Miscellaneous Tips |
Getting Item Properties - Submitted
4/19/97
Starting Win95 Without Running Apps in
the Startup Folder - Submitted 4/5/97
Removing a program from the
Control Panel - Submitted 3/12/97
Using FIND to Search Across
Multiple Drives - Added 2/19/97
RUNDLL Error Message - Submitted 1/28/96
Upgrading Without a Previous Version of
Windows Installed - Submitted12/21/96
Automatically Delete Files Sent to
Recycle Bin - Submitted 11/29/96
The Simplest Multi-Boot - Submitted
11/24/96
Increasing Performance - Added
11/19/96
Enabling Telephony Controls - Submitted
11/3/96
Disabling CDs AutoRun - Added 10/20/96
Windows95 Files in the Root Directory
- Added 10/20/96
Control Panel CPL Files - Added
10/19/96
Reserving Resources from Plug and Play Devices
- Added 10/6/96
Viewing System IRQ, I/O, Memory and DMA
Utilization - Added 10/6/96
Installing with an INF File - Added
9/1/96
Automatically Deleting Files in the
Recycle Bin - Submitted 8/5/96
Increasing your Sound Card's Bass and Treble
- Added 6/8/96
ATI Video Card and COM4 conflicts - Submitted
5/3/96
System Policies when logging on to an NT Domain
- Submitted 4/28/96
Changing to Win 3.x Shell - Submitted
4/28/96
Quickly Opening Text Files - Submitted
4/23/96
Changing your Modem's Initialization String
- Added 4/9/96
Saving memory by adjusting your CD Cache -
Added 3/30/96
Easy File Deletes - Submitted 2/19/96
Update to DTC 2278 D Controller and CD ROMs
- Submitted 2/15/96
HP Print Failures - Added 1/27/96
Eliminate banner page from printing when
running HP 4 & 5 printer - Submitted 1/26/96
Designating Drive Letter for CD ROMs and
other removable media - Added 1/20/96
Upgrading with Pro Audio Spectrum Cards -
Submitted 1/16/96
Bypass starting Windows95 - Submitted
1/14/96
Quick Format a Floppy Disk - Submitted
1/13/96
Creating a Boot Menu - 12/27/95
Selecting non-recognized modems - 12/25/95
Creating PRN File Types - 12/13/95
Refresh SCSI Devices - 11/28/95
DTC Controller I/O Problems - 11/18/95
Removing programs listed in Control Panel's Remove
Programs - 11/4/95
Drivespace and Memory - 11/1/95
Booting to DOS - 10/2/95
Turning off Numlock - 9/13/95
Restarting Win95 without a warm boot -
9/12/95
S3 Video and COM 4 - 9/9/95
Potential problems with 16-bit WINSOCK.DLL's
- 9/1/95
Speeding up your double-speed CD-ROM - 8/31/95
Copying Graphics
Read the TIPS.TXT File
Submitted 4/19/97
To get to the properties screen for just about anything, hold the
ALT key down while double clicking on it's icon.
Submitted by Matt Neville
Submitted 4/5/97
To start Win95 without loading anything in the startup group,
just hold down the shift key (either one) when Win95 is loading.
Keep holding it down until the desktop is complete with a
pointer.
If any application is still loading, it's because it's in
registry under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
Submitted by Marc Lanman
Submitted 3/12/97
Run the Windows Explorer and go to the Windows/System directory. Find the appropriate CPL file (file with the extension CPL) and delete it.
Note from Bob: If you want them still
available but not showing up in the Control Panel itself, you can
also move them to another directory.
To invoke them, type CONTROL \path\cpl_file where path
is the full path where they are located and cpl_file is the name
of the CPL file.
For example, if you don't want users to see the Network
icon in the control panel but still want to be able to make
changes, you could move the NETCPL.CPL
file to another directory. Then type CONTROL
\path\NETCPL.CPL.
A listing of all the CPL files can be found later in this section at: Control Panel CPL Files
Submitted by Neil Ragone
Added 2/19/97
When you use Find from the desktop (F3), you can normally only
search on one drive.
To search across multiple drives and directories, separate your
searches with a semicolon (;)
For example, to search from the root of C: and the root of D:,
you would enter
C:\;D:\ as your look in
location
To search from different directories, you can enter them as well
Submitted 1/28/96
If when you start your computer you get a RUNDLL error message
in a dialog box here is what you do.
