book

Windows Me Annoyances

by David A. Karp

March 2001

Intermediate to advanced

480 pages

14h 8m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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What Is an Annoyance?The InterfaceHow This Book Came to Be
What’s Wrong with Windows

Coping with ExplorerExploring Basic Explorer SettingsTips for various Folder Options settingsHelpful navigation keystrokesMove or Copy Files at WillCopy or Move to a Specified PathSolution 1: Drag patientlySolution 2: Use copy and pasteSolution 3: Use a third-party add-onMake a Duplicate of a File or FolderChoose How to Delete FilesForce Explorer to Remember Folder SettingsChoose Your Short FilenamesFix the Search Tool
Force Explorer to Start with the Folder You WantLaunch Explorer from a shortcutExploring in contextTaming Mindless AnimationSolution 1: All for one, and one for allSolution 2: Individual animationStop Menus from Following the MouseSolution 1Solution 2Get Rid of Shortcut ResidueSolution 1: Remove the “Shortcut to” prefix onlySolution 2: Complete controlCustomize the TrayRemove common items from the trayAdd your own programs to the trayCustomize Drive and Folder IconsSolution 1: Customize drive iconsSolution 2: Customize folder iconsMake the Control Panel More AccessibleSolution 1: Easy shortcuts to Control Panel iconsSolution 2: Flexible shortcuts to Control Panel appletsSolution 3: Remove unwanted Control Panel iconsSolution 4: Add a cascading Control Panel menu to the Start MenuSolution 5: Make a custom Control Panel menuCustomize the Startup ScreenCurb CD and DVD AutorunDisable AutorunDisable CD and DVD pollingChoose the Autorun audio CD player
Refresh the Desktop Without Restarting WindowsSolution 1Solution 2Solution 3Save Your Desktop LayoutFixing the Start MenuSorting Start Menu itemsChoose scrolling menus or multiple columnsThe curse of personalized menusRemove unwanted Start Menu componentsAlternatives to the Start Menu
Getting to Know the Registry EditorThe Meat of the Registry: Values
Using the Windows Registry CheckerExtra Registry Checker DutiesAutomate Off-Disk Backups
Create a Registry PatchEdit a Registry PatchApply a Registry Patch
System.ini and Win.ini
Creating File Types
Cleaning Up the DesktopClear the Desktop of Unwanted IconsMy Network PlacesSoultion 1: Recycle BinSolution 2: Recycle BinMy ComputerReally stubborn iconsHide All Icons on the DesktopCustomize My ComputerRename My ComputerChange the My Computer iconRedirect the Desktop iconAdd entries to the My Computer windowRemove unwanted entries from the My Computer windowCustomize the Recycle Bin IconAdd the Rename option to the Recycle Bin’s context menuManually rename the Recycle BinChange the Recycle Bin iconChange the Icons of System ObjectsSolution 1: Basic system objectsSolution 2: Default folder and drive iconsSolution 3: All other system objects
Clean Up and Customize System FoldersSolution 1: Relocate some system foldersSolution 2: Drag a system folderSolution 3: Relocate all system foldersSpecial Case—The Temp folderCustomize Context MenusUse file types to add, remove, or edit context menusLink a filename extension to an existing file typeChoose a file-type association on the flyCustomize context menus for drives, folders, and desktop iconsProtect Your File TypesClear Unwanted Entries from Explorer’s New MenuSolution 1Solution 2Solution 3 (advanced users only)Clear Unwanted Entries from the Search MenuMirror a Folder with Folder ShortcutsCreate a Folder ShortcutDismantle a Folder ShortcutPrint Out a Directory ListingTurn File Icons into Thumbnail PreviewsSolution 1: Icon previews for bitmap filesSolution 2: Use built-in icon previews for all graphic filesCustomize the Places BarSolution 1: Use TweakUISolution 2: Use the Registry (affects Microsoft Office 2000 only)
Tweaking the Start Menu ButtonChange the word “Start” (requires a hex editor)Change the icon (requires an icon editor)Change Installation DefaultsRegistered userCD keyInstallation pathAdd New Folder Options
Removing Software BottlenecksSpeed Up System StartupHave Windows Power Down Your Computer AutomaticallyOptimize Virtual Memory (or, Stop Windows from Wildly Accessing Your Hard Disk)Part 1: Virtual memoryPart 2: Defragmenting the swap filePart 3: Physical memoryGet the Most Out of Your Games, Speed-WiseWhat to Throw AwayWindows Me files that can be deletedFiles found elsewhere on your systemSpecific Windows components you can removeFiles NOT to deleteIf in doubtSpecial consideration: Hidden filesSpecial consideration: System file protection and system restore
MonitorsWhat to look for in a new monitorVideo Cards (Display Adapters)What to look for in a new video cardMotherboardsWhat to look for in a new motherboardProcessorsWhat to look for in a new processorMemoryWhat to look for in new memoryHard DisksWhat to look for in a new hard diskHard-Disk ControllersWhat to look for in a new hard-disk controllerSCSI ControllersWhat to look for in a new SCSI controllerCD and DVD DrivesWhat to look for in a new CD or DVD driveTape Drives, Removable Cartridge Drives, and CD RecordersWhat to look for in a new tape drive, removable cartridge drive, or CD recorderModemsWhat to look for in a new modemNetwork CardsWhat to look for in a new network cardSound CardsWhat to look for in a new sound cardPrintersWhat to look for in a new printerMice and Other Pointing DevicesWhat to look for in a new pointing deviceKeyboardsWhat to look for in a new keyboardThe Box and Power Supply
