Application Tips
Outlook Express
Sharing Contacts with Outlook Express and
Outlook - Added 11/19/05
Spell Checking in Outlook Express Without
Office - Added 1/5/03
Opening Attachments in Outlook Express
- Added 11/26/02
Adding File Attachment
Security for Outlook Express 6 - Added 3/19/02
Changing the Location
of Your E-Mail Files for Outlook Express 6 - Added 3/19/02
Configuring Outlook Express 6
for Multiple User Accounts - Added 3/19/02
Disabling Outlook Express Splash Screen - Added 1/8/00
Starting Outlook Express Immediately to Mail or News - Added 12/21/99
Misc
Resolving Inability to Add or Remove Programs - Added
1/5/03
Reducing Viruses in E-Mail - Added 1/1/03
Redirecting Output from Command Line Programs -
Submitted 1/5/02
Eliminating MSCONFIG Warning at Next Boot Up -
Added 12/22/01
Changing Notepad Defaults - Added 7/14/01
Removing the Task Scheduler - Submitted 5/6/00
Opening Files with Other Than the Default Application
- Submitted 2/5/00
Hidden FDISK Switches - Updated 1/8/00
Playing DVD's with Windows Media Player - Added 12/20/99
Stopping Applications from Starting Automatically - Updated 12/20/99
Opening a File by Dragging to Task Bar - Added
10/17/99
Eudora Lite and More than One E-Mail Account -
Submitted 12/31/98
Hidden Format Switches - Added 8/16/98
Changing File Associations - Submitted 3/1/98
Extracting files from Win95's CAB files - Submitted
2/28/98
Recovering Damaged Text Files - Submitted
2/18/98
Setting Swap File Size - Added 2/14/98
Defragmenting the Swap File - Added 2/14/98
ScanDisk with OEM SR2 - Added 2/11/98
Substituting Drive Letters - Submitted 1/11/98
Shutting Down or Restarting Windows95 from an Icon -
Submitted 12/24/97
Saving Space Using WinZip - Submitted 10/11/97
Office97 and Plus Pack Themes - Submitted 9/13/97
Opening a Files for Editing - Submitted 5/10/97
Opening Associated Files from a DOS Box -
Submitted 4/25/97
Using Another E-Mail Package when Exchange is Installed
- Added 3/22/97
Power Surfing - Submitted 3/18/97
Lotus 123 Release 5 Lockup - Submitted 12/18/96
Wildcards with DIR and File Find - Added 11/29/96
ScanDisk Command-Line Switches - Added 11/24/96
Defrag Command-Line Switches - Added 11/24/96
Fixing Page Fault in MPREXE.EXE - Added 9/25/96
Changing the Telnet Scroll-Back Buffer Size
Added 7/27/96
Auto-Dialing for 32-bit Internet Applications -
Submitted 7/11/96
DOSSTART.BAT File - Submitted 6/23//96
Fixing Corrupted Exchange Files - Submitted
5/8/96
Emergency Recovery Utility - Submitted 5/8/96
Turning off the ending = with Exchange - Added 4/9/96
Using your mouse to select an area in a DOS app - Added
3/30/96
Using Exchange with more than one ISP phone number -
Added 3/29/96
Backing up the Registry - Submitted 1/28/96
Adding Notepad to SENDTO - 1/11/96
Having Eudora Pro be the default e-mail program, rather than
Exchange - 12/27/95
Free drive space errors with Norton Utilities - 11/5/95
Using the new DOS Edit - 9/29/95
Creating Distribution List with Exchange - 9/26/96
Using Memmaker - 9/23/95
Signatures using WordMail - 9/21/95
Creating Document templates - 9/3/95
New XCOPY switches
Sharing Contacts with Outlook Express
and Outlook
Added 11/19/05
If you want to have both Outlook Express and Outlook use the same contact
list:
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Software / Microsoft / WAB / WAB4
- On the right side, right click and add a new DWORD key called
UseOutlook
- Give it a value of 1
Now when either the Address Book in Outlook Express or the Contacts in
Outlook are changed, each will update the other.