First use RegEdit and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE /
MICROSOFT / WINDOWS / CURRENT VERSION / RUN
and delete the string that appears in the dialog box this will
remove the string and everything will be groovy!!
Submitted 12/21/96
Improved Upgrading without a previous version of Windows installed
If you need to install Windows 95 Upgrade on your computer and
you no longer have Windows 3.1,
you can simply create the following file on your hard disk:
WIN386.EXE
and the Upgrade will install.
The easiest way to create this file is to type the following
at the command prompt:
ECHO [some random characters] > WIN386.EXE
Submitted by Eric Tetz
[email protected]
Submitted 9/1/96
If you are a Windows 95 "UPGRADE" user and you must
reinstall Windows 95 for any reason,
you don't need to have a copy of Windows 3.x installed on your
computer first.
Just place the first disk into your drive and during the install
of Windows95 it will find the necessary files.
Submitted by Edward Garner
[email protected]
Submitted 11/29/96
To automatically delete files sent to the recycle bin, do the following:
Submitted by Don Hunter
[email protected]
Submitted 11/24/96
Forget about "restart in ms-dos mode"
Use DOS=SINGLE
In your CONFIG.SYS put:
[menu]
menuitem WIN95, Windows 95
menuitem NORMAL, DOS - Normal
menudefault WIN95, 3
[WIN95]
[NORMAL]
DOS=SINGLE
[common]
Submitted by Adam
[email protected]
Added 11/19/96
If you have 24 Megs or more of RAM, you can increase your
performance.
If you do not see a performance increase, occasionally the
NameCache and PathCache values
are written to the registry incorrectly for the Network Server.
To fix the problem:
Submitted 11/3/96
If you are using telephony based modems (unimodem) you can
enable the telephony controls in control panel by renaming
TELEPHON.CP$ to TELEPHON.CPL in the SYSTEM
directory.
This will allow you to do diagnostics as well as configure your
modem.
Submitted by Rick Munday
[email protected]
Added 10/20/96
If you want to disable Windows95's ability to automatically start CD's when they are inserted:
Added 10/20/96
The following link to Microsoft's Knowledge has the
description of all the files Windows95
will create in the root of your boot drive as well as a
description of each.
http://www.microsoft.com/kb/articles/q151/6/67.htm
Added 10/19/96
The following are the files that display icons in the Control
Panel.
The reside in the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory
They can be run individually by typing Control followed by
the CPL file.
If you are missing any icons in the Control Panel, you want to
make sure the CPL file is in the SYSTEM directory.
Access.cpl - Accessibility properties
Appwiz.cpl - Add/Remove Programs properties
Desk.cpl - Display properties
FindFast.cpl - FindFast (included with Microsoft
Office for Windows 95)
Inetcpl.cpl - Internet properties
Intl.cpl - Regional Settings properties
Joy.cpl - Joystick properties
Main.cpl - Mouse properties
Mlcfg32.cpl - Microsoft Exchange Service
properties
Mmsys.cpl - Multimedia properties
Modem.cpl - Modem properties
Netcpl.cpl - Network properties
Odbccp32.cpl - Data Sources (32-bit ODBC)
Password.cpl - Password properties
Sysdm.cpl - System properties
Themes.cpl - Desktop Themes (available with
Microsoft Plus!)
TimeDate.cpl - Date/Time properties
10/6/96
If you want to make sure Windows95 doesn't assign certain resources (IRQ, I/O etc.) to you Plug and Play Devices
Added 10/6/96
To view what resources are currently being used by your system.
Open up the Device Manager
Double click on Computer
You can now see what IRQ, I/O, Memory and DMA addresses are in
use.
Added 9/1/96
By default, when you double click on an INF file, Windows95
opens it with Notepad.
To change that so it will install the INF file:
Submitted 8/5/96
An economical way to use the Recycle Bin is to use it as normal but insert the lines:
CD\Recycled
Echo Y | Del *.*
CD\
in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
This way every time you restart your computer your recycling bin
is cleaned.
Submitted by Michael Gilligan
[email protected]
Added 6/20/96
With the advent of long directory names, it can be difficult
to open up a DOS box and CD to the directory you want
particularly if it is several layers of long names deep.
