Why Windows?

In the last installment of Windows Tweaks and tricks, we discussed at length why the heck we put up with Windows considering all the bugs and hack attacks. For readers who missed the enlightenment from WinGuru Fred Langa, go here.

Basically, hackers (or more properly, crackers) want notoriety so they attack the most widely-used operating system.

With the introduction of WinXP, security flaws were discovered that were so serious that the FBI got involved prior to MSoft even acknowledging it.

"Microsoft treats security bulletins as PR problems," according to Bruce Schneier, chief technology officer of network protection company Counterpane Internet Security. "If Microsoft had its way and there was bug secrecy, we wouldn't know that any of this happened."

While no supporter of Microsoft myself, it must be acknowledged that most of us will continue to run Windows with in one form or another despite its warts and flaws although many are taking a hard look at Linux.

"Microsoft's 92% monopoly of desktop operating systems remains untouchable, experts say." - The Register

No Options
So, here's the deal. Microsoft is forcing us to upgrade.

What? No gasps of surprise during this pregnant pause?

By the simple act of ceasing support or even acknowledgement that the operating system is viable, Microsoft figures that we'll have no choice but to pony up more cash for the latest and greatest that they have to offer. The really weird thing? That's exactly what we do.

If we don't go out and buy the newest version of windows, it'll come pre-loaded on the next Micron or Gateway (please, not Compaq or HP) that the we buy (I'll build my own, thanks).

Now what if we absolutely must run an early version of Windows, say, 95 (which stopped being supported in November, 2001) or 98/98SE (which times out in June of 2003), f'rinstance? No problem says the Redding Raiders, just send even more cash for support. Read their version of the story here.

What to do?
If the above is true and human nature is to be relied upon, we'll keep running Windows. The software we love (or at least we're used to) runs on Windows. Hardware is (mostly) compatible.

So gird your virtual loins and read on.  Below are Windows tweaks and tricks with many new tips. Following this are a ton of WinXP tips. Enjoy.
 

System Basics

Security and reliability. That's what we want. Readers who delve into this section also want flexibility in the way the system operates. It's sensible to first protect ourselves from the bad guys who would exploit our operating systems.

New Windows users should go here to read Mark Salbert's fine Windows Primer for insight about the Operating System.

Take a look at the Security page here at SailCat Graphics. At least download and install ZoneAlarm. I'd never go online without it.

Subscribe to Fred Langa's  free newsletter, The Langalist to discover the bugs, security breaches and fixes about a week before you'll see it anyplace else.

Also, visit Microsoft to get a system check that will reveal what updates are critical. It's done automatically over the Internet without sending any of your system information. Non-critical updates are also listed, as well as the option to be notified when an important update is available. To do this, click here and choose 'Product Update' on the new page that opens.

I have helped many people with problems on their home computers, and not one of them was protecting themselves with the fast, free Product Update service from Microsoft. Perhaps the people that get the critical updates are the same ones who don't have computer problems.

Win XP users have a new set of security issues, including a plethora of default settings that cause 'phone home' activity, automatic updates and  downloads without user choice or intervention. The method for disabling these is here. Free software to change these settings easily is here.

Have Your Way with Windows

I always enjoy getting Email from visitors to this website. The Cascade Trick has generated much of the mail I have had the pleasure to receive over the years, often from users who can't get it to work. Hopefully, this explanation will be clear. If not, you know the routine. Click to Email the 'Cat.

The Cascade Trick
I have yet to show it to anyone who has seen it previously. Why this isn't in the Windows manual is beyond me; it is so much faster than any other method for displaying the entire contents of a drive. It does require that Internet Explorer 4.+ is installed on your system, but a tweaker like you surely has the latest version of IE, right?

The following explanation contains links to some older graphic examples of each step, but this trick is browser dependent and will work on Win 95/98/Me/2000/XP. These desktop images are reduced to 700 X 525 to speed download and will open in a new window. Close the window to return to this text.

