by Tom Lassiter
Well, here we are – in “funky February”. What a month! Does anybody like this month? It is the pits.
Cold, nasty, dreary, drab, doldrums, and dark pop into mind. Aside from the rodeo and skiing it doesn’t seem good for much.
On the other hand – we have Win95. It is good for a lot of things, in every month. So hit your printer button on the toolbar; here come some more tips and tricks to aid you toward computing heaven.
Speaking of computing heaven – have you figured out yet how to use all the features on that new PC or software you got for Christmas? Me neither! There is always more there than we will learn how to use. Or need to.
That is the good part. Just what little we do learn to use does marvelous things for us. It’s kind of like our brain – we never use its full capacity either. Thank goodness I’m an Aggie – I’m not expected to use mine at all. But use yours on the followin g items.
No More Little White Arrows
Want a charge from those drab old white arrows as your mouse pointer? click on START, SETTINGS, and CONTROL PANEL.
Then double-click on the MOUSE icon and click on the POINTERS tab, then on the SCHEME drop-down list arrow. Select from large, extra large, 3D, Animated and other pointer schemes. Life begins anew.
Find Multiple Files in One Search
If you ever had to use Win95’s Find feature to locate several different files, you probably got tired of repeating the Find process for each file individually. No need to do so. Include all the desired filenames in a single Find search by typing them all in the Named box – just make sure each filename is separated by a space from the others.
Store Data Where YOU Want It
Some users like to set up folders to store data/documents separate from the application program. This, for one thing, allows you to backup this info you created without having to waste backup time and storage space on the program files. After all, you ca n restore them from the original install diskettes/CDs. Some programs ask you to choose a folder but too many just assign one within the program. To set up a new default to store them in a location of your choice – create a shortcut for the application. Right-click on the shortcut, click on PROPERTIES, SHORTCUT tab. In the START IN box, type the full path to the folder you choose.
Memory Info Display
If you are getting memory error messages and wonder what applications are hogging all that memory you have, there is an easy way to display that information. It is still a DOS command that works in Win95, as do they all. After all Win95 is just a pretty face on MS-DOS. To see memory usage click on START/RUN, then type MEM and click OK.
Abandon Ship
Change your mind in the middle of a drag and drop action? Just click on the ESC key to discontinue the procedure. The Escape key and the Undo buttons can be your best friends at times like that. ESC works to stop or undo many jams you may get into.
Icon Treasure Chest
Users who like to choose/change their icons for various programs are familiar with the default source of icons stored in \Windows\System\shell32.dll. If those aren’t enough or you want more changes, look at the treasure chest of icons stored in the lesse r known icon file at \Windows\System\pifmgr.dll. Happy iconing!
Restoring Your “Grayed Out” Login Password
Here's one I had to use in December after I downloaded the "new improved" version of Microsoft's Dial Up Networking and it totally trashed my HALNet login procedures. It prevented my logging in to get my e-mail for three days until I had time to resolve it. Talk about withdrawal symptoms!
Try this if your Save Password box in Dial Up Networking is grayed out. Click on START, SETTINGS, CONTROL PANEL, then double-click on the NETWORK icon and look on the Configuration tab. Look to see if "Client for Microsoft Networks" is listed. If it is then you may have to look elsewhere for a solution; or you may wish to remove and reinstall it as if it had not been there. If it isn't listed as being installed click on ADD, CLIENT, and CLIENT FOR MICROSOFT NETWORKS. Once you restart your PC you should find the Save Password box is no longer grayed out. Surf at will!
Win95’s “Extra” Programs
Aside from being the most popular PC operating system going, Win95 offers you a host of little separate programs that have nothing whatsoever to do with running the PC. They are utilities and games and others that many of us need only occasionally; and w e may not wish to spend dollars on another piece of software for rare usage. Two such programs are PAINT and WORDPAD. Paint is a nice little application to create graphics while Wordpad is a nice little mini-wordprocessor. If you don’t do a lot of graphi cs or word-processing they may be perfectly adequate for your needs. They aren’t as full-featured as the applications you may go out and purchase but hey - they’re free. They are found listed at START, PROGRAMS, ACCESSORIES along with other niceties such as CALCULATOR, PHONE DIALER, and MEDIA PLAYER. Explore your entire Start Menu paths and options. You will find all types of treasures.
Next month we will March to a different drummer in search of more treasures. Y’all come back now – ya hear!
Tom Lassiter is a member of the HAL-PC and on the Board of Directors where he serves as Membership Secretary and Chairs the Volunteer Committee. He Chairs the Steering Committee of the Build or Buy a PC SIG and emcees that weekly SIG meeting. He may be c ontacted 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.