Windows 98 Tips #30



*1. INTRODUCTION TO TASK SCHEDULER         
     
Ever wonder what that little red, white, and blue icon in the
 tray of your Taskbar does (the one that looks like a window
 with a red clock on it)? It means that the Task Scheduler, a
 utility that runs maintenance routines such as ScanDisk, is
 currently active. To view the routines currently scheduled to
 run, double-click this icon. 

Don't see the Task Scheduler icon? You can open Scheduled Tasks
 by selecting Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools,
 Scheduled Tasks. If you wish to make this utility run whenever
 Windows 98 starts, select Advanced, Start Using Scheduled Tasks
 (inside the Scheduled Tasks window). 

In our next tip, we'll show you how to add and delete
 scheduled tasks.


*2. TASK SCHEDULER: ADDING AND DELETING TASKS         
     
In our last tip, we introduced the Task Scheduler, a utility
 that runs maintenance routines, such as ScanDisk and Disk
 Defragmenter, according to a specified schedule. To open the
 Scheduled Tasks window, double-click the Task Scheduler icon in
 the tray of your Taskbar; if you don't see the icon, select
 Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Scheduled Tasks,
 and then select Advanced, Start Using Scheduled Tasks. 

Want to customize the task list? To add a new routine to the
 list, click the Add Scheduled Task item, click Next, and wait as
 the wizard compiles a list of options. Select an application,
 such as Disk Defragmenter, click Next again, and follow along to
 set up a schedule for the task. Click Finish, and the new task
 appears in the Scheduled Tasks window. Repeat these steps for
 each task you'd like to add to the list. 

To delete a task from the list, right-click it and select Delete.
 When you're finished adding and deleting tasks, close the
 Scheduled Tasks window. Then, as long as Windows and the Task
 Scheduler are running at the time for which tasks are
 scheduled, this little helper will run them for you.


*3. TASK SCHEDULER: CHANGING TASKS         
     
In the first tip in this series, we introduced the Task
 Scheduler, a utility that runs maintenance routines, such as
 ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter, according to a specified
 schedule. (To open the Scheduled Tasks window, double-click
 the Task Scheduler icon in the tray of your Taskbar; if you
 don't see the icon, select Start, Programs, Accessories,
 System Tools, Scheduled Tasks, and then select Advanced, Start
 Using Scheduled Tasks.) In our last tip, we showed you how to
 add or delete tasks. (To add a task, click the Add Scheduled
 Task item and follow along with the wizard; to delete a task,
 right-click it and select Delete.) 

You can also modify the settings for any task in the list.
 Right-click the task you'd like to change and select Properties.
 In the resulting dialog box, use the settings on the Schedule
 And Settings tab to adjust the task's behavior, then click OK.
 Repeat these steps for each task you'd like to modify, then
 close the Scheduled Tasks window.


*4. TASK SCHEDULER: DISABLING TASKS         
     
In the first tip in this series, we introduced the Task
 Scheduler, a utility that runs maintenance routines, such as
 ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter, according to a specified
 schedule. (To open the Scheduled Tasks window, double-click the
 Task Scheduler icon in the tray of your Taskbar; if you don't
 see the icon, select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools,
 Scheduled Tasks, and then select Advanced, Start Using
 Scheduled Tasks.) 

Is there a task in the list you'd like to disable without
 deleting it entirely--so you don't have to re-create it if you
 decide to use it again? Inside the Scheduled Tasks window,
 right-click the task and select Properties. On the Task tab,
 deselect Enabled and click OK. Back in the Scheduled Tasks list,
 you'll see the word Disabled in the Schedule and Next Run Time
 columns for that task. (To enable the task again, go back and
 select the Enabled option.) 

Want to disable every task in one fell swoop? Right-click the 
 Taskbar's Task Scheduler icon and select Pause Task Scheduler.
 (To turn it back on, right-click the icon and select Continue
 Task Scheduler.) 

In our next tip, turning the Task Scheduler off altogether...


*5. Before You 'Del' That DLL

If you've ever wondered which DLL files a program uses, here's
 how to find out: Right-click on the executable file and select
 QuickView. In the QuickView file, find the Import Table
 category. You'll see a list of DLLs the file uses, with
 additional details below the name of each DLL.


