Windows 95 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets

(version 1.1, 5/28/96)

Travis Solin

© 1996 T.G., Inc.

NOTE:

The best way to use this help file is to do a keyword search. The topics are also listed below for your convenience.

•	About this Help File

•	Contacting the Author

•	Using the Registry Editor

•	Add Items to the New Menu

•	Add Sounds to Application Events

•	Add System Folders to Your Start Menu

•	Boot to the Graphical User Interface (GUI) or to MS-DOS Mode

•	Boot to Windows 95 or Your Old Version of MS-DOS

•	Change Default from Open to Explore

•	Change Shortcut Icons

•	Change the Menu Popout Speed

•	Change the Tips of the Day

•	Change the Way Windows Truncates Long Filenames

•	Change Windows 95 System Screens

•	Changing How Long Until the Default Selection Takes Effect in the Boot Menu

•	Changing How Long You Have to Press a Function Key when booting Windows

•	Clear the Any Folder....OtherFolder SendTo menu

•	Clear the Recent Documents Menu

•	Clear the Run Menu

•	Clean Up Opened Windows

•	Closing the Start Menu

•	Command Prompt Commands

•	Disabling Autoplay

•	Displaying the Boot-up Menu

•	Displaying the Windows 95 Logo at Startup

•	Editing the Msdos.sys File

•	FTP Batch Commands

•	Make BMP Files Their Own Icons

•	Make Your Logitech Mouse Double Click

•	Netdde.exe

•	Restart Windows Quickly

•	Share Folders on a Network that are Invisible to Others

•	Shortcut Keys

•	Shut Down Screen Commands

•	Start Screen Saver on Demand

•	Taking a Screen Shot

•	Trace Internet Routes

•	Turn Window Animation On and Off

•	Winchat

•	Winpopup


Tips


Add Items to the New Menu

 Registry Edit

It is possible to add new document templates to the new menu.  This operation does require a registry edit, but you first need to make a document template, then place it into the appropriate directory:

1.	Create a new file (new, or with your desired information for the template).

2.	Move this file into the \ShellNew under your \Windows directory (i.e., c:\windows\ShellNew). The \ShellNew directory is hidden, so you may have to change your Explorer options so that hidden files and directories are visible.

3.	Open up the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.

4.	Find the extension of the file that you just created.

5.	Make a new key under it called ShellNew.

6.	Under the ShellNew key, make a new string value called FileName.

7.	Type in the name of the new file you created including the extension.  The complete path (i.e. c:\windows\ShellNew\whatever.txt) is not necessary.

NOTE:	This may not work with some programs.


Add Sounds to Application Events

 Registry Edit

Yes, you guessed it--sounds can be added to many aspects of your favorite or most-used applications.  To make this enhancement, open up the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps

Under the \Apps subkey, create a new key with the name of the .exe file that you want to assign sounds to.  The program that you wish to assign sounds to does not have to be in the Windows directory or in your computer's path.  All that you need to enter is the name of the .exe file without the .exe extension (for example, name the key "notepad" and not "notepad.exe").

Create any or all of the following keys under the key for the program that you just created:

AppGPFault

Close

Maximize

MenuCommand

MenuPopup

Minimize

Open

RestoreDown

RestoreUp

SystemAsterisk

SystemExclamation

SystemHand

SystemQuestion

That is the extent of the registry editing that you have to do for this feature. Now, load up Control Panel and then Sounds.  Scroll down to find the new program that you just entered.  To assign sounds to the events, simply do so as you would with the regular Windows system events (see Windows' help if you need more information).


Add System Folders to Your Start Menu

Have you ever wanted to access a particular applet in Control Panel without having to open Control Panel up?  Well, you can do this and more with the following Windows 95 tip.

If you want to add a popout menu with the contents of your Control Panel, Printers folder, or Dial Up Netwoking folder, it is easy to do by following these instructions:

1.	Right click on the start button to open its contents in an Explorer window.

2.	Create a new folder

3.	If you want to create a Control Panel folder, you would name the new folder:

Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

4.	If you want to create a new Printers folder, you would name the new folder:

Printers.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}

5.	If you want to create a new Dial Up Networking folder, you would name the new folder:

Dial Up Net.{992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48}

That's all there is to it.  Now, if you click on your Start Menu, and navigate to where you placed your new folder(s), it should pop out, showing the contents of that particular folder (i.e., if you made a new Control Panel folder, you would see all of your Control Panel applets.)