Fixing Duplicate Contacts folders
in Outlook
Added 11/14/05
Sometimes in Outlook, when you send mail and click on the TO button, there
will either be duplicate Contacts folders showing or no contacts showing.
To fix this you need to delete the Outlook Address Book and then add it back
in again.
For Outlook98 / 2000 with the Corporate Configuration:
- Control Panel / Mail
- Select the Profile you want to use if there is more than one on the
computer
- Highlight Outlook Address Book
- Click on the Remove button / Yes
- Click on the Add button
- Highlight Outlook Address Book
- Click on Ok / Ok
For OutlookXP / 2003
- Close Outlook
- Open the Control Panel / Mail icon
- Click on the E-Mail Accounts button
- Highlight View or change existing directories or address books
- Next
- Highlight Outlook Address Book (if it isn't already)
- Click on the Remove button / Yes
- Click on the Add button
- Select Additional Address Books
- Select Outlook Address Book
- Finish and Close
- Restart Outlook
Finding the Location of the Outlook
PST Data File
Added 10/18/05
Outlook stores all the e-mail, contacts, calendar etc. in a single PST file.
If you need to find the exact location and name of the file, rather than
searching, you can get this directly from Outlook.
- With Outlook98 or Outlook2000, make sure you have View / Folders
selected
- Right click on Personal Folders
- Select Properties for Personal Folders
- Click on the Advanced button
- Under Filename, it will show the path and name of the current PST file.
Compacting Outlook Data Files
Updated 3/26/04
Even though you delete your e-mail from the Delete Items folder,
the file size may still stay the same.
This means that you
need to manually compact them.
- You need to have the Folder List showing. If it is not already there, from
the View menu, click Folder List
- From the Folders list, right-click on Personal Folders at the top
- Select Properties For Personal Folders
- Click on the Advanced button
- Click on the Compact Now button
Outlook 2000 Hangs at Splash Screen
Added 2/18/04
If Outlook hangs up at the logo splash screen,
try starting it with the /safe switch (Start / Run / Outlook.exe /safe)
If this works some files may be corrupted and can simply be deleted or
renamed.
Use the Windows Explorer to search for and then either rename or delete the
following files:
Views.dat
Outcmd.dat
Extend.dat
Frmcache.dat
Note: Not all files may be present on the computer
Restoring the Outlook2000/2002 Icon to the
Desktop
Added 11/27/03
If the Outlook icon was removed from the desktop
it can restored by adding in the following registry key.
Then logoff and back on again.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
Download Reg File
Hyperlinks Not Working In Office
Added 1/7/02
If hyperlinks are not working in Outlook or other Office applications:
- Start the Internet Explorer
- Select Tools / Internet Options
- Click on Programs tab
- Make sure that Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the
default browser is enabled
- Click Reset Web Settings.
- Click Start / Run / regsvr32 urlmon.dll
- If that single change does not resolve the problem, repeat the process
by running the following additional entries:
- regsvr32 Shdocvw.dll
- regsvr32 Msjava.dll
- regsvr32 Actxprxy.dll
- regsvr32 Oleaut32.dll
- regsvr32 Mshtml.dll
- regsvr32 Browseui.dll
- regsvr32 Shell32.dll (Windows XP and Windows 2000 only)
Resolving Inability to Add or Remove Programs
Added 1/5/03
If a particular user cannot add or remove programs, there might be a simple
registry edit neeed.
- Go to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Uninstall
- Change the DWORD NoAddRemovePrograms to 0 disable it
Spell Checking in Outlook Express
Without Office
Added 1/5/03
You can spell check with Outlook Express without needing to install Office or
Works
You will need access to your existing legal version to copy some files.
