Tips & Tricks

Problems with Windows? Can’t log off? Can’t find your Startup programs? Find out some possible solutions and tips that can help with your Windows problems & efficient PC performance.


Can’t log off?

1) The sound file associated with exiting Windows may have become corrupted:

First try changing your Sound file for exiting Windows:

Start-Settings-Control Panel-Sounds

Look under Events for “Exit Windows”

Under Sounds-Names, change sound file to another, or set it to “None”.

2) Disable the fast shutdown feature because it may have a conflict with a hardware device:

Start – Run & type “MSCONFIG”

Click on the Advanced button

Uncheck “Disable Fast Shutdown”

For more details see: Jeff Levy’s lesson #45

http://www.jefflevy.com/lessons/45.txt

If these did NOT work, then you can try Microsoft’s solutions suggested in Knowledge Base articles Q232096 and Q239887, or you can just cut to the chase and install the Windows 98 Second Edition Shutdown Supplement (see below):

Q238096 - How to Troubleshoot Windows 98 Second Edition Shutdown Problems

Or, may need to run Windows Update, or just choose this fix at Win98 downloads:

Q239887 Availability of Windows 98 Second Edition Shutdown Supplement

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/corporate.asp

Also, See Woody’s Windows Watch,

http://www.woodyswatch.com/windows/archtemplate.asp?2-17



Can’t find your Startup programs?

Start – Run & type MSCONFIG & click on the STARTUP tab.

Then you can select, and more importantly Deselect Startup programs that you don’t need to run at startup (or ever).

Also, this will remove the icons for these programs from your System Tray!

Also, you can try a Free little program called “Startup Cop” that does the same thing:

See the Review of Startup Cop in a PC Magazine article, “Take Charge of Windows Startup”

http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/pctech/content/18/08/ut1808.001.html Article

http://hotfiles.zdnet.com/cgi-bin/texis/swlib/hotfiles/info.html?b=pcm&fcode=000YKL Download




Tips and Tricks
Right-Click your Mouse


Right-click your Mouse key (press your right Mouse key) to get Menus (or options) anywhere in Windows.
Keyboard Shortcuts


Use Shortcut Keys, e.g., like CTRL+C and CTRL+V for Copy and Paste (CTRL+X is Cut)

Start – Help – Contents – Exploring Your Computer - Keyboard Shortcuts – For Windows

See nifty Keyboard Shortcuts.

In future, hit F1 to get to Windows Help!

e.g.

* CTRL+ESC for Start menu à Good for when you lose your Mouse cursor!
* ALT+TAB to go to last open window, or
o Hold down ALT key and hit TAB to select from open programs
* CTRL+Z to Undo

Internet Explorer (IE) Keyboard Shortcuts

F5 = Refresh!

F11 = Toggle between Full Screen & Window

CTRL+N = New IE screen
Easy Desktop Shortcut to Program(s)


Open Explorer by Right-clicking on Start – Explore

Find program (*.exe file) in Folder, then Right-click on program and continue holding down Mouse Key, then Drag file to Desktop. Note: you might need to change the size of your Explorer dialog box before doing this à click on rectangle (or rectangles in upper right of window), then drag file onto desktop.
Try PowerDesk – free utility program – dual “Explorer” windows

This makes it easy to Drag and Drop files from Folder to Folder (a pain in MS-Explorer).

http://www.ontrack.com/powerdesk/

“PowerDesk File Manager: The file manager provides you with single or dual pane file management windows, a powerful file finder, zip and unzip capabilities, a dialog helper, plus many other features.”
Use MSCONFIG

Start – Run & type in “msconfig”. Go to any tab, e.g., Startup. Can also selects/deselect Autoexec items, etc.


Problems with Windows?

Questions?

Any Questions?

Solutions/Prevention for General Windows Problems

Knowledge Base at Microsoft Website:

* Support – Knowledge Base
* http://search.support.microsoft.com/kb/c.asp




Run Defrag and Scandisk on a regular basis.

Forget Task or Maintenance Scheduler…that’s just something else to crowd your System Tray.

Run Windows Update occasionally & at least do Critical Updates

Start – Windows Update (Windows 98)
Use a Virus Checking program

Try Trend Micro’s Housecall – free web-based virus checker:

http://housecall.antivirus.com/default.asp

Make sure you have a fast internet connection or a lot of time.

In the future you’ll also get their weekly virus update emails.
Consider a Utility program

like “FixIt Utilities” by Ontrack http://www.ontrack.com/FixIt/

Or “Norton Utilities” by Symantec http://www.symantec.com/nu/
X-Setup – Free Utility program to “tweak” your PC

http://www.tweakfiles.com/allinone/xsetup.html

“X-Setup is the ultimate mother of all Windows tweaking utilities for Windows 95/98/NT/2000/Millennium. It has more tweaks than TweakUI and TweakAll combined and is safer and more secure, and has many new features and abilities. Here are just a few of the latest features: Office 97 and Office 2000 tweaks, IE 1.x through 5.x tweaks, …, excellent security options/tweaks, major performance boost tweaks, extensive customization abilities, and much more. There are hundreds of tweaks for the Win9x/NT/2000 operating systems. Highly recommended for power users, gamers, system admins, and anyone looking to maximize their performance and speed.”
Use Help

Start – Help

Contents – Troubleshooting – Windows 98 Troubleshooters
Hardware Problems


Control Panel – System & Device Manager Tab

Any Conflicts (Exclamation Points)? Look at Properties (button) and Drivers (tab).

If so, download latest driver from vendor, Remove device, and Restart Windows

Driver Detector

http://www.drivershq.com/main_home.html

Check to see if your drivers are up to date

Also, find dll’s
Windows ME


Top 10 Reasons to Upgrade to Windows Me, according to Microsoft:

1. Import and edit your home movies
2. Move your photo collection from a shoebox to the Web
3. Archive and index your favorite music
4. Protect your critical files
5. Revert your computer back to normal (can use GoBack program)
6. Find the answers you need (better Help)
7. Use your computer to program your VCR and thermostat
8. Link your household’s computers (Enhanced Home Networking)
9. Contact friends and co-workers more efficiently than ever
10. Take gaming to the next level



Microsoft’s comparison of ME and 2000 features

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsME/upgrade/upgradewhich.asp


Woody’s Windows Watch – Is Windows ME for You?

http://www.woodyswatch.com/windows/archtemplate.asp?3-15

According to one Windows expert/consultant:

* Windows ME is a more stable product, ONCE you get it to run!
* There are no hardware conflicts, except USB
* Config.sys and Autoexec.bat are gone
* Doesn’t use DOS to boot system à Windows
* Doesn’t have “pure” DOS: Can’t boot to DOS or go to “native” DOS
* Takes 3-4 minutes to shut down!