by Tom Lassiter
Windows 98 To Be A Free Upgrade!
April Fool! You knew that Microsoft wouldn’t be so foolish as to pass up THAT revenue stream. But then, what’s a few million among friends?
The actual changes and inner workings of Win98 remain a fairly well kept secret thus far, aside from looking like the Internet Explorer 4.0 desktop and acting more like a browser than the desktop we have now. Word on the street is that it may not be such a major upgrade after all.
Microsoft has long been expected to merge Windows 95 and NT as we move to all 32-bit (and beyond) applications. After all, how long are we to be expected to suffer an operating system that still must serve 8-bit DOS applications at the expense of modern computing? Many expected Windows 98 and Windows NT 5.0, both expected for release this year, to be the merge point. It does not appear that will be the case. Oh well, maybe we’ll get there in the Windows 2000 “Millennium” version.
We know Bill Gates made his fortune by selling MS-DOS to IBM for their first PCs. Come on, Bill, sentiment must have an end point; quit supporting DOS applications.
Meanwhile, here at the same old stand, Win95 RULES:
Opening Files With Different Programs
Files are normally associated with particular programs, so that when you DOUBLE-CLICK on them they are launched with that program. There may be times when you wish to launch the file with a different program (i.e.- an image file you wish to edit in a dif ferent program). Just hold down the SHIFT key while you RIGHT-CLICK on the filename and you will then have an Open With option available to select the program of your choice.
File Section Shortcut
To select all files in a folder press Ctrl+A, or CLICK on EDIT and SELECT ALL.
Spanning Floppies When Copying Folders
CLICK on the folder you wish to copy in the left pane of Windows Explorer. Go to the Menu Bar Edit options and CLICK on SELECT ALL, then on COPY. Go back down to the left pane of Explorer and CLICK on A:\ (your floppy to which you are copying), then back up to Edit and CLICK on PASTE. It will prompt you for new disks as needed.
Close ALL Open Windows With The X
Hold down the SHIFT key and click on the X on the right end of the window title bar to close all open windows at once.
Win95 Key on Windows Keyboards
On Win95 keyboards there are keys to each side of the space bar marked with the Windows logo. Pressing one is the same as clicking on the START button. Further use may be made of them to access other common items. While holding down a Windows key just pr ess one of these to start the respective actions: e = explorer, f = find, m = minimize all windows, shift + m = maximize all windows, r = run.
Playing .WAV Files
Win95 uses SoundRecorder as the default to play back *.wav files. The process requires it to load the entire file before playing it. Media Player will stream the audio from the hard drive and thus start playing much sooner. CLICK on MY COMPUTER, View, OP TIONS, and FILE TYPES tab. Scroll down and CLICK on WAVESOUND, then on EDIT, and OPEN. In the box type C:\WINDOWS\MPLAYER.EXE. CLICK OK, PLAY, EDIT and type in the box C:\WINDOWS\MPLAYER.EXE. CLICK on OK and CLOSE.
Better .MID File Sounds
Wavetable support is normally not enabled as the default on soundcards. To enable it CLICK on START, SETTINGS, CONTROL PANEL, MULTIMEDIA, MIDI and choose the device (soundcard) you have. Sound should be much better.
Column Width Adjustments
In Windows Explorer, or almost any other Win95 program with column headings, you can quickly adjust the column width to automatically size to accommodate the longest entry in the column (even if it is on another screen below and you can’t see it). Just p lace your pointer on top of the heading line on the right side of the column you wish to adjust. When it changes to a black double-sided arrow then DOUBLE-CLICK and it adjusts the column width.
Tab vs. Enter
In Windows and Internet site dialog boxes, the TAB key moves between fields in the dialog box and the ENTER key executes the default button (the one with the shadow around the edge). Using SHIFT+TAB will move backwards between fields in a dialog box.
See Fonts
To see examples of all your fonts, open the C:\WINDOWS\FONTS folder and DOUBLE-CLICK on any of the fonts. Print a copy for reference if you like.
Top to Bottom Quickly
For a quick trip to the top of a folder window (instead of a long scroll), press CTRL+HOME. To reach the bottom, press CTRL+END. Works in most any Win95 program window.
Disable Virus Checking Before Installations
Before installing new applications in Win95, be sure to disable you virus checker (the newer ones have a button just for this). Otherwise the virus checker may try to recognize the new software as an invader and mess with setup programs creating or modif ying your system files.
April is the month of the Masters Golf Tournament. But if your can’t master golf, and who besides Tiger Woods can do so, come on back here next month and MAY-be we’ll help you to master Win95. Fore!
Tom Lassiter is a member of the HAL-PC Board of Directors where he serves as Membership Secretary and chairs the Volunteer Committee. He may be contacted at jamesl@hal-pc.org.
E-mail me at webmaster@hal-pc.org with any comments you have and tell me what you want to see here.