Windows Tips

On this page I will only cover Windows 95b ( OSR2 ) with IE4 installed and Windows 98.

To start with, see what version of Windows you have. Right click on My Computer and select properties. As seen on the right (in my case) it's Windows 98.

The first tip I would like to give out is about internet browsing. I'm sure you have encountered those pop-up windows that come from nowhere, entering geocities opens one. These slow down your browsing speed and most of the time are useless advertising information, you can turn these off without even knowing of their existance. From any IE4 window click on view, select folder options (internet options if you are off line) and click on the Security tab. Click into the Radio button marked Custom (for expert users) and press Settings. Scroll down the list till you find Scripting, Active Scripting and click on disable. (Note that some sites don't work if this feature is off, in which case you'll have to change this setting everytime you want to browse such a site, so a better option would be to click on prompt, in this case IE4 will ask you whether to enable or disable active scripting, if you choose not to and the site doesn't work then you just press the refresh button so that IE4 will ask again). Which ever you decide to choose click OK on the propery sheet then Apply to exit.

Windows 98 users only:- Windows Update, on the start menu does not work unless you register your copy of Windows. Not everyone is ready to give his/her name and address to Microsoft. So if you are one of them, here is a registry entry that will simulate your Windows as a registered copy and hence will let you update without registering. To confirm that the registry has been correctly entered run 'Welcome to Windows' from the 'Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools' path and you will see that 'Register Windows' in the contents menu disappeared.

Windows 95 users only:- By default Windows will show icons in 16 colours (4-bit) why not change that and give a new look to your icons, set them to 8-bit here (256 colours) , 16-bit here, 24-bit here. Don't like the new look? Set it back to 16 colour here. N.B. Windows 98 is set to 16-bit by default, but help yourself if you want a different setting.

File Associations:- Say you have a file and want to open it with a different program. For example a jpg file opens with Photoshop or Paint Shop or which ever program this file is associated to. If its association is for example Photoshop and for one time you want to open it with Paint Shop or IE4 (why not) the easiest way to do it is to press the 'SHIFT' key while you right click on the said file. On the list that appeares one will be Open with.. select it and if the program you want is not on the list that appears than press the browse button and browse yourself to the program you want to open the file with. Make sure that the box Always open this file.....etc. is not ticked.

Auto Run on your CD Rom is not always convenient. It sometimes also fills your hard disk with unwanted temporary files. To disable it temporarily press the 'SHIFT' key while the CD tray is closing, keep it pressed for a few more seconds after it closes. Now you can use windows explorer to have a look on what is on in that CD.

I think Quick Launch on the task bar is a good idea, but do we really need IE4 and Outlook Express there? After all, we have them on our desktop already, so why not add our favorite programs there too. It's easy just drag any shortcut into it and it's ready, but what if you have a lot of favorite programs, these will easily clutter the task bar, so why not create a new tool bar and place it else where? On the right you can see an example.

To do this, create a new folder anywhere on your hard disk, the Quick Launch folder is in the Windows/Application Data/Microsoft/Internet Explorer/ path so might as well put the new folder there too, rename it, and see what shortcuts you want to fill it up with, including other folders if you like, they don't have to be applications. When this is done right click on the task bar and selectToolbars, go with the arrow and select New Toolbar, from the pop-up window browse to where you've put your new folder and its ready. A new quick launch toolbar has been created but its on the Taskbar, to drag it out go to the left top corner of this newly created toolbar and drag it out, you can leave it floating in the middle of your desktop (see picture, there I have two in one floating toolbars) or put it on either edge of your screen (see picture again and again two in one toolbar). Now right click on it to custimize it even further. N.B. If you leave it floating you'll also have the option to resize it in both directions.