Change Default from Open to Explore

If you prefer to have the double-paned look of your Explorer windows become the default, then follow these simple instructions.

1.	Open a regular Explorer window, then, from the View menu, choose Options.

2.	From the dialog box that comes up, choose the File Types tab.

3.	Scroll down the list and double click on Folder.

4.	Highlight Explore item under the Actions list, and choose the Set as Default button.

Now, each time you open up a drive or folder, you will have a double-paned view of Explorer.


Change Shortcut Icons

 Registry Edit

Changing the Shortcut Icon

By default, the shortcut icon is a small black and white arrow in the lower left corner shortcuts.  To change it, open up the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows

\CurrentVersion\explorer

If there is not a key under the explorer key called Shell Icons, then it needs to be created.  If there is a Shell Icons subkey, then you are ready to proceed.

1.	Create a new string value named 29.

2.	Edit the string then enter the path to the icon file, follwed by a comma and the index of the icon. For example, "c:\windows\system\shell32.dll,30" would change the shortcut icon to the 31st icon in the shell32.dll file (the first icon is number 0, the second is 1, etc.).  In this case, the new shortcut icon would be a larger gray-colored icon.


Change the Menu Popout Speed

 Registry Edit

If you want to increase the speed of the taskbar and popout menus, it can be done easily by opening up the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and navigating to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

1.	Make a new key under the Desktop key

2.	Create a new string value called MenuShowDelay.

3.	Edit MenuShowDelay and give it a value from 1 to 10, 1 being the fastest.


Change the Tips of the Day

 Registry Edit

If you want to change the tips that optionally come up each time you start Windows 95, open up the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows

\CurrentVersion\explorer\Tips

Within the Tips key are all 48 tips that are chosen at random each time you start Windows 95.  To insert your own tips or thoughts, just change any or all of the keys numbered 0-47.


Change the Way Windows Truncates Long Filenames

 Registry Edit

This registry edit will change the way that Windows 95 truncates (cuts short) long filenames.  To make this change, open up the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet

\control\FileSystem

1.	Create a new binary value called NameNumericTail.

2.	Edit this value, and add a zero to the existing four zeros that are already there.

The final result in the Value Data field should appear as follows:

0000 00

Before the Registry edit:

Windows 95 filename:	This is a test.txt

MS-DOS filename:	thisis~1.txt

After the Registry edit:

Windows 95 filename:	This is a test.txt

MS-DOS filename:	thisisat.txt


Change Windows 95 System Screens

As you may have noticed, there are a total of three major Windows 95 system screens:

• The startup screen (logo.sys)

• The "Please wait while your computer shuts down" screen (logow.sys)

• The "It is now safe to turn off your computer" screen (logos.sys)

It is possible to change these screens to an image of your choice. However, there are certain requirements for these system screens.  They are as follows:

• The image must be a valid 256 color RGB encoded bitmap

• The image must have dimensions of 320 x 400 pixels

Here are the steps to making a desired image your startup or shutdown screen:

1.	Obtain a bitmap image which meets the above criteria.

2.	After the file is saved, change the .bmp extension to .sys (i.e., logow.sys)

NOTE:	If you changed the startup screen (logo.sys), it should be placed in the root of your boot drive. If you changed any of the other two system screens, they should be placed in your Windows directory (i.e., c:\windows).

If all of the following is adhered to, you should see a new startup/shutdown screen next time you use Windows 95.

NOTE:	Because the ratio of the image at 320 x 400 is different than when you may be viewing it in Windows, it may be hard to have your image look proportional once it goes into effect. However, by following these steps using an image editor such as Paint Shop Pro or Lview Pro, you can resolve this common problem:

1.	Create a new image with dimensions of 640 x 480.

2.	Open the image that you wish to make a system screen.

3.	Center this image on the newly created image.

4.	Resize the 640 x 480 image to 320 x 400.

5.	At this point, the image should look out of proportion (not wide enough)*

6.	Save the image as a 256 color RGB encoded bitmap.

7.	Change the file extension from .bmp to .sys if necessary.

ONCE AGAIN--NOTE:  If you changed the startup screen (logo.sys), it should be placed in the root of your boot drive. If you changed any of the other two system screens, they should be placed in your Windows directory (i.e., c:\windows).

* (Once it appears as a system screen, however, it will be proportional.)


