This folder contains a series of "PowerToys"-- UI enhancements for advanced Windows 95 users that can easily be installed on Windows 95.
These enhancements were developed by members of the Microsoft Win95 team, and are now being made available to Win95 users at no cost. NOTE: these are not part of any shipping retail product at this point in time, and therefore are not supported through any official support channels. Use "at your own risk". (See official disclaimer below.)
The contents of this folder will be updated over time as we make enhancements to the utilities you see here now, and as we add new utilities for people to try out. Stop back every now and then and see what's changed.
If you use the telephone dialer application from several locations (e.g. from a laptop computer) this powertoy is a must!
Double-click the TapiTNA icon or place a shortcut to it in your Start menu.
An icon will appear in your Taskbar notification area (near the clock)
A menu from this icon enables you quick access to:
*) change your current TAPI location
*) bring up dialing properties
*) run Phone Dialer
*** TweakUI
TweakUI is the handy Control Panel for "Type A" personalities. With TweakUI, you can change:
--menu speed
--mouse sensitivity
--window animation and sound
--shortcut appearance and default names
--which icons appear on your desktop
--create new templates
--boot parameters including whether or not to start the graphic user interface
--and there's more!!!!!
Please give it a try
*** FAST FOLDER CONTENTS
With this handy-dandy context-menu extension, when you right-click on any folder or other container, you'll get a cascade menu that shows you all the contents of that folder, one-level deep. It works on shortcuts-to-folders, too.
PENDING CHANGES/FIXES: None.
*** FLEXI CD
FlexiCD is a taskbar notification icon that makes controlling audio CDs a breeze. When an audio CD is in your drive, FlexiCD gives you convenient single-click play/pause control, a tooltip that tells you which track and time you're on, and a right-click menu that provides commands for starting, stopping, ejecting and moving around the tracks on your CD.
*** CABFILE VIEWER
You know those *.CAB files that you'll find on the Win95 CD and floppies? (These are files containing one or more compressed files.) Well, with the CABFILE Viewer shell extension, you can browse right into a CAB file and see all of its contents, and perform normal shell operations on the files inside.
*** DESKMENU
Get to the contents of your desktop from a convenient menu without moving a single window!
This utility appears in your taskbar near the clock and looks like your desktop icon. Click it for quick access to all of your desktop contents via a convenient menu. Deskmenu also allows you to minimize and unminimize all of your windows.
*** ROUND CLOCK
This version of CLOCK.EXE takes advantage of win95's region windows, so your analog clock will be round, just like a real clock would. To see it in action, run Clock, then choose "Analog" and "No Title". (Note.. you just need to copy this EXE to use the clock. No setup file is provided.)
***DOS PROMPT HERE 1.0.
Right-click a folder and start an MS-DOS prompt right here, right away. TIP: You can even right-click the tiny icon in the far upper left hand corner of an open folder.
*** EXPLORE FROM HERE
This is a simple custom command for all folders and containers that lets you right-click and choose "Explore from Here" to get an Explorer window that has the target folder as its root.
*** SHORTCUT TARGET MENU
Finally, you can get the properties for a shortcut's target just by right-clicking the shortcut. This extension will add to any shortcut's context menu the complete context menu of its target.
*** XMOUSE
For all of the CS majors in the audience-- make the focus follow the mouse without clicking, a la X Windows. TIP: To turn it off, use the control panel.
*** QUICKRES
Here's one we wish was built right in: change DPI and bit depth without rebooting. QuickRes lives in the notification area-- just single-click (right OR left) on it to select your new display settings. Does not have an expiration date, but only runs on Windows 95.
*** SEND TO X
Adds the following new commands to your "Send To" menu:
- Send To Any Folder
- Send To Clipboard as Contents
- Send To Clipboard as Name
- Send To Command Line
*** FIND X
Lets you add your own custom commands to the "Find" menu. Comes with a few
built-in to get you started.
- Find On the Internet (requires Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0)
- Find In the Knowledge Base -- help yourself to Microsoft's own online
database of troubleshooting tips
- Find Address (requires Microsoft Exchange)
- Find Email Message (requires Microsoft Exchange)
Installing the PowerToys
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1.Create a folder for the PowerToys: Right-click on the desktop and choose New:Folder from the pop-up menu. Name the folder "Power".
2.Download the PowerToys: Click the link on the PowerToy page to download the file "PowerToy.exe". Save it in the Power folder you just created.
3.De-compress the file "PowerToy.exe": Open the Power folder and double-click the file "PowerToy.EXE". This will create several new files in your Power folder.
4.Install the PowerToys: Find the new file called "Install". Right-click it, then choose Install.
Uninstalling the PowerToys
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1.Open the control panel: On the Start Menu, choose Settings->Control Panel.
2.Open "Add/Remove Programs": Find the Control Panel called Add/Remove Programs and double-click it.
3.Remove PowerToys: Select the PowerToy you want to uninstall on the list, then click the button marked "Add/Remove".
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
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To send us your comments or feedback, click the "Feedback" button at the bottom of the PowerToy page at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/software/PowerToy.htm.
Thanks!
- the Win95 shell team
LIABILITY DISCLAIMER -- READ BEFORE INSTALLING THE POWERTOYS:
The PowerToy software and documentation is provided for your personal use and may not be distributed. The entire risk arising out of the use or performance of such products and documentation remains with you. In no event shall Microsoft or its suppliers be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of or inability to use the products or documentation, even if Microsoft has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Because some states/jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, the above limitation may not apply to you.
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PREVIOUS CHANGES/BUG FIXES:
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4/09/96 Tweak UI 0.97. More power at your fingertips.
3/08/96 DOS Prompt Here 1.0. Right-click a folder and start an MS-DOS prompt right here, right away. TIP: You can even right-click the tiny icon in the far upper left hand corner of an open folder.
3/07/96 FlexiCD INF file update. Fixes uninstall.
2/28/96 Target 1.1. Fixes several bugs.
2/26/96 XMouse 1.2. Fixes bug with right-button drag.
1/17/96 New PowerToy! TapiTNA enables mobile computer users to change their dialing location, and launch the phone dialer from one handy icon in the taskbar.
1/17/96 Small fixes to install/uninstall of QuickRes, Fast Folder Contents, Shortcut Target Menu
10/25/95 XMouse 1.10 changes from 1.0: a. works when installedLong File Name directory. b.
Doesn't move focus while a menu is up. c. Adds "Reaction time" configuration.
10/19/95 TweakUI 0.95 New Powertoy for "type A" personalities. You've just got to see it to believe it!
10/5/95 QuickRes 2.1, fixes several bugs, changes UI to improve ease-of-use. New version does not expire.
8/9/95. Content 1.0, incorporates new ShellFix.dll, fixes "wide menu" problem.
8/16/95. FlexiCD 4.3, adds support for a command line argument /resume. When you re-install, the link in your startup group has this command line. If you setup a hotkey for this link you can now pause/resume the CD player from the keyboard.