Left-click and hold the 'My Computer' icon (or whatever you've named it). Continue holding with the left button and move it to the left side of the screen, then release the button. This should instantly produce a menu like this, showing the contents. Then left-click and hold the 'C' drive icon, moving it to the top of the screen. It will cascade to the right as pictured here, allowing you to click on the expansion button to the right of this newly-created bar causing it to cascade downward like this. Running the mouse pointer over an folder will show the contents, as it will the contents of that folder and any folder within. This picture should clarify. Although these screenshots are from a few years ago, the cascade trick works the same in all Windows versions since '95.

By using this little trick, it is possible to see the entire contents of your drive and access any portion of it right from your desktop. Now, isn't that just too cool?

Speed up your Win 9x/Me system
Here's a few quick tricks to get Windows to run faster. The first methods are better-known, but use all of them to get the most horsepower available without resorting to system de-stabilizing  methods like over-clocking.

Right-click on the 'My Computer' button and choose 'Properties' from the drop-down menu. Left-click on the 'Performance' tab, then the 'File System' button. Be sure that the 'Read-ahead optimization' slider is all the way to the right, then change the 'Typical role of this computer' from 'Desktop Computer' to 'Network Server'. Because of a difference in the manner in which data is handled (cached), you'll pick up some speed through better efficiency. Click OK.

Left-click on 'Graphics ...' & make sure the slider is set to 'Full', then click OK. Click on 'Virtual Memory' and change the setting to 'Let me specify my own virtual memory settings. Set both the minimum and maximum to two and one-half times the amount of RAM on your computer (32MB would be 80, 64MB would be 160, 96MB would be 240 and so on). Put the newly created swap-file on an small, unused drive partition if available. Click on OK, ignore and close the scary warning & re-start your computer.

You'll also want to open the C:\Windows\System\System.ini file (it opens in notepad) and under the [386Enh] section, enter: "ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1" (without the quotes) to prevent the system from using that slower swapfile before it uses the faster available RAM. This will also require a reboot.

Quick Win 9x/Me tips
Use the 'Start' button for web browsing. Enter (or paste) a URL in the 'Run' window, press 'Enter and the page will open in your browser.

Here's a slick trick for IE4+ Favorites folders that refuse to stay alphabetized. First, make certain that your Recycle Bin is not set to automatically delete. Open C:\Windows\Favoritites  then left-click on 'Edit' and choose 'Select All'. Right-click on any entry and choose 'Delete' to move everything into the Recycle Bin. Open the Recycle Bin & choose 'Restore' to return everything to its place, nicely organized.

Often, conflicts that arise when from software installation is due to a newer file (.dll, .ocx or the like) getting overwritten by an older version. To find out, hit the 'Start' button, then 'Run' and type "VCMUI" (without the quotes). This will launch Windows Conflict Manager, showing the dates of the files on your system and allowing instant swapping of old-for-new.

Ever wonder when the web page you're viewing was really updated? Type "javascriptalert:(document.lastModified)" (without the quotes) into the address bar.

To open a new instance (multiple) of a browser window, just hold down the 'Shift' key when you click on a link.

To find a key word in search engine results or in any text document, hit 'Ctlr' and 'F' simultaneously.

To get an accurate reading of your modem connection speed, open 'My Computer', 'Dial-Up Networking' then right-click on your Internet connection to access 'Properties'. Click the 'Configure' button, then the 'Connection' tab and then 'Advanced'. In the "Extra Settings' window, type "w2" (without the quotes) then OK your way out. This should show a much more accurate reading that 115,200 or whatever you saw previously.

You can 'lasso' a number of icons or files simultaneously on your desktop or in any window by left-clicking and holding the button down near them. Then just use the cursor to draw a rectangle encompassing the items you want to select and have your way with them (drag, move, send to, or delete).

Trivia: The animated gif that changes from a globe to the Windows logo in the upper-right-hand corner of the Internet Explorer browser is called a 'throbber'.

New Win Tweaks & Tricks

System Tips
Use the 'wild card' (*) in system searches. It's possible to find all pictures by using *.jpg, for instance. To list virtually every graphic on your hard drive, try *.jpg; *.png; *.gif; *.bmp. Multiple searches are possible using a semicolon followed by a space, then the next item. This works foe other file types, too, like *.doc or *.txt.

