useful running it before and after the first time you run

certain shareware programs. I know it generates waste info, but after a while

you can learn what is useful and what isn't.

And it has a BUG: when comparing the Before and After information, it

generates some DOS sharing error (I don't know the exact English text of the

message because I have the Spanish version of Win95). Pressing (R)etry every

time the error message appears, makes the batch process finalize OK.

I would be very pleased if you make any improvement to the file, especially

adding any file you consider must be compared before and after any

installation. Also, I think the English messages I wrote can be improved

(although I read a lot in English, specially scientific and computer

articles, this is the very first time I write an English text and I realize

it is not perfect...)."

BATCH FILE FOLLOWS (copy & paste the batch file contents as SPY.BAT, using

Ctrl + C to Copy and then Ctrl + V to Paste into Notepad):

---------- Cut + Paste Below ----------

if "%1"=="" goto Noname

cd\

if not exist \spy\nul md spy

cd spy

if not exist %1.txt goto choic

echo %1.txt already exist

echo D - Delete %1.txt and continue

echo C - Cancel (must run spy with another application name)

choice /c:DC

if errorlevel 2 goto fin

del %1.txt

:choic

choice /c:BA Before or After %1 instalation

if errorlevel 2 goto After

if errorlevel 1 goto Before

:Before

if not exist %1\nul goto OK

echo 'Before' information on %1 already exists

echo A - Run spy in 'After' mode

echo O - Overwrite existing information

echo C - Cancel

choice /c:AOC

if errorlevel 3 goto End

if errorlevel 2 goto Over

if errorlevel 1 goto After

:Over

deltree /y %1

:OK

md %1

md %1\Before

cd %1\Before

copy \windows\win.ini

copy \windows\system.ini

copy \windows\control.ini

if exist \autoexec.bat copy \autoexec.bat

if exist \config.sys copy \config.sys

if exist \msdos.sys copy \msdos.sys

dir c:\ /a /o:gen > root.dir

dir c:\windows\ /a /o:gen > windows.dir

dir c:\windows\system\ /a /o:gen > system.dir

regedit /e registry.txt

goto End

:After

if not exist %1\nul goto Noexist

md %1\After

cd %1\After

copy \windows\system.ini

copy \windows\win.ini

copy \windows\control.ini

if exist \autoexec.bat copy \autoexec.bat

if exist \config.sys copy \config.sys

if exist \msdos.sys copy \msdos.sys

dir c:\ /a /o:gen > root.dir

dir c:\windows\ /a /o:gen > windows.dir

dir c:\windows\system\ /a /o:gen > system.dir

regedit /e registry.txt

cd \spy

fc %1\Before\*.* %1\After\*.* > %1.txt

deltree /y %1

goto end

:Noexist

echo Can't find %1 Information

pause

goto end

:Noname

echo Must specify an Application name!

echo (Example: spy msoffice)

pause

:End

cd\

exit

---------- End of SPY.BAT ----------"

MY COMMMENTS: This concerned reader is too modest. His English is great.

I wish mine would be as good as his. ;)

And SPY.BAT is very good at tracking down most ANY new program installation

problems under Win98/95. Thanks a lot Patricio for your contribution to this

delicate matter and for further improving SPY.BAT.

WIN95 CLONES

The tips below appears courtesy of Ed Bernard (EBernard@mind.net).

Many thanks for clearing up these issues and for the clever solutions!

"Multiple Windows 95's on Same Hard Drive

1. I have found that multiple Win95 versions can be installed on same hard

drive. This is useful for restore purposes should an entire hard drive be

lost. The one key file is MSDOS.SYS. Save it in C:\Windows. Backup entire

system! Should you need to restore entire system:

- Install new Windows to a different directory, say C:\W95.

- Install-restore software.

- Restore old system.

- Move old MSDOS.SYS to C:\.

- Reboot under old system.

- Delete new system used for restore.

The above assumes no hardware was changed between backup and restore.

2. Another item:

Windows 95 will not install on an IOMEGA Zip drive. Nor will a version of

Win95 installed on C: and transferred to Iomega Zip drive run, even if the

Iomega Drive is C:.

Win95 will not install to an extended partition if the primary partition of

the hard disk is unused.

I have made up a version of Win95 on a zip disk with no long file names,

which can be copied to C: and run from there. I have my restored software in

this version. It's not worth making it though, as it takes more time to make

it than to just reinstall as above."

TCP/IP TOOLS

This tip is brought to you by Bengt Swenson

(bengt.swenson@mbox200.swipnet.se):

http://home1.swipnet.se/~w-12150/

Thanks a bunch!

"Undocumented Programs...

Did you now about these two undocumented programs in Win95?

The first gives you information about TCP/IP and Network configuration.

Run:

WINIPCFG

(found in C:\Windows).

The second is a DOS program that traces your signal over the Internet.

Start a DOS window and run:

TRACERT www.URL.com

(Replace the parameter above with a real URL)."

UPDATES:

1. WINIPCFG: displays current TCP/IP protocol configuration. Useful for

troubleshooting:

- Adapter Address: These numbers (hexadecimal) show the identification

number of the Network adapter. If you are using a Dial-Up adapter, this

number is of NO use, because it is NOT hardcoded into modems!

- IP Address: The computer's IP address, dynamically assigned or static.

- Subnet Mask: A portion of the IP address for the TCP/IP protocol to

determine whether an IP address is on a local or remote network.

- Default Gateway: The IP address of the host on the local subnet which

provides the physical connection to remote networks.

- DHCP Server: The IP address of the DHCP server. The DHCP server

dynamically assigns an IP address to a computer once connected to the

network. To obtain a new IP address, click the Release and Renew buttons.

- Primary and Secondary WINS Server: The IP address of the Primary and

Secondary WINS servers (if available on the network). The WINS server

translates NetBIOS names (the alphanumeric computer names displayed by the

user interface) to their corresponding IP addresses.

2. WINIPCFG: Read the "How to Use Winipcfg to View TCP/IP Settings" MSKB

article:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q141/6/98.asp

3. TRACERT: Read the "ALTERNATE DNS" topic in MYTIPS95.TXT (included).

LOCK IT UP!

*REQUIRED READING* if using UNDELETE.EXE: the "GOOD OL' UNDELETE" topic in

MYTIPS95.TXT (included)!

There is a way to recover deleted files under Windows 9x OS, which works ONLY

in native/true/real MS-DOS mode!

NOTE: This recovery procedure works ONLY on FAT16 drives/partitions!

But you need to have kept your old MS-DOS 6.xx install floppy disks, or to

have kept the old MS-DOS (any version from 6.00 up to 6.22) files on your

hard disk.

UPDATE:

Microsoft Old MS-DOS 6.22 Utilities (includes UNDELETE.EXE) for Windows 9x

Setup floppy release owners:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/downloads/LNP192.asp

Direct download [836 KB, free]:

http://support.microsoft.com/download/support/mslfiles/OLDDOS.EXE

This update courtesy of Yuri Khan (kukina@nioch.nsc.ru).

If you still have the C:\DOS directory (for those who upgraded from a previous

MS-DOS version to Windows 98/95), look for the UNDELETE.EXE file, also found

on your Win95 retail Setup cd-rom ONLY, NOT Win95 B/C OSR 2.x or Win98, in the

\Other\Oldmsdos folder.

Before properly using it to recover your lost files, there is one more thing

you need to do. In DOS mode [of course :)], run this command line (after you

have exited Windows 98/95 to native MS-DOS, or rebooted to MS-DOS mode, the

equivalent of the "Command prompt only" option from the Windows 98/95 Startup

Menu:

LOCK C:

This internal command built into MS-DOS 7.xx secures the hard drive of your

choice (in this case drive C:), to make it useable by UNDELETE!

You can use multiple drive parameters with the LOCK command (example):

LOCK C: D: E:

Change the drive letter(s) if different in your case.

Now you're ready to get your files back by UNDELETE-ing them.

After recovering your files, run this command to return Windows 98/95 OS to

its normal operation mode, but DO NOT TRY TO RESTART the Win98/95 interface

with the LOCK switch ON:

UNLOCK C:

Of course you also need to be familiar with UNDELETE's command line

parameters, and you also need to know which directories (folders) your lost

files were located into before the "accident".

From the old C:\DOS directory (or from your \Other\Oldmsdos folder on your

Win95 install CD-ROM), run:

HELP UNDELETE

to learn more about this native DOS mode (ONLY) tool, or run:

UNDELETE /?

from any DOS prompt, to display its available switches:

"UNDELETE - A delete protection facility

Restores files previously deleted with the DEL command.

UNDELETE [[drive:][path]filename] [/DT | /DS | /DOS]

/UNLOAD | /S[DRIVE] | /T[DRIVE]-entrys ]]

/LIST Lists the deleted files available to be recovered.

/ALL Recovers files without prompting for confirmation.

/DOS Recovers files listed as deleted by MS-DOS.

/DT Recovers files protected by Delete Tracker.

/DS Recovers files protected by Delete Sentry.

/LOAD Loads Undelete into memory for delete protection.

/UNLOAD Unloads Undelete from memory.

/PURGE[drive] Purges all files in the Delete Sentry directory.

/STATUS Display the protection method in effect for each drive.

/S[drive] Enables Delete Sentry method of protection.

/T[drive][-entrys] Enables Delete Tracking method of protection.

1 LAST WORD: [or maybe 2... :-)] Stay safe => BACKUP FIRST!

MARK THE BOX

There is a simple method to copy to the Clipboard any text string, or even

graphics for that matter, under the Win95 GUI, when you run a DOS program in

a DOS box/session (windowed, NOT full screen: to switch from a full screen

DOS sesion to a DOS window box, hold down Alt and press Enter). Now you

should have the DOS box status bar visible. The first icon in the upper left

corner is called Mark (represented by a square). Left-click your mouse on it.

Select Edit, click Mark, then left-click and drag to choose a region on your

DOS screen to copy, click Edit and then click Copy (or press Enter), and

voila. Now you can paste the saved Clipboard contents (be it text or

graphics) into a Windows application (MS Paint, WordPad etc).

REMEMBER ME?

This is a common inconsistency in Windows 95:

You may experience the annoying fact that a folder window you've worked in not

long ago, doesn't come up in the same place on your desktop when you open it

again, even if you were keeping the same settings for some time.

The folder window settings include: size, position and sort order.

Win95 is limited to keeping track of only the last 29 open windows (folders).

A workaround is to hold down Ctrl while closing that particular window, which

just might revert to your good ol' window settings. Good luck! :)

UPDATE:

Windows 98 overcomes this limitation, being able to keep track of more open

window settings (99 ?).

BOOT 2 DOS

This is yet another trick for DOS afficionados who would like to boot to

MS-DOS mode instead of going straight to Win95/98's GUI (without modifying

ANY Windows 9x startup/system files). Here it goes:

Open Notepad, or your favorite ASCII text editor. I for one prefer the

excellent Programmer's File Editor 32-bit (PFE32) for Win9x/NT, freeware:

http://www.lancs.ac.uk/people/cpaap/pfe/

Type a space (blank), don't enter any other characters, and save this file as

WIN.BAT in the root directory of your boot drive (default is C:\).

When you reboot into Windows 9x, the OS will "see" the empty WIN.BAT file and

will automatically boot to the native/true MS-DOS mode prompt.

When you're done "playing" in DOS, just type WIN.COM and press Enter to start

the Win9x GUI. It is IMPORTANT to type the WIN.COM file extension for this to

work! Typing only WIN not followed by the .COM extension will automatically

default to WIN.BAT.

UPDATE:

"It just starts WIN.BAT if you are in that folder. Yes, I know that .COM files

are processed first, but the current directory is processed before the %PATH%

by default. To make the %PATH% variable process earlier, one has to add a

semicolon (;) to the end of the PATH line in Autoexec.bat or Config.sys."

This update courtesy of Yuri Khan (kukina@nioch.nsc.ru).

