Disclaimer: The tips and instructions contained in this document may or may not work on your PC and/or Windows95. I take no responsibility in system or software problems due to applying any of the information co ntained in this document.
Last Updated 2-2-96
If you do not want to be prompted for a password, set your primary network logon to Windows Logon. To do so,use the following steps:
Speed Up the System Restart: Add 'BootDelay=0' to the [Options] section of C:\msdos.sysYou may have to change the attributes on this file to be able to edit it.
Freeing Memory in DOS Windows:In the [386Enh] section of 'System.ini', add 'LocalLoadHigh=1'
Virtual Memory:Even though Windows 95 advises you to let it manage your virtual memory for best performance, this means that it will adjust it on the fly, causing moments of wild disk activity while you are virtually frozen. To set the disk cache permanently and stop this activity, do the following:
Virtual Cache:Setting these values will prevent VCache from filling up your RAM and causing your applications to be paged out to disk.
MSDOS 6.x can be deleted since Windows95 has its own DOS.
Press the F4 key at system boot to boot into MS-DOS 6.x. If that doesn't work and you have your old DOS still on your system, put BootMulti=1 in the [Options] section of the msdos.sys file.
Install Windows95 clean! If installing the upgrade, you will need to have Disk #1 of Windows 3.x or Windows For Workgroups. The system performance gain has been known to be approximately 15%.
To fix the "disappearing" cover page list in MS FAX, put this statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT:
To clear documents from the Documents setting within the Start button, click on the Settings icon/Start Program Menu/Clear button.
You can access your Long File Name directories or files in a DOS Prompt by simply putting double quotes around the that name. For example, C:>cd\"Program Files".
You can stretch the Taskbar to get your buttons to display text besides the icon. Simply click your mouse on the top of the Taskbar until you see the up/down arrow then drag it up (if Taskbar is on the bottom).
Use the right mouse button to drag and drop into folders, windows, etc. you will get a popup menu with the "Move Here/Copy Here/Create Shortcut(s) Here" options.
If you want to have the Explorer View all the time (split view panes) do this:
To remove an item from the "Add Remove Programs" Uninstalled list in Control Panel that will not uninstall, execute the Regedit program, expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder, open the Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Unistall folder. Se lect the folder of the item that is to be deleted from the Uninstalled list. Delete or remove the DisplayName and UninstallString items. The "Add Remove Programs" Uninstall list will now show the item removed.
If your sound card is supported by Windows 95, butSetup did not detect it. Here's how you install it.
If your CD-ROM drive is not recognized by Windows 95, use the following steps:
Here's a way to define friendlier short filenames (DOS version of a Long File Name) instead of the standard XXXXXX~1.XXX format. Run REGEDIT and do the following:
Hate how the Start menu pauses? Fix it! Open Regedit. In theright panel click on H_KEY_CURRENT_USER then click on Control Panel. Find desktop, right click on it and pick NEW String Value. Call it MenuShowDelay, all one word. Now in the left panel you should see on the bottom a value called MenuShowDelay. Double cl ick on it to bring up the value dialog box. Give it a valuefrom 10 to 1, 1 being the fastest. Reload Windows 95. You should notice a vast improvement in speed for your Start menu items!
Try this if you are using Internet Explorer. Click on Open Favorites. Right-click, then select "New" then "Folder" now you can create several folders and name them in a more organized way! This is one easy way to categorize your links into sever al groups or folders.
The "Send To" quick menu shows only your drives as destinations. You can use any folder or file as a destination by adding shortcuts to the "Send To" folder. You must add a short cut file to that folder; a short cut to Recycle Bin is great as it will avoid the prompt dialogue "Do you want to send to Recycle Bin?". By the way, to edit the "Send To" menu, just open the Send To folder in C:\Windows.
The Windows95 Setup program creates a file called MSDOS.SYS in the root directory and sets the file's Read-Only, System, and Hidden attributes. Unlike the MSDOS.SYS file in MS-DOS, this file is a text file. It contains a [Paths] section that lis ts the locations of other Windows95 files (such as the registry file) and an [Options] section that you can use to personalize the startup process.
