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Good Ideas For Your Computer |
If don't need those Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Welcome folder.
There's no reason to keep that folder. But before we get into files you can trash, here's some general advice:
A lot of the files you don't need are hidden. To see them in Windows Explorer, select View, Options (or Folder Options). On the View tab, select Show all files, then click OK.
Also, when in doubt about deleting a file, move it to another folder
or drive, or zip it. If its absence hasn't caused any problems after three
months--for instance, if no program has displayed an error message or refused
to load because the file wasn't there--get rid of it. Of course, have an
an emergency start-up disk handy in case you move a file needed to boot
your PC.
Unwanted Windows Features
Select Start, Settings, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs. Click the
Windows Setup tab. For each component with a check in its box, click its
name and then the Details button, scroll through and uncheck features you
don't want, and click OK to move to the next checked component. If the
Details button is grayed out and you know you don't want the component,
simply uncheck it. If you've upgraded Windows and you're sure that you
don't want to go back to the older version, click the Install/Uninstall
tab and then look for Old Windows 3.x and MS-DOS System Files or Delete
Windows 98 uninstall information; if you find either of these, uninstall
it.
In Explorer, go to C:\, select View, Details, click the Type header, and use a text editor (like WordPad) to look at files with the extension .txt, .old, .log, .prv, or .---. Chances are they're all deletable. If you regularly back up the Registry, kill System.1st. If you don't dual-boot, delete any .dos files.
WALLPAPER. Delete any of the wallpaper (.bmp) files in C:\Windows that don't particularly strike your fancy.
HELP FILE INDEXES. You can delete help file indexes, since Windows recreates them as needed. Click Start, Find, Files or Folders. In the Named field, enter *.fts, select a hard drive in the "Look in" field, and press Enter. Delete all files that appear as a result of the search.
Memories of 3.X. If you've upgraded from Windows 3.x, you may have a folder called C:\Windows\System\win32s. Delete it. ODDS AND ENDS. You can consider dumping any file in the Windows folder that has the extension .log, .bak, .old, or .---. If you turn off your computer at night, you don't need anything in the Windows\Temp folder that's more than a day old.
WINDOWS 98 COMES with Disk Cleanup, a program that handles at
least some of the file buildup problem. You'll find it at Start, Programs,
Accessories, System Tools. Select the Disk Cleanup tab to clean up day-to-day
garbage. Use the "Clean up" button on the More Options tab to bring up
the Add/Remove Programs Properties box to uninstall unwanted Windows features
and programs.
If your computer keeps telling me I have a "CMOS Checksum Error."
The CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) error message is referring to a battery-backed chip on your motherboard that holds hardware configuration information. Some of it--for example, the type of hard disk you have installed--is pretty important.
This data is not something you want to lose. If you don't have a program like Norton Utilities or Nuts & Bolts that backs up the CMOS information, you need to print it out or write it down: Enter the PC setup program by pressing Delete or some other key (often noted on screen) early in the boot-up process--before Windows starts loading. Go to each screen of the program and press Print Screen to make a printout, or write down the info.
About that error: Your PC generates the error if it thinks the CMOS information has changed without your having changed it. A virus, a dying battery, or a one-time anomaly can cause this situation.
When you get this error message, you need to restore the CMOS settings. If you have Norton's or Nuts & Bolts' Rescue Disk, reboot from that emergency boot floppy and follow the prompts. If your backup is on paper, you'll have to enter your system's setup program and restore the settings manually. If you don't have a backup, research your system's configuration using printed documentation, or call the vendor.
When you've reentered the information, save your changes and boot your PC. Make sure everything is working properly, then close Windows and turn off your computer. After a few minutes, turn it on again. If the error returns, you've got a dying battery. You'll have to open your PC, find the battery, and replace it--or find a technician to do the job for you. If your battery is soldered on to the motherboard, you'll have to replace the motherboard, too. (Computer batteries last about five years.)
If the problem isn't the battery, update your antivirus program and
run a scan. If the scan doesn't find anything, hope that the CMOS loss
was a freak accident and won't happen again.
Buy a quality power strip for your computer and peripherals (printer, speakers, etc.). Collect the following items and keep them together in a safe place:
All labels with serial numbers. You may need these numbers later.
All disks, manuals, and other documentation included with your computer.
The device and system summary report from Device Manager.
For information about how to print this report, click
here.
Avoid plugging your computer into an outlet on the same circuit as a major appliance (or your Christmas lights).
Create a Windows 98 Startup disk. To do so, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs, click the Startup Disk tab, and then click Create Disk.
Buy a current anti-virus program. For example, McAfee Anti-Virus is included with Microsoft Plus! 98.
Periodically scan for viruses using the latest virus signatures and allow the program to remove any viruses that it finds. For additional information about computer viruses, click here.
