Opening Associated Files from a DOS Box - Submitted 4/25/97
Using Another E-Mail Package when Exchange is Installed - Added 3/22/97
Power Surfing - Submitted 3/18/97
Installing Windows95 OEM SR2 over an existing version of Windows - Added 2/23/97
Office95 Upgrade Without Existing Version - Submitted 1/28/97
Extracting files from Win95's CAB files - Submitted 1/11/97
Lotus 123 Release 5 Lockup - Submitted 12/18/96
ScanDisk with OEM SR2 - Added 11/29/96
Wildcards with DIR and File Find - Added 11/29/96
ScanDisk Command-Line Switches - Added 11/24/96
Defrag Command-Line Switches - Added 11/24/96
Fixing Page Fault in MPREXE.EXE - Added 9/25/96
Changing the Telnet Scroll-Back Buffer Size Added 7/27/96
Auto-Dialing for 32-bit Internet Applications - Submitted 7/11/96
DOSSTART.BAT File - Submitted 6/23//96
Fixing Corrupted Exchange Files - Submitted 5/8/96
Emergency Recovery Utility - Submitted 5/8/96
Fully Automating Office95 Installations - Added 5/8/96
Turning off the ending = with Exchange - Added 4/9/96
Using your mouse to select an area in a DOS app - Added 3/30/96
Using Exchange with more than one ISP phone number - Added 3/29/96
Installing Windows95 with no Plug and Play search - Submitted 2/28/96
Installing Windows95 with no MSN or InBox Icons - Added 2/28/96
Backing up the Registry - Submitted 1/28/96
Adding Notepad to SENDTO - 1/11/96
Having Eudora Pro be the default e-mail program, rather than Exchange - 12/27/95
Free drive space errors with Norton Utilities - 11/5/95
Setting Automatic Redial for Dial-up Networking - 10/19/95
Using the new DOS Edit - 9/29/95
Creating Distribution List with Exchange - 9/26/96
Using Memmaker - 9/23/95
Signatures using WordMail - 9/21/95
Creating Document templates - 9/3/95
Dial-In Scripting
New XCOPY switches
New Win95 Batch Install Program
Win95 SETUP switches - Includes undocumented bypass of License screen.

Opening Associated Files from a DOS Box

Submitted 4/25/97

For a file with its associated application, say Word for Windows, and a data file, FILE1.DOC

At a DOS prompt, type START FILE1.DOC (or just file1 if it's unique). Word comes up and loads the document.

Submitted by Marc Linn

Using Another E-Mail Package when Exchange is Installed

Added 3/22/97

Normally when web browsing, if Exchange is installed, and you click on a e-mail address
it will default to opening up. If you want to change it to another e-mail program:

1. Open up a Folder
2. Select View / OptionsClick on the File Types tab
3. Scroll down to URL:MailTo Protocol
4. Click on the Edit button
5. Under Actions, highlight open
6. Click on the Edit button
7. Under Application used to perform action
8. From here you can browse to the e-mail program you want to use

Eudora Pro has an option to set that automatically. Other programs may have switches you need to include.

Pegasus needs a -T %1 for it to automatically insert the e-mail address

Power Surfing

Submitted 3/18/97

This tip works especially well if you have a large monitor and run at a high resolution...

If you want to really power surf the web, open up more than one browser. Arrange them on the screen so that you can see at least part of each one at all times.

Once this is done, you can now drag links from one browser to another. This saves you from having to use the back button constantly, especially if you are on a page like a search engine, where there are lots of links and you want to try a bunch of them.

Also, if you encounter a web page with frames, and you want to break out of the frames, you can drag a link to a new browser. No more frames.

(You can also right-click a link and choose "Open in New Browser".)

Here's an example of using two browsers...
Let's say you are going to be using a search engine for the next hour or so. Start two browsers and tile them vertically. (Minimize all programs except the two browsers, and right click a blank spot on the taskbar, then choose 'tile vertically'). Now drag the edges of the browsers so that the browser on the left is about 3 inches wide. Drag the edges of the browser on the right so that it takes up the rest of the screen. Now, using the browser on the left, open your favorite search engine and do a search. When the list of hits are displayed, drag a link into the browser on the right.