- On a computer with Office installed, go to C:\Program Files\Common
Files\Microsoft Shared\Proof
- Copy the following files (they will easily fit on a floppy disk)
- MSSP2_EN.LEX
- MSSP232.DLL
- CSAPI3T1.DLL
- CTAPI3T2.DLL
- CHAPI3T1.DLL
- Copy them to the same location on the computer without Office
- Download the reg file and
import into the registry
Reducing Viruses in E-Mail
Added 1/1/03
You can greatly reduce the amount of viruses you might get through e-mail
attachments by simply installing the free Outlook E-mail Attachment Security
Update from Microsoft. Since most viruses come this way, it should all but
eliminate them. You should also have a good virus protection program installed
as well.
This update strips out any attachments where, if you click on them, they will
automatically run on their own.
Examples of restricted extensions are:
.exe, .com, .bat, .vbs, .scr
This will work for Outlook98 and Outlook2000. OutlookXP has it already built
in as part of the product.
Download from Microsoft
Clearing the Outlook Nickname
Cache
Added 12/4/02
The Nickname Cache is used by Outlook for automatic name checking and the
automatic completion.
I you want to clear the cache with the list of names that Outlook shows when
sending an e-mail
- Close Outlook
- Start the Windows Explorer
- With the focus on the root of the C: drive, search for *.nick
(Outlook2000) or *.NK2 (Outlook2002 or newer)
- You will find a file that starts with your profile name
- Rename this file
- Restart Outlook
- Outlook will start rebuilding the file over again.
Opening Attachments in Outlook
Express
Added 11/26/02
If you are unable to open any attachments in Outlook Express
- Start the program
- Go to Tools / Options
- Click on the Security tab
- Uncheck Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could
potentially be a virus
Creating A Watermark in Word2002
Added 9/10/02
It is easy to create a watermark in Word2002.
- Go to the Format menu
- Select Background
- Click Printed Watermark
- From here you can either select a graphic or text watermark.
Changing the Spreadsheet Tab Color in Excel
2002
Added 8/14/02
If you have a spreadsheet with multiple pages in it,
you can change the color of the individual tabs by simply right clicking on the
tabs and select Tab Color
Using Outlook 2002 Sticky Notes
Added 8/14/02
While in Outlook, you can create sticky notes that look like post-it notes.
These stay on your desktop and can help server as reminders for things you need
to do.
To Create a Note In Outlook:
- Go to File / New / Note
- Or press Ctrl+Shift+N
- From here you can enter any text you like
- You can change the color of the note by clicking on the icon in the upper
left hand corner and selecting Color
- When created this way, the notes are only available when Outlook is still
running
To Create a Note Anytime
- Create a shortcut on the desktop
- "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OUTLOOK.EXE" /c ipm.stickynote
- Give it a name that makes sense for you
- Now you can create a note without Outlook running
Configuring Automatic Name Suggestion
in Outlook 2002
Added 8/14/02
The default setting in Outlook 2002 is to offer to complete the name of a
person you are sending mail.
This is based on anyone you have ever sent mail to.
For me things brings up far too many names and I prefer to simply use the names
in my contact list.
(Start typing a name and press Ctrl-K to pull up names in your address book)
To turn off this setting:
- Go to Tools / Options
- Click on the E-mail Options button
- Click on the Advanced E-mail Options button
- Uncheck Suggest names while completing To, Cc, and Bcc fields
If you want to leave the setting in place and simply delete individual
suggestions:
- Us the arrow keys to highlight a name
- Press the Delete key to delete just that entry
Outlook Shortcut Keys
Added 8/1/02
|
Send and receive mail |
Control + M |
|
Open or post a new message |
Control + N |
|
Forward a message |
Control + F |
|
Reply to a message |
Control + R |
|
Print the selected message |
Control + P |
|
Delete a mail message |
Delete or Control + D |
|
Reply to all |
Control + Shift + R |
|
Open the Inbox |
Control + I |
|
Open the Outbox |
Control + O |
|
Open the Address Book |
Control + Shift + B |
|
Go to next unread mail message |
Control + U |
|
Go to folder |
Control + Y |
|
Open the selected message |
Control + O or Enter |
|
Mark a message as read |
Control + Enter or Control + Q |
|
Move between the Folders list and message list |
Tab |
|
Find text |
F3 |
|
Find a message |
Control + Shift + F |
|
Switch among Edit, Source, and Preview tabs |
Control + Tab |
|
Check names |
Control + K or Alt + K |
|
Check spelling |
F7 |
|
Insert signature |
Control + Shift + S |
|
Send (post) a message |
Control + Enter or Alt + S |
Having Word Not Display URL's in Underline
Updated 4/5/02
To have it remove currently underlined links,
Simply press Ctrl-A to highlight all the text.