The use of shortcut keys instead of mouse clicks is much more efficient. Re-training oneself to do so is a bit more challenging. Most folks know that pressing the CTRL key plus x cuts and item, CTRL+ c copies and CTRL+ v pastes, but don't forget to 'unload' the clipboard after copying a large graphic or hitting 'Print Screen.' Just copy something small, like a word of text, to replace that large load. Otherwise it ties up precious memory.

Here are some more to try:
CTRL+ A: Highlights all text in document
CTRL+ close window closes all windows
Windows: Display the Start menu 
Windows + D: Minimize or restore all windows 
Windows + E: Display Windows Explorer 
Windows + F: Display Search for files 
Windows + Ctrl + F: Display Search for computer 
Windows + F1: Display Help and Support Center 
Windows + R: Display Run dialog box 
Windows + break: Display System Properties dialog box 
Windows + shift + M: Undo minimize all windows 
Windows + tab: move through taskbar buttons 
Windows + U: Open Utility Manager
And a new one (04/26/02) from Mark M.:
CTRL+ Z is an unlimited UNDO

In rich text environments like Outlook Express or Microsoft Word, SHIFT will traditionally 'select' and CTRL will 'move.' CTRL+ BACKSPACE will delete entire words at a time; CTRL+ HOME will take you to the top of the document; CTRL+ SHIFT + HOME will select all data between your cursor and the top of your document (END will take you to the end); CTRL+ LEFT CURSOR will move you one word back (and RIGHT will move you right); SHIFT+ HOME will select all text in that paragraph or line. 

Want more? Search "Keyboard Shortcuts" on your own computer.

Font stuff
I Download everything to my desktop, including True Type Fonts (TTF). When it comes time to install them, just open the Control Panel & drag 'em, over to the 'Fonts' icon. Afterwards, delete the TTF files from your desktop.

Windows will help if you fonts are getting out of hand. In the Fonts folder, select 'View' then 'List Fonts By Similarity.' This option will allow you to weed out some excess baggage which will marginally improve performance. These little things add up to overall improvement in speed.

Internet & Email

Express Notes
If you're using Outlook Express (as most of us do), you are most vulnerable to viruses and worm attacks. There are two things that we all should do to reduce the chance of exposure:

1) Click on 'View' on the toolbar across the top of the Outlook window, choose 'Layout' from the dropdown menu and uncheck 'View preview pane.' This will prevent some problems from Emails that fire off HTML code just by being viewed.

2) In order to see the contents (and nature of attachments) of Emails, right-click on an unopened message, choose 'Properties from the drop-down menu, then the 'Details' tab at the top of the resultant window, then the 'Message source' button. This is best viewed if expanded to full screen, The contents are harmless as the Email is not really open. If anything looks even slightly suspicious, delete it, then (and perhaps most importantly) delete it again from the 'Deleted Items' file.

Find 'em easily
Planning to meet an Email contact in real life? If you have Outlook Express 6.0 installed (as with WinXP and included with IE 6.x) and their street address, just open up their listing in your address file and click on 'View Map' to view the location at expedia.com. "How do I get to your office...?"

Worth a thousand words
Often, explaining a situation, problem or error can be challenging. Why not take a picture & Email it? Just hit the 'Prt Scr' button, then open any graphics or paint program and paste it. Be sure to crop it to a minimum size for Emailing. If compression is available, use it since high-quality isn't necessary. Zip it before attaching.

Incidentally, with any attachment, hanging it on an Email is as easy as dragging the file to the massage area in Outlook Express (or 'most any Email client). This may be done from Explorer, or, if the Email program isn't open in a full window, from the desktop or any drive.

Keep attachments small and don't send over 100KB without your recipient's permission.

Protect other's privacy
Here's a tip that everyone should learn before being allowed near an Email program.

When sending to multiple recipients who aren't known to one another, address the Email to yourself, then use the Bcc: (Blind Carbon Copy) function to add addresses rather than Cc:.