WIN31 INSTALL

This trick applies the reversed method of installing a second (older) version

of Windows/WfWG (3.1x) on a Windows 95 machine.

NOTE: For step by step details on how to install Windows 95 on a MS-DOS

6.xx + Windows 3.1x system, read the "DUAL BOOT" topic in MYTIPS95.TXT

(included).

You need to have an old MS-DOS 6.xx (any version starting with 6.00 up to

6.22) bootable floppy disk. It is also prefered to keep your old MS-DOS

install diskettes handy, in case something goes wrong.

You also need your Windows/WfWG 3.1x install floppies.

Fire up your PC and then:

1. Insert the old MS-DOS 6.xx boot disk into your primary floppy drive (A: is

the default bootable floppy drive on most systems).

Exit the Win95 GUI to MS-DOS mode prompt.

Switch to your A: floppy drive, and change the attributes of the IO.SYS file

found on the floppy to read:

ATTRIB -H -R -S +A A:\IO.SYS

Copy IO.SYS from the floppy to the root directory of your boot hard drive

(C:\ is default), renaming it to IO.DOS the same time, using this command:

COPY A:\IO.SYS C:\IO.DOS

2. Repeat the above operations with the floppy COMMAND.COM and MSDOS.SYS

files, and then use COPY again to rename/copy the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS

files from your boot floppy to C:\ root:

ATTRIB -H -R -S +A A:\MSDOS.SYS

COPY A:\MSDOS.SYS C:\MSDOS.DOS

ATTRIB -R +A A:\COMMAND.COM

COPY A:\COMMAND.COM C:\COMMAND.DOS

COPY A:\AUTOEXEC.BAT C:\AUTOEXEC.DOS

COPY A:\CONFIG.SYS C:\CONFIG.DOS

3. Copy all drivers/devices/TSRs (and all other important lines) for hardware

devices that you might have on the boot disk (and you want to enable in

MS-DOS mode), such as your DOS mouse driver (example: MOUSE.COM), CD-ROM

driver and Sound Card drivers to a new directory called C:\DRIVERS on your

hard drive. Then edit Config.dos and Autoexec.dos (with Notepad in Windows or

Edit.com in DOS) to modify all the DEVICE (DEVICEHIGH) and LOADHIGH (LH)

lines to point to the new DRIVERS directory on C:\.

4. Now it's time to change the attributes of the C:\MSDOS.SYS file to be able

to edit and modify it (or use the batch file included here, called SYS95.BAT

to ease up this task):

ATTRIB -H -R -S +A C:\MSDOS.SYS

When you're done, edit C:\MSDOS.SYS, the Win95 version (with Notepad in

Windows or Edit.com in DOS) and make sure you have the lines below listed

under the [Options] section:

[Options]

BootGUI=1

BootMulti=1

5. Reboot, and when you see the familiar "Starting Windows 95" message, press

F4 to load your old version of MS-DOS 6.xx. At the DOS command prompt screen,

insert your Windows/WfWG 3.1x Setup floppy disk #1 and type A:\SETUP. Install

the new copy of Windows/WfWG 3.1x to a different directory than Windows 95!

Example: C:\WIN31. From now on, when you press F4, you'll be able to boot

into MS-DOS 6.xx/Win3.1x. To boot normally with Windows 95 OS, just let the

bootup sequence take you to Win95 GUI.

To be able to choose your OS at bootup time for more than a second,

add/modify these lines to C:\MSDOS.SYS (the Win95 version), under the

[Options] section:

[Options]

BootMenu=1

BootMenuDelay=10

to see the Win95 startup scren for 10 seconds (and choose which option to

boot with).

Reboot, and from now on you'll see the Windows 95 Startup Menu displayed on

your screen, so you can choose your favorite OS (you'll have only 7 choices

if you don't have a network or/and a TCP/IP connection enabled):

"Microsoft Windows 95 Startup Menu

==================================

1. Normal

2. Logged (\BOOTLOG.TXT)

3. Safe mode

4 Safe mode with network support => This option appears ONLY on networked

systems (or/and TCP/IP enabled)

5. Step-by-step confirmation

6. Command prompt only

7. Safe mode command prompt only

8. Previous version of MS-DOS

Enter a choice: 5

F5=Safe mode Shift+F5=Command prompt Shift+F8=Step-by-step confirmation[N]"

The "Normal" option boots to Windows 95, and the "Previous version of MS-DOS"

choice lets you boot into MS-DOS 6.xx (to be able to load your newly

installed Windows/WfWG 3.1x).

Have fun!

HINT: A similar install method is detailed at:

http://www.cobb.com/w95/9611/w9596b2.htm

UPDATE:

"Windows 3.1x runs fine under DOS 7.0 (Windows 95 prior to OSR2), and for

OSR2 one needs a patch available at:

http://win95.winware.org/

[Most pages are in German, click on the "English page"!]

It even handles FAT32 drives if not allowed to do 32-bit file access."

This update courtesy of Yuri Khan (kukina@nioch.nsc.ru).

NOTE: The OSR2 dual-boot "BUG" and the respective "FIX" are detailed in the

"DUAL-BOOT IN OSR2/WIN98" topic in OSR2TIPS.TXT (included).

REMEMBER MY PASSWORD

This tip applies ONLY to those of you setting up Windows 95 to connect to an

ISP, using your PC at home, not connected to another network, and using a

modem connection.

The 2 components needed for this capability are the Dial-Up Adapter and the

TCP/IP Protocol Settings. When only selecting the above 2 components, you

must reenter the password every time you start dialing, and also whenever you

connect to your ISP. To prevent the above from happening and to save time for

a few other things you might need to type in, follow the steps below:

1. Go to the Network settings in Control Panel.

2. Click the Add button, Click on Client, Click on Microsoft, and choose

Client for Microsoft Networks, and after installing the proper drivers from

the Win95 Setup disk(s), go to the Primary Network Logon and select Windows

Logon.

After you reboot your machine, the next time you dial up to your ISP, you

will be given the option to save your password, and also you will not have to

reenter the password a second time.

UPDATE:

If you updated your Windows 95 original (retail) copy to Win95a OSR1 by

installing the Service Pack 1 (SP1) Upgrade, your password cache file (.PWL)

might get corrupted! To FIX this BUG install the Microsoft Password List

Update ONLY for Win95a OSR1 systems:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q165/4/02.asp

SUPPORT INFORMATION

This trick is brought to you courtesy of Eddie Yan (zqwx@hotmail.com):

http://geocities.datacellar.net/SiliconValley/Pines/9725/

"To get an extra button and a new logo (OEM specific) in your System

Properties panel under the General tab, copy, customize and save the text

below as Oeminfo.ini in your Windows\System folder, using Notepad:

[general]

Manufacturer=Type anything here

Model=Type anything here

[Support Information]

Line1=Type anything here

Line2=Type anything here

Line3=Type anything here

LineX=...

Then you need to create a logo (bitmap) to be displayed in the System

Properties, in the General tab. The logo must be 160x120 pixels and 256

colors. Save it as Oemlogo.bmp, and place it also into your Windows\System

folder. When you're done press F5 to refresh... Presto!"

See the Support Information screen in "action" at:

http://members.aol.com/maxspeeed/ver95.gif

To create Oemlogo.bmp, you can use MS Paint (the primitive but free painting

program that comes with Windows 9x), or a better 3rd party utility. I

recommend Paint Shop Pro (shareware, free trial), "the swiss army knife of

painting programs":

http://www.jasc.com/

UPDATE:

You need to fill at least 2 of the corners (1 pixel size) of your custom

OEMLOGO.BMP file with a "blank" color (white), to have it display properly in

System Properties, the General tab.

SPEEDUP MY DUN! [+]

This tip applies ONLY IF you are using a phone line and an analog modem to

connect to the Internet through the TCP/IP protocol, using PPP (Point to Point

Protocol), established when you subscribed to your ISP/Online Service, using

Windows 98 or 95.

NOTE: If you are also connected to a Network (peer-to-peer, LAN, WAN etc),

some of these settings might impair your networking performance.

To access the Internet as fast as your modem will allow it, you need to make

some changes to your Dial-Up Networking, Network and Modem settings:

1. Right-click on your "My computer" icon, click Open, (double)-click the

"Dial-Up Networking" applet, right-click on the appropriate connection icon

(usually has your ISP's domain name, i.e. Worldnet), and select Properties.

Click the "Server Types" tab, and under "Allowed network protocols:", deselect

"NetBEUI" and "IPX/SPX". Make sure the "TCP/IP" option is the only one checked.

Then uncheck these items in the "Advanced options:" area: "Log on to network",

"Enable software compression", "Require data encription" and "Record a log file

for this connection". If your ISP allows it, check the "Require encrypted

password" box. Click the "TCP/IP Settings..." button. Select the "Server

assigned IP address" option. Check the "Specify name server addresses" box.

Now type in your ISP assigned server addresses in the "Primary DNS:" and

"Secondary DNS:" boxes. Example: these are AT&T Worldnet assigned IP server

addresses (2 groups of numbers). Don't type the dots:

- Primary DNS: 204.127.129.1

- Secondary DNS: 204.127.160.1

Leave the "Primary WINS:" and "Secondary WINS:" boxes empty.

Select both "Use IP header compression" and "Use default gateway on remote

network" options. Click OK until you exit your connection icon (Worldnet in

this case).

NOTE: Experiment with the "Enable software compression" option. Enabling it

might speed up your file transfers over the internet (on my machine

disabled is faster).

2. Now open the Control Panel Network applet, select "Dial-Up Adapter",

right-click on it, click Properties and select the "Bindings" tab. Select

"TCP/IP" as the ONLY protocol. Click OK until you get back into the Network

main screen. Select "TCP/IP -> Dial-Up Adapter", click Properties, select the

"DNS Configuration" tab. Disable DNS. Select the "WINS Configuration" tab.

Disable WINS resolution. Click OK until all applets are closed. Reboot your

computer when prompted, and insert your Win98/95 setup CD-ROM in the drive.

3. Open your Control Panel Modems applet. Select your modem, click Properties,

and select 115200 (or the highest number available from the drop down list) in

the "Maximum speed" area. Click the Connection tab, and select these options:

- Data bits = 8

- Parity = none

- Stop bits = 1

In the "Call preferences" area check only the "Wait for dial tone before

dialing" box. Click the "Advanced..." button. Select only: "Use error

control", "Compress data", "Use flow control" and "Hardware (RTS/CTS)".

Select Standard for "Modulation type". Add any extra settings you know work

better with your particular modem. I use S11=50 with my 3COM/USR 56K V.90

Faxmodem, which will speed up the dialing process from 100 milliseconds

(default) to 50 milliseconds. Click OK once. Click the "Port Settings..."

button. Drag both sliders all the way to the right for both "Receive Buffer"

and "Transmit Buffer" settings. Check the "Use FIFO buffers" box. Click OK

until you close the Modems applet.

4. Connect to your ISP using the appropriate Dial-Up Networking (DUN) icon on

your desktop, usually bearing your ISP's domain name: Worldnet in this

example.

Enjoy the Internet speeed boost!

DON'T DROP BACK! [+]

Just because your modem's manufacturer claims the device is Hayes compatible,

don't assume that you will connect at maximum speed all the time. Today's 56

and 33.6 kbps modems automatically fall back to a lower speed if the line

noise is too intense to maintain a faster connection, but sometimes they fall

back too far or too soon.

Search for these values: S11= and S36= in your modem initialization string

(or create them if they are not present). Check your modem's settings against

your manual, and if your modem will accept, change/add these settings to read

S11=50 and S36=7 respectively. This will force your modem to cut the dialing

delay in half (default is S11=100, measured in milliseconds) and to try

connecting at high speeds in two ways before dropping back to a standard

asynchronous connection with automatic speed buffering (default is S36=0).

These strings can be used with ANY Hayes compatible modem.

To change your modem's initialization string in Windows 9x, open Control

Panel -> Modems -> Your modem name -> Properties -> Connection tab ->

Advanced -> Extra settings box.