An easy way is to:
Added 6/8/96
If you want to boost your sound card's bass or treble:
Submitted 5/3/96
ATI cards use I/O address 02e0 -02ef & 03b0-03bf.
This is in conflict with the default for COM4.
Submitted by Marty Roth
[email protected]
Submitted 4/28/96
CONFIG.POL, when copied to
winnt35\system32\repl\import\scripts, is
then offered in the share netlogon. This files is the only file
needed to establish policies for users in an NT user accounts
data
base or SAM. Set up a default user and default computer plus any
more restrictive setting for specific users, groups or computers
and
Microsoft 95 system policies will be in place. In addition, if
you
force a logon by the client and disable a DOS session, this will
be
a very tight security scheme.
Submitted by Bob Rapp
[email protected]
Submitted 4/28/96
Do you miss Program Manager?
If so, edit the SYSTEM.INI file in the \WINDOWS directory.
Under [Boot] change:
shell=c:\windows\explorer.exe
to
shell=c:\windows\progman.exe Submitted by Brad Hedlund
[email protected]
Submitted 4/23/96
To speed up opening files, if you know the file contains text,
but it
it has an extension that isn't recognized, here's what you do:
Now you'll have an easy way to open documents!
Another helpful thing to do is to do the same thing with the
recycle bin.
Submitted by Anthony Keller
[email protected]
Added 4/9/96
Added 3/30/96
If you don't use your CD player that often, your system might
be assigning
memory for it's cache which you could reclaim.
Hate deleting files out of the Recycle Bin in Windows 95.
Hold the shift key down then drop the file on the icon then its
gone.
Submitted by Brian West
[email protected]
Submitted 2/15/96
They do have a beta driver out now for 95 but it will not work
with a CD-ROM on the secondary port.
The work around is:
They also have a web site at http://www.datatechnology.com
Submitted by Jeff Pennington
[email protected]
If you have a network installed, you can restart Windows 95 by
choosing:
Submitted by KJ King
http://www.snowcrest.net/kjking/
Added 1/27/96
If you attempt to print a document that contains complex
graphical images to a non-PostScript Hewlett-Packard Laser Jet 4
or Laser Jet 5 printer,
the document may not be printed due to lack of memory installed
in your printer.
According to Microsoft, this problem is known to occur with the
Hewlett Packard Laser Jet 4, 4M, 4 Plus, 4M Plus, 4L, 4ML, 4P,
4MP, 4Si, 4Si MX, 4V, 4MV, 5P, 5MP. The work-around:
The readme file points out that this is typically on Compaq Prolinea or Deskpro models
Submitted by Sid Lieberman
[email protected]
Added 1/20/96
If you want to specify the drive letter for your CD ROM, Zip Drive, Bernouli, or Syquest drive:
Submitted 1/16/96
When upgrading from Win 3.1, remove or rename all .386 and
.drv's related to the sound card BEFORE installing Win 95.
Leaving the drivers in place will prevent he new drivers from
running properly.
The drivers are:
Submitted by Andy McConnell
[email protected]
Submitted 1/14/96
To bypass starting Win95 at startup without pressing F8,
modify the line in the hidden C:\MSDOS.SYS file:
The next time the computer is started, You will return to the
DOS prompt after the
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files load.
It's useful when you hate waiting for your slow computer to
start
Windows 95 every time you turn on your computer.
Submitted by Keith Lau [email protected]
Submitted 1/13/96
Submitted by George Neill
[email protected]
Submitted 12/27/95
Note: BootGUI needs to be set to 1
if you have the menu running, otherwise even if you select 1
(Normal), it will not go to the GUI.
P.S. Supposedly Drvspace=0 nd Dblspace=0 under the Options section saves on RAM, but I haven't been able to confirm this.
Submitted by Stephen Gipson
[email protected]
Submitted 12/25/95
When Win95 doesn't recognize your modem
Don't use "Standard 14400 bps modem" or "Standard
28800 bps modem"
Why %3F because this doesn't enable hardware data compression and
correction.
(In other words, your modem doesn't work at full speed)
Solution : choose any other modem in the list that's compatible
with you modem and has about the same specifications (speed, V32,
V34, ...).
