Here's a secret tip for creating a shortcut to the Device Manager: Right-click on the Desktop and choose New/Shortcut. Type C:\WINDOWS\CONTROL.EXE SYSDM.CPL,,1 in the Command Line box and click on Next. Name it Device Manager (or another name of your choice), then click on the Finish button. Assign a new icon to the shortcut as you would any other. 

Remember you can always right-click on My Computer and select Properties to get the System Properties which includes the Device Manager.

Want to create an Explorer shortcut that gives you the same result as right-clicking My Computer and selecting Explore? 

First, create an Explorer shortcut in your location of choice. For example, to create one on the desktop, right-click Start, select Open, then double-click Programs. Inside the Programs folder, right-click and drag the Windows Explorer item out to the desktop, release the mouse button, and select Create Shortcut(s) Here.

Right-click the Explorer shortcut, select Properties, and click the Shortcut tab. Replace the text on the Target line with exactly:

C:\Windows\Explorer.exe /n,/e,/root,,/select,C:\

Click OK, and from now on, double-clicking that shortcut is the same as right-clicking My Computer and selecting Explore.

In previous tips we discussed how to find the Favorites and Start Menu folders. Now we will put shortcuts to these folders as well as the Desktop and Quick Launch folders into the Start Menu folder. 

Using the method described in the previous tip find each of the above folders and as you do create a shortcut that will be placed on the Desktop. Now double-click on the Start Menu folder and drag each of the short-cuts to the Start Menu folder. As you do the short-cut will be removed form the Desktop. Already you have used the Start Menu folder to insert new items.

Now whenever you need to make changes to one of the folders you can do it from Windows Explorer and for each the methods of editing are the same. No learning different methods for each.

note: Windows Explorer is one of the most powerful tools provided with the Windows OS but probably the most under-appreciated. More to come about Windows Explorer.

In our previous tip we added the Control Panel folder to the Start Menu. The method describe in that tip is the standard procedure for working with the Start menu. Directly from the Start menu you can also cut and paste or drag items. Now lets use Windows Explore to edit the Start Menu.

Like a previous tip where we inserted an item into the IE Favorites using Windows Explorer (July 20, 2001) we can also edit the Start Menu with Windows Explorer. 

First we need to find the Favorites folder. Use the Find Folders or Files utility (F3) to locate the Start Menu folder. In the Name text box put "Start Menu" (Using quotes will make the Find utility search for only Files or Folders with that exact phrase). In Look In drop-down list select Local Hard Drives. Now search. You may find more than one Start Menu folder depending how your system is used. Open each found Start Menu folder (double-click on the name) that was found until you determine you have your Start Menu folder.

The instructions are now the same as the previous tip.

Select Start Menu and from File menu select New >> Folder. Rename the folder with this string:

Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

We've now used Windows Explorer to edit our Internet Explorer Favorites and the Start Menu. We can also edit the Desktop and Quick Launch from Windows Explorer. 

Control Panel is one of the more frequently used folders in Windows, but it's not always easy to access. You can, however, make the Control Panel applets available directly from the Start menu. First, right-click on empty space of the Task Bar and choose Properties. Then, click the Start Menu Programs tab and click the Advanced button. Select Start Menu and from File menu select New >> Folder. Rename the folder with this string:

Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

Now close everything.

(Windows 95 users can copy and paste this filename from the TIPS.TXT file found in the Windows folder.) This will place Control Panel directly on the Start menu, with the applets appearing on a cascading menu that opens when you move the cursor over Control Panel. For frequently used Control Panel applets, make shortcuts to the applets and add them to the Start menu or the desktop.

Is there a program that starts whenever Windows starts -- one that drives you crazy because you don't need it, but can't figure out how to turn it off? The Windows 98 System Configuration Utility allows you to turn off any auto-start program with the click of a check box.

Select Start, Run, type

msconfig

and click OK.

