Windows 98 Tips and Tricks

courtesy of Sounds Good Productions

Defragging Tips and Tricks

In addition to defragging, the Windows 98 Disk Defragmenter can place the files for your most frequently used programs at the front of the disk for faster access. It manages this trick by keeping a log file to identify which applications you use the most. If the list has changed since the last time you defragmented, reordering the files may slow down the process.

If you want to check the setting for this feature or turn it on or off, start Disk Defragmenter by choosing Start|Programs|Accessories|System Tools|Disk Defragmenter. If you start it through the Properties dialog, the utility will immediately start defragmenting the disk. But if you go through the Start menu, you'll see the Select Drive window first. Choose the Settings button, and you can check the option labeled "Rearrange program files so my programs start faster."
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Speeding up the Defragging

Windows 98 will let you work with programs while Disk Defragmenter is running, but it's better to close all programs, avoid your computer, and go out to lunch. Depending on your disk capacity and performance, how much data is on it, and how fragmented it is, Disk Defragmenter can take hours.

If you try using the computer while the utility is defragging your hard disk, you'll only slow the process down. In fact, if you set Disk Defragmenter to show details, and you keep an eye on the status line as you work in another program, you'll see that every time you do anything that writes a change to disk, Disk Defragmenter will report that the disk's contents have changed, and it will restart the defragging process. The simple thing is: You'll get your PC back faster if you leave it alone.
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Using Paint To Convert Graphic Formats

In Windows 98, the new version of Paint allows you to quickly convert between BMP, GIF and JPG graphics formats. Doing so is very simple, open a graphic file in the usual way, then click the File menu and choose Save As. Select the desired format from the "Save As Type" drop-down list and click Save.
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Quick Restart For Windows

To just restart windows go to the restart option as normal but when it asks to confirm depress your shift key and then click yes. This will simply restart windows (like it sometimes does when you install certain drivers) and will load much faster then rebooting your computer.
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Quickly Minimize All Windows

Did you know just how easy and fast you can minimize all the windows you have open? Just RIGHT CLICK on the taskbar and then go to "Minimize All Windows".
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Composing E-Mails Without Having Outlook Express Open

First you have to create a shortcut on your desktop.  For the command line, type "C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\Msimn.Exe" /mailurl:%1.  Once you have finished the shortcut drag it to the quick launch menu. Now when you click on this icon - a new message will appear and you won't even have to have Outlook Express running to do it - it's just like clicking a link on a webpage.
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Saving Favorites Folder

Some people like to just reinstall windows by doing the "Deltree" command on the Windows directory. Here is how to simply save your favorites folder before doing so. Go to "C:\Windows\" Right click on your FAVORITES FOLDER and then select COPY - next go to the folder you would like to back-up the Favorites into, then Right click in the folder and press PASTE.
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Adding Programs To Favorites

You can place links to programs such as - DUN dialup, a telnet app, an Msmail remote mail dial-in. You can also link to any folder on your driver so you can get there even quicker.
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Show Me the Desktop

If you accidentally delete the Show Desktop shortcut from the taskbar's Quick Launch toolbar, here's how to restore it: In 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 put the shortcut back on your Quick Launch toolbar.
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Save Your Search Engine

You can change the default Web search engine that IE 4.0 opens when you select Find/On the Internet from the Start menu. Run Regedit and open the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main key. Double-click on SearchPage and in the Value Data box, enter the URL of the search engine you want.
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Creating Your Own Icons

So, you want to create your own icons? Actually custom icons is easier than you thought. First, open up paint. Next, select Image, Attributes. Then change both width and height to 32

Paint your new icon and make sure you leave the background white. Next, save the file with an .ico extension. Now, to use your own icons, right-click any shortcut and select Properties. Select the Shortcut tab and click on the Advance Settings button. Type in the full path of where your icon is situated. You can now use your own icon!
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Capturing Screenshots

Perhaps still one of the most interesting keys on your keyboard is the Print Screen key. It can actually take a snapshot of your what's on your monitor and send it into your clipboard. OK, to test this, just press the Print Screen button on your keyboard (next to the Scroll Lock key). You should see your mouse cursor blink once. This is the clue that your snapshot has been taken. Open up Paint and see if the Paste option is available. Then you can paste your image and save it as a file.

