Windows 98 Tips #45


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*1. Cool Close Trick

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


*2. Build Your Own 'Show Desktop

If you accidentally delete the Show Desktop shortcut from
the taskbar's Quick Launch toolbar, you can restore it by
going to C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft
\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch. Create a new text file
with the following contents:

[Shell]
Command=
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop

Save the file as SHOWDESKTOP.SCF. This will restore
the shortcut.


*3. Run through desktop icons fast

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


*4. Universal Command Line

One of Win98's most powerful hidden gems is a universal 
command line. From here you can launch programs, open 
folders, go to Web sites and more. Right-click on the 
taskbar and select Toolbars/Address. When the Address 
box shows up on your toolbar, click and hold on the word 
Address and drag it to the top of your Desktop. Right-click 
on it and select Always on Top. Now, when you maximize 
applications, they'll expand between your Address bar at the 
top and your taskbar at the bottom.


*5. Monitor System Performance

System Monitor (C:\WINDOWS\SYSMON.EXE) lets you 
track an array of performance measures for your system and 
network. You can save the results to a text log.


*6. Every Window Is an FTP Client

Type an FTP address in the Address box of any 
Explorer view to go to the site and use the window 
as an FTP client.


*7. Bring Order to Shortcuts

If you drag and drop a file onto the Start button, Win98 
and the IE 4.0 Windows Desktop Update add a shortcut 
to the top of the Start menu. But if you just drag the file 
over the Start button without dropping it, the Start menu 
will open and you can position the new shortcut exactly 
where you want it. You can also hover over submenus 
to open them and then drop the shortcut.


*8. No More Boring Shortcuts

It's easy to change shortcut icons. Although this tip 
applies to Win9x, it works better in Win98, because 
Microsoft added to and refined its icon library. To change 
the icon for a specific shortcut, right-click on it, choose 
Properties, then click on the Change Icon button in the 
Shortcut tab. Enter C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SHELL32.DLL in 
the File Name box, and select an icon from those in the palette. 
You can also use the Browse button to search through ICL, DLL, 
ICO and other files on your hard drive that may contain icons. 
Click on OK to change to the new icon.


*9. Save Desktop Real Estate

Too often desktops get cluttered with shortcuts to applications 
and documents as well as documents. For the ones you use 
often and need quick access to, move them to the Quick Launch 
area located on the taskbar. Right click the icon and drag it to Quick 
Launch, release and  choose the appropriate option (move, copy 
or create shortcut). Keep your Task Bar on top and now you have
quick access to your application and documents
 -- Submitted by John F. Comes


*10. AutoComplete

You probably already know about the AutoComplete feature in
the IE4 browser's Address box, but did you know it works for
local folders as well? Start to type the pathname to the
folder you want to open, and AutoComplete will guess. Once it
guesses the right one, stop typing and press Enter.