24 HOUR DISPLAY

Open Control Panel and select the Regional Settings panel. Click on the Time

tab. In the Time Style field, change the style to read H:mm:ss. If you prefer

a leading zero (so that 7:07am is viewed as 07:07), change the style to read

HH:mm:ss.

Changes take effect as soon as you close the applet.

MAXMTU USING POLEDIT

This interesting MTU tip is brought to you by Rob Vonk (Rob.Vonk@cmg.nl).

Many thanks for the good work!

"Here it is. I changed it because if I didn't use the checkbox option, it

set the MaxMTU setting to "" if it was not entered. So now I use the

checkbox option. It will put 576 in the Registry and if not checked it will

delete the key (default Win95 setting).

Poledit.exe is located on your Win95 CD-ROM in the \ADMIN\APPTOOLS\POLEDIT\

folder.

MAXMTU.ADM command lines:

----------Copy & Paste Below----------

CLASS MACHINE

CATEGORY MTU

POLICY "0000"

KEYNAME System\Currentcontrolset\Services\Class\Nettrans\0000

PART "MaxMTU" TEXT END PART

PART "Check for 576 or uncheck for default" CHECKBOX

VALUENAME MaxMTU

VALUEON "576"

END PART

PART "Don't change setting below!" TEXT END PART

PART Driverdesc EDITTEXT

VALUENAME DriverDesc

MAXLEN 5

END PART

END POLICY

POLICY "0001"

KEYNAME System\Currentcontrolset\Services\Class\Nettrans\0001

PART "MaxMTU" TEXT END PART

PART "Check for 576 or uncheck for default" CHECKBOX

VALUENAME MaxMTU

VALUEON "576"

END PART

PART "Don't change setting below!" TEXT END PART

PART Driverdesc EDITTEXT

VALUENAME DriverDesc

MAXLEN 5

END PART

END POLICY

POLICY "0002"

KEYNAME System\Currentcontrolset\Services\Class\Nettrans\0002

PART "MaxMTU" TEXT END PART

PART "Check for 576 or uncheck for default" CHECKBOX

VALUENAME MaxMTU

VALUEON "576"

END PART

PART "Don't change setting below!" TEXT END PART

PART Driverdesc EDITTEXT

VALUENAME DriverDesc

MAXLEN 5

END PART

END POLICY

POLICY "0003"

KEYNAME System\Currentcontrolset\Services\Class\Nettrans\0003

PART "MaxMTU" TEXT END PART

PART "Check for 576 or uncheck for default" CHECKBOX

VALUENAME MaxMTU

VALUEON "576"

END PART

PART "Don't change setting below!" TEXT END PART

PART Driverdesc EDITTEXT

VALUENAME DriverDesc

MAXLEN 5

END PART

END POLICY

POLICY "0004"

KEYNAME System\Currentcontrolset\Services\Class\Nettrans\0004

PART "MaxMTU" TEXT END PART

PART "Check for 576 or uncheck for default" CHECKBOX

VALUENAME MaxMTU

VALUEON "576"

END PART

PART "Don't change setting below!" TEXT END PART

PART Driverdesc EDITTEXT

VALUENAME DriverDesc

MAXLEN 5

END PART

END POLICY

POLICY "0005"

KEYNAME System\Currentcontrolset\Services\Class\Nettrans\0005

PART "MaxMTU" TEXT END PART

PART "Check for 576 or uncheck for default" CHECKBOX

VALUENAME MaxMTU

VALUEON "576"

END PART

PART "Don't change setting below!" TEXT END PART

PART Driverdesc EDITTEXT

VALUENAME DriverDesc

MAXLEN 5

END PART

END POLICY

POLICY "0006"

KEYNAME System\Currentcontrolset\Services\Class\Nettrans\0006

PART "MaxMTU" TEXT END PART

PART "Check for 576 or uncheck for default" CHECKBOX

VALUENAME MaxMTU

VALUEON "576"

END PART

PART "Don't change setting below!" TEXT END PART

PART Driverdesc EDITTEXT

VALUENAME DriverDesc

MAXLEN 5

END PART

END POLICY

POLICY "0007"

KEYNAME System\Currentcontrolset\Services\Class\Nettrans\0007

PART "MaxMTU" TEXT END PART

PART "Check for 576 or uncheck for default" CHECKBOX

VALUENAME MaxMTU

VALUEON "576"

END PART

PART "Don't change setting below!" TEXT END PART

PART Driverdesc EDITTEXT

VALUENAME DriverDesc

MAXLEN 5

END PART

END POLICY

POLICY "0008"

KEYNAME System\Currentcontrolset\Services\Class\Nettrans\0008

PART "MaxMTU" TEXT END PART

PART "Check for 576 or uncheck for default" CHECKBOX

VALUENAME MaxMTU

VALUEON "576"

END PART

PART "Don't change setting below!" TEXT END PART

PART Driverdesc EDITTEXT

VALUENAME DriverDesc

MAXLEN 5

END PART

END POLICY

POLICY "0009"

KEYNAME System\Currentcontrolset\Services\Class\Nettrans\0009

PART "MaxMTU" TEXT

END PART

PART "Check for 576 or uncheck for default" CHECKBOX

VALUENAME MaxMTU

VALUEON "576"

END PART

PART "Don't change setting below!" TEXT END PART

PART Driverdesc EDITTEXT

VALUENAME DriverDesc

MAXLEN 5

END PART

END POLICY

POLICY "0010"

KEYNAME System\Currentcontrolset\Services\Class\Nettrans\0010

PART "MaxMTU" TEXT

END PART

PART "Check for 576 or uncheck for default" CHECKBOX

VALUENAME MaxMTU

VALUEON "576"

END PART

PART "Don't change setting below!" TEXT END PART

PART Driverdesc EDITTEXT

VALUENAME DriverDesc

MAXLEN 5

END PART

END POLICY

END CATEGORY

CATEGORY RWIN

POLICY "RWIN"

KEYNAME System\Currentcontrolset\services\Vxd\MSTCP\DefaultRcvWindows

PART DefaultRcvWindow TEXT END PART

PART "Check for 2144 = 4 * (576-40)" CHECKBOX

VALUENAME DefaultRcvWindow

VALUEON "2144"

END PART

END POLICY

END CATEGORY

CATEGORY TTL

POLICY TTL

KEYNAME system\Currentcontrolset\services\Vxd\MSTCP

PART "DefaultTTL" TEXT END PART

PART "Check for value 64 (win95 default value is 32)" CHECKBOX

VALUENAME DefaultTTL

VALUEON "64"

END PART

END POLICY

END CATEGORY

CATEGORY NETBEUI

POLICY netbeui

KEYNAME system\currentcontrolset\services\vxd\netbeui

PART "ncbs" EDITTEXT

VALUENAME ncbs

MAXLEN 5

END PART

PART "sessions" EDITTEXT

VALUENAME sessions

MAXLEN 5

END PART

END POLICY

POLICY ncbs

KEYNAME system\currentcontrolset\services\vxd\netbeui\ndi\params\ncbs

PART "default" EDITTEXT

VALUENAME default

MAXLEN 5

END PART

PART "max" EDITTEXT

VALUENAME max

MAXLEN 5

END PART

PART "min" EDITTEXT

VALUENAME min

MAXLEN 5

END PART

END POLICY

POLICY sessions

KEYNAME system\currentcontrolset\services\vxd\netbeui\ndi\params\sessions

PART "default" EDITTEXT

VALUENAME default

MAXLEN 5

END PART

PART "max" EDITTEXT

VALUENAME max

MAXLEN 5

END PART

PART "min" EDITTEXT

VALUENAME min

MAXLEN 5

END PART

END POLICY

END CATEGORY

CATEGORY NWLink

POLICY maxconnect

KEYNAME system\currentcontrolset\services\vxd\NWLink\ndi\params\maxconnect

PART "max" EDITTEXT

VALUENAME max

MAXLEN 5

END PART

PART "min" EDITTEXT

VALUENAME min

MAXLEN 5

END PART

END POLICY

POLICY maxsockets

KEYNAME system\currentcontrolset\services\vxd\NWLink\ndi\params\maxsockets

PART "max" EDITTEXT

VALUENAME max

MAXLEN 5

END PART

PART "min" EDITTEXT

VALUENAME min

MAXLEN 5

END PART

END POLICY

END CATEGORY

CLASS USER

CATEGORY "No settings here"

END CATEGORY

----------End of Maxmtu.adm----------

Copy Maxmtu.adm to the Poledit directory.

Open Poledit.

Choose Options, Template.

Choose Open template.

Choose Maxmtu.adm.

Choose Close.

Choose file, open Registry.

Double click on Local computer.

Choose MTU:

Here you'll see: 0000 ... 0010.

Depending on your protocols there are checkmarks before the numbers.

Begin at 0000 and see if the DriverDesc says TCP/IP.

Don't change the DriverDesc!

If it does, you can check the checkmark to change MaxMTU to 576.

Continue with the other numbers that have a checkmark and say TCP/IP.

Choose RWIN:

If there's no checkmark the RWIN setting is default.

Check RWIN and check the default RcvWindow to change it to 2144.

Choose TTL:

If there's no checkmark the TTL setting is default.

Check TTL and check the DefaultTTL to change it to 64.

You can change the Netbeui and nwlink settings too.

Choose File and Save to store the new settings in the Registry."

NO WIN INSTALL

If you are trying to install Win95 from the upgrade disk(s), and you don't

have at least one copy of MS Windows (3.xx or 95/98) already present on

your machine, the installation will be aborted. The SETUP utility checks for

existing copies of Windows and will NOT install Win95 if it doesn't find any!

So if you don't have a full install CD-ROM or a set of floppies handy, you're

back to DOS! Unless you apply this simple trick.

Though for the CD-ROM installation you'll need the DOS mode CD-ROM drivers

loaded in your Config.sys file.

The floppy version of Win95 install disks doesn't need a CD-ROM driver.

How to do it:

1. Create a text file in the root directory of your boot drive (default on

most machines is C:\). Name this text file INST95.TXT. INST95.TXT must

contain 2 lines of text, exactly as they appear below:

[Setup]

ccp=0

2. Save the file.

3. Install Win95 from the DOS command prompt, by running this command:

A:\SETUP C:\INST95.TXT

in case you run SETUP from the upgrade floppy, or:

D:\WIN95\SETUP C:\INST95.TXT

in case you install Win95 from the upgrade CD-ROM (on systems with only one

hard drive). Change the CD-ROM drive letter if different on your system.

4. Windows 95 is now going to install even if you have NO previous copies

of Windows on your machine.

POWERFUL XCOPY(32) [UPDATED 2/14/98]

When you run this command at a DOS prompt box/session from inside Win9x:

XCOPY /?

you get this help screen:

"Copies files and directory trees.

XCOPY source [destination] [/A | /M] [/D[:date]] [/P] [/S [/E]] [/W]

[/C] [/I] [/Q] [/F] [/L] [/H] [/R] [/T] [/U]

[/K] [/N]

source Specifies the file(s) to copy.

destination Specifies the location and/or name of new files.

/A Copies files with the archive attribute set,

doesn't change the attribute.

/M Copies files with the archive attribute set,

turns off the archive attribute.

/D:date Copies files changed on or after the specified date.

If no date is given, copies only those files whose

source time is newer than the destination time.

/P Prompts you before creating each destination file.

/S Copies directories and subdirectories except empty ones.

/E Copies directories and subdirectories, including empty ones.

Same as /S /E. May be used to modify /T.

/W Prompts you to press a key before copying.

/C Continues copying even if errors occur.

/I If destination does not exist and copying more than one file,

assumes that destination must be a directory.

/Q Does not display file names while copying.

/F Displays full source and destination file names while copying.

/L Displays files that would be copied.

/H Copies hidden and system files also.

/R Overwrites read-only files.

/T Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not

include empty directories or subdirectories. /T /E includes

empty directories and subdirectories.

/U Updates the files that already exist in destination.

