Rename a File or Folder (Win95, Win98, WinNT)

There are 3 easy ways to rename a folder, file, or shortcut:

1) Click once on the item to select it, then click again on the item's name. You're now ready to type the new name.

2) Click once on the item to select it then press the F2 key. You are now ready to type the new name.

3) Right click on the desired item. This will both select it and display a drop down menu. Select the "Rename" option and you are ready to type in the new name.

The Windows 98 CD-ROM contains a program you can run to create a Boot Disk that is capable of making and reading FAT32 partitions? The program is called Fat32ebd.exe and is located in the Tools\Mtsutil\Fat32ebd folder on the CD-ROM. Place a disk in the floppy drive and double-click the Fat32ebd.exe file. Follow the instructions to create a bootable disk. When finished write-protect the disk to protect it from viruses.

Free up 7MB worth of drive space by deleting the video clips in the Windows 95 Help folder. Select Start/Find/Files or Folders. Click the Browse button, navigate your way to the C:\Windows\Help folder, and click OK. On the Named line, type
*.avi
click the Find Now button. Select the top one, then hold down Shift as you click the last. Press the Delete key on your keyboard, click Yes to confirm deletion. Empty the Recycle Bin.

If you create a shortcut to a file and then change the location of the file, the shortcut will no longer work. Windows tries to locate the file and make the change for you. If Windows isn't able to do this, you will need to make the change to the path yourself. To modify the shortcut, right-click it and choose Properties. When the Shortcut Properties dialog box opens, click the Shortcut tab. Type the new path into the Target text box, then click OK.
A second way would be just to delete the shortcut and create a new one.

If you are getting the following errors, there may be a fix:

Error - Another program is using the selected Telephony device.
Error - Try again after the other program completes.
Error - Cannot initialize port

The state of Windows 95 device is determined by the value of the "COMAutoAssign=" setting in the [386Enh] section of the System.ini file. The number can be set from -1 to 1000. In Windows 95 the default setting is -1. This setting causes Windows 95 to not release a serial port previously used by a non Windows program. If you need this capability between an MS DOS communication's program and a Windows communication's program, add the following entry to the [386Enh] section of the System.ini file: ComAutoAssign=0

Note: We realize that if you are having modem problems you probably won't be reading this tip, but this may help you sometime in the future.

To erase a floppy disk quickly:
1) Double click on the My Computer Icon on the Desktop
2. Right click on floppy you would like to erase
3. Select Format
4. Select Quick Erase or Format

If you want to disable the Window's feature that automatically starts a CD when it is inserted:
1) Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/System
2) Click on the Device Manager
3) Click on the CD ROM
4) Double click on your CD Player
5) Click on the Settings tab
6) UnCheck Auto insert notification

If you want to disable the Window's feature that automatically starts a CD when it is inserted but don't want to do it all the time:
1) Insert the CD into the CD Player
2) Hold down the Shift key until the light on the CD has stoped blinking.

If you want to disable the Window's feature that automatically starts a CD when it is inserted:
1) Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/System
1. Click on the Device Manager
2. Click on the CD ROM
3. Double-click on your CD Player
4. Click on the Settings tab
5. Un-click Auto insert notification

Windows 95 CD contains two useful tools. The first utility is located on the Windows 95 CD in the OTHER\MISC\ERU folder. This utility makes a backup of the important system files of Windows 95. Double-click the ERU icon in the ERU folder will allow you to start the Emergency Recovery Utility. This program will allow you to backup files to either a floppy disk or a hard-drive directory. Backing up to a floppy is the best way to go. If you have a problem with Windows 95 starting up, you can boot to a DOS prompt and restore the system files by running the ERD program from the floppy. This is a valuable tool for avoiding a complete reinstallation of Windows 95. For ERU to work properly, there must be an AUTOEXEC.BAT and a CONFIG.SYS file in the root directory of your hard drive. If you don't have these files, you can create empty text files in the root directory with these names. The EPTS folder under OTHER\MISC also has the Enhanced Print Troubleshooter. This is a step-by-step wizard that can help you diagnose your printing problems.

ScanDisk is a good utility for finding and repairing problems with your hard drive. To execute ScanDisk from the DOS prompt go to the DOS directory and type ScanDisk. ScanDisk is located by going to Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/ScanDisk. ScanDisk should be ran regularly for safe computing.

If you want to delete files without the hassle of sticking them into the Recycle Bin. First you want to empty the Recycle Bin by right clicking on the Recycle Bin icon and selecting 'Empty Recycle Bin'. After you have done this, right click on the Recycle Bin icon again and select 'Properties'. Under the Global tab click on the Radio Button labeled 'Use one setting for all drives' and then click on the 'Do not move to the Recycle Bin' check box. Any file deleted will be removed without placing it into the Recycle Bin. In this screen you can also remove the option that prompts you when deleting a file. This is done by unchecking the 'Display delete confirmation dialog' check box. Be warned, this is not for the novice user. Novice users are prone to deleting things accidentally and by turning these safeguards off the novice is playing with fire.