The [Paths] section can contain the following settings:
---------------------------------------------------------------------Default: C
Purpose: Specifies the location for the root of the startup drive.Default: Directory specified during Setup (for example, C:)
Purpose: Lists the location of the necessary files for startup.Default: Directory specified during Setup (for example, C:)
Purpose: Lists the location of the Windows95 directory specifiedduring Setup.The [Options] section can contain the following settings and must be manually inserted:
--------------------------------------------------------------------Default: 2
Purpose: Sets the amount of time that the "Starting Windows95" message remains on the screen before Windows95 continues to startup.Default: 0
Purpose: A setting of 1 forces your computer to start in safemode.Default: 1
Purpose: A setting of 1 forces the loading of the graphic interface. A setting of 0 disables the loading of the graphic interface.Default: 1
Purpose: A setting of 1 enables the use of the function-key startup options (that is, F4, F5, F6, and F8). A setting of 0 disables the use of these function keys during the startup processNote
A setting of BootKeys=0 overrides the use of BootDelay=n.Default: 0
Purpose: A setting of 1 enables the startup menu. If this setting is 0, then to invoke the startup menu you must press F8 when "Starting Windows95" appears.Default: 1 if the computer is running correctly
4 if the computer locked up in the previous instance of SetupPurpose: Use this setting to set the default menu item for startup.
Default: 30
Purpose: Sets the number of seconds your computer will pause on the startup menu. If the number of seconds counts down to 0 without intervention, the BootMenuDefault is activated.Default: 0
Purpose: A setting of 0 disables the multi-boot option. (For example, with a setting of 0 you cannot boot your previous operating system.) A setting of 1 enables the F4 and F8 keys to boot your previous operating system.Note
This setting is set to 0 by default, to avoid the corruption of data by allowing you to inadvertently boot MS-DOS and run a disk utility that does not recognize long filenames.Default: 1
Purpose: A setting of 0 disables the safe-mode startup warning message and the startup menu.Default: 1
Purpose: A setting of 1 forces Windows95 to load at startup. A setting of 0 disables Windows95 as your default operating system (this is useful only if you have MS-DOS version 5.x or 6.x on the computer).Note
Pressing F4 inverts the default only if BootMulti=1. (For example, pressing the F4 key with a setting of 0 forces Windows95 to load.)Default: 0
Purpose: A setting of 1 enables double-buffering for controllers that need it (for example, SCSI controllers).Default: 1
Purpose: A setting of 1 allows the automatic loading of the DBLSPACE.BIN file. A setting of 0 prevents the automatic loading of this file.Default: 1
Purpose: A setting of 1 allows the automatic loading of the DRVSPACE.BIN file. A setting of 0 prevents the automatic loading of this file.Default: 1
Purpose: A setting of 0 does not let Windows95 load COMMAND.COMor DRVSPACE.BIN/DBLSPACE.BIN above 640K. If you are having compatibilityproblems with software that makes assumptions about available memory, try setting this to 0.Default: 1
Purpose: A setting of 1 forces the default Windows95 logo to appear. A setting of 0 prevents the animated logo from being displayed. A setting of 0 also avoids hooking a variety of interrupts that can create incompatibilities with certain third-party memo ry managers.Default: 0
Purpose: A setting of 1 means the network was installed and adds "Start Windows, bypassing startup files, with network support" as an option on the Windows95 startup menu.
The MSDOS.SYS file also contains a section that contains seemingly useless information. This information is necessary to support programs that expect MSDOS.SYS to be at least 1024 bytes in length. For example, if an anti-virus program detects that the MSDOS.SYS file is less than 1024 bytes, it may assume that the file is infectedwith a virus. If you delete MSDOS.SYS, your computer will not start.
The following statement, followed by a series of X's, appears in MSDOS.SYS:
Since each line begins with a semicolon (;), the lines are not read by the computer.