/K Copies attributes. Normal Xcopy will reset read-only attributes.

/Y Overwrites existing files without prompting.

/-Y Prompts you before overwriting existing files.

/N Copy using the generated short names."

Xcopy.exe and Xcopy32.exe are located in your \Windows\Command directory.

Xcopy (and its counterpart Xcopy32) are the most powerful "COPY/MAKE DIR"

commands Microsoft came up with this side of Windows 95 (a.k.a. MS-DOS 7.xx).

Use XCOPY32 with a well thought combo of parameters to copy files with ANY

attributes (and preserve them) to ANY destination. Very useful indeed since

XCOPY32 preserves the long file names (LFNs) in the DOS environment, but

ONLY when used in a DOS box/session/window, inside Win9x!

This is the COPYCMD command variable line, you can add to your Autoexec.bat

file, to disable the confirmation prompts when using: XCOPY, XCOPY32, COPY

and MOVE (use it with CAUTION!):

SET COPYCMD=/Y

Example of Xcopy/Xcopy32 command used to preserve the LFNs at a Win9x DOS

prompt, that copies ALL subfolders and files from your Windows folder to

another drive/directory:

XCOPY C:\WINDOWS D:\WINBAK /C /E /H /K

WARNING: 1. If you use the "XCOPY /Y" parameter (or the "COPYCMD" command

variable), XCOPY will OVERWRITE ALL existing files WITHOUT

prompting you first!

2. By using XCOPY/XCOPY32 in real/native MS-DOS mode outside Win9x

GUI, you will not be able to use ALL the parameters listed above,

and most importantly the Long File Names (LFNs) will NOT be

preserved, they WILL BE LOST IRREVERSIBLY!

"STUPID" TRICKS

The tricks below have been sent by a good friend (Ojatex@aol.com), who's

contribution to the improvement of these files is always welcome and greatly

appreciated.

Ojatex catalogs his tips as "stupid", I'd call them rather clever. Up to you

to decide... :)

"My "Stupid" Tips/Tricks:

Here's a little tip/trick I have been using when deleting files from Floppy &

Zip disks {Power Users need not read this}.

As you know when you delete a file from a floppy, it is gone forever - no

safety net {i.e. Recycle Bin}. Same problem occurs with zip disks.

Poof & it's gone!

To get around this problem, I do the following:

1- Create a folder on the C:\ drive called "Disk Garbage".

2- Create a shortcut to "Disk Garbage" and cut/paste it into the

Windows\Sendto folder.

3- Paste another shortcut to "Disk Garbage" on the Desktop [Optional].

Now whenever one wants to delete files from a floppy or zip disk, send them

to Disk Garbage first. Then delete them. This extra step can pay off if you

change your mind & want the files back.

After downloading the Win95 Registry program I found this advice:

"[5-6] Quickly clearing the Recent Documents Menu

The DOCUMENTS cascading menu off of the Start Menu is always filling itself

up, and is usually 20 miles long. Then, if you want to empty it, you have to

play click-click-click with the Start Menu.

Wouldn't it be easier if you had an icon right on the Desktop that did this?

Well, pull up a chair. And listen carefully...

1. Create a batch file with the following line:

ECHO Y | DEL \WINDOWS\RECENT\*.*

2. Save the file in a convenient directory, such as \Windows\Command.

3. Create a shortcut to this batch file right on the Desktop.

4. Right-Click on the shortcut, and choose Properties.

5. Select the Program tab.

6. Under RUN, choose Minimized.

7. Check the CLOSE ON EXIT checkbox underneath the RUN box.

8. Click on OK, and close the dialog.

Now, to empty the Most Recently Used Documents Folder, all you have to do is

double-click on the shortcut you just created.

This is a really cool undocumented feature, try it!"

This works, but I prefer a "two rabbits with the same bullet" solution:

1- Create a Shortcut to the "Recent" sub-folder in Windows.

2- Cut/Past the shortcut onto the Desktop.

This allows one to access the recently used documents or delete them,

whichever you choose.

Here's a time saver when working with several files from different folders,

especially BMPs or GIFs which are going to be conglomerated into one BMP or

GIF [especially animated GIFs]:

1- Create a folder on the C:\ drive called "Holding".

2- Create a Shortcut to "Holding" & put it into the "Sendto" subfolder in

the Windows folder.

3- When you have to gather a bunch of clipart files from several folders to

make a new picture, instead of working on the clipart directly in its

native folder where you have the danger of destroying the original or

saving it with a new name, or having to copy/paste the pictures to

Holding, just use the "send to" Holding.

You can work in the "Holding" folder to make your new graphic.

When working on gifs/jpgs for a web-page, instead of sending the clipart

to "Holding", make a Shortcut to your web-site folder & put it in the

"Sendto" folder. I find gathering all the "raw materials" together in one

place saves a lot of time & the "Sendto" folder is a fast way of

gathering them without endangering the originals."

"HARD" CACHE

Here is another clever trick from Ojatex@aol.com.

This one is about managing your MS Internet Explorer temporary files located

in IE's cache folder. Enjoy:

"Here's one little MS IE tip/trick I use:

This is in order to harden [i.e. make permanent] the soft files in the

"Temporary Internet Files" folder}. I use MS IE because AOL uses it & it is

faster to open and the resulting cache files are not #'s but the actual file

names. I use the cache files to read web pages.

Now here is my tip/trick:

1- Create a Shortcut to the Temporary Internet Files.

2- Cut/paste shortcut onto Desktop. [Option: rename it to

IE Cache for the sake of brevity.]

3- When you want to harden a cache file, right click on the

shortcut & select "Explore from Here". This will bring up

the 4 cache folders. Open these folders until you find the

file[s] you want. Select those files and "Sendto" the desired

location.

4- If you just want to "read" the file, it can be opened from

the cache sub-folder.

Note-This seems a little awkward, but I can't use "Sendto"

directly out of the "Temporary Internet Files" folder nor "read"

the files from that location.The files are readable from the "hidden"

cache sub-folders, but not hardened."

Thanks again for your efforts Ojatex. Oh, and please do send some more of your

"stupid" tricks... :-)

FAST GRAPHIC VIEWER

The cheapest and fastest bitmap viewer comes (surprise!) built right into

Win95's interface (GUI = Graphical User Interface). You can view any BMP or

JPG file this way.

To achieve this, right-click on the Desktop, select Properties, and then

click the Background tab.

Now open Explorer and scroll to the folder where your .BMP and/or .JPG

files are stored. Resize the Explorer window to allow the Display Background

dialog box to be visible at the side, and highlight the desired picture with

your left mouse button. Then drag it (left-click) into the Display monitor

area. You'll notice that the .BMP (.JPG) file will appear instantly as a

thumbnail in the Display preview area (and its name shows up on the Wallpaper

list underneath).

HINT: Make sure to drag one file at a time, otherwise only the first image

on your list will be displayed.

You have the choice to select the new file as your Desktop background

(wallpaper) by pressing the OK button (or by clicking Apply), or you can

simply Cancel. The Esc key also closes the Display box without saving.

You can also preview your Logo.sys, Logow.sys and/or Logos.sys files, but

you will have to rename them with the .BMP extension.

Have fun!

UPDATE:

"The Logos CAN be used as is for the wallpaper... just click Browse. Doesn't

work with JPGs :-( (but I think it WILL after installing MS IE 4.0x)."

This update courtesy of Yuri Khan (kukina@nioch.nsc.ru).

NOTE: This procedure also works for JPGs if you install MS Plus! Pack for

Windows 95 (retail product) on top of Win95 retail, or if you use

OSR2 or Windows 98.

95 UPGRADE INSTALL

This tip comes to you courtesy of CptSiskoX@flashmail.com. Thanks a bunch

Anthony for reminding me of this Win95 install/upgrade "bug"!

"Windows 95 Upgrade Tip

Windows 95 Upgrade will not allow you to install it unless it detects a

previous version of Windows on the hard drive (such as Windows 3.1x).

If you've already installed Windows 95 Upgrade but for whatever reason your

computer has become unusable and you must reinstall Windows 95 Upgrade, you

can do it without having to reinstall Windows 3.x, even if you have formatted

your hard drive, or used FDISK.

This will save you a lot of time and worry if you've lost your old Windows

3.1 disks or don't want to have to install Windows 3.1 simply to reupgrade.

Method 1 - Boot from a floppy disk and create a folder called C:\WINDOWS by

typing:

MD C:\WINDOWS

and then type:

COPY COMMAND.COM C:\WINDOWS\WIN.COM

and press ENTER.

Run SETUP.EXE from your Windows 95 Upgrade Disk 1 or CD-ROM and it will allow

you to install Windows 95 with no further problems.

Method 2 - Boot from a floppy disk containing EDIT.COM and create a folder

called C:\WINDOWS by typing:

MD C:\WINDOWS

and press enter. Then type in:

CD\WINDOWS

and press Enter. Type in:

EDIT WIN.COM

and press Enter. Then press ALT + F and then press X. It will prompt you to

save before exiting. Press Y to save and it will save and exit the EDIT

program and return you to the command prompt. Run SETUP.EXE from your Windows

95 Upgrade Disk 1 or CD-ROM and it will allow you to install Windows 95 with

no further problems.

As long as Windows 95 Upgrade finds a file named WIN.COM in C:\WINDOWS, it

will allow you to install it."

ADD-ON: You can also install an upgrade release of Windows 95 on a "clean"

drive (with no other Windows version present), by creating a new

file, and name it WIN386.EXE (the contents of this file doesn't

matter). Just run this command from a DOS prompt:

ECHO whatever... > WIN386.EXE

WARM BOOT

Enjoy this quick trick courtesy of Fernando Luiz Borges

(seth3@nutecnet.com.br).

"Trick to warm boot

When you see the screen "It's now safe to turn off your computer", press

Ctrl + Esc, wait 5 seconds, and press Enter. On the screen will appear a

prompt in big fonts. Type WIN and press Enter. You're done. Windows will

reboot."

AUTO ARRANGE

You can have all your open folders keep the "Auto Arrange" icons setting

turned on by default. To do this just follow these steps:

1. Open a folder, any folder.

2. Select View from the menu bar and then click Arrange.

3. Arrange the icons the way you want (by Name, Size, Type or Date).

4. Click on View and Arrange again.

5. Select Auto Arrange.

6. Press and hold Ctrl while closing the folder window.

7. The folder should now have Auto Arrange always selected.

Auto Arrange should be the default selection for all existing folders, and

also for all the ones you are going to create from now on.

To line up a folder's icons (again) by Name, Size etc, all you need to do

is click the respective "Arrange by..." icon setting.

RUN FASTER

This interesting Win9x tip was sent by CptSiskoX@flashmail.com. Have fun.

"Run faster, and with less effort:

If you choose Run under the Start Menu, you can click on the down arrow and

select any item that is already used in the list. But if your Run list is

fairly long, there's a faster way. Type the first letter(s) of the item you

want to use, then press the up or down cursor key to select the last entry

that starts with that letter (or letters)."

CD-ROM CODE - Part 1

There is a way to install Windows 95 without knowing the install CD-ROM key

(code), if you are installing Win95 on top of Windows/WfWG 3.1x (or without

having a copy of Win95 on your machine).

Start the normal installation routine: run SETUP from the cd-rom, and when

the EULA (End User License Agreement) screen shows up, do NOT press Agree (or

Accept) yet! Hold Alt and press Tab to switch to your current Windows GUI,

and search for a folder (directory) called WININST4.000 on your boot drive

(usually C:).

In this temporary Win95 installation folder you'll find a file named

SETUPPP.INI. Open it with Notepad and scroll down to the [data] section.

Modify/add the lines below to read (under the [data] header):

[data]

OEMUP=1

ProductType=1

Save the file and close Notepad.

Now hold down Alt and press Tab again to switch back to the EULA nag screen

and click Agree or Accept (depending on which version of Win95 you are trying

to install), or press Enter (click OK) to continue the installation.

