... Windows Tips 'n Tricks 16 ...
As he teaches, so he learns.

1. Restart your PC, press "F8" after about 3 seconds I usually press it 3 times to make sure I hit it at the right spot.
   At the C:\ prompt, type "scan reg" (without the quotes).
   Click OK (Enter).
   After it scans it will say errors or no errors.
   Click to restore a registry file, then choose the one with the date before you lost it.

2. Another way is when booting, hold down the control key and select Prompt only. Now enter "Scanreg /fix" (without the quotes) and it will try to repair the registry. If it can't, it will offer to replace it with an earlier version (windows keeps several copies of the registry so that you can replace them if needed).

   When scanreg runs it creates cab files in a folder called sysbckup in C\Windows. You should know that there is a lot more in sysbckup than just those cab files. The system stores dll's and other critical files there in case one of the files in Windows/System gets corrupted.

   So now reboot and you should be back in business. If you have the option of several with different dates, go to the date that you were last running properly.

Another way in that DOS prompt is to type in "scanregw/restore" … this will give you the opportunity to restore your registry from a few recent ones; choose one dated previous to when had this problem.

If nothing helps, you're doomed to a reinstallation which I'd say is healthy for the computer once in awhile; cleans out the system by putting it back into it original pristine shape; you know what I mean. Now you know why constant backing up of your personal files is a must. Pointing and shaking my finger at you: "Shame on you, good for you because you deserve it. Didn't I warn you? I told you so."

Windows keeps one backup copy of your System Registry, created each time you launch Windows. If you install software or hardware that creates a problem on your PC, you may need to restore this backup in order to return your PC to its previous working condition. Follow these steps to accomplish that:

Click the Start button, point to Shut Down and select Restart The Computer in MS-DOS Mode (do not restart Windows, otherwise Windows will overwrite your good registry backup with a copy of your bad registry). Change to your Windows directory. For example, if your Windows directory is C:\Windows, you would type "cd c:\windows" (excluding quotation marks) and press Enter. Now type the following DOS commands, one after another, pressing Enter after each one:

attrib -h -r -s system
copy system.dat system.bak
copy system.da0 system.dat
attrib -h -r -s user
copy user.dat user.bak
copy user.da0 user.dat
attrib +h +r +s system
attrib +h +r +s user

Restart your computer to put the restored registry in effect. Another way is after you've restarted in MS-DOS, type: scanreg /restore and press Enter. Then restart your computer. These steps will restore your registry to the state it was in when you last successfully started your computer. (whew)

You can also use TweakUi to achieve this purpose, but if you don't have it and don't want to download it, you can still clean out the Install/Uninstall list. You'll just need to do a little Registry editing. (Note: As always, back up your Registry files--System.dat and User.dat, hidden files on the root of your hard drive-before proceeding.)

Open the Registry Editor by selecting Start, Run, typing ... regedit ... and clicking OK. Navigate your way to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Uninstall

In the left pane, with the Uninstall key expanded, right-click any item and select Delete. Click Yes to confirm, and that item is officially off the list. Repeat these steps for each item you'd like to remove, then close the Registry Editor.

WARNINGS:

1. Restoring the registry is not for the novice user and can render your system unusable.
2. If you have installed any new software, restoring the registry to a time before that installation means that you will need to install it again.

No, it's not a place to sign up for wedding gifts -- it's the blood and guts of Windows. The registry is a database repository of settings and configurations for Windows, as well as most of the software and hardware installed on your computer. Ever wonder how an application knows to open in the same position with the same settings as when you last closed it? It's because Windows stores that information in the registry. When you change the look of Windows Explorer, for example, that change is stored in the Windows registry.

First, check to see if you are running Win 98. If so, there is a utility called System File Checker (SFC). You can run it by going to Start, Run and enter SFC then pressing Enter. If you have win95, then the only option is to reinstall windows via the procedure of going to the Windows CD or to C:\Windows\Options\Cabs if you don't have the CD. In that folder find the file Setup.exe and double click on it to start the reinstallation.

Nothing's slower than having to wait for your computer to launch a bunch of programs each time it starts up. To stop a program from launching at start-up, just open C:Windows\Start menu\Programs\StartUp in Windows Explorer and delete that program's shortcut.

Windows' System Information tool (Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Information) gives you an even more detailed list of autostarting programs. Just expand the Software Environment menu and choose Startup Programs. This will show you any programs that are automatically launched by the Registry. To keep these programs from autostarting, consult each application's help file.

Windows has added a little program that helps you delete applications safely and correctly. Why correctly? Because a lot of new software leaves entries in the registry, and unless you un-install your programs, the excess code gets left behind. Not so tidy. So when you want to delete an application, follow these steps:

1. Click Start.
2. Choose Settings + Control Panel.
3. In the Control Panel window, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
4. Under "The following software can be automatically removed by Windows" select the application you want to remove.
5. Click Add/Remove and follow the instructions to remove the application. It will show you dialog boxes to assist you in the process.

