Site Server - Favorite Tips of IT Professionals (December 1999, Windows 9x)
T-Shirts for Tipsters, December 1999
We were very impressed by the Windows 95 and Windows 98 tips submitted by IT Professionals for the T-Shirts for Tipsters contest. The Windows product support team combed through them all and selected the very best to share with you.
Congratulations to the December winners!
Editor's Note Many of these tips also apply to Windows NT Workstation. We've noted this for you if the author hasn't already.
Dave Wagner
Owner / Webmaster: Logicalimage.net
webmaster@logicalimage.net
Message Text:
After installing intensive 3-D software I ran into the problem of hardware acceleration and the software. Using the System Information Tool in Windows 98, I checked the DirectDraw and DirectX drivers and ran the diagnostics tests on both. My 3-D software said I could use hardware acceleration if my video card supported it. After running the tests it was easy to tell if my card supported it, and how much of a difference there was in the software acceleration versus the hardware acceleration. Needless to say, thanks to this tool I am able to use the hardware acceleration settings at the full rate.
Great diagnostic tools for video problems...
Scott Rokus
Software Validation Engineer
srokus@technologist.com
If you find that using your favorite wallpaper causes Active Desktop to be turned on (thereby using up more system resources, slowing down your system), simply convert the wallpaper into a bitmap (.bmp).
You can use the Windows 95 and 98 built-in Paint utility. Simply open the .gif or .jpg/.jpeg file by choosing the proper file type in the Open window, and pick your wallpaper. Then choose Save As in the File menu, and save the image in the .bmp file of your color choice. Then right-click your desktop and choose Properties to open your desktop properties, go to the Background tab, and browse for your newly created .bmp file. Remember to right-click the desktop and be sure that Active Desktop/View as Web Page is unchecked.
NO MORE DOUBLE CLICKS!
If you want to use single clicks on your desktop and throughout Windows (90% of the time, like if you're on the Net) follow these steps:
Open Windows Explorer
Choose View and then Folder Options
In the General tab, click the radio button for Customize the click settings
Under Click Item as follows click Single Click to Open
Then click Underline icon titles as I point at them (then you will see what you are about to click).
Then click OK then Close.
If you are used to and like single-clicking, as when you're on the Internet, you will like this feature. It works in Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows 2000.
Thanks,
John
PS: Happy surfing to you! :-)
PSS: I Hope I Win. :-)
Tony Hogan
hogan@bluewave-computing.com
Need a quick File Explorer window? Select Start, then Run and simply enter a . [period] to start File Explorer in the current directory. This works on Windows 9X, Windows NT, and Windows 2000. Enjoy!
Michael Prewitt
Graphic Designer
A quick and productive way to manage shortcuts to folders:
Create a folder on your desktop; give it any meaningful name. Put shortcuts to all your favorite folders inside this folder.
Add a shortcut (not a copy) to this folder to your Start menu. Adding it to the space just above the Programs flyout is very efficient.
Not only will you have quick and easy access to all your folders from the Start menu, but you will also be able to access them from within any file dialog box: in the Save in drop-down menu, click Desktop, and then choose the shortcuts folder you created.
Any changes you make to the one will be reflected in the other.
Tony Scarpelli
Computer Fix-It
tony@computerfix-it.com
When installing a hard drive, partition it into C: and D: and put the operating system and programs on C: and all of your data, e-mail box, fax, Windows cab files/drivers and other data on the D: drive. When it becomes necessary to upgrade your operating system or a do totally new install, it is easier to format your C: and reinstall everything without fear of losing your data. Installing peripherals will be easier if you also have your drivers in a folder on the D: drive as well.
Patrick Yeary, MCSE
Network Administrator
PJYeary@hotmail.com
Explore a specific folder (or drive) from a shortcut.
Create a shortcut for File Explorer, right click it, and select Properties. Click the Shortcut tab, and change the text in the Target field so it reads: Explorer.exe /n, /e, c:\myfolder
where c:\myfolder is the folder where you want Explorer to start. To explore a specific drive, replace c:\myfolder with the drive letter where you want Explorer to start.