Periodically run the ScanDisk tool to check your hard disk for errors and the Disk Defragmenter tool to optimize file access. The easiest way to do this is to use the Maintenance Wizard. To start the Maintenance Wizard, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Maintence Wizard. Using Maintence Wizard, you can schedule these tasks to run when you are not using your computer.
Periodically back up all critical data on your hard disk using Microsoft Backup. To start Microsoft Backup, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup.
Use the Registry Checker tool to make a back up copy of your registry before you install new hardware or software. To do so, click Start, click Run, type Scanreg, and then click OK. Click Yes when you are prompted to save a copy of your registry. This enables you to revert to a previous copy of your registry if installing new hardware or software prevents you from starting or using Windows or other programs. For additional information about the Registry Checker tool, click here.
Read the Readme.txt files included with your software and print them out if you can.
Register a product online when the option is available. If you have intermittent problems with sound, video, or printing, ensure the cables connecting the device to your computer are secure.
Take advantage of the Troubleshooting Wizards included in Windows 98
Help. If you want to view the latest versions of the Troubleshooters or
search the Microsoft Knowledge Base, go to http://support.microsoft.com/support
Would you like the Startup menu to appear automatically every time you start your system? You don't need to edit the msdos.sys file, as you did in Windows 95. Windows 98 made this setting change a whole lot easier.
Select Start, Run, type
msconfig
and press Enter to open the System Configuration Editor. On the General tab, click Advanced, select Enable Startup Menu, then click OK twice. Click Yes to restart your system (or No, if you'd prefer to do it later).
Of course, if you ever decide you don't want this menu at startup, just
go back and deselect the same option.
To implement this technique, launch the Create Shortcut wizard by right clicking on the desktop and selecting the New/Shortcut command from the shortcut menu.
Once the Create Shortcut wizard loads, type
c:\windows\rundll.exe user.exe,exitwindows
in the Command Line text box,.
(Make sure that there isn't a space between the comma and the exitwindows parameter otherwise the command won't work.) To continue, click Next.
When the next page appears, type Shut Down Windows 98 NOW! in the Select a Name For the Shortcut text box and click Finish.
Now, when you're ready to shut down Windows 98, close all your applications as you normally would, and then just double-click the new Shut Down Windows 98 NOW! icon windows icon.
Similarly, to perform a restart. a shortcut with the command line:
C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL.EXE user.exe,exitwindowsexec
To make this a timed, automatic Shutdown, just drag the icon into your
System Agent.
If you right-click on the desktop or an open folder (or click on the File menu in Explorer) and choose New, you will be presented with a list of registered file types that can created on the spot. Basically, Explorer will just create a new, empty file (sometimes with a special template) with the appropriate extension in that location. Maybe you don't want or need to be creating new Power Point documents on the fly. Here is a way to remove these unwanted entries.
Run the Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE).
Select Find from the Edit menu, type ShellNew, and press OK.
Every ShellNew that is found will be a branch of a particular file
type. If that file type is not wanted in the New menu, delete the entire
ShellNew branch.
Repeat this for every unwanted tile type, and close the Registry Editor
when finished.
Note: New templates can also be removed (and created) with TweakUI,
one of Microsoft's PowerToys.
40 Ways To Make Win98 Fly
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Undocumented Windows Secrets
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Custom Setup
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Clean Up After Setup
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Adjust Your PC Clock
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Get Help Faster
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Get Ready for Y2K
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Hide Annoying ScreenTips
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File Finesse
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My Docs Makeover
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Find Files Faster
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A Custom Net 'Hood
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Manage Removable Disks
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Take Control of Explorer
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IE5 Tricks
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Password Protection
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Grab Full Web Pages
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Fast Log-ins to FTP Sites
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Keep Win98 Up to Date
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Windows 95/98 contains two command-line utility programs named Rundll.exe and Rundll32.exe that allow you to invoke a function exported from a DLL, either 16-bit or 32-bit.
However, Rundll and Rundll32 programs do not allow you to call any exported function from any DLL. For example, you can not use these utility programs to call the Win32 API (Application Programming Interface) calls exported from the system DLLs.
The programs only allow you to call functions from a DLL that are explicitly written to be called by them. The Rundll and Rundll32 utility programs were originally designed only for internal use at Microsoft. But the functionality provided by them is sufficiently generic that they are now available for general use.
Rundll loads and runs 16-bit DLLs, whereas Rundll32 loads and runs 32-bit
DLLs. If you pass the wrong type of DLL to Rundll or Rundll32, it may fail
to run without indicating any error messages.
If you have to shutdown windows quickly, create a new shortcut!
For the application, type: "C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE User,ExitWindows" (without the quotes)
If opened, this shortcut will immediately shut down Windows without prompting. This, too, is something that you don't have to download a third-party utility for. The ability is already built-in to Windows!
WINDOWS RESTART ICON
Simply create a shortcut (right-click on your Desktop, select New, then Shortcut), then enter the following information (without the quotes):
"C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL.EXE user.exe,exitwindowsexec"
Make sure you copy that ENTIRE string or else it won't work people (everything
between the quotes, but no quotes).