This lets you see all the hits from the search engine while you are surfing those sites... no more hitting the 'back' button all day long.

Submitted by John M.

Installing Windows95 OEM SR2 over an existing version of Windows

Added 2/23/97

Currently, you cannot install the new OEM version of Windows95 over and existing version of Windows (3.x or 95).
In order to get around this problem, simply rename any WIN.COM file on your hard drive and install normally.
This will let you keep you current Windows settings.

It will make things easier if the location of your new version is the same as your old one.

Note: You will not be able to convert to FAT32 using this procedure. For that you need to FDISK your hard drive.

Office95 Upgrade Without Existing Version

Submitted 1/28/96

To install office 95 upgrade version you need to own another Office like application like WordPerfect or something right ?
Wrong !!

When setup goes to find an application to upgrade from just point it to the EXCEL directory on the office CD and you're off...
Enjoy.

Martin Weterings

Extracting files from Win95's CAB files

Submitted 1/11/97

You don't have to use a batch file to extract a file from the Win95_XX.cab files.
Just use the /A switch.

For example: To extract file1.dll from an unknown .cab file enter

extract /A x:\win95\win95_02.cab file1.dll

at the run command line.
Extract will start with the named .cab file and continue through all .cab files in the folder.
To extract to a specific folder you can add "/L destination" ("destination" is the complete path to the desired folder).

Submitted by Andy Goldberg
[email protected]

Lotus 123 Release 5 Lockup

Submitted 12/18/96

If your Lotus 123 Release 5 for Windows grays out the spreadsheet and locks up, here's what to do:

1. Go to Control Panel, System, Device Manager Performance, Graphics
2. Move the bar to the left until the problem goes away.
3. You'll have to reboot and experiment each time.
4. When the problem goes away, go back to System and move it up one notch to tweak it.
5. That way you'll be going as fast as you can with the graphics limit.

Submitted by Thomas Wilson
[email protected]

ScanDisk with OEM SR2

Added 11/29/96

With the new OEM version of Windows95, if the system was not shutdown cleanly,
the next time it is started, it will stop and prompt you before running ScanDisk.
New options are available for the MSDOS.SYS file to configure how ScanDisk will start.

• AutoScan=0 will disable this feature
  
• AutoScan=1 will stop and prompt you before starting ScanDisk. After 1 minute it will start automatically. This is the default setting
  
• AutoScan=2 will start ScanDisk if needed automatically

Wildcards with DIR and File Find

Added 11/29/96

In addition to the usual wildcards for doing such things as a DIR or File Find,
new options are available with Windows95. The following are a few examples:

COM - All files and folders that have COM in the extension
*ABC* - All files and folders with ABC somewhere in the name
*ABC - All files with ABC as the last characters in the name (no including the extension)
*ABC? - All files with ABC as the second to last characters in the name
?ABC* - All files and folders with ABC as the second through the fourth letters in a name
?ABC? - All files and folders with at least one letter before and after the ABC

ScanDisk Command-Line Switches

Added 11/24/96

Scandskw

drive: - Drive letter of disk you want to scan
/A or /ALL - Scans all local, non-removable hard drives
/N or /NonInteractive - Start and closes ScanDisk Automatically

Defrag Command-Line Switches

Added 11/24/96

Defrag

drive: - Drive letter of the disk you want to defrag
/all - Defrag all local, non-removable drives
/F - Defrag files and free space
/U - Defrag files only
/Q - Defrag free space only
/concise - Display the Hide Details view
/detailed - Display the Show Details view
/noprompt - Immediately starts Defrag

Fixing Page Fault in MPREXE.EXE

Added 9/25/96

Occasionally, after Exchange is installed, you will get errors that indicate that MPREXE.EXE caused a page fault in KERNEL32.DLL
To solve the problem, delete the .PWL file associated with your login ID.
Another solution is to download the Password List Update to repair the existing PWL file.
You can obtain this a http://www.microsoft.com/windows/software/passwd.htm

Auto-Dialing for 32-bit Internet Applications

Submitted 7/11/96

If your 32-bit Internet applications do not automatically invoke your
Windows 95 Dialer, here is a way I found to enable this feature.