The other way to do this is to use the Alt+PrintScreen combination. The difference between these 2 is that Alt+Prinscreen will only capture the current active item on your desktop. For example, instead of taking the whole picture of your desktop, it will only snap your current active application such as your word processor, notepad or Explorer window. The taskbar and other objects won't in the snapshot.

When you are taking a snapshot, the mouse cursor won't be shown in the picture. Also, if you are taking a picture of menus, use the Print Screen only option because pressing the Alt will close the menu.

If you want to take a video or live animation on the desktop, try Microsoft Camcorder which is included in your Office 97 CD. It can record it into an .AVI format file.
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Speedier Swap Files

The swap files or what windows term as "Virtual Memory" is actually using the hard drive space when the actual RAM runs out. You don't usually have to bother with since Windows can handle the Virtual Memory by itself. However, tuning up the swap files might speed up things a little. Double-click the System icon in Control Panel. Click on the Performance tab and on the Virtual Memory button. Select Let me specify my own virtual memory settings. By default, the drive selected will be where you install Windows. Select the fastest drive or partition you got. If you have a faster but smaller partition, you may use that as well. Defrag the drive first. Now, set Both Maximum and Minimum values to 2 1/2 of your actual RAM available. If you have 16 RAM, set both to 40. If you have 32 RAM, set both to 80. You need to restart to take effect.
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Better Drive Performance

Double-click the System icon in Control Panel. Click on the Performance tab and on the File System button. On the Hard Disk tab, make sure the Read-ahead is set to full. On the Typical role of this machine, change the default which is Desktop Computer to Network Server. It has better support for paths and filenames. Next, jump to the CD-ROM tab. Make sure all the Read-ahead is set to the fullest. Even if you have a CD-ROM lower than 4x speed, change the Optimize access pattern for: Quad-speed or higher. That will cache older CD-ROMs better.
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Faster Modem Connections

You can speed up your Internet connection by simply changing the port speed of your computer. Go to System Properties, Device Manager, Ports, and then choose the com port that you've installed your modem on. Go to the Port Settings tab, and choose 115200 bits per second, if you have a 56k modem. If you have a 33.6 choose 57600, bps. It can really improve your connection.
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Converting to Fat32

If you upgraded to Windows 98 on an old system, odds are the disk uses the older 16-bit FAT, or file allocation table, instead of the newer 32-bit FAT. Windows 98 includes a conversion utility that updates your disk so you won't have to reformat it. To run the utility, choose Start|Programs|Accessories|System Tools|Drive Converter (FAT32), then work your way through the Drive Converter Wizard screens.

Note: There are some issues concerning the conversion to Fat32, please read the next tip.
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Issues on converting to Fat32

Before you convert to FAT32, make sure it's the right choice for you. FAT32's strong point is that it uses hard disk space more efficiently. The minimum file size for FAT16 on a 1GB disk, for example, is 32K. For FAT32, it's 4K. Another benefit is that unlike FAT16, FAT32 isn't limited to a 2GB-per-disk partition.

On the other hand, you can't use DriveSpace to compress a FAT32 disk. And if you like to use your notebook's suspend-to-disk feature, it won't work with FAT32. Nor can you dual-boot your system to run most earlier versions of Windows or DOS. Additionally, some older disk utilities work only with FAT16, so you may have to upgrade your third-party utility programs. And once you've converted to FAT32, the only way to return the disk to FAT16 and reclaim these capabilities is through repartitioning and reformatting.

If you choose to convert, the Drive Converter Wizard does a good job of warning you about possible problems. Be sure to read each screen carefully as you work your way through the choices, and don't hesitate to cancel the conversion if you have any doubts.