Clear the Any Folder....OtherFolder SendTo menu

 Registry Edit

If you are using the Any Folder....OtherFolder context menu PowerToy, then perhaps you want to clear the "most recent commands" list.  To accomplish this, open up the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\OtherFolder

1.	Once under the OtherFolder subkey, delete all of the values except for the (Default) value. Now your "most recent commands" list will be completely cleared.


Clear the Recent Documents Menu

Are you tired of going to the Taskbar properties screen to clear the Recent Documents menu? If so, here is an easier way to do it:

1.	Create a batch file with the following line in it:

echo y| del \windows\recent\*.*

2.	Save the batch file and place it into a convenient directory.

3.	Create a shortcut to the batch file.

4.	Place the shortcut wherever it is easily accessable.

If desired, you can also add these features to the newly created shorcut:

1.	Right click on the shortcut and choose Properties.

2.	Select the Program tab.

3.	From the Run drop down box, choose Minimized.

4.	Click the Close on exit box.

Now, all you have to do is double click on this icon every time you want to clear the contents of the Recent Documents Menu.


Clear the Run Menu

 Registry Edit

To remove items from the Run menu, open up the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows

\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU

•	To delete an entry, simply delete its key.

•	To delete multiple entries, highlight all of the keys you want, then press delete.

NOTE:	Do not delete the (Default) or RunMRU values.


Clean Up Opened Windows

After you have opened multiple Explorer windows, you can close all of them quickly by holding down the shift key while you click on the close button.

This action will close all windows that were opened from the original.


Closing the Start Menu

If you wish to temporarily remove the Start Button (and menu) from the taskbar, take the following steps:

1.Give the Start button focus.  This can be done by opening the start menu, then hitting ESC.

2.Press Alt + - (press the "-" (minus) key while holding Alt)

3.Select close from that menu.

The Start button will not appear again until you restart Windows.


Command Prompt Commands

While you are at a MS-DOS prompt, try these things you can do to speed things up and make things easier:

cd ...	Moves two directies up within the root directory you are currently in.  For example, if you are in C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs, typing cd ... will move you to c:\Windows.

cd ....	Same as above, except that you would be moved to c:\.  You can type up to six dots after the "cd" command (which would move you back five directories.

start .	Typing start . will bring up an explorer window of the directory that you are in at the MS-DOS prompt.  Start .. brings up the parent directory of the one that you are in.

Starting Windows-based programs from a MS-DOS prompt

Type start followed by the windows-based program you wish to start.  For example, type "start notepad.exe" to run Windows' Notepad program.

Starting programs associated with a particular file type

Type start followed by a file that has an associated program, and that program will load up with the file.  For example, type "start c:\windows\readme.txt"

Dragging and Dropping files into a MS-DOS prompt

Try dragging a file or shortcut into an active MS-DOS window.  Its filename will appear at the command prompt.


Disabling Autoplay

If you do not wish to have audio CD's automatically play, and data CD's automatically load, hold down the Shift key while loading the CD into your drive, and for a few seconds after.


Editing the Msdos.sys File

The Msdos.sys file is a text file which holds some basic system information which is needed when Windows 95 boots up.  It should be located in your boot drive's root directory (i.e., c:\ ).

By editing the Msdos.sys file, you can change the startup behavior of Windows 95.

NOTE: The msdos.sys file is a hidden file, so if you are not displaying hidden files in Explorer, it will not show up.  Instead, simply type in msdos.sys when opening it up for editing.

Please click on one of the items below for more detailed explanations:

• Boot to the Graphical User Interface (GUI) or to MS-DOS Mode

• Boot to Windows 95 or Your Old Version of MS-DOS

• Changing How Long Until the Default Selection Takes Effect in the Boot Menu

• Changing How Long You Have to Press a Function Key when booting Windows

• Displaying the Boot-up Menu

• Displaying the Windows 95 Logo at Startup


Boot to the Graphical User Interface (GUI) or to MS-DOS Mode

Msdos.sys File Editing Contents

Are you still a DOS user that was pressured somehow to migrate to Windows 95? If so, you can still boot your computer up to MS-DOS mode (Windows 95's version of MS-DOS).

1.	Using Notepad or any other text editor, change the line that reads BootGUI=1 to BootGUI=0 under the [Options] section of the msdos.sys file.