1. First, bring up an internet application such as Netscape or Internet Explorer.
2. Next, manually dial into your internet provider by double-clicking your connection icon.
3. Once connected, go to the Control Panel and double-click on the Internet icon.
4. Once the window open, uncheck the checkbox titled "Dial whenever an Internet Connection is needed".
5. Click the check box again and make sure there is a check in the checkbox.
6. Next, click the APPLY button.
7. Finally , click the OK button.

Once you do this, close your internet application and disconnect from your internet provider.
Re-start your Internet application and the Windows 95 dialer should start up.
NOTE: From my experience, all Internet applications will be effected and will automatically start the Windows 95 dialer.

Submitted by J. Walker
[email protected]

DOSSTART.BAT File

Submitted 6/23/96

There's a file name DOSSTART.BAT in the WINDOWS directory. By editing this file you will be able to configure how to start DOS whenever you exit Windows to DOS mode.
This is just like an AUTOEXEC.BAT file that starts up your system.

Submitted by Robo
[email protected]

Fixing Corrupted Exchange Files

Submitted 5/8/96

To replace corrupted files in MS-Exchange run
c:\program files\microsoft exchange\mlset32.exe

Normally, just removing exchange won't delete the old files.
If it should happen that one is corrupted it won't be replaced by the original from the CD when exchange is added again.
Running the program above launches the original exchange setup applet which guides you through the original install process.

Submitted by Geoff J. Wiener
[email protected]

Emergency Recovery Utility

Submitted 5/8/96

Microsoft includes their Emergency Recovery Utility(ERU) on the 95 CD-ROM
This utility makes a backup of the registry and other important system files.
In some cases Windows 95 can be fixed by restoring the registry with this utility.

The ERU program is in the \OTHER\MISC\ERU directory on the Win95 CD.
If you have the floppy version of Win 95, the utility can be found at Microsoft's web site
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/download/eruzip.exe

ERU is also a good way to keep recent backups of all your important system files!

Submitted by Kirk Davis
[email protected]

Automated Office95 Installation

Added 5/8/96

There are several undocumented switches you can use to automate your Office95 Installation.
An full unattended install should only take 3-4 minutes from the CD.

A whole string might look something like:
SETUP /K "12345678" /Q1 /N "YOUR_NAME" /O "YOUR_ORGANIZATION" T: C:\NEW.STF

Other Windows applications use similar STF file structure.

You could have this launch automatically at the end of your Windows95 installation if you are using INF files.

Turning off the ending = with Exchange

Added 4/9/96

When using Exchange, sometimes other e-mail packages will end
each line with a = character.

To turn this off:

1. Open the Control Panel
2. Double Click on the Mail / Fax icon
3. Highlight Internet Mail
4. Click on Properties
5. Click on Message Format
6. Uncheck Use MIME when sending messages

Using the Mouse to copy text in a DOS program

Added 3/30/96

If you want to use your mouse to select an area to copy while you are in a windowed DOS program:

1. Right click on the icon that starts the program
2. Select Properties
3. Click on the Misc tab
4. Check the QuickEdit box

This eliminates the need to select text by using the pull down menu.

Using Exchange with more than one phone number

Added 3/29/96

If you set up exchange to connect using the modem, you can only have one phone number listed.
If you have more than one phone number available for your provider, you would need to create another profile,
which would have your e-mail to go to two mail boxes.

To get around this problem, simply select Network for the connection.
Connect first using either phone number and then start Exchange
Then no matter what phone number you used to connect to the internet,
all your e-mail will be in one place.

Installing Windows95 and Ignoring Plug and Play

Submitted 2/28/96

If you want to install Windows95 and have it not test for any Plug and Play devices,
simply add a /IP after the SETUP command.

