Computing Basics #2



*1.   STOP THE AUTOPLAY 

January 11th, 1999 

Windows 95's CD AutoPlay feature automatically runs any program file it 
finds on any CD-ROM disk you insert in your CD-ROM drive. This is great 
when you WANT to run the program file on the CD-ROM. But suppose you're 
inserting the CD-ROM for some other reason--for example, you want to 
access a clip-art or fonts file that's also on the CD-ROM. Then AutoPlay 
becomes AutoAnnoy, forcing you to wait while the program on the CD runs 
and then shut it down yourself. 

Next time you want to insert a CD-ROM without running it, try this: 

1. Hold down the Shift key. 
2. Insert the CD-ROM in your CD-ROM drive. 

Your CD-ROM will be inserted, but it won't play. 


*2.   G-U-I SPELLS GOOEY 

January 12th, 1999 

Ever heard the term GUI and wondered what it meant? (Just in case you're 
curious, the acronym is pronounced 'gooey'). Written out the long way, GUI 
stands for Graphical User Interface. A GUI is an interface that allows you 
to communicate with your system by using graphical elements, such as windows 
and menus. Clearly, Windows is a GUI. DOS, on the other hand, is not a GUI; 
it requires lots of typing to get what you want and is definitely 
picture-less (ick). 


*3.   STOP THE AUTOPLAY, FOR GOOD 

January 12th, 1999 

Last time we told you how to stop a CD-ROM from autoplaying as you insert 
it. But if AutoPlay REALLY bugs you, you can shut it off for good, as 
follows: 

1. Open ANY file folder window (if you like, just double-click the My 
   Computer icon on your desktop). 
2. From the folder window menu, choose View + Options. 
3. Click the File Types tab. 
4. Under Registered File Types, select AudioCD. 
5. Click the Edit button. 
6. Under Actions, the word "Play" should be displayed in bold. Click Set 
   Default to unbold it. 
7. Click Close and then click OK to remove all dialog boxes. 

-From now on, your CD-ROMs don't AutoPlay. If you'd like to turn the 
feature back on, repeat the steps and make the word "Play" bold again 
(Step 6). 


*4.   BABY, BABY, WHERE DID MY FONT GO? 

January 13th, 1999 

You've installed a desktop theme from your shiny new Microsoft Plus! CD, 
from the Web. Then, perhaps nostalgic for your old desktop, you deleted the 
theme. But what's this? NOW YOU'RE MISSING A FONT OR TWO. 
W'happened? 

When you delete a desktop theme, Windows 95 automatically deletes all fonts 
used by the theme. So, for example, if your deleted theme used Garamond, 
it's good-bye Garamond. How do you fix things? By reinstalling the font, 
as follows: 

1. Find the disks for the program or font pack from which you originally 
   installed the font. 
2. Click Start and choose Settings + Control Panel. 
3. In the Control Panel window, double-click Fonts. 
4. Choose File + Install New Fonts. 
5. Use the Folders and Drives boxes to specify the location of the disk 
   containing the fonts; then, in the List of Fonts box, select the missing 
   fonts. 
6. Click OK. 

-From now on, when you tire of a desktop theme, don't delete it--just 
switch to another. 


*5.   THE BEST OF BOTH OPERATING SYSTEMS 

January 14th, 1999 

Hey, DOS jockeys! Say you're working in a Windows 95 DOS window, and you'd 
like to see a list of the files in the current directory. You COULD type 
the old directory command (dir) or even the dir /p command so that you can 
page through the files in the directory. But how cool would it be if you 
could access a Windows-style folder window right 
from within your DOS screen, thereby enabling you to enjoy all the 
conveniences (such as scrolling) that a folder window allows? Here's all 
you have to do: 

1. At the DOS prompt, type "start" (without the quotes), followed by a 
   space, followed by a period. 
2. Press Enter. 

A folder window for the current directory appears. (Note: Typing two 
periods instead of one opens a folder window for the parent folder of the 
current directory--much easier than backing out of a directory the DOS way.) 


*6.   ALL SYSTEMS GO 

January 15th, 1999 

Every Windows 3.x user should have a system disk. A what? Okay, let's back 
up a second. A system disk is a disk that you can use to boot your 
system--or get to a command prompt--just in case something inside your PC 
goes haywire and it can't get there by itself. 

To make a system disk: 

1. Place a floppy disk (formatted or not, empty or not) in your floppy 
   drive (assumed to be drive A). 
2. Open File Manager (it's in Program Manager's Main group) and choose 
   Disk + Make System Disk. 
3. Click Yes to confirm. 
4. Now just wait a few minutes as Windows formats the disk and then fills 
   it with some MS-DOS operating-system files. 
5. When you're done, put the disk in a safe place. 

Oh, and one last thing. If you ever can't start your system, turn your 
computer off, pop the system disk in your floppy drive, and then turn the 
computer back on--and hope that someone who can help you from there is 
close by! 


*7.   PROMPT ENTRY 

January 15th, 1999 

Today we offer another example of DOS and Windows 95 working hand in hand: 
Suppose you're working in DOS and you need to enter a path and filename 
into a command, but the path is LONG, LONG, LONG. Instead of working your 
way through the directory structure in DOS, try this: 

1. Click Start. 
2. Choose Programs + Windows Explorer. 
3. In Explorer, navigate to the file in question. 
4. Drag the file to the location in the DOS screen where you want to enter 
   the file path and name. 

Windows automatically types the file's full path and name for you! Man, 
where was this feature five years ago!?! 


*8.   GET THE VIEW YOU WANT 

February 2nd, 1999 

When you play a video file in Windows 95, sometimes the size of the video 
player screen is too small for comfortable viewing; other times, it's too 
large to display a sharp picture. And if you've ever tried to change the 
size of the screen with your mouse, you know how hard it is to do THAT 
without warping or distorting the picture. 

So next time your video screen isn't the size you like, remember these 
keystrokes: 
- Press Ctrl + 1 to change the screen to original size--the size at which 
  the video file was designed to be played. 
- Press Ctrl + 2 to enlarge the screen to twice original size. 
- Press Ctrl + 3 to enlarge the screen to four times original size. 
- Press Ctrl + 4 to enlarge the screen to cover the entire desktop. 

19.   FOREVER HOLLYWOOD 

February 3rd, 1999 

Most video files are short and fast--which means that you usually want to 
play them a few times per viewing. You can set your Media Player options to 
make replaying easier or even automatic: 

1. Click Start. 
2. Choose Programs + Accessories + Multimedia + Media Player. 
3. Choose File + Open, navigate to the file you want to play,
   and click Open. 
4. Choose Edit + Options. 
5. Select Auto Rewind to have the video rewind itself after it finishes
   playing OR select Auto Repeat to play the video in a continuous loop,
   until you stop it. 
6. Click OK. 

Now click the Play button and enjoy your film a few times. 


*10.   YOUR ADDRESS BOOK AT YOUR FINGERTIPS IN MICROSOFT EXCHANGE 

February 4th, 1999 

Maybe it's just us--we ARE a tad inattentive, after all--but there's 
something about the Address Book button on the Microsoft Exchange toolbar 
that's HARD TO FIND. Luckily for us--and for you, if you share our 
problem--there's a way to get to the Address Book without clicking a darn 
thing: 

Press Ctrl + Shift + B. 

That's fast, mouse-free, and easy to remember ("b" for book, after all)
--our favorite kind of shortcut.