Here is an example of the items that might be under the [Options] section in your msdos.sys file after the editing:

[Options]

BootMulti=1

BootGUI=0

DoubleBuffer=1

Network=1

BootKeys=1

BootDelay=2

BootMenu=0

BootMenuDelay=30

Logo=1

Msdos.sys File Editing Contents


Boot to Windows 95 or Your Old Version of MS-DOS

Msdos.sys File Editing Contents

If you are running Windows 95, but still have your old MS-DOS and Windows 3.x combination installed, it is possible to access it.  In some cases, Windows 95 will load up without a chance to load your old version of DOS and Windows.  This edit to the msdos.sys file allows you to bypass the normal loading of Windows 95 and load into DOS instead.

After making the change to the msdos.sys file, simply press F4 when you see "Starting Windows 95" on your screen.

1.	Using Notepad or any other text editor, change the line that says BootMulti=0 to BootMulti=1 under the [Options] section of the msdos.sys file.

NOTE: If you upgraded to Windows 95 (i.e., you already had DOS and Windows) then the BootMulti= setting might have already been set to 1.

Here is an example of the items that might be under the [Options] section in your msdos.sys file after the editing:

[Options]

BootMulti=1

BootGUI=1

DoubleBuffer=1

Network=1

BootKeys=1

BootDelay=2

BootMenu=0

BootMenuDelay=30

Logo=1

Msdos.sys File Editing Contents


Changing How Long Until the Default Selection Takes Effect in the Boot Menu

Msdos.sys File Editing Contents

If you ever get faced with a boot menu when starting Windows 95, by default, you have 30 seconds to make a selection until the default selection is made automatically.  Changing the time you have to make a selection is easy.

1.	Using Notepad or any other text editor, enter a number in seconds that you would like to have for the default wait period after the text, BootMenuDelay= in the [Options] section of the msdos.sys file.  By default, this value is set to 30.

Here is an example of the items that might be under the [Options] section in your msdos.sys file if you changed the setting to have a 15 second delay:

[Options]

BootMulti=1

BootGUI=1

DoubleBuffer=1

Network=1

BootKeys=1

BootDelay=2

BootMenu=0

BootMenuDelay=15

Logo=1

Msdos.sys File Editing Contents


Changing How Long You Have to Press a Function Key when booting Windows

Msdos.sys File Editing Contents

When you start up your computer and see the text, "Starting Windows 95", there are two primary function keys that you might desire to press.  One of them is F4 (boots up your old version of MS-DOS) and the other is F8 (brings up the Windows 95 boot menu) (See Boot to Windows 95 or Your Old Version of MS-DOS for more information).

The problem is, sometimes you just don't have enough time to press one of those keys.  Making the delay longer is quite simple.

1.	Using Notepad or any other text editor, change the line that reads BootDelay=2 to BootDelay=x, where x is the number of seconds you want to be able to press one of those function keys. This is done in the [Options] section of the msdos.sys file.

Here is an example of the items that might be under the [Options] section in your msdos.sys after the changes, if you changed the delay to 5 seconds:

[Options]

BootMulti=1

BootGUI=1

DoubleBuffer=1

Network=1

BootKeys=1

BootDelay=5

BootMenu=0

BootMenuDelay=15

Logo=1

Msdos.sys File Editing Contents


Displaying the Boot-up Menu

Msdos.sys File Editing Contents

When you start up Windows 95, you generally have your default options set, and Windows 95 loads as usual. However, you can force different modes of loading by pressing F8 when you see "Starting Windows 95" on your screen.  Options you have in the boot menu vary from starting in Safe Mode (a minimal set of drivers), loading to an MS-DOS prompt only, and much more.

If you wish to display the boot menu by default each time you start Windows 95, make the following change to the [Options] section of the msdos.sys file using Notepad or any other text editor:

1.	Change the line that reads BootMenu=0 to BootMenu=1.

Here is an example of the items that might be under the [Options] section in your msdos.sys file if you changed the setting to have a 15 second delay:

[Options]

BootMulti=1

BootGUI=1

DoubleBuffer=1

Network=1

BootKeys=1

BootDelay=2

BootMenu=1

BootMenuDelay=15

Logo=1

Msdos.sys File Editing Contents


Displaying the Windows 95 Logo at Startup

Msdos.sys File Editing Contents

If you do not want to view the Windows 95 startup logo when you start Windows 95, a simple text editing job is all that is needed to make this adjustment.

Using Notepad or any other text editor, add a line which reads logo=0 under the [Options] section.