*6. DISABLE TASK SCHEDULER ENTIRELY         
     
Reader F. Watters writes, "I am running Windows 98 and want to
 get rid of the Task Scheduler in my System Tray. I have disabled
 everything and still it sits there doing nothing. How do I get
 rid of it?" 

Double-click the Task Scheduler icon, and in the resulting
 window, select Advanced, Stop Using Task Scheduler. Close the
 Scheduled Tasks window, and this utility will no longer run
 at startup.


*7. GET YOUR DESKTOP IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT         
     
Can't seem to get in the holiday spirit? There are loads of 
 holiday-related screen savers, desktop themes, clipart, and so
 on, available for download off the Internet. For example, point
 your Web browser at 

http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/0,1392,,00.html 

and search under the keyword "Christmas." There must be something 
 there to get you ho-ho-ho-ing! Other sites you may wish to try: 

http://www.winfiles.com/apps/98/ 

http://www.softseek.com/Desktop_Enhancements/ 

http://www.rad.kumc.edu/win95/themes.htm 
 (for desktop themes only)


*8. WHAT TO DO WITH DOWNLOADED WALLPAPER AND SCREEN SAVERS         
     
In our last tip, we pointed you to some Web sites for downloading 
 holiday-related desktop elements such as screen savers, desktop 
 themes, and clipart. One way to find these files is to search
 for the keyword "Christmas" at 

http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/0,1392,,00.html 

Once you've downloaded what you want, you'll need to know what to
 do with it. Assuming you end up with a *.zip file (and you will,
 in most cases), use an unzipping utility to open the resulting
 ZIP file. If it's an *.exe file, double-click it to extract its
 files. Then follow these steps: 

For wallpaper: Extract or move any *.bmp files to your Windows
 folder. >From now on, you can apply any of the new wallpapers
 using the Display Properties dialog box: Right-click the
 desktop, select Properties, select a wallpaper on the Background
 tab, and click OK. 

For screen savers: Extract or move the *.scr file(s) inside your 
 Windows folder. From now on, you can apply the screen saver(s)
 using the Display Properties dialog box: Right-click the
 desktop, select Properties, and click the Screen Saver tab.
 Select the screen saver you'd like to use (and adjust the delay,
 if necessary), then click OK. 

(Note: The above instructions apply to the majority of downloads; 
 however, there will be exceptions. For example, some downloads
 include a setup program to install the item for you. When in
 doubt, look for a readme.txt file.) 

In our next tip, we'll show you the techniques for using files
 for startup/shutdown screens and desktop themes.


*9. Clear Control Panel Clutter

If your Control Panel is cluttered with icons you don't need,
 clean it up. In the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory, you'll find a
 corresponding CPL file for each Control Panel item. Move the
 ones you don't want to a safe place on your hard disk. When you
 open Control Panel, those icons won't appear.


*10. WHAT TO DO WITH DOWNLOADED STARTUP SCREENS AND DESKTOP THEMES         
     
In a recent tip, we pointed you to some Web sites for downloading 
 holiday-related desktop elements such as screen savers, desktop
 themes, and clipart. One way to find these files is to search
 for the keyword "Christmas" at 

http://www.pcworld.com/fileworld/0,1392,,00.html 

Once you've downloaded what you want, you'll need to know what to
 do with it. Assuming you end up with a *.zip file (and you will,
 in most cases), use an unzipping utility to open the resulting
 ZIP file. If it's an *.exe file, double-click it to extract its
 files. Then follow these steps: 

For startup/shutdown screens: Extract or move the files inside to
 the appropriate directory: Logo.sys belongs in the root
 directory; logos.sys and logow.sys belong in the Windows folder.
 (Tip: Rename the originals first, so you don't overwrite them.) 

For desktop themes: Extract or move the contents to the Program
 Files\Plus!\Themes folder. From now on, you can select the theme
 from the Desktop Themes dialog box: Open the Control Panel
 (select Settings, Control Panel from the Start menu),
 double-click Desktop Themes, and select the new theme in the
 Theme list. Assuming you like the preview that appears, click OK
 to apply it to your desktop. 

(Note: The above instructions apply to the majority of downloads;
 however, there will be exceptions. For example, some downloads
 include a setup program to install the item for you. When in
 doubt, look for a readme.txt file.)
