by Richard Serbin
I’ve had more than a few problems with Windows. Things were not arranged the way I work and the system didn’t respond to what I considered a “logical” request. I’ve found there are a couple of fairly straightforward, simple ways to “personalize”or customize my system to respond to the way I like to get things done. For the most part, they are easy to understand and setup. At least, they’re worth a try.
My kids play games that require a particular monitor resolution, etc. - usually different than my business stuff. Typically, when you change a basic Windows setting, you must reboot. No more. There’s a free help program from Microsoft called PowerToys, about 205K. It downloads quickly and the small “applets” accomplish specific tasks for you. For instance, QuickRes - use it and you’ll never have to reboot again when you change monitor settings. I mentioned games; another helper applet is as quickly accessible as a non-audio CD player. Just drop the CD in and click on this icon. This is useful when you have a new CD or one that is not listed in the Programs file listing. If you’re like me, you have lots of files. Some, I actually remember what’s inside! To get access to a file folder, click on the Contents Menu icon and you won’t have to open another folder to see the contents. This one has been a real time saver. Say goodbye to Explore. About as useful, is another applet called New! Find. A lot handier and easier to use and more features than the Find command. The next to last one I’ll mention is the one most people call this whole series of helper apps: Tweak UI. It is not for the faint of heart, though a little experience is about all you’ll need. Tweak UI even has a few enhancements to Internet Explorer (and it could use some!), but I use it mostly to improve the “look and feel” of my Windows Desktop because I prefer Netscape. Although there are about six others, let me mention my favorite and the one I use most frequently. Do you have lots of icons and shortcuts on your desktop? Well, get rid of those on the desktop and use my favorite, Desktop Menu. This puts a small icon on your system tray (lower right hand part of the desktop…where the speaker volume control is located). Now instead of all those icons, just highlight that icon and you’ll have a nice, clean list of the desktop icons. This alone is worth the download.
You can find these at www.microsoft.com/windows95/ info/powertoys.htm. A few of these helper apps can also be used under NT and only an experienced person should use some.
But don’t stop there. It seems as if the more you have the more you want. Well, join the real world. As I began to use some of the Toys mentioned above, I found there are many Windows features that are well hidden or very deep down in some obscure subdirectory, yet could be potentially useful. Smile again, because I found a way to ferret them out. No more hiding from me! And I had gotten a taste of how easy it was to personalize my system - make it do just what I wanted to do.
I know most folks now don’t use more than one operating system, but another program I use can be a lifesaver compared to the original Windows dual boot. The program is called SetMeUp98 (SMU) contains a much wider range of helper applets than PowerToys. SMU made some specific changes for me to my IE4’s graphical appearance. The look now appears to make more sense. (No, it can’t make the e-mail part work.) However, I don’t use it primarily for either IE or the dual boot feature. There are several of about 70 applets I don’t use. When adding a new program, sometimes you have to make a basic adjustment to your system. Often I find it difficult to locate that which I need to change. I know what I need to change, but just can’t find it. Now I can and I can pre-test it to insure I won’t crash my system. This is a basic “system configuration” preferences issue and SMU has helped me often. One of the many helper applets that have assisted me in a logical schedule of defragmenting my hard drive and other routine systems maintenance activities. I must add, however, that when I installed this program, it simply said there were some out-of-date files and it needed to change them. Right! I’d have must preferred they at least let me know which files and why.
That aside, you should be interested in one particular applet: it verified my systems Y2000 (“millennium”) compliance. Just be sure to change the date back to the current date. Since my system is a family or “community” computer, I’ve found the “Security” helper very useful. It is simply an easier way to control access to most any part of your system. This would be nice at work for actual security problems and I have a more direct access to my password file. I tried the “SystemSaver”, but it wasn’t much different that others I’ve tried. If your system has crashed, Con-Alt-Del isn’t likely to be of much assistance, though in all fairness this applet is more than that. Although there are several very nice applets to help you maneuver files around (drag and drop, as it were), I haven’t found them as broadly useful as the others. Such as, when I have completed a certain task and am not near the computer, I am now “called” via a particular sound. When, for instance, I’ve completed downloading a driver for my video card, I’ve set up a sound that says, “download complete… complete… come back to me!” OK, it is a bit hokey, but I can turn my attention to paperwork while my computer also works. I regularly use the General Settings applet when I install a new program or an upgrade to insure I’ve maintained my personal look.
Actually, I’ve begun to use more of the features, as I become more comfortable with changing my system’s settings and features to suit me.
CAUTION: When you think about editing your “Registry” files, think twice and make a backup copy first. Like most personalization of a system or an applications program, you really don’t use all the capabilities, but the ones that I do use, have made life easier for me and less complicated. You can download a full program at www.omniquad.com. It is a shareware program and worth the price in convenience alone.
Richard Serbin is a HAL-PC member who is president of Texas Commercial Brokers, Inc. and can be reached at txcomb@hal-pc.org. © 1998 by RS.
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