NOTE:	If you already have a line that reads logo=1, then simply change the "1" to "0" (zero) (do not add an additional logo= line).

Here is an example of the items that might be under the [Options] section in your msdos.sys file after the editing:

[Options]

BootMulti=1

BootGUI=1

DoubleBuffer=1

Network=1

BootKeys=1

BootDelay=2

BootMenu=0

BootMenuDelay=30

Logo=0

Msdos.sys File Editing Contents


FTP Batch Commands

If you find yourself often logging on to maybe your own user account, and repeadedly doing the same commands, then this tip is for you.  By making a simple text file with desired FTP commands in it, you can speed up everday tasks.

1.	Create a text file using a program such as Windows' Notepad.

2.	In this text file, place a desired list of ftp commands, one on each line (see example below).

3.	When you run ftp.exe all that is needed is a simple command switch:  c:\windows> ftp -s:textfile.txt (where textfile.txt is the file with your FTP commands)

NOTE:  The -s switch can include the full path to your desired text file.  For example:

c:\windows> ftp -s:c:\windows\textfile.txt (where textfile.txt is the file with your FTP commands)

NOTE:  As far as I know, ftp.exe will automatically exit after all of the commands in your text file are carried out.  I currently do not know of a way to avoid this from happening.

Here is an example of what your text file with FTP commands might look like:

(The text in bold should not be included in the text file).

------------------------------------------------------------

login

(Your login name)

password

(Your password)

cd files

(Change to the files directory on your account)

binary

(Set binary mode for file transfers)

send test.zip

(Sends your desired file (test.zip))

Here is the same file without the comments:

login

password

cd files

binary

send test.zip


Make BMP Files Their Own Icons

 Registry Edit

Making .bmp (bitmap) files their own icons is quite easy.  To make this enhancement, open up the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and navigate to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Paint.Picture\DefaultIcon

Edit the value that is under the DefaultIcon key and change it to %1.


Make Your Logitech Mouse Double Click

 Registry Edit

If you have a three-button Logitech mouse, and you're not using the middle button to double click, then you're not using your mouse's full potential!  This registry edit seems to vary depending on your Logitech mouse version and/or Windows setup.  Try these locations in the registry for starters, or simply search for "DoubleClick" (no quotes).

1) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\logitech\version???

2) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Logitech\MouseWare

\CurrentVersion\MouseMan\0000

3) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Logitech\MouseWare

\CurrentVersion\MouseMan2\0000

In all locations when you find the DoubleClick value, it should be changed from 000 to 001.

NOTE:  After making this registry change, it is no longer necessary to run any external software such as Logitech's Mouseware or Mouseware Enhanced.


Netdde.exe

Netdde.exe is located in the Windows root directory and is used primarily in conjunction with Winchat.  In the event that someone attempts to contact you with Winchat, and your will be automatically loaded if it is not.

The best way to use Netdde.exe is to place it in your Startup folder.  Netdde.exe then runs quietly in the background, taking very little memory.

See Also: Winpopup; Winchat


Restart Windows Quickly

To restart Windows 95 quickly without having to re-boot your whole computer, follow these simply instructions:

1.	Choose Shut Down from the Start Menu.

2.	Click on the Restart the Computer option button.

3.	Hold down the shift key while clicking Yes.

NOTE:  Holding down the shift key while pressing enter has the same effect as described above.


Share Folders on a Network that are Invisible to Others

It is possible to share folders on a network from your computer without having them visible to others that happen to be browsing the network.  Folders shared in this way can still be accessed by manually mapping a network drive and typing in the entire computer name and share (i.e., \\ComputerName\SecretShare).

To share folders in this manner, follow these simple instructions:

1.	Share a folder as you normally would by right clicking on it and choosing Sharing.

2.	Simply add a dollar sign ($) to the end of the Shared As name.

For example, a folder shared as Incoming will be visible to others.  A folder shared as Incoming$ will not be visible to others. Assuming the computer name that this share is on is called "Computer", one would have map this network share to a desired drive letter and enter \\Computer\Incoming$ as the path to connect this hidden shared folder.


Shortcut Keys

Shortcut keys can often increase your efficiency in Windows 95.  Here is a list of common Windows 95 shortcut keys to speed things up:

NOTE:	If these tables look strange, you may have to increase the size of your help file window.