Then Ctrl-6 to remove the underlines
Submitted by Roy
Added 2/21/00
Normally when you enter a URL or E-Mail Address in Word , it shows in
Underline.
To turn this feature off:
- Go to Tools / AutoCorrect / AutoFormat As You Type
- Uncheck Internet and network paths with hyperlinks
Note: This will not change the display of previously entered links or e-mail
addresses
Redirecting Output from Command Line Programs
Submitted 1/5/02
With most command line programs, you can redirect the output to a file.
This is useful if you want to capture the output of a program.
Simply run the program and add a " > filename" after the
command.
Substitute whatever filename you want with no quotes
Submitted by Darleema
Note from Bob: One example, I frequently compare two files using the
FC (file compare) program.
Normally the differences scroll off and I can't tell what they were.
Instead I run FC File1 File2 > difference.txt
Then with notepad it is easy to open up difference.txt and view all the changes.
Eliminating MSCONFIG Warning at Next Boot Up
Added 12/22/01
By default, if you make any changes to your startup with the MSCONFIG
utility,
an warning is displayed on the next bootup.
If you use this utility a lot and would like to eliminate that from happening
- Create a registry text file (e.g. file_name.reg) with the contents:
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"MSConfig"=-
- Create a shortcut on the desktop
- Enter in:
regedit /s file_name.reg
- Give it a title that make sense to you
- When you click on the icon, the specific registry value will be deleted
and you won't be prompted next time you boot.
Minimizing Outlook2002 to the System
Tray
Added 11/27/01
By default, when you minimize Outlook2002, it goes to the taskbar.
You can have it minimize to the system tray if you prefer.
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Office \ 10.0 \ Outlook \
Preferences
- Create a DWORD Value called MinToTray
- Give it a value of 1
- You may need to logoff for the setting to take effect.
- This helps reduce clutter on the taskbar but doesn't allow you to task
switch to Outlook.
Changing Colors in Outlook2002
Calendar
Added 11/27/01
You can now change the colors of calendar items with Outlook2002.
- Simply right click on the event
- Select Label
- From here you can select from a variety of pre-selected colors
Sending Contacts in Outlook
Added 9/29/01
It is easy to send a list of of contacts you want to send to others through
e-mail.
For the following steps, make sure you have the Folder List selected
in Outlook
SENDING CONTACTS
- Start a new email
- In the TO section, select the users you want to receive the contacts
- Select Insert / Item
- Scroll to Contacts
- Highlight the contacts you want to send
- To select multiple items, hold down the control key
- Click OK when finished
- Send the mail
RECEIVING CONTACTS
- Have both your main Folder List and e-mail visible
- Select all the contacts
- Drag them to the Contacts folder
Copying E-Mail to Your Calendar
Added 9/9/01
If you receive an e-mail regarding an appointment you need to schedule,
simply drag that e-mail from your Inbox to the Calendar.
You will then have the option to change the date, time etc for that event.
Editing the Shared Border in FrontPage
2000/2002
Added 9/9/01
By default, you can't directly edit the HTML code in a shared border in
FrontPage.
To enable this ability:
- Go to Tools / Web Settings
- Click on the Advanced tab
- Check Show hidden files and folders
- Your shared borders will now show up in a folder called _borders (from the
Folder list)
Filling Word Documents with Pretend Text
Added 9/9/01
If you want to fill a page(s) with text to test something like printing, but
don't want to spend time pasting the same phrase over and over,
Type in =rand(x,y)
Where x and y are replaced by numbers.