Submitted by Maurits Pfaff
[email protected]

Installing Win95 with no MSN or InBox Icons

Added 2/13/96

If you want to install Windows95 and not have it create the MSN or Exchange InBox every time
you need to create a setup INF file. Instructions for doing this can be found later in this section under
Batch Install Program

Having created an INF file you want to use, add the following lines to remove both icons during installation:

• [msn.remove]
  setup.ini,desktop,,%Setup_MSN_DESC%,MSNEXCH.EXE %Setup_MSN_DESC%

  [Install]
  UpdateINIs= msn.remove
  DelReg=NoInbox_Icon

  [strings]
  Setup_MSN_DESC="Set Up The Microsoft Network"

  [NoInbox_Icon]
  HKLM,SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\"{00020D76-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

Backing up the Registry

Use CFGBACK.EXEon the Win 95 CD. It is in the /OTHER/MISC/CFGBACK directory.
It will save up to 9 copies of the registry in*.rbk file format.
You can restore any of these when necessary.

Submitted by KJ King
http://www.snowcrest.net/kjking/

Adding NOTEPAD to SENDTO

Submitted 1/11/96

Create a shortcut to notepad.exe in the C:\WINDOWS\SENDTO directory.
Then, you'll have the option to view a files contents by right-clicking it and "sending" to the notepad.
Immensely useful for deciphering old set-up files (or .DOC files that aren't Word files, READ.ME etc.)

Submitted by Mike Blackmer
[email protected]

Eudora Pro for Win95

Added 12/27/95

If you are using the Internet Explorer and send e-mail, Win95 defaults to using Exchange.
If you would rather use Eudora Pro as your e-mail program:

1. Start Eudora Pro for Win95
2. Select Tools
3. Select Options
4. Select Mapi
5. For the section Use Eudora MAPI Server, select Always

Now when you e-mail from within the Internet Explorer, Eudora will come up as your
e-mail program.

Norton Utilities

Submitted 11/5/95

If the readings on the amount of hard drive space is showing
more than is possible

1. Go into Norton Recycled bin
2. Hit empty Norton Protected files

This will now give you an accurate reading.

Submitted by K.J. King
[email protected]

Automatic Re-Dialing for Dial-Up Network

Submitted 10/19/95

1. Open up My Computer.
2. Open up Dial-Up Networking.
3. Go to the Connection Menu then Settings.
4. Make sure Redial is checked.
5. Set the number of times you want to redial, up to 100 times.
6. Click Ok and your off !

Submitted by Scott Do
[email protected]

Using EDIT

Added 9/29/95

The DOS based text editor that comes with Windows95 has some advantages
over the one that came with prior versions of DOS.

• It will let you load multiple files.
• It will let you call wild cards from the command line (e.g. EDIT *.BAT).

EDIT can also be used on prior versions of DOS.
Just copy EDIT.COM to your old DOS directory.

Creating Distribution Lists for Exchange E-Mail

Added 9/26/95

1. Start Exchange.
2. Open up the Address Book.
3. Create a New Entry.
4. Select Personal Distribution List from the menu.
5. Type in the Name of the List as well as any notes.
6. Click on the Add/Remove Members button.
7. Select the people you want on the distribution list.
8. You can use the Windows Ctrl or Shift with left mouse button to select multiple entries.
9. Click the next two OK buttons.
10. To send to your Distribution List, simply create your e-mail as usual and select it from the Address book.

Using Memmaker

Submitted 9/23/95

Here’s a blast from the (supposed) past:

• Run Memmaker from the MS-DOS prompt.
• It will reboot in MSDOS mode and then run as before.
• When you open DOS Prompts and DOS games they will have many of the TSRs in HIMEM
• I have 637K Conventional memory for all DOS apps!

Submitted by Dan Rhodes
[email protected]

Signatures Using WordMail

Added 9/21/95

If you are using WordMail that comes with Office95, you can send e-mail using Microsoft Word.
Exchange will automatically detect the addition and start WordMail when you create a new e-mail or reply to an existing one.

It will use Word's spell checker, most of the WINWORD text formatting capabilities (centering, full justification, bold, italics)
a special Mail button bar and quite a few new features. It is certainly worth trying out.