Win95 will be installed without asking for your cd-rom code anymore, or

without telling you it can't upgrade an existing copy of Windows found on

your machine.

CD-ROM CODE - Part 2

The trick below appears courtesy of CptSiskoX@flashmail.com.

It refers to common Windows 95 (OSR1 and OSR2) and Windows applications

install problems, especially useful in case you lost (misplaced) the cd-rom

code (key).

"MS CD Keys

"Most Microsoft CD-ROM keys are very simple. The first three digits before

the hyphen can be absolutely anything you like. The sum of the remaining

seven digits must be a factor of 7. So you can use:

111-1111111, 222-2222222 etc."

UPDATE:

"Windows 95, Plus! and Office 95 (and others that accept 3.7 keys) will

accept 111-1111111, and Office 97 accepts 1112-1111111.

Also, it seems that SUPPORT is available for such numbers. I managed to get

Office 97 Service Release 1 after entering such a code. :-)"

This update courtesy of Yuri Khan (kukina@nioch.nsc.ru).

EXPLORE FOLDERS

When you double-click on a folder it opens (by default) showing its contents

in a separate window. To have your folders open in an Explorer view instead,

including their directory structure in the left hand pane, follow these easy

steps:

1. Start Explorer.

2. Select View -> Options -> File Types from the menu.

3. In the Registered File Types window scroll to the Folder item.

4. Highlight Folder and click Edit.

5. Highlight Explore from the Actions list.

6. Click the Set Default button.

"Explore" becomes boldfaced, designating it as the new default Action.

From now on all your folders will open in Explorer view with a double-click.

FRESH REGISTRY

If you are having problems starting Windows 95 on your machine, or believe

that your Registry files are corrupted, you can create a new Win95 Registry

without a total Win95 reinstall. All you have to do is run this command at

the real (native) MS-DOS command line (outside Win95):

SETUP /Pf

from your Win95 install cd-rom D:\WIN95 folder (change the cd-rom drive

letter if different on your machine).

This will create a new Registry from scratch (replacing SYSTEM.DAT and

USER.DAT in your Win95 folder with the new ones).

As you may have noticed the letters have to be typed in EXACTLY as shown:

capital "P" and small case "f" (don't type the quotes though).

I suggest you BACKUP your old (working) Registry files before doing this!

NOTE: Read the "95/98/NT SETUP SWITCHES" topic in TIPS95.TXT (included)

for more SETUP undocumented parameters.

CORRUPTED WIN.COM

Microsoft reported several error messages you may encounter when trying to

start Windows 9x:

"The following file is missing or corrupted: Win.com"

or:

"The following file is missing or corrupted: Win.com Program too big to fit

in memory"

or:

"Cannot find Win.com, unable to continue loading Windows",

and you are returned to the MS-DOS prompt, unable to start Windows. :(

This is attributed to a missing or corrupt WIN.COM, the Windows 9x

executable, found in your Windows folder (C:\Windows by default).

First, check for correct file size:

- Windows 95 retail and 95a OSR1 (upgraded with SP1) WIN.COM should be

22679 bytes;

- Windows 95 B/C OSR 2.0 - 2.5 WIN.COM should be 24503 bytes;

- Windows 98 and 98 SE WIN.COM should be 24791 bytes.

From the same DOS prompt screen replace the existing Win.com with a fresh

copy, by running one of these commands from your:

1. Win95, 95a OSR1 or 95 B/C OSR 2.x Setup cd-rom:

EXTRACT D:\WIN95\WIN95_03.CAB WIN.CNF

2. Win95 Setup floppy:

EXTRACT A:\WIN95_03.CAB WIN.CNF

3. Win98 or 98 SE Setup cd-rom:

EXTRACT D:\WIN98\WIN98_25.CAB WIN.CNF

Substitute the cd-rom/floppy drive letters with yours if different.

Now run this command from the folder where WIN.CNF resides:

COPY /Y WIN.CNF C:\WINDOWS\WIN.COM

Substitute the Windows 9x folder name with yours if different.

And now you're [finally :)] ready to start Windows by running:

WIN

NOTE: For more info read the "Creating a New Win.com File When You Cannot

Start Windows 95" MSKB article:

http://premium.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q136/6/30.asp

VFAT ERROR FIX!

The fix below is brought to you by Steve Hartland (steveh@panews.press.net).

Thanks a bunch for sharing! Hope we never have to use it though... :(

"Sometimes Win95 can fail to boot with a VFAT error message, this error

either halts the system asking the user to reboot or reboots automatically.

I have found a solution to the most common course of this problem:

To replace Msdos.sys with the one from your Win95 repair disk. If this is not

available, use a text editor to create one or repair the existing one.

The critical entries are those found under the [PATHS] heading. It needs to

include these valid lines (change WINDOWS with your Win95 folder name if

different):

WINDIR=C:\WINDOWS

WINBOOTDIR=C:\WINDOWS

HOSTWINBOOTDRV=C

If these settings are corrupt or missing, VFAT will fail to load, halting the

system in its tracks!"

NOTE: You can use SYS95.BAT (included) to automate Msdos.sys editing.

UPDATE:

"Looks like it can't find IFSHLP.SYS to load."

This update courtesy of Yuri Khan (kukina@nioch.nsc.ru).

START BUTTON ON THE MOVE

To move the Start button to another position on the Taskbar, follow these

steps:

1. Hold down the Ctrl key and press Esc. This brings up the Start menu.

2. Press Esc to make the Start menu disappear, but to keep it selected.

3. Press Alt + - + and M in this EXACT order: the Alt key, the Plus [+] key,

the Minus [-] key, the Plus [+] key and then the M key.

4. Press any of your 4 arrow keys: Up, Down, Right or Left.

5. Left-click your mouse anywhere on your Taskbar. Poof! The Start button will

suddenly move there.

In case you'd like to move it back to its original location, just left-click

anywhere on your Taskbar once, or drag/resize the Taskbar. That's it.

NOTE: This trick might not work on some OSR2/Win98 systems, or/and if you

installed MS Internet Explorer 4/5.

To make the Start button disappear, follow these steps:

1. Left-click on the Start button twice to highlight it.

2. Win95/OSR2 without MS IE 4/5 installed: press Alt and - in this EXACT

order: the Alt key and then the Minus [-] key.

3. Win95/OSR2 with MS IE 4/5 installed and Win98: press Alt and Space in this

EXACT order: the Alt key and then the Spacebar key.

4. All Win98/95 versions: Select Close to make the Start button go away or to

move it to the right.

NOTE: You'll have to restart Windows to make the Start button reappear.

AUTOEXEC.BAT X 2

This trick was published in PC Magazine Vol. 14, No. 19, page 527:

http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/

You can run your AUTOEXEC.BAT after the boot process is over, and execute

different command lines depending on whether you're running it during the

bootup routine or afterwards.

The principle is to implement a MS-DOS batch variable to differentiate the

lines you want to run only after bootup from those you like executed only at

startup.

All you have to do is prefix your AUTOEXEC.BAT lines that should run only at

bootup with this line:

IF "%0"==""

MS-DOS plugs a batch file name into the "%0" parameter when you execute it

from the command line, but when AUTOEXEC.BAT is processed at bootup, this

parameter is still blank.

Easier, if you have a group of command lines you'd like executed only at

startup, just insert this on a separate line before them:

IF NOT "%0"=="" GOTO AFTERBOOT

Then insert the label ":AFTERBOOT" (without quotes), on a line of its own,

after the last line in your selected group. And if you have more than one

group of such commands, use a different label for each one, e.g.

":AFTERBOOT1", ":AFTERBOOT2" etc.

SPEEED UP TCP/IP

You can speed up your Dial-Up Networking (DUN) TCP/IP connection time in

Win95, when you dial in to your ISP (Internet Service Provider) to log on

to the Internet:

1. Locate your "Dial-Up Networking" icon in Explorer, found by default in

the \Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Dial-Up Networking folder.

2. Right-click on your connection icon (the name varies, depending on your

ISP) and select Properties.

3. Select the "Server Types" tab.

4. In the "Advanced Options" screen, check ONLY the "Enable software

compression" box.

5. In the "Allowed network protocols" screen, check ONLY the "TCP/IP" box.

6. Click the "TCP/IP Settings" button.

7. Check the "Server assigned IP address" and the "Specify name server

addresses" boxes.

8. Type in your own ISP's server assigned address numbers in the "Primary

DNS" and "Secondary DNS" boxes.

9. In the "Primary WINS" and "Secondary WINS" boxes, type only zeroes.

10. Check the "Use IP header compression" and the "Use default gateway on

remote network" boxes.

11. Click OK until all dialog boxes are closed, to save all your settings.

That's it. Happy surfing!

SUPER DEFRAG

Bengt Swenson (bengt.swenson@mbox200.swipnet.se) sent me another cool tip.

Thanks a lot Bengt!

"Super Defrag:

1. Right click on "My Computer".

2. Click properties.

3. Click the Performance tab.

4. Then select virtual memory.

5. Inactivate virtual memory.

6. Click OK. Windows won't like this, but go ahead anyway...

7. Reboot the system.

8. Run "Defrag".

9. Go back to "My Computer" virtual memory and uncheck inactivate Virtual

memory.

10. Put back your own virtual memory settings (Perhaps you have done this in

"System.ini").

11. Reboot the system.

With a little luck, you'll have your "swap-file" in one place on the hard

drive, and perhaps a little more space."

ADD-ON:

To deactivate the Win98/95 swap file (virtual memory), you can also modify

your System.ini, found in your Windows folder. This way Windows won't prompt

you to reboot your computer, all you need to do is restart the GUI: Start ->

Shut down -> Restart -> OK/Yes.

But you have to REBOOT if you do this the "normal" way: open Control Panel

-> System -> Performance -> Virtual Memory... etc.

Open System.ini in Notepad, and look under the [386enh] section for these

(similar) lines (the "drive", "folder", "filename.ext" and "xxxxxx" strings

below display actual values):

PagingDrive=drive:

PagingFile=drive:\folder\filename.ext

MinPagingFileSize=xxxxxx

MaxPagingFileSize=xxxxxx

NOTE: You might NOT have ALL lines above present on your Win98/95 machine,

depending on your System's Virtual Memory (swap file) settings!

Remark them ALL by placing a semicolon (;) in front of each line.

Then create this new line under the same [386enh] section:

Paging=off

Now just restart Windows (as described above), NO need to reboot.

Defragment ALL your hard drive(s) as explained in Bengt's tip above.

When you're done, open System.ini again in Notepad, and reenable all your

old lines by erasing the semicolons (;) in front of them, and remark or

delete the new created line (Paging=off).

Restart Windows one more time. Done.

TIP for Win98 users: see the "CLEAN DEFRAG" topic in TIPS98.TXT (included).

MS-DOS PROPERTIES

Yet another cool trick from the Capt'n... Sisko (CptSiskoX@flashmail.com).

Enjoy:

"When you open an MS-DOS Prompt window, you get to Properties without using

the mouse, by using a menu that appears when you select the icon in the upper

left corner of the window. Press Alt-Spacebar to show this menu and then type

P for Properties."

UPDATE:

"This is not specific to the DOS Prompt but applies to any window, except that

most windows don't have a Properties item."

This update courtesy of Yuri Khan (kukina@nioch.nsc.ru).

ALL DRIVES SEARCH

To search all your available drives for files simultaneously, use the Windows

9x "Find Files or Folders" feature, with a twist.

Type the filename to search for in the "Named" field and then type the drive

letters you want to search into in the "Look in" field, each separated by a

semicolon (;). Example:

C:\;D:\;E:\;F:\... etc.

ACCESS DATE +|-

Michel D. (micheld@chemie.fu-berlin.de) reminded me about a little known

Config.sys command, ACCDATE, used by default by Win9x in "Safe mode". Many

thanks!

You can disable ACCDATE on all your hard drives (only in your Config.sys), to

speed up disk access a little, especially in MS-DOS modes.

NOTES: 1. For more details read the "ACCDATE" topic in CONFIG.TXT, a text

file located in your Windows 9x folder.