Shortcut(s):

F1:   Help

F2:   Rename

F3:   Find

F4:   Gives combo box focus in an Explorer window

F5:   Refresh

F6:   Switches between panes in an Explorer window

F10:   Menu mode

Shift+F10:   Context menu for selected item

Shift+Double Click or Shift+Enter:   Explore the object (such as a directory)

Backspace:   Goes to the parent folder (in an Explorer window)

Shift+Close:   Closes folder and all parent folders

Ctrl+A:   Select all (in an Explorer window)

Ctrl+C:   Copy

Ctrl+X:   Cut

Ctrl+V:   Paste

Ctrl+Z:   Undo

Alt+Tab:   Switches between applications

Shift+Del:   Delete files immediately without putting them into the Recycle Bin

Shift+Drag a file:   Forces a move

Ctrl+Drag a file:   Forces a copy

Shift+Ctrl+Drag a file:   Creates a shorcut of an object

Ctrl+Esc:   Brings up Start menu

The following keyboard shorcuts are for use on a Windows 95 keyboard:

Shortcut(s):

Win+R:   Run dialog

Win+M:   Minimize All

Shift+Win+M:   Undo Minimize All

Win+F1:   Windows Help

Win+E:   Explorer

Win+F:   Find Files or Folders

CTRL+Win+F:   Find Computer

Win+Tab:   Cycle through taskbar buttons

Win+Break:   PSS Hotkey... (System properties)


Shut Down Screen Commands

After you have successfully shut down Windows 95, your only options are not to turn off or re-boot your computer.  In actuality, you are just at a MS-DOS prompt.  Next time you are at the shut down screen, try these handy commands:

Command:

win	Restarts Windows 95 without re-booting your computer.

mode co80	Returns you to a MS-DOS prompt.

NOTE:  Sometimes these commands work, and sometimes they don't.  Try them out for yourself to find out.

See also:  Change Windows 95 System Screens


Speeding up Microsoft Backup

By minimizing the Backup program that comes with Windows 95, your backup may possibly run up to 25% faster.


Start Screen Saver on Demand

If you so desire, you can start the screen saver whenever you want by simply making a shortcut to the Windows screen saver file of your choice.  For example, to make a shortcut that will invoke the "Curves and Colors" screen saver, the path in the Target line of your shortcut would be "C:\Windows\System\Curves and Colors.scr" (assuming your Windows directory is c:\windows).

This tip works great if you maintain a password on your screen saver and you need to leave your computer unattended for a short period of time.


Taking a Screen Shot

By pressing the Print Screen button on your keyboard while in Windows, you can place an image of what you see on your screen into the Windows clipboard.  Then, this image can be pasted into any number of Windows applications which support images (such as Paint, Paint Shop Pro, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Word, etc.).

By pressing Alt+Print Screen, an image of the current window you are in will be placed into the clipboard.


Trace Internet Routes

Did you ever wonder how you actually connect to an Internet site?  By typing tracert followed by the IP address or number at an MS-DOS prompt, you can find out exactly which computers your connection goes through along the way.  Using tracert can also help you to find out which computer along the way is causing you connect errors.

Example:

C:\WINDOWS> tracert www.yahoo.com


Turn Window Animation On and Off

 Registry Edit

Window animation is the "zoom" effect you get when maximizing or minimizing a window.  To turn window animation off, open up the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\desktop

\WindowMetrics

1.	Under the \WindowMetrics subkey, create a new string value called MinAnimate.

2.	Edit this value and enter 0 to turn off window animation.  Entering 1 will turn on window animation, as will deleting the MinAnimate key altogether.


Winchat

Introduction:

•	Winchat is a program used to communicate with other people over a network.

•	Winchat is not installed with Windows 95, but is included on the Windows 95 CD-ROM.  It is also available via anonymous ftp at ftp.microsoft.com.

Placing and Receiving Calls:

•	Calling someone at another computer:

To call or dial someone else, choose Dial from the Conversation menu---all you need to know is their computer name (you can also press the call button on the toolbar).

•	Receiving calls if Winchat is already loaded:

When someone calls you, the Chat icon in the Taskbar will flash. To answer the incoming call, simply restore Winchat from its minimized state.  If Winchat was not minimized, you may have to minimize it, then restore it again in order to answer the call.

•	Receiving calls if Winchat is not already loaded:

The handyness of Winchat comes into play in that it does not have to be loaded in order to receive incoming calls.  For this feature to work, Netdde must be previously loaded.  To my knowledge, Netdde only works with Winchat, and not with other network programs such as Winpopup.

