Win98 includes an updated Dial-Up Networking utility, which will allow the profile to run immediately without your having to click ok at the 'Connect To' window. You simply open Dial-Up Networking, choose settings from the connections menu, and then disable "Prompt for info before dialing" by clearing the check mark.
For Win95
users...you can download the Dial-Up Networking 1.3 Upgrade install file by clicking here... Msdun13.exe or by surfing over to Microsoft Win95 Support to read about and obtain the install file there. Then apply the above tip.
Sometimes it would be easier for the user to create a new message without having to open Outlook Express, which usually takes some time to load.
Many documents can be created by simply right clicking on the desktop, pointing to new and selecting the document type you wish to create. You can do the same thing with e-mail messages by
doing the following things:
1. Open the registry editor (regedit.exe).
2. Go to the hkey_classes_root\.eml key.
3. Under that key create a new one named shellnew.
4. Create a new string value (right click on an empty place in the right panel, then select new | string value) called command.
5. Double click that value and in the value data edit box type: "explorer.exe mailto:" (without the quotes).
You should now see an option named Outook Express Mail Message under the new submenu.
Ever notice how if you open an explorer window, what it displays by default is different depending on what method you used to start it? For
example, if you right-click on My Computer and select "Explore" the window will open with "My Computer" highlighted. The same happens if you use the shortcut win-e (hold the Windows key and
press "e"). However, if you go to the Start Menu and click start/programs/Windows explorer, it will open up with the c: drive highlighted and already expanded.
How does this happen? And more importantly, how can we use this for our own purposes?
The answer is that there is a specific program used to open these Windows, and it has command line parameters that can be used to direct its behavior when started. The "program" is
c:\Windows\explorer.exe and the parameters and command format are:
explorer.exe {/n,} {/e,} {options} {folder}
Where:
/n - specifies that explorer should open a new window (not normally used, only needed if you start explorer from within explorer)
/e - opens the folder in expanded view
options - you have two choices here:
/root - specifies that the topmost folder in the new explorer window should be the folder specified immediately after this option
/select - shows the folder specified's parent folder
folder - any folder you want explorer to open with, such as c:\ or d:\mp3\darwilliams
Knowing this, you can create normal desktop or Start Menu shortcuts to your favorite folders! In fact, if you look at the shortcut properties for the "Windows Explorer" entry on the Start
Menu, you'll see it is set as c:\Windows\explorer.exe /n,/e,c:\
This setting allows you to customize Internet Explorer by using your own window title. For example you could rename ie to 'My Browser' or
anything else you like!
Open your registry and find the two keys below.
[hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\internet explorer\main] and
[hkey_users\.default\software\microsoft\internet explorer\main]
Create a new string value for each key called (Window Title), or modify the existing value, to equal the title you would like.
Note: delete the value of 'Window Title' to change the title back to the default.
Registry settings:
key: [hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\internet explorer\main]
value name: window title
data type: reg_sz
Cascading menus are menus on the Start Menu that duplicate certain folders. They respond to right clicks. For example right clicking the Recycle
Bin has the option of empty Recycle Bin while right clicking an item in the Recycle Bin has the option of restore.
To Create Cascading Menus Do The Following:
Add the following directories to the c:\Windows\start menu"
Control Panel.{21ec2020-3aea-1069-a2dd-08002b30309d}
Recycle Bin.{645ff040-5081-101b-9f08-00aa002f954e}
Scheduled Tasks.{d6277990-4c6a-11cf-8d87-00aa0060f5bf}
URL History.{ff393560-c2a7-11cf-bff4-444553540000}
Internet Cache.{7bd29e00-76c1-11cf-9dd0-00a0c9034933}
Subscriptions.{f5175861-2688-11d0-9c5e-00aa00a45957}
Internet Explorer.{3dc7a020-0acd-11cf-a9bb-00aa004ae837}
Active X Controls.{88c6c381-2e85-11d0-94de-444553540000}
Add the following directories to c:\Windows\start menu and c:\Windows\sendto
Printers.{2227a280-3aea-1069-a2de-08002b30309d}
A Command To Exit Windows 9x.