Below are the files that display icons in the control panel:
They are stored in the \windows\system directory and can be ran individually by typing Control followed by the name of one of the CPL files below:
Access.cpl - Accessibility properties
Appwiz.cpl - Add/Remove Programs properties
Desk.cpl - Display properties
FindFast.cpl - FindFast (included in MS Office 97)
Inetcpl.cpl - Internet Properties
Intl.cpl - Regional Settings Properties
Joy.cpl - Joystick Properties
Main.cpl - Mouse Properties
Mlcfg32.cpl - MS Exchange Service Properties
Mmsys.cpl - Multimedia Properties
Modem.cpl - Modem Properties
Netcpl.cpl - Network Properties
Odbccp32.cpl - Data sources (ODBC 32 - bit)
Password.cpl - Password Properties
Sysadm.cpl - System Properties
Themes.cpl - Desktop Themes
TimeDate.cpl - Date/Time Properties

To customize some of the boot-up options under Windows 95:
From start menu select RUN, then type COMMAND, switch to the root directory and enter the following command:
ATTRIB -H -R -S MSDOS.SYS
This will remove the hidden, read only and system attributes so you may change it.
Windows Startup Options:
BootMenuDelay=n Sets the number of seconds to display the Windows Startup menu before running the default menu item. The default is 30.
BootMenu=1 Causes the Windows 95 Startup menu to appear by default.
BootMenuDelay=n Sets the number of seconds to display the Windows Startup menu before running the default menu item. The default is 30.
BootMulti=1 Activates the Dual Boot Option. If this value os set to 1 it lets you start MS-DOS by pressing F4. This feature is disabled by default, and is not available when you press F8 to use the Startup menu unless the value is 1.
BootDelay=n Sets the initial startup delay to n seconds. The purpose for the delay is to give you time to press F8 when starting Windows 95 message is displayed. The default is 2.
BootGUI=1 Enables automatic graphical interface startup. BootGUI=0 disables this setting booting you to a DOS prompt instead of Windows 95.
BootKeys=1 Enables the special startup option keys (F5, F6, and F8). Setting this value to 0 prevents any startup keys from working.
Re-enable the hidden, read only, and system attributes by typing for the command prompt:
ATTRIB +H +R +S MSDOS.SYS

An 'Easter Egg' in software is a hidden feature that can only be activated by using a unique set of procedures. Windows 95 has an Easter Egg to display the names
of the individuals involved in creating Windows 95. To activate it follow the steps below:
* Right-click on the desktop, and select "New Folder". Name the folder:
and now, the moment you've all been waiting for
* Right-click the folder and rename it to:
we proudly present for your viewing pleasure
* Right-click the folder one more time and rename it to:
The Microsoft Windows 95 Product Team!
* Open the folder and enjoy!
You must do this exactly as shown, with the capital letters in the correct places.

When you make a change to the Registry, and want it to take effect without having to reboot Windows 95. Here's how to do it! First press ctrl-alt-del and select Explorer then click End Task. When Windows asks to shut down answer No. At the next dialog box click End Task. This will refresh the Registry.

If you can not remember whether Shift (or Ctrl) moves or copies an item while you drag its icon? Look at the mouse pointer. If, as you drag the item, you see a white box with a (+) attached to your mouse pointer, you are going to copy the item(s). But if you see nothing attached to the pointer, you are going to move the item.

The Windows Find utility can be used to locate a misplaced file on your computer. To use the Find utility, click the Start button and select the Files or Folders option from the Find menu. A Window will display the Find All Files dialog box. The Find utility is initially set to look for files by a specific name and location. This will not help you if you can't remember the file original file name. The Find utility also allows you to search for all files that were last modified between certain dates or within a specified number of days or months. Simply enter your search criteria then click the Find Now button. If you're not sure when the file was last modified, click the Advanced tab. The Advanced tab allows you to search for a certain string of text within a file or search for a file of a specific size. Enter your search criteria and click the Find Now button to begin the search. The Hotkey for the Find menu is the F3 key. Clicking on any blank area of the Desktop or Task Bar then pressing the F3 key can activate this.

To add a shortcut to the top part of the start menu, drag it from an open folder or from the explorer onto the start button, it will be placed on the top part of the start menu.

You have access to the desktop (if you have other windows open) clicking the right mouse button on the task bar and selecting the "Minimize All Windows" option. You can restore your windows to their original state by right clicking on the task bar and selecting "Undo Minimize All".

To clear the contents of your Documents menu: 1.Click Start, Settings, and click Taskbar & Start Menu. 2.Click the Start Menu Programs tab. 3.In Documents, click Clear.

Temp files, Internet file caches, empty folders, and unconnected shortcuts add up to wasted hard drive space. Windows 98 has "The Disk Cleanup" system tool that will help you locate and delete all unnecessary files. To use the Disk Cleanup tool, click Start, Programs, Accessories, then System Tools, and click Disk Cleanup.

Ever accidentally deleted, renamed, moved, or copied a file? Win 98 has added an Undo command that works very well. Click Undo on the toolbar or click Undo on the Edit menu. This will revert the mistake you just made.

Win 98 hides file extension for all known file types by default.. If you want to see extensions in the detail view: 1.Open My Computer. 2.From the View menu, click Folder Options. 3.Click the View tab. 4.Clear the Hide file extensions for known file types option.

The improved Disk Defragmenter in Windows 98 gathers the program files that you use most office and moves them to faster parts of the hard drive. Run Disk Defragmenter: 1 Click on the Start menu, Programs, Accessories, and System Tools and Disk Defragmenter. 2.Click on Settings and verify that the option to Rearrange program files so my programs start faster is selected and click OK. 3.Click OK to start it.