Number 252 - May 2004
Windows Tips and Tricks
Compiled by George Skarbek, Melbourne PC User Group
Tips For Absolute Beginners
   I have found that many users do not read the manuals, in fact most don't and even relatively experienced users occasionally miss a very handy shortcut method.

   When you are using Explorer, File Manager or any other Windows program to mark some files in a subdirectory or folder as Windows 95 refers to sub-directories, to copy, move or delete them, the following conventions apply to all Windows programs.

   Clicking once on a file marks it by highlighting it

   Clicking on another file, will mark it, and will deselect the first.

   By holding the Ctrl key when clicking, all the previously selected files remain selected.

   By holding down the Shift key when clicking, all files between the last highlighted file and the current file that is being selected will also be highlighted.

   Both Shift and Ctrl clicking can be used in the same session. An example of this use would be if you wanted to delete all but two or three files from a folder that contains very many files. This is achieved by:
  • clicking once to highlight the first of the files to be deleted.

  • scrolling down to the last file.

  • holding the shift key down and clicking on the last file to mark the lot.

  • release the shift key and scroll until you see a file that you wish to keep, then holding the Ctrl key, click on it. This will unmark just this file and leave the others marked.

  • To delete the marked files just press the Delete key. In Windows 95 if you hold the shift key down when you press the Delete key, the files will be deleted, rather than going into the Recycle bin and then having to be deleted from there.


    •    In Windows 95 Explorer, to sort by date just click on "Modified" heading. This helps you to quick(ly) find the recent files or, click on Size to find all the large files. Clicking a second time will reverse the sort order.

       If these headings are not visible, but other headings are, then extend the Explorer window to the right.

       If no headings are visible below the line which reads: Contents of... then click on View and select and Details.

    General Tips

       Tip: Need to find a file containing a particular word or phrase because you forgot the file name? With Windows 95/98 this is not a problem. Under Find, select Advanced and in the box marked Containing Text just type in what you are seeking.

       Tip: The Windows 95/98 registry files should be backed up at regular intervals. From the DOS box, when in your destination folder, type XCOPY C:\WINDOWS\*.DA? /H

       Do you ever hit the CapsLock instead of the Shift key and continue typing? If you are using Windows 95 there is help.
    You can modify Windows to make a sound when the Caps Lock button is hit. Do this by clicking on Start, Settings, Control Panel, Accessibility Options and click on the ToggleKeys check box. Now when you press CapsLock, it will make a sound and when you press it again, to turn it off, it will make a different sound.

    Windows 95 Shortcuts for Natural Keyboards
       Many users who use Windows 95/98 and have the Windows 95/98 keyboard (the one which has two keys marked with the Windows logo (WIN key)) do not make much use of the extra keys.

       These keys can be used for shortcuts such as:
          Pressing the Windows key and E will launch Explorer
          WIN/F will launch the Find File program
          WIN/M will minimise all open programs
          Shift/WIN/M will undo the minimise all

       So now you do not need to have extra shortcuts on the desktop for the Explorer for Find Files cluttering the desktop.

    Screen Dumps From Windows
       In DOS, when you press the Print Screen key the current screen gets printed. In Windows the "Print Screen" key copies an image into a buffer (Clipboard) but does not print it. To print that information you must open up a suitable program, such as Word, Paint, Write etc and paste the image into that program by using Ctrl+V or selecting Edit, Paste from the menu.

    Screen Dump of the Active Window
       Often is it nice to do a screen dump of a small open window, but not of the entire desktop behind it. Just press Alt+PrintScreen to copy the active window into the clipboard. This can save a lot of time in cutting and pasting to extract the information from the full screen dump.

    Removing the Windows 95 Password at Startup
       Are you being asked to supply a password each time the computer starts to which you just hit Enter or Cancel and everything works and you would like to remove this annoying prompt?

       This is not very difficult to remove. Right-click on the Network Neighbourhood and then click on Properties.

       Then select the Primary Network Logon, change it to Windows Logon and click OK. If you are asked to restart the computer say No.

       Next open the Control Panel, click on Passwords|Change Windows Password, and type in the old password into the Old Password box. Just press Enter if you have none. Leave the New Password and Confirm Password boxes blank and you will not be prompted again with the login screen after you restart your computer.

       Note that if you or anyone else in your family has set up user profiles, the above steps will not prevent Windows 95 from prompting you for a password. If several people are sharing a computer and have different tastes then each individual can have his or her wallpaper, icons, sounds etc by establishing individual profiles and have individual names and passwords. The data and programs are accessible to all.

       Reprinted from the February 2004 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
      Number 252 - May 2004