Hayes is very likely to be compatible, as it is used as a
standard
Submitted by Pedro Tytgat
[email protected]
Submitted 12/13/95
If You often print *.PRN files, you can associate it with
batch file like this:
@copy %1 LPT1
Submitted by Waldek Golebski
[email protected]
Added 11/28/95
If you had any SCSI devices that were powered off during the
booting of Win95
they will not show as available, even after turning them on.
For example, I often forget to turn on my Zip drive before
starting Win95.
In order to use them, without restarting Win95:
The SCSI device(s) should now be available for use.
Submitted 11/18/95
When using the DTC 2278E I/O controller card, beware of how it
sets up your drives.
When you install the Win 95 drivers, Win95 will set up all of
your drives in a SCSI format.
This may disable your ability to play music on your IDE CD-ROM
drive if you are using it off the secondary port.
I had multiple problems with my Mitsumi 4X until i discovered
this.
Go to System in the Control Panel, click on your drive type,
click on the drive itself and disable the SCSI options in the
drive settings section.
This I/O card will not allow me to use my Iomega Zip drive
(parallel port interface) with the CD-ROM as well.
I haven't figured out how to fix this problem yet.
Submitted by Bob Frenz [email protected]
Added 11/4/95
If you remove an installed program and its files by deleting
the files,
it may still show up in the Add/Remove programs list through the
control panel.
In order to remove it from the list (so you don't need to
re-install in order to just remove it again).
This will only delete them from the list, not delete the
actual programs.
Only programs designed for Windows95 will show up here in the
first place.
Added 11/1/95
If you are using Drivespace, check if Windows is wasting 109K of conventional memory.
In graphical windows, type 'mem/c/p' in a Dos box
if you see 'drvspace.bin' or dblspace.bin' you are wasting
memory.
That is the *real mode* driver and it is supposed to be unloaded
when the GUI starts.
See MS Knowledge base article #Q134364 for how to fix it.
Even if you fix the driver unloading in the GUI, if you boot to Dos, it will happen again if you start windows by typing 'WIN'.
Submitted by Travis B. Jennings
[email protected]
Added 10/28/95
I have a phone controlled switch I use to turn on my computer
and have it boot a DOS version of qmodem in host mode.
The switch shuts the computer off 5 mins after I hang up.
When I moved into Win95 I need a way to do this without going
into Windows.
Answer, The MSDOS.SYS in Win95 is a text file.
Change the BootGUI=0 to BootGUI=1 and you boot into DOS.
You can always type WIN to start Win95 from there.
Submitted by Jim Crosson
[email protected]
Added 9/13/95
By default, Win95 has the Numlock key turned ON
To have it be OFF, simply add the line:
numlock=off
to the CONFIG.SYS file.
Added 9/12/95
Submitted by Jim Blazevski
[email protected]
In addition to the tip regarding the ability to avoid a warm
boot while restarting windows by shift-clicking the yes button,
the same method can be used to avoid a warm boot when restart in
MS-DOS mode is selected.
The result is an exit to DOS much like win 3.11. However,
regardless of click or shift click. The result is still a DOS
Shell, not true DOS.
Submitted by Michael Reach
[email protected]
Added 9/9/95
If you are using a S3 video accelerator card, I believe the
Windows 95 documentation says
DO NOT INSTALL YOUR MODEM ON COM PORT 4.
The modem will appear to work fine in DOS mode but will not
respond in Windows.
The only two solutions are to change the COM port and IRQ for the
modem or get a new video card.
Submitted by Robert Frenz
[email protected]
Submitted 9/1/95
If you re having problems getting some of your winsock
applications
to work under Win95, make sure you delete any old 16-bit winsock.dll's.
If this file is in the directory were the application resides,
it could
cause problems. Programs that could have problems like this are:
We found that if the software listed above is in the same
directory as the
Trumpet Winsock.dll file, then they will NOT work under the
MS-TCP/IP stack.
Submitted by Ken D. Walters
[email protected]
Submitted 8/31/95
Submitted by John Knappers
[email protected]
You can copy graphics from a DOS box as well as you can text. For example, while running a graphics game, you can press
Thomas tried it on Heretic. I tried in on DOOM2. Everything worked fine
Submitted by Thomas Kadlec
[email protected]
There is a file TIPS.TXT in the directory where Win95 is installed. There are a lot if little hints and shortcuts there.
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