Or select Start, Programs, Accessories, Systems Tools, System Information.

From the Tools menu select System configuration Utility.

In the resulting System Configuration Utility dialog box, click the Startup tab to display a list of all programs that start whenever Windows 98 starts. Deselect the pesky one (making certain you know which one it is), then click OK. The next time you start Windows, that program is nowhere in sight.

Fear not. If you make a mistake you can always go back and re-check any items that need to be in Startup.

Often I find a Web site mentioned somewhere and I want to add it to Favorites. Only problem is that you have to be AT the site to use Add to Favorites menu option. There is another way -- there always is. 

First we need to find the Favorites folder. Use the Find Folders or Files utility (F3) to locate the Favorites folder. In the Name text box put Favorites. In Look In drop-down list select Local Hard Drives. Now search. You may find more than one Favorites folder depending how your system is used. Open each found Favorites folder that was found until you determine you have your Favorites folder.

Now that we have the Favorites folder open go to the sub-folder where you want to put the new web site. Finally from the File menu select New >> Shortcut. 

I rarely use the Organize Favorites menu selection in Internet Explorer instead I go directly to the Favorites folder and organize the Favorites directly. Now that you know where the Favorites are stored you to can more easily organize your Favorites.

Not happy with the icons Windows 98 has chosen for your favorite shortcuts (any icon with a little arrow in the lower-left corner)? Then change them.

Right-click the shortcut you want to change and select Properties. Click the Shortcut tab, then click the Change Icon button. In the Change Icon dialog box, select a new icon and click OK. (If you don't see one you like, click the Browse button, select another icon file -- for example, Windows\System\Shell32.dll or Windows\System\Pifmgr.dll -- and click Open to display its contents in the Change Icon dialog box.) Click OK one more time to apply the selection to the shortcut.

Two tips ago, we showed you how to install 3D Pinball on a Windows 98 system using the Plus! for Windows 95 CD. If you have Windows 98 Second Edition installed, the technique is a bit different (and easier).

Pop the Windows 98 SE installation CD in your CD-ROM drive, click Browse This CD, and navigate your way to the tools\mtsutil folder. Double-click Pinball.exe, click Yes to confirm that you want to install 3D Pinball, then follow along to complete the installation. (You'll need to insert the Plus! for Windows 95 installation CD and enter your CD-ROM drive letter.) note: If you see a Plus! for Windows 95 message offering to run the setup, close it.

In our last tip, we showed you how to install 3D Pinball on a Windows 98 system using the Plus! for Windows 95 CD.

The above technique assumes you're installing the game from drive D. If you're not (because you have floppy disks or your CD-ROM drive is another letter, such as G), you'll need to make one quick change before you can install the program.

Follow the steps above, but don't right-click pinball.inf and select Install yet. Instead, right-click this file, select Properties, deselect Read-only, and click OK. Open pinball.inf using Notepad and, under [Version], in this line:

layoutfile = d:\pluslayt.inf

replace the letter "d" with the location of the Plus! Files -- for example, "a" for a floppy drive or "g" for a CD-ROM drive. Save your changes and close Notepad. Right-click pinball.inf, select Properties, select Read-only, and click OK.

NOW right-click pinball.inf and select Install. When you see a dialog box stating the font.dat file can't be found, type your CD-ROM or floppy drive letter, then click OK.

In our next tip, we'll show you how to install 3D Pinball if you have Windows 98 Second Edition.

I mentioned in Searching For . . . that I needed to do some research on how to get 3D Pinball working with Windows 98. Well here it is. The 3-part series is from e-Mazing.com. It was first sent via e-mail on 7/27/2000.

First, copy the pinball.inf file from the Windows 98 installation CD to any location on your hard drive, such as the desktop. (Pop the CD in your CD-ROM drive, assumed to be D, click Browse This CD, and you'll find this file inside the tools\mtsutil folder.) Replace the Windows 98 CD with the Plus! for Windows 95 CD, then click Cancel (to close the dialog box stating that Plus! cannot be removed). Right-click pinball.inf (on your hard drive) and select Install.