This can only be used to shutdown, not restart or exit to MSDOS. to exit to MSDOS type exittoMSDOS which runs the pif file of the same name. place command in a shortcut or batch file.
c:\Windows\rundll32.exe user.exe,exitWindows
Restart Windows
To restart Windows copy exit to dos.pif (the pif part is hidden) and copy and rename it to Restart Windows. Edit the program sheet in the properties change the command line to:
c:\Windows\command.com /c exit
Make sure close on exit is checked. On the advanced dialog check use current MSDOS configuration to exit and restart Windows without rebooting. Check warn before entering MSDOS mode if
confirmation is required before exiting and restarting. MSDOS mode must be checked.
An alternative way is to use the exitWindowsexec function. This exits to MSDOS to run a program, but as no program is given Windows restarts. Type into a shortcut or start - run dialog
box.
c:\Windows\rundll.exe user.exe,exitWindowsexec
Shut Down Dialog Box
This reg file will set the default choice in the shut down dialog box. Windows 95b and IE4 remember the last setting chosen, so to set the default for these versions (rather than the last
action) add the following command line to c:\Windows\winstart.bat (create winstart.bat if necessary). Remember to use the short file name.
regedit c:\path to reg file\shutdown.reg or this command line to a shortcut and put it in the startup folder.
regedit /s c:\path to reg file\shutdown.reg
regedit4 [hkey_current_user\software\microsoft\Windows\currentversion\explorer] '1=first choice in dialog box, 2=second choice, ect. "shutdown setting"=dword:00000001
Via The ShexitWindowsex
Using the user.exe and user32.dll exit Windows functions doesn't allow any control over what type of shutdown is preformed as parameters aren't passed, they operate as if 0 is passed - which
is shutdown for exitWindows and logoff for exitWindowsex. An undocumented function shexitWindowsex in shell32.dll which is what Explorer seems to use does take parameters.
rundll32.exe shell32.dll,shexitWindowsex [optional number in hex]
ewx_logoff 0
ewx_shutdown 1
ewx_reboot 2
ewx_force 4
ewx_poweroff
for machines that turn off their own power 8
These values can be added together, eg, 5 is shutdown and force applications to close and an implicit logoff.
Note their is no restart without rebooting. This requires a parameter of 42 (hex) to be passed to exitWindows in user.exe. This can't be done from the command line. See tip above for a work
around.
This tip allows the printing of a directory listing to a printer or text file.
Copy the following line into a new text document and call it printdir.bat. save it in a folder of your choice, c:\Windows\command would be a good choice.
@dir /a /v %1 > prn
Or use this command line to list to a text file on the desktop,
@dir /a /v %1 >> c:\Windows\desktop\filelist.txt
a single > replaces the file while a double >> adds to the file.
Right click this file and choose copy. Type sendto in the start - run dialog box. Click a blank area and choose paste shortcut.
Right click the new shortcut and choose properties. On the program tab click close on exit. Press ok. Press F2 and rename the shortcut to what you want it to say in the send to
menu.
Windows 95 is not Y2k compliant! If you plan to continue
using the operating system beyond New Year's Eve '99, download the
latest Windows 95 Y2k fix by going to:
HTTP://WWW.MICROSOFT.COM/Windows95/DEFAULT.ASP
and then click on the appropriate link for the 2000 Patch.
Hands down one of the most useful tools in Windows 98. It lets you see all of the devices attached to your computer, and which resources they
are each using. You can access it by double-clicking on the System icon in Control Panel, and selecting the Device Manager tab. It is also accessible by right-clicking on My Computer, selecting
Properties, and selecting the Device Manager tab. Getting to the Device Manager...this can require up to six mouse clicks, but there is an easier way.
Open an Explorer window, and select your Start Menu folder (under your Windows directory). It doesn't have to go here, but it's as good a place as any.
Select new and then shortcut from the file menu.
In the field labeled command line, type c:\Windows\control.exe sysdm.cpl, system,1 (replace c:\Windows\ with your Windows 98 directory, if different).
Click next, type Device Manager for the name of this shortcut, and press finish when you're done.
There will now be a shortcut directly to Device Manager in your Start Menu.