To edit the MSDOS.SYS file:
Using WINS: follow the instructions for using WINS via the Peer-to-Peer Site.WINS can use both the LMHOSTS and WINS to find a static or dynamic IP address to resolve or if one computer can't use WINS, it will automatically try the LMHOSTS file that is setup with actual IP addresses. A file has to be put into the C:\windows directory called LMHOSTS (without any extension). This file will contain the IP address and ComputerName (eg. 198.105.232.1 ftp). To find what your IP address is, Click on the Start button, then Run... NBSTAT-N. The IP address will appear at the top of th e screen. Right clicking on My Computer allows you to map a network drive via the Map Network Drive selection. Here you put in your \\ComputerName\SharedResourceName format (ie.. \\winserve.001\guest). If only the \\ComputerName is known, make sure the Ne twork Neighborhood icon is on the desktop, then click the Start button.. Run... \\ComputerName. A dialog box will appear with all the shared resources available at that remote site. Important: To set security up on folders or entire drives, go into Explor er and right click the drive or folder and select the Sharing... option, Sharing Tab, the Share As radio button. Then select the Access Type. Passwords can be setup to use so security is maintained. Only those drives/folders that are setup as Shared will be available.
To hide the Network Neighborhood desktop icon, go into \apptools\poleditfrom the Install CD. Double-click the POLEDIT.EXE to execute it, click on File/Open Registry. Next, double-click the Local User icon. Go into the Shell book then restrictions. Check the Hide Network Neighborhood box. Exit POLEDIT and go into Shut Down/Res tart the Computer. This will make the above change effective.
Right mouse clicking on most any icon will give options to change Properties/Delete/Rename/Copy/Open etc. Right mouse clicking anywhere on the desktop and selecting Properties allows Display properties to be changed. Faster than going thru Contr ol Panel!
Applications can be added to the Start button by dragging the executable or icon to the Start button or from the Start button via Settings/Taskbar and using the Advanced button to Cut/Copy/Paste of icons from various folders.
To gain more conventional memory, add the DEVICE=HIMEM.SYS /TESTMEM:OFF and the DEVICE=EMM386.EXE RAM I=B000-B7FF and DOS=HIGH,UMB to config sys, just leave the PATH= statement and set commands in AUTOEXEC.BAT. You can use RAM for apps needing expanded memory or NOEMS for those that don't.
To use the 32-bit Internet connection (Dial Up Networking), follow the step by step instructions contained in theWindows95 TCP/IP FAQexplain all the setting for TCP/IP protocol, Client for Networks (Windows Logon Client) and Dial-Up Adapter. This step-by-step can be used for both PPP and SLIP.
Right mouse click on the Dial Up connection icon (the one setup for dialing into your network or ISP) and Properties to change Modem and Server Type options. For example to set the "Bring Up Terminal Window" option that some ISP's requ ire. Click on the Connection option on the Menu bar then Settings to checkthe "Redial" option.
Add the MSCDEX.EXE from the CD-ROM drive's install disk to AUTOEXEC.DOS/AUTOEXEC.BAT and the drive's driver to CONFIG.DOS/CONFIG.SYS to allow usage of the CD-ROM drive if rebooting your system to your OLD DOS (F4) or by the F8 and selecting the option(s) to use your Previous DOS or Comand Prompt. Using the Windows95 CD-ROM driver will allow access to the CD-ROM drive while in Windows95 and a DOS window. However, when selecting ShutDown and "Restarting in MS-DOS Mode", yo u will not be able to use the CD-ROM drive. The "Invalid Drive Specification" error will appear.
Add new Windows95 compatible applications via Control Panel/Add-Remove Programs. This way the uninstall feature of that application will be added to the Add/Uninstall tab's list. Only Windows95 applictions will do this. All other applications ca n be added via the Run option within the Start button and will not create an uninstall feature.
Setting up Internet Explorer -----> Via the Setup Wizard, specify a Dial Up Networking number to IE. Then right mouse click on the IE icon (on the desktop) and click on Properties. Uncheck the box that says " Auto Dial". This will disable the auto dial featu re. This is helpful when dialing into the Internet with a different number for your ISP.Internet Explorer needs to be installed in order to use the Internet Mail service in MS Exchange.
Setting up MS Exchange ----> To use Internet Mail, you must have Internet Explorer installed. For more setup information click the MS Exchange link.
To eliminate the Shortcut arrow icon from a shortcut icon,open Regedit.exe and Find occurrances of IsShortcut in the Registry.When the Inkfile and Piffile folders are found, delete the key files (EditFlags) from that folder. Restart Windows95. O nce deleted, I'm not sure how to put it back. So BE CAREFUL!
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