That's it. You can now play the game by selecting Start, Programs, Accessories, Games, Space Cadet Table.

In our next tip, we'll show you how to install 3D Pinball from Plus! for Windows 95 floppy disks or from a CD-ROM drive other than D. In the tip after that, we'll show you how to install it if you have Windows 98 Second Edition.

We can't tell you how many requests we receive for a way to print a directory listing (a printout of all, or some portion of, the files and folders on your system). There are a number of ways to go about it, but since you're already online, by far the easiest route is a shareware program.

One you may want to try is Directory Printer ($24), available for download from Glenn Alcott Software:

http://www.galcott.com/dp.htm

Don't want to deal with shareware? In the next few tips, we'll show you how to print directory listings using DOS commands.

Not happy with the spacing between your desktop icons -- in other words, do you wish there were more (or fewer) icons in a row? Then change your icon spacing.

Right-click the desktop and select Properties. In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Appearance tab, then click the down arrow under Item and select Icon Spacing (Vertical). Click the up or down arrow next to Size to change the current spacing, then click Apply to see your change on the desktop.

If the icons look too far apart, decrease the Size setting, then click Apply again. Or, if the icons are so close together that they're overlapping, increase the Size setting. (We were able to fit nine desktop icons in each row by changing the vertical spacing to 30.)

Follow the same steps if you want to adjust the horizontal icon spacing (also in the Item list). Then, to save these changes as part of a color scheme, click Save As, name the scheme (or type the name of the current scheme), and click OK. Otherwise, simply click OK to close the Display Properties dialog box.

In our last tip, we showed you an easy way to switch between single-click and double-click icons. We also mentioned that there are other settings that go along with the Web Style or Classic Style desktop. Want to mix and match settings from the two styles? Select the third option under Windows Desktop Update -- Custom, Based On The Settings You Choose -- then click the Settings button.

In the resulting Custom Settings dialog box, choose your settings. For example, if you've selected the Web Style desktop, but don't want all your icon titles underlined, select Underline Titles Only When I Point At Them. Select other settings, if desired, click OK, then click Close.

Do you prefer to activate your icons using a single click, as with a Web page link, or a double-click, like in the old days? Regardless of your preference, Windows 98 makes it easy to switch back and forth.

Open any Explorer window and select View, Folder Options. Select Web Style if you prefer the single-click approach. Or, to stick with the classic double-click, choose Classic Style. Click OK, and Windows applies your choice.

There are other settings that go along with the Web Style or Classic Style desktop. For example, choosing Web Style places an underline below each icon title. In our next tip, we'll show you how to mix and match settings from these desktop styles.

In our last tip, we introduced Calculator's memory functions: To store a number in memory, click the MS button; to insert the stored number later on, click the MR button.

So what do the rest of those "M" buttons do? To clear the number in memory, click the MC button. (Or, click MS to overwrite the number in memory with the currently displayed number.) To add the currently displayed number to the one in memory, click the M+ button and then click MR to display the result.

Suppose you've just completed a calculation and you'd like to insert the result into another calculation. Don't waste time writing it down. Store it in memory so you can insert it into the next equation at the click of a button.

With the number you'd like to store in memory displayed in Calculator, click the MS button. (An "M" appears in the gray box above all the "M" buttons.) Now go ahead with the other calculation. When you need to insert the stored number, click the MR button.

In our last tip, we told you how to display the keyboard equivalent for any Calculator button.

Want a list of these shortcuts for handy reference? Select Help, Help Topics. On the Contents tab, select Tips And Tricks, then select Use Keyboard Equivalents Of Calculator Buttons. Inside the Calculator Help window, select Options, Print, Print The Selected Topic, and then click OK. Adjust any printer options, if necessary, then click OK one more time.

june 2001 tips