Your Emails will still arrive at the proper destinations, but no recipient will be able to see any Email address other than yours.

Track Spammers
It's very likely that your Email address will be required for registration at some websites. While a 'throwaway' address (at Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.) can be used, you'll be able to tell who's selling addresses with this little trick.

Use a plus sign (+) after your address with something that will identify where you've registered. Instead of you@home.com, use you+them@home.com. If you get spam with this address, you'll know they're bad guys. Turn 'em into the FTC.

Re-Linker
The only browser most of us use is Internet Explorer. Like Democracy, it's not perfect, just the best there is.

Here's a trick when it starts popping blank pages where there should be websites, either from URL or Email links.

Close the browser and hit the 'Start' button, then 'Run' and enter the following: REGSVR32 URLMON.DLL

A message will pop up telling you the procedure was successful.

Then fire up IE & go to 'Tools,' then 'Internet Options,' then 'Programs.' Click on 'Reset Web Settings' and everything should be back to nearly perfect.

Get the picture?
Searching for a particular image on the Internet can be daunting, but there are methods that will produce what's needed efficiently.

Alta Vista allows for 'Field-Supported' searches. try prefacing your search with image:, as in image:horse.

Even better, though, is the Google Image Search Engine. To try it, click here.
Remember to respect those copyrights!

Not Forgotten
Where do websites go to die? The Internet, of course!

That cool site is gone, just when you needed a reference for your term paper (or to win an Email argument, or just because).

Well, maybe not. Search up the missing website in Google (gotta love it) and click on the 'Cached' link. Viola! At least usually, but if it ain't here, it ain't anywhere.

IE Stuff
When you're bombarded by flashing banners and irritating wigglies, try this. Once a page is fully loaded, hit the 'Esc' key to freeze every animated gif.

Don't put up with the names that others lay on you for the websites you've saved in your 'Favorites' folder. Just like any other shortcut, you can re-name those babies.

To determine your own IP address on a dial-up connection (which changes every time you connect), just hit 'Start,' then 'Run' and enter "WINIPCFG.EXE" (without the quotes).

To get the really Big Picture, it's possible to launch IE 4.0 or higher in an ultra-full screen 'Kiosk' mode, without toolbars or navigation controls. Hit 'Start/Run' and type "iexplore -k www.WebAddress.com" without the quotes and substituting 'WebAddress' for whatever you wish. Make a note of the keyboard shortcuts, below, 'cause even your Taskbar will be hidden.* **

Ctrl+A: Select all (editing)
Alt+left arrow: Back
Alt+right arrow: Forward
Esc: Stop
F5: Refresh
Ctrl+B: Organize favorites
Ctrl+X: Cut (editing)
Ctrl+C: Copy (editing)
Ctrl+V: Paste (editing)
Ctrl+F: Find (on current page)
Ctrl+H: View History folder
Ctrl+L: Open Location dialog box
Ctrl+N: New window (opens in non-Kiosk mode)
Ctrl+O: Open Location dialog box (same as Ctrl+L)
Ctrl+P: Print
Ctrl+R: Refresh
Ctrl+S: Save
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F4: Close all windows (Thanks, Wingman!)
Ctrl+W Close (same as Alt+F4)

This last cool IE tweak is from David Prager of TechTV ScreenSavers. To find out some other cool stuff that can be done in this mode, go here.

*Correction! Thanks to 'wdj' who sent this: "In Kiosk mode , you can hit the Window key + M to display the taskbar." Thanks!

**Wingman reminds us that the full-screen mode can be accessed by hitting F11 while Internet Explorer is open. This will allow a view nearly as large as kiosk, but leaves naviogation elements in a strip across the top. Thanks, bro'.
 

WinXP Tips

As promised, there's a bunch. In fact, this new operating system offers so many opportunities for customization that the tweaks and tricks took another entire page much like this one. Click here for Win XP Tips.

Hey, Tricksters and Tweakers! I'd love to hear about your favorite methods for bending Windows to your will. Send 'em my way! You'll get credit for it, but please let me know whether or not to use your real name.
I respect, protect and defend everyone's right to privacy.