Windows 98 Tips #33



*1. MICROSOFT BACKUP: RESTORING FILES         
     
In the first tip in this series, we introduced Microsoft Backup, a 
utility that allows you to create backups of important files, such as 
data files. To create a backup job, select Start, Programs, 
Accessories, System Tools, Backup; then follow along as the wizard 
walks you through the creation process (select Create A New Backup 
Job, click OK, and so on). 

Now that you've got this backup file (*.qic), how can it help you? 
Scary thought, but let's suppose your system just crashed and you lost 
all your data files. Once--or should we say, if--you get the system up 
and running again, select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, 
Backup. Select Restore Backed Up Files, click OK, then select the 
location of the *.qic file you want to restore (for example, a tape or 
zip drive). Click Next, and the wizard will walk you through the rest 
of the restoration process. Now imagine if you hadn't backed up those 
files...


*2. MICROSOFT BACKUP: INVOKING WIZARDS         
     
In the first tip in this series, we introduced Microsoft Backup, a 
utility that allows you to create backups of important files, such as 
data files. To create a backup job, select Start, Programs, 
Accessories, System Tools, Backup; then follow along as the wizard 
walks you through the creation process (select Create A New Backup 
Job, click OK, and so on). 

If you find yourself inside the Microsoft Backup window wishing you 
could use the wizard to create a new backup job or restore files, 
don't waste time exiting Backup and reopening this utility to make the 
wizard appear. You can invoke the wizard at any time. Inside Microsoft 
Backup, pull down the Tools menu and select Backup Wizard or Restore 
Wizard; or click the Backup Wizard or Restore Wizard icon.


*3. MICROSOFT BACKUP: RUNNING TOTAL OF BACKUP JOB         
     
In the first tip in this series, we introduced Microsoft Backup, a 
utility that allows you to create backups of important files, such as 
data files. To create a backup job, select Start, Programs, 
Accessories, System Tools, Backup; then follow along as the wizard 
walks you through the creation process (select Create A New Backup 
Job, click OK, and so on). 

As you're selecting files, folders, and drives for a particular backup 
job, you may wish to see a running total (size-wise) of the items 
you've selected so far. Select View, Selection Information, and watch 
the resulting dialog box for file and byte estimates. 

(Note: This option is not available from within the Backup Wizard. To 
bypass the wizard and create a backup job manually, open Microsoft 
Backup, click Close, and use the options on the Backup tab.)


*4. MICROSOFT BACKUP: PASSWORD PROTECTION         
     
In the first tip in this series, we introduced Microsoft Backup, a 
utility that allows you to create backups of important files, such as 
data files. To create a backup job, select Start, Programs, 
Accessories, System Tools, Backup; then follow along as the wizard 
walks you through the creation process (select Create A New Backup 
Job, click OK, and so on). 

If a number of people use your system (and Microsoft Backup), you'll 
probably want to protect your important backup jobs from unwanted 
changes. On the Backup tab, select the job you want to protect, then 
click the Options button in the lower-right corner of the window. 
Click the Password tab, select Protect This Backup With A Password, 
and type a case-sensitive password of up to eight characters. Press 
Tab, type the password again, then click OK. 

One more thing: Don't forget to write the password down somewhere. Now 
no one can back up files to, or restore files from, this job without 
the password.


*5. SHRINK THE START MENU         
     
If you add a lot of shortcuts and folders--say, more than seven--to 
your Start menu, an arrow appears at the top so you can scroll up to 
the entries that don't fit on screen. To avoid all that cumbersome 
scrolling, make your entire Start menu smaller. Right-click a blank 
area of the Taskbar, select Properties, select Show Small Icons On 
Start Menu, then click OK.


*6. TEMPORARILY DISABLE AUTOPLAY         
     
These days, most systems with a CD-ROM drive offer AutoPlay, so that 
when you insert a CD-ROM into the drive, it plays automatically (or 
opens in a window, as in the case of the Windows 98 installation CD). 
However, sometimes you may not want AutoPlay to do its thing--for 
example, if you insert an audio CD you don't want to play until later. 
To prevent AutoPlay from kicking in, simply hold down the Shift key 
after inserting the CD. (Tip: Hold Shift for as long as it normally 
takes for the CD to start playing.) Later, to play the CD, open any 
Explorer window, right-click your CD-ROM drive, and select Play.


*7. PERMANENTLY DISABLE AUTOPLAY         
     
In our last tip, we showed you how to disable your CD-ROM drive's 
AutoPlay feature temporarily: After inserting a CD, hold down Shift 
for as long as it normally takes the CD to start playing. Never liked 
AutoPlay anyway? Well then, disable it. 

Right-click My Computer and select Properties to open the System 
Properties dialog box. On the Device Manager tab, click the plus sign 
next to CDROM and select your CD-ROM drive. Click the Properties 
button, select the Settings tab, and deselect Auto Insert 
Notification. Click OK, then click Close and restart Windows 98. The 
next time you insert a CD in that drive--nothing.


*8. OPEN ALL FOLDERS IN TWO-PANED EXPLORER VIEW         
     
Reader J. Kolberg writes, "I read with interest your recent tip on 
applying view options globally [open any folder window and set the 
desired viewing options; select View, Folder Options; select the View 
tab; click the Like Current Folder button; click Yes to confirm; then 
click OK]. However, what I'd like to do is make every folder open with 
a double-paned window. Is there a way to do this?" 

Actually, doing what you've asked involves a bit more work. Open any 
Explorer window and select View, Folder Options. Click the File Types 
tab, and under Registered File Types, select Folder (NOT File Folder). 
Click the Edit button, and in the Actions box, you'll notice that 
"open" appears in bold. In this same box, select Explore, then click 
the Set Default button. Click Close twice, and the next time you 
double-click a folder, it will open in a two-paned Explorer view. And 
of course, you can still open a folder in a single-paned window by 
right-clicking it and selecting Open. 

(Note: If you think you might want to revert to the default 
single-paned view, be sure to read the next tip before following the 
above technique. It'll take some Registry editing to get things back 
to normal.)


*9. REVERTING TO SINGLE-PANED EXPLORER VIEW         
     
In our last tip, we showed you how to make all folders open in a 
double-paned Explorer view by default: Open any Explorer window; 
select View, Folder Options; click the File Types tab; under 
Registered File Types, select Folder (NOT File Folder); click the Edit 
button; in the Actions box, select Explore (you'll notice that Open is 
currently the default); click the Set Default button; and click Close 
twice. 

Want to switch back to the default single-paned view? If you follow 
the steps above to make the Open (rather than Explore) action the 
default again, everything will appear to be functioning 
normally--EXCEPT double-clicking a folder in the right pane of a 
two-paned Explorer window now displays its contents in a separate 
window. To undo this behavior, you'll need to edit the Registry. 
(Note: As always, back up your Registry files--System.dat and 
User.dat, hidden files in your Windows folder--before proceeding.) 

Open the Registry Editor by selecting Start, Run, typing 

regedit 

and clicking OK. Navigate your way to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell. 
In the right pane, right-click '(Default)' and select Modify. On the 
Value Data line, delete the word "Open" and click OK. Close the 
Registry Editor. Double-clicking a folder in the right pane of an 
Explorer window will now display the contents inside that pane.


*10. RIGHT-CLICK TO MINIMIZE WINDOW         
     
In the past, we've mentioned that you can minimize any open window by 
pressing Alt-Spacebar-N. But now let's suppose you're a mouse person 
(or your hand is already on the mouse). Right-click the Taskbar item 
of the window you want to minimize and select Minimize. It's a lot 
less strenuous than reaching up to that caption button (in the 
top-right corner of that window).