If you are tired of seeing the Windows Warning Message (the one that says "Modifying The Contents Of This Folder Can Be Dangerous To Your
Health") every time you hit the Windows folder in Explorer then get rid of it. Here's how:
- This file is a system file and needs to be unhidden. Go to View\Folder Options\view and check the box marked "Show All Files". click ok and hit the F5 key to refresh your system.
- Now in the Windows directory look for a file called folder.htt and remove it. The warning is now gone.
Other folders such as Dial-Up Networking and My Computer contain the the same type of templates but there location is c:\Windows\web. View the folder and remove any templates you do not
want.
For those that are having problems with Windows 98 shutting down, it seems MicroSoft has finally heard our cries and has posted a fix which you
can download from:
Would you prefer to show your shortcuts without the arrow in the bottom left hand corner? This tip will show you how to change the arrow icon or
remove it completely.
Open your registry and find the key below.
Create a new string value called '29', or modify the existing value, so that the data equals the icon you want to use for the shortcut arrow. If you don't want an icon simply leave the
value blank.
Note: Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
For example, the setting may look like:
(Default)
(value not set)
29
"c:\icons\icon.ico,0"
Registry Settings:
Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons] Value Name: 29 Data Type: REG_SZ
Some registry changes require you to restart Windows before they are enabled. This tip lets you reinitialize your registry and refresh your
desktop without having to leave your current Windows session.
Save your work before attempting this tip!
Press CTRL + ALT + DELETE, to bring up up the Windows task list. Highlight 'Explorer' and click on 'End Task', if the Shutdown screen is shown, click 'Cancel'. After a few seconds an error
message will popup, click on 'End Task and the Windows Explorer will be reloaded along with any NEW registry settings.
Create a new shortcut (right
click on your Desktop, select New, then Shortcut)
Browse to C:\Windows\Application
Data\Microsoft\Welcome\Weldata.exe
Click Open,
Next, then Finish.
After that,
right click on the shortcut and pull up its Properties.
At the end of
the Target string after the quotation mark, skip a space and add the following text:
You_are_a_real_rascal--
then select Minimized from the Run drop-down menu and
click Apply then Close.
Your Windows
98 Easter Egg shortcut is ready to doubleclick, rock & roll!
1. Open up Notepad
2. Type "<!-- introducing the Trident team -->" (no
quotes)
3. Save the file as "test.htm" (it must be saved as an
HTM file)
4. Open up "test.htm" in IE 5
Are you tired of all those forwarded e-mails? How about those >>>>>'s?
Having to open 20 some odd differnet e-mails to finally get to the one with the intended information in it only to find that it was a joke you had recieved 2 weeks ago? Well there is a solution...If you use Outlook Express as your e-mail program, highlight the culprit e-mail and then press and hold the CTRL key then tap your F3 key. This will open a tiny window with all the source info in it. Here you can scroll all the way through the e-mail until you find the intended information for easy reading without having to open those gazillion separate messages. Read it then delete it.
Another e-mail annoyance is the dreaded >>>>>'s in the message from all the replys handed down from e-mail reader to e-mail reader...by the time it makes it to your inbox there are more >>>>>'s than jokes! So I have found a great little program that you can download and install which takes them all out of the message and puts it back into it's original state (The way it was first typed!). Now you can send off the forwarded e-mail in an unoffensive state...
The program is called eCleaner. The following was taken from a e-news letter where I found it.
{Strip
extraneous garbage from e-mails} By now, you've heard of a utility called
'The Cleaner.' No? Well, this is the same program; it sports a new name as
well as other small enhancements. Situation: you get a forwarded e-mail
message with a zillion '>' symbols in it. Solution: copy/paste the entire
message into this program. On top of stripping out the 'greater thans,' it'll
get rid of the carriage returns made in the middle of sentences.
It sparkles!
Use Windows Update Without Registering(Windows 98)
Windows Update is a handy feature of Windows 98, having to register your personal details before being able to use it isn't as good! With this tip you can bypass the registration process.
Open your registry and find the key below.
Create a new string value called 'RegDone', or modify the exisiting value, to equal '1'.
Check that the key [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Welcome\RegWiz] exists, if it doesn't then create a new key.
Next time you run Windows Update it shouldn't ask you to complete the registration process.
Registry Settings:
Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion] Value Name: RegDone Data Type: REG_SZ Data: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)
e-news letter where I found it.