When you remove programs, you may be asked if you want to remove files called "DLLs". That's an acronym for Dynamic Linked Library file. These are shared by other programs. If you want to be real safe, just answer "No" to the question. Everything but the files in question will be removed (everything related to the program you're un-installing, of course).

When browsing files and folders, you can create a new folder quickly using a few keystrokes. Hit ALT+F to invoke the File menu, then ENTER twice to navigate through New | Folder. Enter the name desired and hit ENTER again to save it. Practice this process a few times and you'll be set.

The next time you need to rename a file, folder, or shortcut, don't waste all that energy right-clicking the file and selecting Rename. Assuming the item is already selected, simply press F2 on your keyboard. It's the same thing, but much easier on the wrist.

Looking for a quick way to restart Windows 95 without a time-consuming "cold" or "warm" reboot? Select Start, Shut Down (or place the focus on the desktop and press Alt-F4). In the resulting dialog box, select Restart The Computer, then hold down the Shift key while clicking the Yes button. Windows restarts without shutting down and rebooting the entire system.

If you're your computer performance seems to fall off, you may need to check your System Resources. The problem is that even if your PC has lots of memory installed, memory resources may be tied up with applications, documents, and the operating system.

Even after you've exited an application, memory resources that were reserved by the program may not be freed up. The solution is often to restart your system. Having lots of utilities or other items in your StartUp folder is also a drain on resources. To find out the current percentage of system resources available, select My Computer from the Windows desktop. Click on Help and then About Windows. This screen displays a System Resources percentage. If resources are below 30 percent (here you get different opinions so you have to judge your own computer's performance) reboot your PC. If the resource level is still low after rebooting, you probably need to remove some applications from your StartUp folder. Here's how you can get rid of them:

1. Click the Start button and choose Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Information.
2. Click Tools, System Configuration Utility.
3. Choose the Startup tab.
4. Remove the check mark next to each startup program you want to disable. (CAUTION: Be absolutely certain you know what you're disabling before you remove any check marks.)
5. Click OK when you've finished.

GERRY BOYD from PCWorks puts it this way: "Memory resources are more than just RAM. They also include virtual memory, which is hard drive space (the swapfile) temporarily assigned by the operating system as memory for processing programs. The system uses it to hold data during processing when no RAM is available for a task.

Windows manages your swap file for you by default. You can check the status of this. Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel and click on the System icon. Then the Performance tab and finally the Virtual Memory button Be sure that the following option is selected: "Let Windows manage my virtual memory settings."

Next look at the applications you're running. Check with the manufacturers to see if there are any patches available. The more that are running, the less system resources you will have available. NOTE: Fewer (programs running) is more (resources).

Another resource hog is the mini-applications that load when Windows starts. Look down in the right corner of your screen and count the little icons. If there are more than you have digits on a hand, they could be one of your culprits. Each is gobbling a bit of memory. If they don't need to be there, switch them off.

Another problem area is "memory leakage". In order for any program to run on a computer, it must be retrieved from the hard disk and loaded into the computer's memory. When you exit a software application, the memory used by an application is returned to the memory pool. Poorly written programs do not return all the memory thus reducing the size of the memory pool. If you do this enough, you can actually "freeze" Windows before you ever get the "low memory" message. One way to minimize leakage is to avoid opening/closing/opening the same program. This type of activity aggravates the cumulative effect of inefficient resource de-allocation.

And finally a good old registry clean might do the trick. The registry is like an index for Windows. It's a place where it keeps track of all the installs and data locations on your system.

Download and description here:

As soon as the system feels "sluggish" ... I just do a reboot the computer, and the resources return to its maximum performance."

CLINT HAMILTON, also from PCWorks and owner of Orpheus Audio/Video & Computing speaking about resources, says that all PC's are different. "Some will boot up with 94% or more resources free, some with only 60%. Depends on many things. One is the amount of RAM you have. "Resources" is a combination of things, but RAM is a part of this. If more RAM is installed in a PC, you'll have more resources at boot up and during operation. When you start to install more than 128MB, they "can" DEcrease because it takes resources to run the RAM. Another is the CPU speed.

Another is the virtual memory settings. And another of course is the programs starting with windows. Most are not needed. I see computers all the time with real player running in the system tray, task scheduler, their printer software, and dozens more. The overwhelming majority of these do not need to be running.

Their respective programs can be manually executed (if needed) when and only when you go to use them. Real player is ONLY ONE example of this NOT being needed. You click a real player file and it will play automatically, even if it's is not in the system tray before hand. Most programs are like this.

Your AV program of course is one that you do want running, unless you are burning a CD, or running Scandisk, etc, or installing or uninstalling software. Speaking of RP, I've noticed a very annoying thing with them now. Every time I use mine, it "takes it upon itself" to RE-ENTER itself in the startup tab. So, after every use, I have to go into msconfig and the startup tab, then keep unchecking the box.

It also REMAINS in the system tray even after the RP file has been closed. You must right click it then close it manually to shut it down. I mention this because many other programs are like this as well.