To change the icon, click the Shortcut tab, and click the Change Icon button and browse to the location of your icon file.
Author's name withheld by request
Sometimes, you want to open a file using the Open with option and you find out when you right-click the file that there is only an Open option instead. If you press the SHIFT key while right-clicking the file, the Open with option will appear in the menu. This is a neat tip if you often open files associated to different types of applications.
Steve Blum
Senior Software Programmer/Analyst.
sblum@pai-colo.com
If you would like Explorer to open and point to a different place than the C: drive, do the following. Add Explorer as a shortcut on the desktop or office toolbar. In the properties for the shortcut or toolbar button, add /e to the end of the target. Then enter the drive and directory that you would like to be your default, such as d:\mywork\home, into the Start In box. Now whenever you click the shortcut, Explorer will open with that directory expanded.
Rick McMullen
Support Administrator (Geek Herder)
rick@corporatemover.com
As a network support professional I tend to hit the Control Panel a lot and got tired of opening the Control Panel folder in a Window and then hunting for the right Control Panel. This is fixed in Windows 2000 beta 3 by allowing the Control Panel to expand another menu (yea!!!).
On Windows 98 workstations I've added a pop-up toolbar on the taskbar. Simply right-click the taskbar, go to Toolbars, select New Toolbar, then select Control Panel and click OK. You now have a pop-up to select individual Control Panel windows. My only complaint is that at 640X480 the taskbar looks crowded, which is not an issue with me because the lowest I run is 800X600.
Asif Bhatti
asifbhatti@usa.net
Unlock the Secrets of Windows
You can see the names of the volcanoes around the world. Just choose Display Settings from Control Panel, then Screen Saver, 3-D Text, OpenGL, Settings, and type volcano.
Windows will start displaying names of different volcanoes around the world.
Editor's Note Also works on Windows NT Workstation.
Phillip Chesney
System Administrator
wilkens@ruraltel.net
To get to the Device Manager without going through the Control Panel, hold down the ALT key and double-click My Computer.
I use this quite a bit. It really saves the time of going through the Control Panel.
Editor's Note Also works on Windows NT Workstation.
Conrad Zaguirre
MIS Helpdesk Representative
CZaguirre@crown-golf.com
Quickly Shut Down Windows 95
As you may know, when you want to shut down Windows 95, you have to go through several steps. First you have to click the Start button and select the Shut Down command. When the Shut Down Windows dialog box appears, you have to select the Shut Down The Computer option and then click Yes. That's four steps.
Fortunately, we've discovered a way to shut down Windows 95 with one simple double-click. To implement this technique, launch the Create Shortcut wizard by right-clicking 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 95 NOW! in the Select a Name For the Shortcut text box and click Finish. Now, when you're ready to shut down Windows 95, close all your applications as you normally would, and then just double-click the new Shut Down Windows 95 NOW! icon.
Chris Plant
Specialist, Andersen Consulting
cplant@ti.com
Start Menu Folder for Frequently Accessed Network Drives
Connecting a network drive in File Explorer can be a hassle if you do it often enough. Keeping a large number of network drives connected can clutter up Explorer and may contribute to resource usage (no proof of the latter).
To get around this, I've added a Network Drives folder to the Windows Start Menu folder. Within it, I add Explorer icons for each network drive/share I often access.
Copy an explorer icon and modify the target on the shortcut tab of properties to read:
C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE /e, /root, \\AAA\BBB
Where AAA = Server and BBB = Share
Once created, using Explorer -- viewing the Network Drive directory in the Windows Start Menu -- click on this new icon and change the name to something of your choice, such as Documentation.
To use, click the Start button, then Network Drives in the pop-up from Start, then click the network drive (Documentation) you want to access. A separate Explorer window will open showing that server/share.
Note that you can optionally extend this to show only a certain directory within the share, e.g. \\AAA\BBB\directory.
Jim Kuiphof
Business Analyst
BMWMFan@mailandnews.com
Right-Click Notepad Open
Ever wanted a quick and easy way to view files containing text, but didn't necessarily want to associate the extension to Notepad? There's an easy way with the shortcut menus (right-click menus) in Windows 9x, Windows 2000, and Windows NT. Open regedit and add the following: (Normal registry edit disclaimer applies) HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shell\Notepad\Command\default="NOTEPAD %1"
You can alternately add the path to your favorite text editor in place of Notepad.
