Windows tips and tricks
Micro$oft Windoze - users... hated by the hackers? Windows is too easy, too soft. Unix (or variant Linux) is the only *real* operating system. Windows of Mac keeps you stupid: you just dont learn how the clock is ticking underneath that metal case. Up to a certain level, this statement is true. Someone who only clicks on icons, wont learn much about computers. If you drive your car, and you have a flat tire, you know what to do. But if the computer has a defective part, or wrong software configuration, do you know what to do? So...
1. Learn Dos!
If you know 15 Dos-commands, you know enough to start up your computer from a bootable floppy, and correct problems. Dont you have a bootable floppy? Shame on you - you dont have a spare wheel. The command sys a: is all you have to do.
When you click on icons, certain commands are executed, but you dont see them. Do you know what happens, if you type the command echo y |format c: >nul? (Dont try that! It would format your HDD unconditionally!) Or the command copy c:\autoexec.bat prn? (You can try that, if the printer is turned on). Its not that difficult. See my Dos-page for more commands.
2. Experiment!
On my Win 95-desktop, theres no Inbox-icon any more. I was tired seeing that, and I didnt use Micro$oft Exchange anyway. I can even delete the trash can off my desktop. With one Dos-command, I start my internet dial-up connection. I dont have to see that stupid arrow Click here to start any more. I already figured out how to click on a button Start. Dont show that arrow all the time, Mr. Gates, or well have to throw with pie again ;-)
Conclusion: try and experiment. Your computer wont fall apart just like that. Im not suggesting that you have to experiment with a welding torch and chainsaw, but you should try to understand the software. Of course you cant just delete any file. Did you notice that in the Windows 9x - command prompt (Start button, Run, -type- command + Enter), the commands cd... en dir *32*.* also work? The first command will go back two steps in the directory structure immediatly (or more, if you use more dots), the second command shows all files where the number 32 occurs in the name. So the wildcard has been extended.. Type exit in the Dos-window to close it, or Alt + Enter to maximize / restore the window.
Advanced ursers certainly tried the command sysedit. Another nice command is control main.cpl of start control.exe access.cpl. For your dial-up internet account, try the command rundll32 rnaui,RnaDial (here the name of the connection in my computer - external access) This command is case-sensitive. In my case the command is rundll32 rnaui,RnaDial Online. Internet-connection started with one Dos-command. Hello Linux - you recognize the picture? Of course, the program rundll32.exe or rundll.exe calls a function in a .dll. You can test other .dlls and functions with it.
3. The registry
The registy replaces the former startup files autoexec.bat, config.sys, win.ini, control.ini and all other .ini-files of the previous Windows 3.xx versions. Using the registry, you can do about everything you want. Also delete icons that wont let you delete them (road sign cursor) - like the Inbox icon. You can look at the registry and change settings, with the command regedit. (Start button, run, type regedit + Enter). The files that regedit opens are c:\windows\system.dat and c:\windows\user.dat. Backup these files first (copy to i.e. c:\.) if youre not sure what youre doing. If your registry is damaged, it may be that windows doesnt start. In that case, you can copy the backup files to c:\windows again, and everything is back to normal.
How do I delete an icon or file, without filling up the trash can? Try pressing the Shift-button, if you drag something in it. Or just type Shift + Delete. Be careful with what you delete this way, it is very difficult to Undelete in Windows 9x.
How do I delete the arrow click here to start ? Start regedit, go to the section HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer. If it isnt there yet, create a binary value, and call it NoStartBanner. Dubbelclick it, and give it the value 01 00 00 00, and click on the OK- button. Repeat the same steps for the section HKEY_USERS\Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Try to press the keys (Shift) + (Ctrl) +
(F10), if youre in a hopeless situation in the game
Freecell. Nice huh? All the results of this game are saved
(Freecell menu: Game - Statistics). Now, start regedit, and go to
the section
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\FreeCell.
Values like Wins and Won, and all other values are all there. You
can change them manually, like if you won 10,000 times and never
lost. Remember, values are in hexadecimal, so you have to write
10,000 as 2710 or 1000 as 3e8. Confusing, but the standard
Windows calculator can help you: try the scientific
view, type any value in decimal, then check the hex-stuff.
On a Windows 9x - computer, there are at least 9 ways to start a program automatically, at the startup. Using the registry (Run, RunOnce, RunServices, and RunServicesOnce), or if you append a line (i.e.win c:\program files\msword\winword.exe) in the file c:\autoexec.bat, also in the file c:\windows\win.ini - section run=<name of program>, if you make a file winstart.bat with a specific command in it, or do the same in a file win.bat in c:\windows. Oh, of course, you can also drag a program or shortcut in the startup group.
Al the commands you ever typed with the <Start Button, Run>, stay visible. Also for the sysadmin! How to delete them? If you installed MSIE 4.01 with SP1 - you can clear the history, that will do the job. But if you have another version: use the registry. Go to the section HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU. Delete all values, except the value Default.
How to put the start button on the right side in the system tray, on top of the clock? A trick without the registry now. Press Ctrl + Esc, then Esc. Now press Alt + - (hyphen), choose move with the down arrow, and press Enter. Now, you can move the start button with the Right and left arrow-keys, and where you release the arrow key and press Enter, thats where the start button will be.