X would be the number of paragraphs
Y would be the number of sentences in a paragraph.
The text that gets generated is The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Adding Horizontal Dividers in Word
Added 9/9/01
To add a variety of horizontal dividers in Word, type three
| Hyphens ( --- ) |
 |
| Underscores ( ___ ) |
 |
| Equal Signs ( === ) |
 |
| Pound Signs ( ### ) |
 |
| Asterisks ( *** ) |
 |
| Tildes ( ~~~ ) |
 |
Determining Formatting in Word
Added 9/9/01
To determine what formatting is applied to a particular paragraph in Word:
- Go to Help / What's This?
- When the cursor changes to a question mark, click on the paragraph.
- Information such as font and size, alignment, indent, spacing and margins
will show
Quickly Change Font Size in Office
Added 9/901
To quickly change the font size in your Office application (Word, Front Page,
Publisher or PowerPoint):
- Highlight the text you want to change
- Press:
CTRL+SHIFT+> - To Increase the size
CTRL+SHIFT+< - To Decrease the size
Word Command Line Switches
Added 9/6/01
The following text was copied from the Microsoft Site at:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q210/5/65.ASP
| Type |
To do this |
| /a |
Starts Word and prevents add-ins
and global templates (including the Normal template) from being loaded
automatically. The /a switch also locks the setting files; that is, the
setting files cannot be read or modified if you use this switch. |
| /laddinpath |
Starts Word and then loads a
specific Word add-in. |
| /m |
Starts a new instance of Word
without running any AutoExec macros. |
| /mmacroname |
Starts Word and then runs a
specific macro. The /m switch also prevents Word from running any AutoExec
macros. |
| /n |
Starts a new instance of Word
with no document open. Documents opened in each instance of Word will not
appear as choices in the Window menu of other instances. |
| /ttemplatename |
Starts Word with a new document
based on a template other than the Normal template. |
| /w |
Starts a new instance of Word
with a blank document. Documents opened in each instance of Word will not
appear as choices in the Window menu of the other instances. |
| (no switch) |
A new Word window is opened with
a blank document using the existing instance of the Word application. |
Excel Command Line Switches
Added 9/6/01
The following text was copied from the Microsoft Site at:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q211/4/81.ASP
Switch Function
----------------------------------------------------------------------
/e, /embedded Forces Excel to start without displaying the
startup screen and creating a new workbook
(Book1.xls).
Example: /e, /embedded
/m Forces Excel to create a new workbook that
contains a single macro sheet.
Example: /m
/o Forces Excel to re-register itself. Specifically,
the following key is rewritten in the registry:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Excel
NOTE: If this key contains invalid values, they are
not corrected by using this switch. This switch only
replaces missing values.
Example: /o
/p <folder> Forces Excel to use the path you specify as the active
path rather than the default path.
Example: /p "C:\Windows"
/r <filename> Forces Excel to open the specified file in
read-only mode.
Example: /r "C:\My Documents\Test.xls"
/s Starts Excel in Safe mode. ("Safe Mode" will appear in
the Excel title bar.) Safe mode starts Excel as if it is
the first time after Setup.
Safe mode bypasses the following:
- All files in any Excel startup folder.
For more information about the location of startup
folders, please see the following article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q240150 XL2000: How to Use Excel Startup Folders
- Add-ins: The Addins dialog box still displays the
selected addins. However, the addins are not loaded.
- Excel toolbars (Excel.xlb or <username>.xlb): The
original installation default toolbar settings are
used.
- Excel specific registry information: The original
installation default registry settings are used.
Registry information can include the following key and
other keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Excel\Options
NOTE: When Excel is in Safe mode, the Options dialog
box displays the default settings, not your customized
settings.
/regserver Forces Excel to register itself and then quit. Use this
switch when you want Excel to rewrite all of its
registry keys and reassociate itself with Excel files,
such as workbooks, charts, and so on.
Example: /regserver
/unregserver Forces Excel to unregister itself and then quit.