Chatting with Others:

•	The interface:

Once a connection is made between you and the person you are talking to, the screen will be split into two horizontal (default) or two vertical frames. The option between horizontal and vertical can be changed in the Options|Preferences menu.  Fonts can also be changed through the Preferences dialog.

A Tip for using Winchat:

•	If you find yourself calling the same computer on a regular basis, you can make a small change to the shortcut for Winchat.  If, for example, the computer you are calling is named Computer, then the command line for the shortcut would be:  winchat.exe Computer.

See Also: Winpopup; Netdde.exe


Winpopup

Winpopup is a small program used to send quick messages to another user, computer, or workgroup on a network.  In order for Winchat to work properly, it must be running on both machines (i.e., yours and the person's your sending the message to).

Winpopup comes with Windows 95, but may not have been installed with your setup. If was installed, it should be located in the Windows root directory (winchat.exe).  If it was not installed, open up Control Panel and go to Add/Remove Programs.  Once there, go to the Windows Setup tab, and add Winpopup from the Accessories program set.

See Also:  Winchat


Other


About this Help File

New users and experienced users of Windows 95 alike can benefit from the contents of this help file.  Perhaps you have seen other Windows 95 compilations with so called "Tips and Tricks."  This one is just a little bit different.  With the exception of a few entries in this help file, most of the information cannot be found by using Windows 95 from day to day..  Other "Tips and Tricks" resources usually tend to dwell on simple things that most people will eventually figure out.  One of the goals of this help file is to avoid that redundant approach to getting the most out of Windows 95.

For information on some of the more basic features of Windows 95, refer to a text file called tips.txt, which can be found in your Windows directory (i.e., c:\windows).

Contacting the Author


Batch File
One or more MS-DOS commands contained in a text file with a .bat extension.  When run, a batch file will carry out the MS-DOS commands.  For more information on batch files and batch file commands, refer to your MS-DOS manual or online help.


Contacting the Author

Any comments, suggestions, or tips of your own are encouraged and welcome.

(All Internet addresses are as of May 28, 1996)

•	Internet E-mail:

tsolin@mail.wsu.edu

•	WWW Home Page:

http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~tsolin

•	Travis' Best PC Shareware Programs

http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~tsolin/share


Regedit.exe
Regedit.exe is the program file which runs the Windows 95 Registry Editor


Title Bar Buttons

  Minimzes the current window

  Maximizes the current window

  Closes the current window


Using the Registry Editor

General Information:

The Registry Editor is used to edit the Windows 95 system registry (contained in the system.dat file).  The registry file is basically just a mass of information that Windows 95 uses for its settings.  By changing these settings, you can change the way Windows 95 looks and acts.

To load up the Registry Editor, run regedit.exe, which is in your windows directory (i.e., c:\windows).

NOTE:  Do not make any changes to the Windows 95 registry unless you know what you are doing.  One slight typing error has the potential to hamper the operation of Windows 95's operation.

Creating New Keys:

All of the folers are on the left pane of the Registry Editor are called keys.  Each key may contain more keys within it, along with at least one value named (Default).  To create a new key, right click then choose Key from New the popout menu.  This action can also be done through the Registry Editor's Edit menu.  To create a key within an existing key, right click on the parent folder.

Creating New Values:

Values are plentiful throughout the Registry Editor, and control a lot of what goes on in Windows 95.  There are three types of values that can be created:  String, Binary, and DWORD.  For all practical purposes, you will most likely only be dealing with the String and Binary value types.  To create a new value, right click on the right pane of Registry Editor and choose New String, Binary, or DWORD value.

Renaming Keys and Values:

To rename a key or value, either right click on the key or value and select Rename, or simply hit F2 on your keyboard (F2 is the shortcut key for renaming objects throughout Windows 95).

Editing Values:

To edit a registry value, simply double click on the name of the value.  Depending on the type of the value (i.e., String or Binary), you will get a different interface during the edit.

Important Information About the Registry:

Every time you successfully boot up Windows 95, copies of your system.dat and user.dat files (the two main registry files) are made.  If you are working in Windows 95, and something "fatal" goes wrong, DO NOT reboot and let Windows 95 load up again.  Instead, restore the registry from the backups that are automatically made.  For detailed information on how to restore the system registry, refer to the help file accompanying regedit.exe, or do a text search from within Windows help.