2. Read this MSKB article about ACCDATE problems using Windows 95:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q182/4/65.asp

3. This web page has more details on ACCDATE:

http://log.on.ca/users/rhwatson/dos7/x-accdate.html

4. There might be certain programs that require ACCDATE enabled, in

order to run properly (though I haven't found any yet)!

"Accdate

Enables/disables the recording of the last access date of a file.

The ACCDATE command can only be invoked from Config.sys.

Syntax:

ACCDATE=drive1+|- [drive2+|-] ...

+ Enables last access date recording

- Disables last access date recording

Notes:

By default, last access dates are recorded for files on hard drive(s) but not

on floppies.

When Windows 9x starts in Safe Mode, last access date recording is turned off

for all drives.

ACCDATE cannot be used to modify the status of last access date recording

when Windows 9x is running.

I am not sure when ACCDATE would be used by normal mortals. Some utility

programs (eg. Cleansweep) record when files were last accessed to provide a

basis for suggestions of files that should be considered for deletion or

archiving. Whether such programs use ACCDATE in some way, I do not know."

BRING UP THE DESKTOP! [+]

I found two fast ways to bring up the Desktop folder from underneath the

layers of all open windows, without minimizing them:

1. The permanent way: Right-click on an empty spot on the Taskbar. Click on

Properties. Select the Start Menu Programs and click the Add button. Enter

"C:\Windows\Desktop" (no quotes) on the command line. Click Next. Place this

shortcut in your Start Menu folder. Click Next and finally click Finish.

From now on you have access to all your Desktop shortcuts from anywhere, any

time: just click the Start button, and your Desktop folder will show up on

the list.

NOTE: Change the Win98/95 folder name in this example if different on your

machine.

2. The temporary way: Click the Start button, select Run, type a dot (.) and

press Enter.

MAP YOUR HOSTS [+]

You can map your machine's IP (Internet Protocol) to any valid hostname by

editing the HOSTS file located in your Win98/95 folder, to save a few seconds

every time your browser tries to access a web site.

The HOSTS file acts like a local DNS (Domain Naming System) server, translating

the domain name into an IP address.

This is the search order of Host Name Resolution over TCP/IP in Windows 9x:

1. HOSTS file

2. DNS Server

3. NetBIOS Cache

4. WINS server

5. Broadcast

6. LMHOSTS file

Example: when your browser tries to contact www.att.com, the HOSTS file changes

the URL accessed by using the servername.hostname.com UNC (Universal Naming

Convention), www.att.com in this example, into an IP numeric address

(135.145.9.134) and decreases the time taken to get there.

Generic HOSTS line:

111.222.333.44 servername.hostname.com # Web Site Name

Everything after the pound sign (#) is a comment.

By default the HOSTS file (no extension) is located in your Win98/95 folder.

Edit it with Notepad, to read the usage guidelines and then add your most

frequently visited web sites IP addresses/host names.

To get the IP address of your favorite server, let's say www.att.com, run PING,

a Networking tool, also found in your Win98/95 folder, from a DOS prompt

box/session, while connected to the Internet:

PING www.att.com

These are the IP numbers you need:

Pinging www.att.com [135.145.9.134] etc...

Copy them on a separate line into your HOSTS file:

135.145.9.134 www.att.com # AT&T Worldnet

Repeat this operation for each web site you like to add.

Restart Windows so the changes can take effect.

NOTES: 1. Do NOT rename this file: it MUST be HOSTS with no extension!

2. Don't map an IP to a name already in use for Dial-Up Networking

(DUN), i.e. your ISP's (Internet Service Provider) name!

Some web sites use dynamic IP addresses, meaning the numbers change every time

you try to access their sites. Therefore you might want to PING the same site

more than once, and then add ALL IP numbers found for that site, followed by

its host/web site name (see example above) on separate lines into your HOSTS

file.

Here are a few programs dedicated to manage HOSTS files:

- Net Lightning [NetLite is freeware]:

http://mknight.w1.net/netlightening/contents.shtml

- Legion [freeware]:

http://www.actionplus.com/products/legion/

- CIP:

http://www.radsoft.net/Gallery/CIP/

CHECK DISK

This tip comes to you courtesy of CptSiskoX@flashmail.com.

NOTE: Reboot your Win98/95 machine with the "Safe mode command prompt only"

option, and then run:

CHKDSK

Look at the amount shown as "total bytes memory". Should be EXACTLY

655,360 !

To learn how to detect boot sector viruses read this Microsoft Knowledge Base

article (applies to MS-DOS 3.xx - 6.xx and MS Windows 9x):

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q82/9/23.asp

"CHKDSK

For "Total Bytes Memory" anything other than "655,360" means a 99% chance of

a virus. You might try this from a "Safe Command Prompt Only".

On some Packard Bell systems it will return "655,264" which is normal and is

a known issue on those systems. It's better to do it from a Safe Command

Prompt Only, because real-mode drivers can cause the number to fluctuate.

If you get a number other than "655,360" from a Safe Command Prompt Only, it

means an almost certain virus infection.

This applies to Windows 3.x, DOS 5/6, Windows 95 (Retail, OSR1, OSR2) and

Windows 98."

INSTALL DOS 6

This tip comes to you courtesy of Marc Pelteret (mapelt@ilink.nis.za).

"DOS Bootup Problem

Thank you very much for the tips! (Even though you didn't give them

specifically to me.) I found them VERY useful and good. I printed out your

two Windows 95 tips texts and your registry one. They amount to 130 pages!

So, I had to convert them to size 5 to save paper!

I used your tips to put on DOS 6.22. You didn't tell me how to do it, but I

managed to figure it out. Here is how I did it (if you are interested):

1. Make a Windows 95 boot disk.

2. Either format C:, or if you have a DOS 6.22 boot disk, do the following:

a. Rename the Windows 95 COMMAND.COM, MSDOS.SYS, AUTOEXEC.BAT, and

CONFIG.SYS to *.W95 (or whatever).

b. Boot with the DOS boot disk.

c. Go on to the boot disk drive and type:

SYS C:

3. Install DOS 6.22.

4. Rename the above files to *.DOS.

5. Boot the Windows 95 boot disk.

6. Go on to the boot disk drive and type:

SYS C:

If followed 2 a-c:

7. Rename the Windows 95 files (*.W95) to their original extensions.

Finished!

Now you can do as you suggest in one of your tips and make the boot menu come

up, so that you can choose your OS."

LOOK MA, NO CD-ROM

This tip appears courtesy of CptSiskoX@flashmail.com. Many thanks Capt'n!

"Use Win95 CD files without CD-ROM:

On many systems, especially OEM systems, (direct from computer manufacturer,

or purchased at a store like Best Buy, CompUSA, or Circuit City), the computer

will come with this configuration. On the hard drive, a folder named

C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS usually exists on these types of computers. This

folder contains all of the files from the Windows 95 CD-ROM from the

"X:\Win95" folder (where X is the letter of your CD-ROM drive). You can reboot

to the Command Prompt Only (press F8 when the system displays "Starting

Windows 95..." on the screen, usually it's option 6, and type

"CD\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS" <press ENTER>. You can run SETUP.EXE or OEMSETUP.EXE

depending on what you want to do.

SETUP.EXE will install Windows 95 with Microsoft's default settings for a

standard PC.

OEMSETUP.EXE will install Windows 95 according to the settings your OEM

(Original Equipment Manufacturer) originally used when your system was fresh

from the factory. Of course, either way, you will be able to choose individual

components you want to install. OEMSETUP.EXE usually includes the "Support

Information" button and "Supported and Manufactured by" logo in System

Properties (right-click "My Computer" and choose "Properties" to see this on

your system).

Reinstalling Windows 95 will often fix a problem you might be having with the

system, and this way, it would preserve most of your existing Registry

settings, thus, making it so you didn't have to reinstall most of your

programs and re-optomize any settings you have changed.

You can delete the existing Registry files prior to running SETUP.EXE or

OEMSETUP.EXE, (do this by going to the command prompt, typing "CD\WINDOWS"

then typing "ATTRIB USER.DA* -H -S -R" and "ATTRIB SYSTEM.DA* -H -S -R" and

then "DEL SYSTEM.DA*" and "DEL USER.DA*" - caution - THIS WILL DELETE YOUR

EXISTING REGISTRY! Make sure you backup first. This will install a "fresh"

copy of Win95 onto the hard disk and create a completely new Registry, for

those times that Win95 just won't stop having problems even after reinstalling

it using the first method.

If you have OSR2 you will need to delete or rename C:\WINDOWS\WIN.* (all files

named "WIN" ending with ANY extention, such as WIN.INI, WIN.COM etc).

Otherwise you won't be able to install Win95 OSR2 again because it doesn't

like installing over a previous version of Windows.

If you are unfortunate enough NOT to have a system that has the Win95 setup

cab files in C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS, then don't worry, as long as you have a

CD-ROM drive and a Win95 CD-ROM.

Just follow the same steps, except after going to the command prompt, switch

to your CD-ROM drive and type in "CD\WIN95" and run SETUP.EXE or OEMSETUP.EXE

after following the other instructions."

RESTORE INSTALL FUNCTION

If by accident (or after a "buggy" software installation) the Install

command is disabled when you right-click on Setup Information files (.INF),

you can easily restore it.

Start Explorer, click "View", and select "File Types" (click "Folder Options"

first if you have MS IE4 with the Desktop enhancements enabled). Scroll down

to the "Setup Information" item. Click the "Edit" menu (or double-click on

"Setup Information"), and then select "New". In the "Action" box type:

Install

In the "Application used to perform action" type:

Rundll.exe Setupx.dll,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132

Leave the "DDE" box unchecked. Click OK to close all dialog boxes.

From now on you have the "Install" option available again whenever you

right-click on an .INF file.

To alternatively restore the "Open" and "Print" commands for .INF files,

repeat the steps above, typing in the "Action" box: Edit (for the "Open"

function), and: Print (for the "Print" function). In the "Application used

to perform action" box, you need to type:

Notepad.exe

for "Open", and:

Notepad.exe /p

for "Print".

All other steps are identical.

WINKEY WITHOUT WIN95 KEYBOARD

Another good tip from the Captain (CptSiskoX@flashmail.com). Thanks a bunch!

"Add a Windows Key to your keyboard

If you wish you had a Windows Key on your keyboard but you don't, and you

don't want to shell out money for a new keyboard when your existing one is

perfectly fine, then make one. All you must do to complete the operation is

the Keyboard Remap Kernel Toy and your Right Ctrl or Right Alt key.

You can download the Kernel Toy for keyboard remapping at:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows95/downloads/contents/wutoys/w95kerneltoy/

Just click the Windows 95 Keyboard Remap link. Download the file to any

location of your choice, then open Keyremap.exe to extract its contents.

Right-click the Keyremap.inf file and select install.

Next, open the Control Panel, open Keyboard properties, and select the Remap

tab. Under Right-hand Side, select the key you want to use--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. To test it

press the key you used once and the start menu pops up."

TIP: Read the "MS NATURAL KEYBOARD" topic in TIPS95.TXT (included) for a

list of keyboard shortcuts using the Windows key.

IE HOT KEYS [+]

Microsoft Internet Explorer 3/4/5 useful keyboard shortcut "combos":

- F4 = Open URL Address/History command line menu

- F5 = Reload current web page

- F11 = Toggle between full screen and windowed menu screen

- ESC = Stop loading of current web page

- HOME = Go to top of current web page

- END = Go to bottom of current web page

- Page down or SPACE = Scroll down one screen at a time

- Page up or SHIFT = Scroll up one screen at a time

- ALT + Left Arrow = Back to previous web page

- ALT + Right Arrow = Forward to next web page

- CTRL + B = Open Organize Favorites menu

- CTRL + D = Open Add to Favorites menu for current web page

- CTRL + H = Open History folder

- CTRL + L = Open new web page

- CTRL + N = Open new browser window

- CTRL + O = Open new location

- CTRL + P = Print current web page or highlighted text

- CTRL + R = Reload current web page

- CTRL + S = Save current web page to disk

- CTRL + W = Close active browser window.