=============================
Restore
Windows 95 like cascading menus to the Start Menu
Windows 98 changed the behavior of the menu's under the Start Menu. In Windows 98, when a menu is to tall to fit on your screen, you will see a scroll arrow at the bottom, allowing you to scroll further down. In Windows 95, a second menu would appear next to the first, where the entries who would otherwise not fit on your screen would be displayed.
To restore the Windows 95 like behavior:
1.Start the Registry Editor
2.Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ explorer \ Advanced
3.Right-click an open area in the right pane and select New > String Value
4.Name it StartMenuScrollPrograms
5.Double-click this entry and add the value false
6.Exit the registry editor
==============================
Stop Automatic Dialing
To stop your browser - or any other Internet aware application - from automatically dialing up your ISP:
1.Click Start and select Programs > Settings > Control Panel
2.Open Internet Options
3.Select the Connections tab
4.Check Never dial a connection
5.Also click Start and select Programs > Accessoires > Communications > Dial-Up Networking
6.From the Connections menu, choose Settings... and check prompt to
use Dial-Up Networking
=================================
AOL Cache Problems
If you are having have problems accessing our pages through AOL, please check the web browser cache. Let's first increase the cache. If this doesn't resolve the problem, then delete the cache.
To increase the AOL web browser cache:
1. Choose Members from the AOL menu.
2. Choose Preferences.
3. Click WWW.
4. Click Advanced.
5. Increase the value for Maximum disk space to use for cache.
To delete the AOL web browser cache:
1. Exit AOL.
2. Using Windows' File Manager, delete the C:\AOL30\CACHE directory.
When you next use the web browser, the CACHE directory will be recreated.
If your problem continues to occur, then the computer that hosts the web page may be busy, down for maintenance or limiting access. Try to attempt to access the website later.
==========================
Coping 98 To A Second Hard
Drive
Either of the methods below should work:
Method 1 - Using XCOPY
Open a DOS Window from within Windows. This will allow you to copy
the necessary Hidden files. You cannot use the XCOPY by just booting to
DOS. You have to have Win95 running for all the switches to be available.
Assuming you are copying everything from the C: drive to a new D: drive:
type XCOPY C:\ D:\ /S
/E /H /C /K /R
The /S switch includes subdirectories.
The /E switch includes empty subdirectories.
The /H switch includes hidden files.
The /C switch continues copying on an error.
The /K switch keeps the file's current attributes.
The /R switch writes over any read-only files
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Method 2 - Using the Explorer
1. Open the Explorer
2. Make sure you can view hidden files - View / Options / Show all files
3. Move to the root of your C: Drive
4. Highlight the first directory in the right hand panel
5. Press Shift-End to select all files and subdirectories
6. Unselect the file WIN386.SWP While over one of the highlighted files or directories, right click on the mouse and select Copy.
7. Move to the root of your new hard drive
8. Right click the mouse and select Paste
When you are done with either method, remove your original hard drive, set your new hard drive to be a Master, and re-start the computer.
Neither of these methods will effect your current master.
===============================
Scandisk Hangs
Restart the computer, press <CTRL> or <F8> key before win98 logo appears, At the boot menu, go to the command mode.
At the C:\ prompt, type "scandisk /all /autofix /nosave /nosummary /surface" without the quotation mark and press enter. It will scandisk and fix errors and a detail surface scan.
It looks like this: -
C:\>
C:\>scandisk /all /autofix /nosave /nosummary /surface
After finished, it will return to C:\> prompt. The bad sector will be
marked out.
====================================
Miscellaneous File Problems
Have your Windows 98 CD Rom disk handy.
1. Reboot the system and either hold the Ctrl key down right after memory post or when you see the “Starting Windows…” dialogue, touch the F8 key.
2. Choose #5 Command (MSDOS) Prompt only.
3. At the dos prompt, change directories to X:\Windows\Command, with “X” being the directory where Windows is installed.
4. Now type SCANREG/FIX <enter>
5. Follow the dialogue and let Scanreg review your registry and make any necessary repairs.
6. When Scanreg is done, reboot into Windows.
NEXT:
1. Insert your Windows 98 CD Rom disk into the drive.
2. Click Start, Run and type SFC <OK>
3. This will start the System File Checker.
4. Click on the settings button and select “Check for changed and deleted files” and click OK to start.
5. Replace any files that are detected as bad or corrupt. Also watch the file dates carefully and always try and replace older files (pre-May 1998) with newer files, and most important, always use the latest version numbers for all files. SFC will copy the old file to X:\Windows\Sysbckup in case you need it back. When SFC is done, reboot the system and note the performance.
If, at the end of this, User.exe has not been replaced, then use SFC
to extract a new User.exe and save it to your system.
===================
File Not Found
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.