With that registry addition in place, the shortcut menu for every file will have a Notepad selection right at the top of the menu list.
Editor's Note As always, editing the registry can be dangerous. Be sure to back up before proceeding and have an emergency repair disk handy.
Michael Bleidistel
MIS Manager
Creative Design Consultants, Inc.
cdcit@ix.netcom.com
Ever want to extend to your users the convenience and time saving advantage of finding/opening files in Windows Explorer by opening directly to the network drive they use most...or even to the specific directory they want?
Solution: Change the Target in the shortcut properties for Windows Explorer (95, 98,(NT=C:\WINNT\...) to:
Example 1: "C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE /n,/e,i:\" (where "i:\" is your network drive)
Example 2: "C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE /n,/e,i:\ my documents " (where "i:\my documents" is your specific network directory)
Saves users a great deal of time by not browsing around in Explorer clicking on paths to the files they need.
John van der Kleij
MTW Corporation (RTP)
jvdkleij@mtwcorp.com
I've created a VBscript which can be used in combination with the scheduler to have a animated call when it's time to go home after a full days work.
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Copyright (C) 1999 JK Software
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' File : GoHome.vbs
' Date : 10-Aug-1999
' Autor: J.van der Kleij
' Vers.: 1.1
'
' Purpose : Scheduled GoHome script uses MS Agent for Animated wake-up call.
'
' Note : Change the variable FirstName to your own.
' Depending on your desktop size (1024x768, 800x600, etc) change the
' line with "objChar.MoveTo 800, 600" to your own liking and desktop
' capability.
'
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Option Explicit
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Constants...
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Const Complete = 0, Pending = 2
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Setup...
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dim objAgent, objChar, objRequest, txtSpeak
Dim strName, Shell, FirstName
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Initialize...
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FirstName = "John"
strName = "Merlin"
'strName = "Genie"
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Start...
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Set Shell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
If HaveAgent() Then
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Microsoft Agent control was found...
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
objAgent.Characters.Load strName, strName & ".acs"
Set objChar = objAgent.Characters(strName)
With objChar
.Top = 50
.Left = 50
.LanguageID = &h409
.Show
End With
objChar.Play "Greet"
objChar.Speak "Hello, " & FirstName & "\Vol=100"
objChar.Play "GetAttention"
objChar.Play "GetAttentionReturn"
objChar.Speak "Hello! " & FirstName
objChar.Play "Idle2_2"
objChar.Play "Acknowledge"
objChar.Play "Announce"
objChar.Speak "Yup, it's now time to go home."
objChar.MoveTo 800, 600
objChar.Play "Idle3_1"
objChar.Play "Wave"
objChar.Speak "Goodbye! " & FirstName
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Synchronize our Animation characters Hide with VBScripts Quit...
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Set objRequest = objChar.Hide
Do Until objRequest.Status = Complete
Wscript.Sleep 100
Loop
Set objChar = Nothing
objAgent.Characters.Unload strName
WScript.Quit
Else
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Microsoft Agent control was NOT found...
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shell.Popup "MS Agent NOT Found !" & vbCrLf, _
10, _
"Error Message", _
vbInformation + vbOKOnly + vbSystemModal
Wscript.Quit
End If
Function HaveAgent()
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Function to check MS Agent availability...
' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HaveAgent = False
On Error Resume Next
Set objAgent = CreateObject("Agent.Control.1")
objAgent.Connected = True
HaveAgent = IsObject(objAgent)
End Function
Editor's Note : If you are not already familiar with Microsoft Agent technology, here are some hints. Be sure to save the file as a .vbs file, then in the task scheduler add a new task to have this .vbs run at a certain time every day for your users. Note that you'll need to have Microsoft Agent components and a speech engine installed, and make sure the character's name is in strmane = "character name". We also suggest adding to the error message the URL to download components. For more information on using Microsoft Agent technology, see https://www.microsoft.com/msagent/default.asp.