Windows 9X Tips #19


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*1. Get System Info On Paper

Right-click on the My Computer icon and select Properties from the
 context menu. Click on the Device Manager tab, then the Print button.
 Select the "All Devices and System Summary" radio button, then click on
 OK. This will give you more information about your hardware, IRQs,
 ports, memory usage, devices and drivers than you ever wanted to know.
 Keep this printout handy for future reference.


*2. Automate Disk Maintenance

The Win98 Maintenance Wizard (Start/Programs/Accessories
/Systems Tools) will make your programs run faster, check 
your hard disk for problems and free up hard disk space by 
auto-running Disk Defragmenter, ScanDisk and DiskCleanup 
according to a schedule you set. If you leave your 
computer on, you can schedule maintenance at off-hours 
(such as midnight to 3 a.m.) to minimize downtime during 
work hours.


*3. Launch Explorer Windows Faster

Did you know you can open any folder icon as a two-paned 
window with a navigation tree? Just right-click on the 
folder and choose Explore. You can launch any folder as an 
Explorer window by holding down the Shift key and 
double-clicking on the folder. If you really just prefer the 
two-paned Explorer windows, you can make that type of window 
open by default: Open any folder and choose View/Options 
(or Folder Options under IE4/IE5/Win98/NT). Choose the File 
Types tab. Select Folder and click on Edit. Under Actions, 
highlight Explore. Click on Set Default. The Explore entry 
becomes bold, making it the default operation for a 
double-click. If you want to reverse the setting, follow 
the same steps, but highlight Open instead of Explore.


*4. A Shorter History

Save disk space by reducing the number of days IE saves 
pages in your History list. The fewer days you specify, 
the less space your system uses. Access the History list 
settings under Tools/Internet Options.


*5. Fixing "File Not Found," Part One

It's not uncommon in Windows to encounter a "File Not Found"
error while booting up. The message indicates that a particular
file-usually a DLL or VXD-is missing. Chances are, the file was
improperly removed when you uninstalled an application. The file
may be gone, but one or more lines in your System Registry or
SYSTEM.INI could still be trying to load it. To fix the problem,
reboot and note the exact name of the errant file. From the
Windows taskbar, select Start/Find/Files and Folders to search 
forthe missing file. If you find it, copy it to your WINDOWS or
WINDOWS\SYSTEM folder. If you think you might have moved or 
renameda program folder, make a new folder with the old name, 
and copythe offending file there. Reboot and see if the message
goes away.


*6. Fixing "File Not Found," Part Two

If you don't find the file, you must find a reference in your
Registry or SYSTEM.INI to a program that no longer exists on
your system. Use the Registry Editor's search function to find
the filename, then use Notepad to open and search SYSTEM.INI
for the same file. When you find any references to the file,
carefully note where it is and the exact settings in case you
have to reinstate it, then delete the references. (Back up your
Registry before making any changes.) Also check the
WINDOWS\STARTUP folder for any shortcuts that call the file, 
and delete them.


*7. Skip the Shut Down Dialog

You can skip the Shut Down Windows dialog that
pops up each time you choose Start/Shut Down. First,
create a new shortcut and add
C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE User,ExitWindows
to the command line. Name, save and store the shortcut 
in an easily accessible location (your QuickLaunch bar is
a good place). When you launch the shortcut in the future,
Windows will shut down, no questions asked. (If an
application is open, you will be asked if you want to
save any open files.)


*8. Registry Refresh Shortcut

Some Registry changes require restarting Windows before the
changes take effect. However, there's a way to reinitialize
your Registry and refresh your Desktop without fully restarting
the OS. Save your work, then press Ctrl+Alt+Del to bring up
the Windows task list. Select the Explorer entry and click on
End Task. If the Shutdown screen appears, click on Cancel. After
a few seconds an error message will appear. Click on End Task,
and Windows Explorer will reload with any new Registry settings.


*9. Find Your Path

Here's a trick for finding out the path of a file: Launch the
Run command dialog (Start/Run), clear the Open box by hitting
the Backspace key, and then drag and drop the file of your
choice into the Open box. Windows will type the full path of 
the file into the box.


*10. Boxed In

You can select groups of icons or folders on the desktop or
within folders by clicking outside the body of icons and, while
holding the left mouse button, dragging a rectangle to surround
all the icons you want to select, then letting go. You can then
move, copy or delete them en masse.