Use a Backup DeviceUsing a Disk-Cloning UtilityTransferring Data Manually
General Troubleshooting TechniquesDisabling System File ProtectionTaming Antivirus SoftwareWhat to Do When Windows Won’t StartUnderstanding System Resources
Looking for a DriverUpdating and Verifying DriversHandling Misbehaving DriversResolving Hardware ConflictsWhen installing new hardware . . .Firmware: Software for Your HardwareThe Trials and Tribulations of Plug and PlayStop Plug and Play from Detecting DevicesFixing Device-Specific ProblemsVideo cards (also known as display adapters)MonitorsHard disks and floppy-diskette drivesHard-disk controllersSCSI controllersCD-ROM drivesTape drivesRemovable, optical, and recordable CD-ROM drivesModemsPrintersScanners and camerasSound cardsNetwork cardsMemoryUSB portsMotherboards and CPUsPower suppliesUsing Multiple Hardware ConfigurationsConnect Peripherals Without Restarting WindowsGeneral-purpose solutionAdding and removing SCSI devicesDesignate Drive LettersStop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy DriveForce NumLock to BehaveTurn Off the PC SpeakerSolution 1Solution 2Solution 3
Typical Windows Startup ErrorsThe Places Windows Looks for Startup ProgramsPage Fault, Illegal Operation, and Fatal ExceptionCrash-a-HolicVersion ControlThe Path Less Traveled
Back Up Your Entire SystemInstalling Microsoft BackupTips for a Better BackupBetter Floppy FormatsMake a Startup DiskProtecting Your HardwareData RecoveryRestoring Windows After a Crash
Setting Up a WorkgroupPart 1: Installing the Hardware and DriversPart 2: Setting Up the ProtocolsPart 3: Other Network PropertiesPart 4: The Art of CablingPart 5: Using Shared ResourcesPart 6: Mapping DrivesTroubleshooting a Workgroup
A Word About the Different Types of Internet ConnectionsSetting up the drivers and protocolsUsing Dial-Up NetworkingTroubleshooting an Internet ConnectionTest Your Throughput
Exporting Dial-Up Networking ConnectionsUsing Autodial with Dial-Up NetworkingDial-Up ScriptingPart 1: Log in manuallyPart 2: Write the scriptPart 3: Hook up the script to a connection
Sharing an Internet Connection on a WorkgroupSolution 1: Use Internet Connection SharingSolution 2: Use an Internet routerSolution 3: Use multiple IP addressesVirtual Private NetworkingPart 1a: Set up the tunnel server (Windows NT 4.0 Server/Advanced Server only)Part 1b: Set up the tunnel server (Windows 2000 Server/Advanced Server only)Part 2: Set up the VPN client (Windows Me)Accessing an FTP Site in ExplorerSolution 1Solution 2Controlling Another Computer Remotely( Just Like in the Movies)
Get Rid of the Logon ScreenShare System Folders Between UsersHow to Implement Security in WindowsPrevent new users from logging inSave settings for multiple usersLimit access to unprivileged users
The Lowdown on Web Integration Components
Customize the Web View of a Single FolderEditing Web View Template FilesA Word About Web View VariablesSelectively Turn Off the Web ViewMake a Custom Toolbar with the Web View
Building a Script with VBScriptUsing Variables to Store and Manipulate InformationGiving Your Scripts an Interface with the InputBox and MsgBox CommandsCreating Interactive Scripts with Conditional StatementsUsing Loops, Using Loops, Using LoopsMaking Building Blocks with Subroutines and FunctionsExtending Scripts with Object References
Quick Floppy Backup ToolInternet FishtankSmart Phone DialingQuick SendTo Shortcut CreatorRename Files with Search and ReplaceSort the Start Menu with EaseMirror a Folder with Folder Shortcuts
Alphabetical Listing of All Windows Me Settings
MS-DOS Crash CourseCommand-Prompt TricksUsing long filenames in DOSRun a shortcut from the command promptChoose the default command-prompt folderBatch Files—The Other Way to Do ItVariables and the environmentFlow controlCommand-line parametersConditional statementsLoopsSimulating subroutinesTurn the Address Bar into a Command Prompt

Content preview from Windows Me Annoyances

Transition to Windows Me

If Windows Me is your foray into Windows, you’re lucky to have escaped the early days of changing jumpers, editing the config.sys file, running out of “system resources,” and suffering with the Windows 3.x Program Manager. However, dealing with the problems of the early days of Windows is a good way to build coping skills and is the only way to appreciate some of the things now taken for granted, such as Plug-and-Play and fast Internet connections. Getting under the hood of Windows is not only a great way to take charge of the operating system and make it conform to the way you work and think, but it’s also a very effective method for learning more about Windows and the technology that makes it work.

The basic “shell” interface (Explorer, the Desktop, the Start Menu, and [shiver] the Web View) is relatively unchanged from Windows 98, with the exception of newly painted desktop icons. Those migrating from Windows NT 4.0 will notice slightly more substantial changes, such as menu animation and Internet Explorer integration. Anyone who is accustomed to any recent release of Windows, though, will feel immediately comfortable with the Windows Me version, at least on the surface.

What follows are a few highlights and lowlights of Windows Me, most notably for those who have upgraded or who are thinking of upgrading from a previous version. Some may seem insignificant; others may mean the difference between upgrading to Windows Me and waiting for something better ...