Note: Some drives you have may have bad sectors, if they do then you will have to format before running the Fat32 Converter.
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Backup before converting to Fat32

If you're ready to convert your hard disk to FAT32, be sure to back up your data files beforehand, preferably your entire disk--a good idea any time you're about to make significant changes to your hard disk. If you decide you want to revert to FAT16--because you can't live without your notebook's suspend-to-disk capability after all, for example--you'll have to reformat the disk and reinstall everything from scratch, including Windows 98. If you have a backup, you can repartition, reformat, and then restore the disk instead of reinstalling individual programs. Ideally, you should use a backup program that includes a disaster-recovery feature, so you don't have to reinstall Windows before you run the restore.
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Anti Virus software and Fat32

Converting a disk to FAT32 changes its partition table and boot record. If you're using antivirus software, it may intercept any attempt to update either or both and ask whether it's okay. Be sure to answer Yes. When you reboot your system after converting the disk, the antivirus software may notice the change and offer to fix it for you. Do not let it. If the software restores the partition table, the boot record, or both, you won't be able to access your hard disk or any data on it.
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Stopping the conversion

After you run the FAT32 converter and reboot, Windows will automatically run Disk Defragmenter as part of the conversion procedure. This can take hours, so it's best to start the conversion when you know you won't be needing your computer for a while. If you need to use the computer, you can stop the defrag program in midstream and run it later. However, system performance may suffer until you restart the program and let it fully defrag the disk. To run Disk Defragmenter, choose Start|Programs|Accessories|System Tools|Disk Defragmenter, select the appropriate disk drive from the drop-down menu, and choose OK. Alternatively, you can go to My Computer, right-click the disk, and choose Properties|Tools|Defragment Now.
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Creating Desktop Shortcuts Without The Desktop Being In View

From a Windows Explorer or the normal My Computer window, for example, simply right-click the filename for which you want to create a Shortcut and choose Send To|Desktop As Shortcut. Everything else is then done for you. You can then rename the shortcut later if it is necessary.
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Creating Document Shortcuts

With some programs, like Word 97, you can create a Shortcut by selecting a block of text, right-clicking the selection, and dragging it to the desktop. When you release the button, Windows opens a menu. Choose the option Create Document Shortcut Here. When you're ready to work with the file again, choose the Shortcut. Windows doesn't only launch the program for you and load the document, it will also return you to the passage you originally selected when you created the Shortcut. It even highlight's the text to make it even easier for you to get straight back to work.

Note: Not all word processors that are available support this feature.
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WinKey Shortcuts

Other than just bringing up the start menu, the Winkey has other special functions.

Using HotKeys On The Desktop

This is a terrific tip a lot of people overlooked. You can actually assign hotkeys for all your shortcuts on your desktop. RIght-click the desktop shortcut and select Properties. Click on the Shortcut tab. In the Shortcut key text box, choose what is the combination of shortcut key you want. Hold down Ctrl+Alt or Ctrl+Shift combination while selecting another key.

Assigning custom hotkeys to shortcuts

We realized that you can even activate the hotkey without the desktop in view! But you have to make sure your hotkey combination won't clash with the key commands of the active application.

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Select multiple files

Did you know that you can quickly select a group of files by dragging a box around them with your mouse? For example, to select a group of files in Windows Explorer, simply click on an open area then drag the mouse pointer to form a rectangle around the files you wish to select. When all of the files you wish to select are within the rectangle, release the mouse button. You can also use this technique with the right mouse button to automatically display a context menu when your release the button. Holding the control will allow you to skip a section of files to give it a try.

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Another way to select multiple files

If you're working in Windows Explorer or My Computer and want to select all but a few files in the current folder, there's a quick way to do it.
Instead of selecting the majority of files one by one, simply select the files you don't want included in the selection by holding down the [Ctrl] key and clicking each one. Once you've selected the files you don't want, choose the Edit menu's Invert Selection command. Now the files you initially selected will be deselected, and the rest of the folder's files will be highlighted.

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Creating an OEM LOGO in System Properties

1. Create a file called OEMINFO.INI
2. Save OEMINFO.INI to c:\windows\system.
3. Create your logo and call it OEMLOGO.BMP (Note this image cannot be larger than 180 pixels wide and 114 pixels high must be a bitmap image.) Note: The bottom left pixel is use to make the background transparent.
4. Save OEMLOGO.BMP to c:\windows\system.
Thats it your done enjoy!!

A sample of oeminfo.ini [general] Manufacturer=Dell Model=XPS200s [Support Information] Line1=Bob Russell Line2=Home Computer Line3=testing for the Line4=tiplord Line5=dig it

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New Icons for your shortcuts

When you create shortcuts to executable files, folders, or network drives, you may want to customize the icons Windows uses for those shortcuts.

Maybe you want to use an icon that more accurately represents the task performed by the shortcut. For example, you might create a Windows Explorer shortcut to your second hard drive using the command line.