This may sound like MS hype but I'm actually quite impressed

To include a signature:

1. Start a new message (Ctrl-N)
2. Type in your signature.
3. Highlight your signature text.
4. From the pulldown menu, select Edit / Autotext.
5. Type in signature for the name.
6. Click on the Add button.
7. Now when you send any message, this text will be added to the beginning.

Advantages are:

1. By adding the text to the beginning of the file, a reply will have your signature at the end of your reply, not at the end of their message.
2. You can format text with Bold, Italics, Underlines etc. Anyone using Exchange can also view them

Adding New Document Templates

Submitted 9/3/95

1. Save a blank file with the program for the documents you wish to create the templates, into the hidden directory \WINDOWS\ShellNew.
2. Then open the Registry Editor and add the key "ShellNew" under the extension related to that document (ie. .BAS, .ORG, .DXF)
3. Add a new substring and name it Filename
4. Double-click Filename and type the name of the blank document you just saved.
5. Now you can right-click on the desktop, select New and you’ll see the option to create a document-type icon for the application you just selected.

I have found a lot of variations and options on this tip.

Submitted by Xavier Flix
:[email protected]

Dial-Up Scripting with the Plus! Pack

The Internet Jumpstart Kit that comes with the Plus! Pack allows you to script your Dial-Up Connections

1. Open up Programs / Accessories / Dial-Up Scripting Tool.
   
2. Select the provider (if you have more than one).
   
3. Type in the name of the script (end with .scp).
   
4. Click on the Edit Button. This will bring up Notepad.
5. Type in your script. A sample one follows:

   proc main
   
      waitfor "login:"
      transmit "your_login_name^M"
   
      waitfor "password:"
      transmit "your_password^M"
   
      waitfor "TERM = (vt100)"
      transmit "^M"       
   
      waitfor "your_logon_prompt"
      transmit "ppp^M"            ; My provider requires "ppp" to be typed in.
   
   endproc
   

• Remember to turn off Bring up terminal window after dialing.
  
• You can initially have Step through script turned on for debugging.
  
• When it is correct, check Start terminal screen minimized.
  
• For a complete listing of all the scripting options,
  read SCRIPT.DOC in the \Programs\Plus! directory.

New XCOPY Switches

There are quite a few new switches to the XCOPY command. To get a full listing, type XCOPY /?. Below are some of the additions over DOS 6.X.

• /C - Continues copying even if errors occur
• /I - If destination does not exist and copying more than one file, assumes that destination must be a directory
• /Q - Does not display file names while copying
• /F - Displays full source and destination file names while copying
• /L - Displays files that would be copied
• /H -Copies hidden and system files also
• /R - Overwrites read-only files
• /T - Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not include empty directories or subdirectories. /T /E includes empty directories and subdirectories
• /U - Updates the files that already exist in destination
• /K - Copies attributes. Normal Xcopy will reset read-only attributes
• /Y - Overwrites existing files without prompting
• /-Y - Prompts you before overwriting existing files
• /N - Copy using the generated short names

Batch Install Program

If you are re-installing Win95 and use the same settings and programs each time, there is a Batch Installation program in the Admin\Nettools\Netsetup directory on the CD.

You can specify what applications, network, protocol etc. to load when you install Win95. Save the file, then run SETUP FILENAME.INF when you re-install Win95. . You won't be prompted for much else

Problems with older Win 3.X programs

There is a program, MKCOMPAT.EXE in the SYSTEM directory. If allows you to change several settings that could help with problem programs.

Setup Switches

There are several switches that can be used when running SETUP

• filename - Runs setup with the specified setup INF file
• /id - Ignores the DIsk Space check
• /is - Ignores the routine System check
• /iq - Skips the test for cross-linked files
• /in - Runs setup without the Network Setup Module
• /IW - Bypasses needing to read the License screen - Undocumented.

If you would like to add your Tips, please e-mail me.
Be sure to include your name and e-mail address so credit can be given.

If you have any additions or comments, please

[email protected]