The "critical" amount for windows is usually about 30%. Sometimes you will get a warning when this threshold is reached, but again, all computers are different. The GW tech has no idea what all you have installed that starts with windows, so he cannot tell you what your PC "should" be at in the resources area. I've never seen ANY PC run at close to 90% once app's are opened & started to be used. Even when you close all app's running, you will not get back to the same amount at boot up. Only restarting can reclaim the full amount.

Things are put in your system tray (that's the lower right next to the clock) after you install certain programs. As I stated before, most of these are not necessary. When you reboot your PC after a new installation of something, just look there and see if it added another icon. If so, then FIRST find out if it's really needed there. If you determine it is not needed, there are a couple things you can do.

If you want to change your virtual memory settings this may help. But change at your own risk. These name brand PC's are very strange. May have to boot in safe mode to change them back if it does not work on your PC. Right click My Computer, Properties, next open the Performance tab, and click the Virtual Memory button. "Dot" the area to specify your own and set BOTH min and max areas to about 2.5 times the amount of ram you have."

And the discussion continues, BEN MOORE, also in PCWorks, disagrees to a point saying, "I've never noticed any effect on performance until I was down into the low teens. My Win98 always runs in the 60%'s. I must have 15 programs that load at start up and I can't remember when I had an out of resources message."

And RICK BOOKER adds: "System resources are NOT dependent on the amount of RAM you have, offering the following for an explanation: "

You may be wondering how some applications add their icon to the context menu provided when you right click a file. Here's one approach that will display a custom application you'd like to add, but only when there isn't already an application associated with the file. For instance, if you right-click on a Word document, Windows will likely know what this is, and it won't display your new custom entry. It will show up on the context menu for an unrecognized file type, however. First, navigate to the following registry location:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Unknown \ Shell

Right-click on the Shell subkey and choose New-Key. This will add a new subkey below the Shell. Give the new subkey the name of the application as you'd like it displayed on the context menu.

Next, you'll need to create another new subkey under your newly created application subkey called command. There will be a Default value automatically created. Double click this value and enter the full path of the application's executable file, but append a %1 to the end (i.e. c:\winnt\notepad.exe %1). Close the registry editor, then right-click on an unrecognized file type. You should see your new entry.

This one's easy (and a "quickie" tip). Want to right-click from the keyboard? Press Shift and F10 at the same time.

If you do not know the name of an executable file on a disk or CD ROM, click Start and select Run. This pulls up the Run dialog that you can use to run executable files. Click the Browse button and Windows will pull up a file selection menu. The default option is Programs, which is most likely what you'll need to use.

Find the sub-directory that contains your executable file and click it once, then click the Open button. Now the file selection menu will vanish, leaving the Run dialog with the drive, path, and file name you selected. Just click on OK to run the file.

Old DOS heads never poke around in Explorer to click program icons. They just select Start/Run, enter the filename, and start the program without any mouse work. Better yet, they press the Window key-R combo on their 104-key keyboard to launch the Run dialog. The only problem is that Run maintains a history list, which means people can see what you've been running. (The Start menu's Documents list was worse until Windows 98 let you right-click and delete items on it.) Here's how to cover your tracks in the Run dialog box:

1. Back up the Registry.
2. Launch RegEdit by selecting Run from the Start menu and entering RegEdit.
3. Under HKEY_CURRENT_USER, select Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/RunMRU.
4. Find the items in the right hand pane that you want removed from the Run history list.
5. Select the commands you want removed one by one and press Delete to remove them.
6. Save your changes as you quit RegEdit and restart Windows.

To remove the entire Run history (the useful entries and the ones you want kept secret) run TweakUI. Select Start/Control Panel and double-click the TweakUI icon. Click the Paranoia tab and select the histories you want to delete.

You know how clicking on Start and then on Run gives you a command line for starting programs, well, you can make your own commands that will run from that line.

1. Create a batch file. That is, use the Notepad to write a series of commands that will run programs on your hard drive. These must invoke a .EXE program's name and its folder.
2. Save the file with a .BAT ending and put it in the C:\Windows\Command folder.
3. Use Windows Explorer to find that file in the Command folder.
4. Right-click on the .BAT file's icon.
5. Choose Properties from the pop-up menu and click on the Program tab.
6. Check the Close On Exit box and select OK.

Now you can click on Start, choose Run, type the name of your .BAT file (with or without the .BAT ending), and press Enter to start it running.

You can use the Run command to open a Web page or start your e-mail program. In the Start menu, choose Run and type a URL in the format www.server.com or mailto:e-mail address. If you type a URL, your browser will open and display the Web page. If you type an e-mail address, your e-mail application will open and display a new message with that address in the To field.

Here's an interesting way to use the Start, Run window to see the path of any file in your system. Just open the Run watchamacallit, and drag any file to the Open box, and behold, all of a sudden the path appears.

While you're there, notice that you don't have to keep entering frequently run file names. Just us the down arrow to see the last few visits.