C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE /n,/e,d:\

When you do, Windows 98 assigns a computer icon to the shortcut. However, suppose you'd rather use a hard disk icon.  
Fortunately, changing a shortcut's icon is a snap. To assign a new icon to a particular shortcut, simply right-click the shortcut and select the Properties command from the context menu. When you see the shortcut's properties sheet, click the Shortcut tab. Then, click the Change Icon...button, as shown below. (If the shortcut is to an MS-DOS program, you'll find the Change Icon... button on the Program tab.)

Once the Change Icon dialog box appears, as shown below, you can select any one of the icons in the Current icon list. To see all the icons in the file, simply use the scroll bar.
As you can see, the icons in the Current icon list come from the SHELL32.DLL file. (If the shortcut is to an MS-DOS program, the icons in the Current icon list come from the PIFMGR.DLL file.) If you don't see an icon in the list that catches your fancy, you can click the Browse...button to open other files, such as ICO, EXE or DLL files, that contain icons. The table shown below, lists some of the Windows 98 EXE and DLL files that contain a selection of icons.

File name	Location
Awfxex32.exe	C:\Windows\System
Cool.dll	C:\Windows\System
Defrag.exe	C:\Windows
Gnaapp.exe	C:\Windows\System
Moricons.dll	C:\Windows
Pifmgr.dll	C:\Windows\System
Progman.exe	C:\Windows
Shell32.dll	C:\Windows\System
Systray.exe	C:\Windows\System
User.exe	C:\Windows\System
Winpopup.exe	C:\Windows

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Replacing Startup & Shutdown Screens

The pictures that tell you to "Please wait while Windows is shutting down" and that "It is now safe to turn off your computer" can be replace these with your own designs:

Make duplicates of the files LOGOS.SYS and LOGOW.SYS in a temporary folder. These files are located initially in your Windows folder. LOGOW.SYS is the one that reads "Please wait while...," and LOGOS.SYS is the one that reads "It is now safe to...,"

These files are just standard bitmaps, so rename the extensions of these duplicates to .BMP.

You can use any graphics editor to edit these files, such as MSPaint, Photoshop, or Paint Shop Pro.

The files are 256-color windows bitmaps (RGB-encoded, but not RGB color), 320 x 400.

Since the aspect ratio (width / height) of these files are not standard 4:3, like most computer screens, the bitmaps will appear vertically elongated.

To make your new design conform to this aspect ratio, resize the bitmap to 534 x 400 while you're working on it. Make sure to resize them back to 320 x 400 when you're done.

Save your changes, and rename the extensions of your new files back to .SYS.

Last, copy the new files back into your Windows folder. It might be smart to back up your original files.

While you're at it, you can create a startup screen as well (using the above method).

Just call the file LOGO.SYS, and place it in the root directory of your boot drive (usually C:\). Note: If you're using disk compression, like Stacker or Doublespace, you'll need to put the file in the original boot drive (sometimes H:\).

To remove the startup logo altogether, edit the file C:\MSDOS.SYS, and add the line LOGO=0 to the Options section. Note: This will only work, for some reason, if you have a custom startup screen in your root directory. For more information, see Contents of the Windows95 MSDOS.SYS File. This setting can also be changed with TweakUI, one of Microsoft's PowerToys.

Note: If you delete LOGOW.SYS and LOGOS.SYS altogether, Windows95 will exit to DOS instead of shutting down (more information).

Note: Some users have reported that the machine reboots instead of shutting down when these logos are replaced. If this happens to you, make sure the bitmaps are not corrupted, and using no more than 256 colors.

Note: If you're using DriveSpace or another disk compression utility, and want to create your own startup screen (as described above), make sure you put LOGO.SYS in the root directory of your host drive (which may not be drive C:\).

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Installing True Type fonts easily

It's much simpler to install True Type fonts in Windows 95 than it is in previous versions of Windows. The easiest way to do so is to first open Control Panel and double-click the Fonts icon. When you do, you'll see the screen below.

Now, open Windows Explorer and drag the fonts from your disk or CD to the Fonts window. When you do, Windows 95 will install your new fonts. Although the installation process is invisible, you can verify that it worked by trying to use the new fonts in any Windows-based program.

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