QUICK FIX 95

With so many Win95 upgrades/patches/fixes/etc Microsoft "blessed" us with,

that you need to download and install over and over in order to keep your

system in top "shape", no wonder if you get confused trying to keep up to

date, and determine which ones you have already applied, and which ones you

still need.

But Microsoft has made our "computing" lifes a little easier [:-)] by posting

the Windows 95 Update Information Tool, available for free (94 KB):

http://support.microsoft.com/download/support/mslfiles/QFECHKUP.EXE

QFE = Quick Fix Engineering (filename QFECHECK.EXE). QFECHECK searches

through the entire Win95 Registry and your Windows and Systems folders, and

then reports its findings. If an updated file is missing, or if a mismatch

occurs between the version stored on the disk and the information in the

Registry, the Update Information Tool lets you know, marking the "culprit"

in red.

QFE can also accurately determine your Windows 95 version and core files

version/build (i.e. Kernel32.dll, User.exe), especially if you upgraded by

installing a patch or fix, so you know exactly which Win95/OSRx release

you're currently using.

QFECHECK.EXE is installed in your Win95 folder.

For more details, read the Microsoft "Windows 95 Update Information Tool"

Knowledge Base article:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q145/9/90.asp

98/95/NT SETUP SWITCHES [UPDATED 7|30|98] [+]

If you try to install Windows 95/98 from a DOS prompt, SETUP allows several

command line switches, also available to their Windows based counterpart.

Run (Win95 Setup screen shown below):

SETUP /?

"Setup Options: SETUP [/C] [/IL] [batch] [/T:TMP] [/IM] [/ID] [/IS] [/IQ] [/IN]

/C Instructs Setup not to load the SmartDrive disk cache.

/IL Loads the Logitech mouse driver instead of the Microsoft mouse

driver. Use this option if you have a Logitech Series C mouse.

[batch] Specifies the name and location of the file that contains

Setup options.

/T:TMP Specifies the directory where Setup will copy its temporary

files. If the directory doesn't exist, it will be created.

WARNING: Any existing files in this directory will be deleted.

/IM Skips the memory check.

/ID Skips the disk-space check.

/IS Doesn't run ScanDisk.

/IQ Skips the check for cross-linked files.

/IN Runs Setup without the Network Setup module.

Note: The /a and /n options are no longer valid. Use NETSETUP.EXE instead."

NEW Setup switches added by Windows 98:

/ie Bypasses the Startup Disk Wizard. The %windir%\Command\EBD folder and

the Emergency Boot Disk are not created.

/ih Skips the registry check.

/iv Skips the display of billboards during an upgrade setup within

Windows.

UNDOCUMENTED SETUP SWITCHES:

/ip Bypasses detection of undocumented plug and play devices.

/ir Bypasses detection of system CMOS/BIOS.

/iw Bypasses Microsoft EULA licensing screens/dialog boxes.

[EULA = End User License Agreement].

"SETUP /iw" switch courtesy of groetz@tiac.net.

/NTLDR Bypasses existing Operating System detection.

By default OEM/VAR Win95/NT full releases can be installed ONLY on

a new PC, without ANY previous OS, but this switch allows SETUP to

circumvent this "problem".

Also: create a new file in the root directory of your boot drive (size

doesn't matter) and name it NTLDR, with no extension.

/P Allows usage of additional switches after "/P" to detect/view/log

eventual errors. Multiple /P switches MUST be separated by a

semicolon (;). Example:

/P b;f;g=3;i;p

Valid values:

b = enables the "Prompt Before" mode, allowing step-by-step manual

device detection. Default is disabled.

f = enables "Clean Registry" mode: creates a NEW Registry from

scratch before starting hardware detection. Ignored if SETUP runs

in GUI mode. Default is disabled.

READ the "FRESH REGISTRY" topic (included) for more "SETUP /Pf" details.

g = 0 - 3 = controls the level of progress bar display. Maximum

level is 3, showing all detected devices resources. Default is 0.

i = bypasses detection of plug and play BIOSes/devices not listed

in MACHINE.INF. Default is disabled.

j = installs ACPI support. [Windows 98 ONLY!]

HINT: You might need to reconfigure the printer port in your BIOS to make

ACPI work properly on your Win98 system!

p = enables performance timing logged in DETLOG.TXT. Default is

disabled.

/N Runs SETUP without using a mouse.

/nm Bypasses internal processor detection, to allow Win95/98 install on

systems that do NOT meet Microsoft minimum requirements (i.e. 386,

486SX etc). Works especially for Windows 98!

"SETUP /nm" switch courtesy of Ojatex (Ojatex@aol.com).

/d Bypasses usage of installed Windows configuration (ignores settings

in existing SYSTEM.INI, WIN.INI etc).

/m Bypasses playing of Setup sounds (.WAV).

/na Bypasses Windows/MS-DOS program check. Valid values:

0 = Default.

1 = Windows programs not checked, MS-DOS programs blocked.

2 = MS-DOS programs not checked, Windows programs blocked.

3 = Windows and MS-DOS programs not checked.

/nd Bypasses MIGRATION.DLL settings and forces Windows 98 to overwrite

newer files (USE WITH CAUTION!). Files that use .INF file ",,,32"

flag force Windows 98 SETUP to keep newer versions.

/nf Bypasses prompt to remove floppy disk from the drive. Used for

bootable CD-ROMs. Same as:

1. BOOTCD file present in the cabinet folder.

2. "BootCD=1" line present in MSBATCH.INF.

/nh Bypasses running HWINFO.EXE at 0 percent files and RunOnce.

/nx Bypasses SETUPX version check.

Last 6 undocumented SETUP switches courtesy of Captain Sisko

(CptSiskoX@flashmail.com).

NOTE: Also read these Microsoft Knowledge Base articles to learn

everything about the "official" SETUP switches:

1. "Windows 95 Setup Switches":

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q128/4/00.asp

and:

2. "Description of the Windows 98 Setup Switches":

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q186/1/11.asp

Not all these SETUP parameters work with all Windows releases. Try them all

out to see which ones are valid in your case.

98/95 SYSTEM FOLDERS [UPDATED 7|13|98] [+]

Create a new folder on your Desktop or in the Startup folder with the

following exact name:

Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

It should look like the normal Control Panel icon you see when you open My

Computer (not a shortcut!). Right-click on the Start button on the Taskbar,

and left-click on Open. Move the new folder you just created to the Start

Menu folder. Close the Start Menu folder.

From now on, when you click on the Start button, you should see the Control

Panel icon.

You can do the same with ALL System Folders:

Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

Dial-Up Networking.{992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48}

Printers.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}

Inbox.{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}

My Computer.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

Recycle Bin.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

Network Neighborhood.{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}

Desktop.{00021400-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}

Briefcase.{85BBD920-42A0-1069-A2E4-08002B30309D}

Fonts.{BD84B380-8CA2-1069-AB1D-08000948F534}

FUN TIP: To get the hidden Windows 95 Easter Egg folder on your Desktop,

create a new folder called:

The Microsoft Windows 95 Product Team!.{869DADA0-42A0-1069-A2E7-08002B30309D}

UPDATE: "New MS IE 4/5 + Windows 98 system folders:

ActiveX Cache Folder.{88c6c381-2e85-11d0-94de-444553540000}

Dial-Up Networking.{a4d92740-67cd-11cf-96f2-00aa00a11dd9}

Internet Cache Folder.{7BD29E00-76C1-11CF-9DD0-00A0C9034933}

Internet Mail.{89292102-4755-11cf-9DC2-00AA006C2B84}

Internet News.{89292103-4755-11cf-9DC2-00AA006C2B84}

Microsoft Outlook.{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}

Subscriptions.{F5175861-2688-11d0-9C5E-00AA00A45957}

Url History Folder.{FF393560-C2A7-11CF-BFF4-444553540000}

MS IE 4.0x folder:

Internet Explorer.{FBF23B42-E3F0-101B-8488-00AA003E56F8}

MS IE 5.0x folder:

Internet Explorer.{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}

NOTE: It is not recommended to put these shortcuts in the Start menu because

of the long list of files that usually follows. This may/may not work

on Windows 98/NT systems."

This update courtesy of Robert J. Pendell (pensoft@yahoo.com).

DEFAULT BROWSER

To replace Microsoft Internet Explorer 3/4/5 with Netscape

Navigator/Communicator 4.xx/5.xx:

http://www.netscape.com/download/

as your default web browser, follow the steps below:

1. First EXIT COMPLETELY ALL your Netscape internet browser instances.

2. Right-click on your desktop Internet (Explorer) icon, select Properties,

and click the Programs tab.

3. Uncheck the "Internet Explorer should check to see if it's the default

browser" box.

4. Open the PREFS.JS plain text file with Notepad and change the string:

user_pref("browser.wfe.ignore_def_check", true);

to read:

user_pref("browser.wfe.ignore_def_check", false);

It is set to "true" if you answered "no" to the default browser

confirmation prompt the first time you ran Netscape 4/5.

PREFS.JS is located in the \Program Files\Netscape\Users\Username subfolder

(default Netscape 4/5 installation). \Username has the name of the e-mail

account you typed in when you first installed Navigator/Communicator.

5. Now start Netscape Navigator/Communicator 4.xx/5.xx and answer "yes" to

the confirmation prompt asking if you want to select it as default browser.

NOTE: You may also need to apply the fixes described in these topics:

"DEFAULT BROWSER - Part 1" and "DEFAULT BROWSER - Part 2" in

REGISTRY.TXT (included) to make this trick work properly.

CAPTAIN SISKO'S QUICK TIPS

These three quick tips come to you courtesy of Captain Sisko

(CptSiskoX@flashmail.com). Enjoy.

"1. NEW FOLDER VIEW:

If your View Options are set to Browse Folders Using a Single Window for

Each Folder, you can open an additional window for the folder by holding

CTRL while you double click.

2. DRAG AND DROP ACTION:

Before you "drop" a drag and drop operation, look at the lower left corner

of the icon you're moving. This will tell you what the default action will

be: a plus means copy, an arrow means a shortcut will be made.

3. LIST ALL FILES IN DOS:

To find a file in MS-DOS mode, use ATTRIB. Type: ATTRIB FILENAME /S. This

will list the path your file is in. You can use wildcards and redirection.

To find all the jpegs on a PC from MS-DOS mode and to save the result to a

floppy disk type:

ATTRIB *.JPG /S > A:\JPEGLIST.TXT"

BAD MEMORY? [+]

Because of the more agressive way Windows 95 or 98 access the computer's

memory (RAM = Random Access Memory), your RAM chips might not last as long as

expected, especially if you bought generic, cheap and/or unreliable RAM, a

while back.

Faulty RAM can give you a major headache. You can get intermittent, random or

frequent error messages at bootup, or your machine won't even start!

Usually the audible beeps during the BIOS/CMOS bootup POST (Power On Self

Test) routine can help in detecting the problem, but you need to find out

from your computer's documentation what exactly those beeps mean.

Read this BIOS Survival Guide page for POST bootup error messages details:

http://www.lemig.umontreal.ca/bios/post.htm

If you got a PC within the last 3 years, there is a good chance you are using

SIMMs (Single Inline Memory Module) or DIMMs (Dual Inline Memory Module). No

matter your memory type: EDO, FPM, ECC, SDRAM etc, power spikes or outages,

especially on computers not protected by surge protectors or backup power

supply units, inadequate room temperature (too hot), insufficient

case/CPU/motherboard ventilation/cooling, inproper/long lasting CPU/bus

overcloking (by increasing the voltage over factory preset values), computing

habbits (some leave their machines on 24 hours a day), can all contribute to

shortening your RAM chips life.

TROUBLESHOOTING:

1. The first step you should take when you suspect bad memory, is to open

your PC case (you need to be a little familiar with your computer's "guts" to

attempt this, so you know how your RAM looks like), pull out ALL memory chips

and clean them with a dry cloth. To do this properly, you MUST FIRST power

off and unplug your PC. Then you MUST "ground" yourself (using an antistatic

grounding cable) to avoid nasty static discharges, that may DAMAGE your

computer's electrical components!

Then reseat them and make sure they "snap" in firmly.

2. If this doesn't work, remove one chip at a time and then reboot each time,

on systems that operate without a minimum or even number (2, 4 etc) of RAM

chips, to see if the error messages are gone.

On systems that take RAM modules only in pairs, remove one pair at a time (if

you have more than 1), and restart your machine.

3. Another way is to use a diagnostic software tool. These are usually

expensive, targeted to computer building/repair/testing businesses.

If you are fortunate to own (or have access to) such a program, run it

continuously for at least 12-24 hours, to get accurate results.

This DOS utility performs a thorough RAM test [6 KB, freeware]:

ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/msdos/memutil/nmi.zip

4. A cheap (read "free") and "hands off your PC" troubleshooting method is to

add/modify this line (using Notepad):

MaxPhysPage=hexadecimal-page-number

under the [386enh] section of your SYSTEM.INI file (located in your Windows

folder), to isolate the amount of memory used by Windows, no matter which

version you have: 9x or 3.xx. Most 80386, 80486 and all Pentium class (and

above) CPUs make use of RAM in 4 KB (4096 Bytes) pages. That's exactly what

"MaxPhysPage" does: limits the number of RAM pages available to Windows. This

way you can tell EXACTLY how much RAM Windows accesses, and if THAT memory is

defective.

Example: to force Windows to use only the first 4 MB (MegaBytes) of RAM, this

line must read:

MaxPhysPage=3FF

Save your changes and restart Windows (which is valid every time you make

changes to SYSTEM.INI).

If the GUI (Graphical User Interface) comes back OK, try to perform some

routine tasks. If everything looks good, modify the MaxPhysPage line again to

read:

MaxPhysPage=7FF

This setting tells Windows to use only the first 8 MB of RAM.

Similarly, this line:

MaxPhysPage=FFF

limits Windows to the first 16 MB of RAM.

Repeat the steps above every time you changed the MaxPhysPage line.

The "Specifying Amount of RAM Available to Windows Using MaxPhysPage" MSKB

article lists all possible values for limiting Windows memory:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q181/8/62.asp

5. The more drastic solution (if everything else fails) is to buy more RAM,

again, one chip at a time, and restart your computer each time to test it.

ALL your RAM chips MUST be of the same type, and you MUST get the RIGHT RAM

type (SIMM, DIMM etc) for your motherboard (read your system documentation

FIRST)!

Check out these web sites to learn about RAM types and flavors:

- Tom's Hardware RAM Guide:

http://www.tomshardware.com/ram.html

- System Optimization Memory page:

http://www.sysopt.com/memory.html

- Ars Technica RAM identification page:

http://www.arstechnica.com/paedia/r/ram_id-1.html

- Crucial Technology page: identify basic RAM modules:

http://www.crucial.com/library/memorymodid.asp

And while you're at it, I recommend you get MORE memory [no more excuses, they

are so cheap now :-)]. 32 MB of RAM is a good start, 64 MB is even better, and

128 MB SDRAM is today's "sweet spot" (especially if using Windows 98/NT4), to

give Windows more physical RAM (faster operation) to "play" with, instead of

spinning that disk to access the slower virtual memory (swap file).

FIND YOUR ISP'S MTU [+]

This Windows 98/95 Dial-Up Networking (DUN) MTU optimization tip appears

courtesy of Ryan Sutton (rsutton@usit.net). Many thanks!

"MaxMTU - Does your ISP tell you what it is when you log on?

A little tip that some may find useful.

I have discovered that my Internet Provider "tells" me, everytime I log on,

what "their" MaxMTU is, and have discovered that, although it may not be

standard for the entire world net, provides the quickest times for me when

connecting to them.

If your ISP's tech support won't (can't *gasp*) tell you what MTU they use...

To "See" the MTU setting, I perform this once a month, just to make sure my

ISP's MaxMTU hasn't changed.

When I use a Terminal window (instead of PAP) to log onto my ISP, after

choosing the correct menu choice for PPP, I get these three lines...

Entering PPP mode.

Your IP address is (my static IP)

MaxMTU is 1524

As you can see, this tells me what MTU my ISP uses.

I do not know if every ISP has this same feature, but it may help others in

testing to get the fastest speed over a Dial-Up connection.

If you feel this might be useful to your site's visitors, you can add it.

Please feel free to modify it in anyway you wish.

This isn't copyrighted material, just a tip that I thought might help SOME.

Due to the many ways ISPs use login procedures, including only PAP

authentication, it may not work.

I know NETCOM uses, instead of just the username at the "Username:" prompt...

something like this (not exactly sure of the middle)...

Username: protocol,2 letter country code,username

IE, Mine would be...

Username: ppp,us,rsutton

If YOUR ISP doesn't give you "Shell" access, this procedure WILL NOT work!

* Proper steps for using a Post-Dial Terminal window in Win98/95 DUN.

(There are other ways, this is the most common):

- Double/left-click "My Computer".

- Double/left-click "Dial-Up Networking".

- LEFT click ONCE on the connection icon you wish to monitor.

- RIGHT click ONCE on same icon.

- Choose Properties from the popup menu (shows up after above step).

- Here, a configuration screen will appear, from this screen, click on the

"Configure" button below the "Connect using... (your modem here)" area

towards bottom.

- From next window that pops up for the Modem Properties, there will be an

"Options" tab towards the top, select that tab.

- Select the "Bring up terminal window after dialing" box in the "Connection

control" heading box.

- Click "Ok".

- Click "Ok" once again.

- Either double-click the same icon to dial, or use the software that

normally dials this connection for you.

- After going through your normal connection procedure, and if connected, a

"Black" window will appear.

- A prompt asking for your Username should appear.

- Username: <- type your username, press Enter.

- A prompt asking for your Password should appear.

- Password: <- type your password here. Press Enter.

Most times, NOTHING will be seen when typing it, trust your fingers, watch

them as you type it.

- A menu should appear, from this menu, choose your connection type... IE:

1. PPP

2. SLIP

3. CSLIP

Choice ? <- Here, I would press 1 and press Enter.

Then I get...

Entering PPP mode.

Your IP address is (my static IP)

MaxMTU is 1524

Voila! My network's (ISP) MTU.

- Press F7 to continue with normal connection if all goes well, OR...

Press the Cancel button, and set your MTU settings using EasyMTU, reboot,

then reverse the procedure to deactivate the terminal window."

NETWORKING TIPS [+]

The following networking tips have been sent by Brian Kemp (bkemp@hn.pl.net).

Many thanks!

"A. If you are setting up an Ethernet network between two or more PCs and find

that you can only "see" your own PC on the network, i.e. in Network

Neighborhood, don't give up.

First: Make sure that you have the correct protocol installed (as MS nonhelp

files always mention), I use both NetBEUI and IPX/SPX successfully.

Second: Check, using a resistance meter, that the terminating resistors are

of approx 50 ohms resistance, if not, then replace.

Third: Double-check, using any form of continuity checking device (i.e. an

ohmmeter), that there are no breaks or shortages in your Ethernet

cable.

B. On a slightly different note, if you are trying to setup two different

networks on the same PC, don't despair, it can be done using Windows 95.

I have a dual Network running, that comprises 7 PCs: 5 on Ethernet and 3 on

Token Ring (1 PC runs both as a "router", sort of). 2 of the Ethernet PCs are

running Win98, 2 are running Win95, and the last is running Win3.11, while

the Token Ring has 2 Win95 PCs and 1 Win3.11 PC. The PC that is the router is

running Win95a, not Win98 (which I have been informed is pathetic at

networking), with the IPX/SPX protocol installed for the Ethernet adaptor

only, while NetBEUI and TCP/IP are installed for both adaptors.

With this setup the router can see all 7 PCs on the network (which includes

itself), but the Ethernet section can't "see" the Token Ring section and vice

versa."

STAC COMPRESSION [+]

Undocumented!

You must be using a 56 kbps modem to connect to the Internet and Dial-Up

Networking TCP/IP (Point to Point Protocol) in Windows 98/95 for this to work.

Microsoft provides STAC compression for use with analog connections.

This applies to users connected to ISPs that support "STAC for analog",

especially to ISPs using Livingston PM3 units and supporting 56 Kbps access

(but not necessarily valid in all cases).

STAC compression can increase your modem performance.

To enable STAC compression:

1. Click Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Modems, and select your modem

from the list. Click Properties -> Connection -> Advanced. Uncheck the

"Compress data" box under "Error control". Click OK until you exit the Control

Panel and restart Windows. Some users may need to disable error control

completely for this to work!

2. Now call your ISP's tech support voice number (usually toll free) and ask

if they support STAC compression. If they do, click the flashing modem lights

icon in the Taskbar, after connecting to the Internet (using Dial-Up

Networking), and then click the Details button. It should display a message

that STAC is currently running. If it's not present, then it is not supported

by your ISP. :(

In this case, reenable modem error compression, by following the steps at

paragraph #1 above, and check the "Use error control" and "Compress data"

boxes, to use your modem's built-in hardware compression (default).

IDENTIFY "NO NAME" CARDS [+]

This useful tip comes to you courtesy of Asrepka (asrepka@suffolk.lib.ny.us).

Many thanks!

"Here's another way of finding out who made your no name modem or other add-on

cards for your PC. Open up your computer case, and take out the no name card.

Write down the FCC ID number on the card. Plug the card back in and close up

your machine. Go to the following web site:

http://www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid/

Type in the FCC ID number, and then search their database. You will know now

who made your no name card and then you can search the web for updated

drivers."

EXTRA ASCII CHARACTERS [+]

Another cool tip sent by the Captain (CptSiskoX@flashmail.com). Enjoy.

"You aren't limited to just the number of characters (letters, symbols and

numbers) on your keyboard. In fact, you could have dozens of characters you

never knew about. Example:

The above is what you get if you hold down ALT and press 3 or 4 numbers on

your numeric keypad.

These are known as ASCII characters, useful for putting in non-standard

keyboard characters and symbols for various purposes. Most of them should work

in Wordpad, MS Word and other text editors as well, such as EDIT.COM (MS-DOS

program)."

NOTES: 1. Notepad (and similar plain text editors/viewers, including

EDIT.COM, the MS-DOS mode text editor) cannot display properly some of

the extra ASCII characters above. Therefore I recommend using a better

text editor or your favorite word processor to type/read/print them.

2. The standard ASCII (American Standard Code for Information

Interchange) characters and symbols keyboard code combos are listed in

MSDOSDRV.TXT (the ANSI.SYS section), a text file located in your

Windows folder (Windows 98/OSR2/95 users). Similarly, MS-DOS 6.xx

users can run the HELP command from any DOS prompt, and then read the

ANSI.SYS section to access the ASCII codes.

3. The Character Map tool (Charmap.exe) included with all Windows/WfWG

releases, and found in the Windows directory, shows the key code

equivalent for each character supported by the installed fonts.

UPDATE:

"There is a freeware replacement called Extended Character Map [189 KB]:

http://aritechdev.hypermart.net/ecm.htm

It gives a larger rendering of each character in a particular font and a large

preview of a selected character. It's useful for small screen users, and those

of us who must squint at the Windows version to make out the characters."

This update courtesy of Ojatex (Ojatex@aol.com).

NETSCAPE ACTIVEX FOR IE 4/5

Try this kool free Microsoft Internet Explorer 4/5 add-on, courtesy of Captain

Sisko (CptSiskoX@flashmail.com).

"Netscape ActiveX control:

http://home.netscape.com/smartupdate/su_tuneup.html

for MS IE 4.0x/5.0x adds "What's related" feature, better keyword browsing,

and some extra functionality from Netscape 4.6x to IE. Freeware."