Example: /unregserver
Outlook Command Line Switches
Added 9/6/01
The following text was copied from the Microsoft Site at:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q182/1/12.ASP
Command-Line Switch Purpose
------------------- -------
/CleanFreeBusy Cleans and regenerates free/busy information.
/Cleanfinders Removes saved searches from the Exchange
Server store.
/CleanReminders Cleans and regenerates reminders.
/CleanViews Restores default views. All custom views you
created are lost.
/CheckClient Prompt for default manager of e-mail,
news, and contacts
/ResetFolders Restores missing folders for the default
delivery location.
/ResetOutlookBar Rebuilds the Outlook Bar.
/Safe Launches Outlook without extensions, preview
pane or toolbar customization.
/Nopreview Turns off the Preview Pane and removes the
option from the View Menu.
/CleanSchedPlus Deletes all Schedule+ data (free/busy,
permissions, and .CAL file) from the server
and enables the free/busy information from the
Outlook Calendar to be used and viewed by all
Schedule+ 1.0 users.
Customizing Outlook2002 Security
Settings
Added 8/16/01
By default, Outlook2002 restricts access to potentially damaging e-mail file
attachments.
To enable access to files with extensions such as .exe. or com:
- Exit Outlook2002 if it is running.
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Security
- Create a new string value called Level1Remove
- Enter in the file extensions you want to use, such as .exe or .bat
- You can have multiple file types separated by a semicolon
- exe;com
The following are a list of the file attachments that are restricted by
default
.ade
Microsoft Access project extension
.adp
Microsoft Access project
.asx Windows
Media Audio / Video
.bas
Microsoft Visual Basic class module
.bat Batch
file
.chm
Compiled HTML Help file
.cmd
Microsoft Windows NT Command script
.com
Microsoft MS-DOS program
.cpl Control
Panel extension
.crt
Security certificate
.exe Program
.hlp Help
file
.hta HTML
program
.inf Setup
Information
.ins
Internet Naming Service
.isp
Internet Communication settings
.js
JScript file
.jse Jscript
Encoded Script file
.lnk
Shortcut
.mdb
Microsoft Access program
.mde
Microsoft Access MDE database
.msc
Microsoft Common Console document
.msi
Microsoft Windows Installer package
.msp
Microsoft Windows Installer patch
.mst
Microsoft Windows Installer transform; Microsoft Visual Test source file
.pcd Photo
CD image; Microsoft Visual compiled script
.pif
Shortcut to MS-DOS program
.prf
Microsoft Outlook profile settings
.reg
Registration entries
.scf Windows
Explorer command
.scr Screen
saver
.sct Windows
Script Component
.shb Shell
Scrap object
.shs Shell
Scrap object
.url
Internet shortcut
.vb
VBScript file
.vbe
VBScript Encoded script file
.vbs
VBScript file
.wsc Windows
Script Component
.wsf Windows
Script file
.wsh Windows
Script Host Settings file
Changing Notepad Defaults
Added 7/14/01
If you want to change the default settings of notepad such as word wrap, font
and size:
- Start Regedit
- Go to HK_Current_User / Software / Microsoft / Notepad
- From here it is pretty easy to see what items you can change
Access Gives License or Database Error
Added 6/15/01
If you try to run Access97 and get an error:
Microsoft Access can't start because there is no license for it on this
machine
or
Can't find the database you specified or you didn't specify a database at
all
There is a patch from Microsoft to fix this problem.
I copied it to my site since they often change the location of their files.
Download Patch
Outlook Can't Create Item Error
Added 5/26/01
If you get the error Can't Create Item when attempting to open an
attachment for Outlook,
the \Windows\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Forms\Frmcache.dat
file may be corrupted.
Simply delete this file and restart Outlook
Opening Multiple Windows in Outlook
Added 5/14/01
If you want to have multiple windows open in Outlook (for example your InBox
and Calendar),
Simply right-click on the new item and select Open in New Window
This makes it a lot easier to cut and paste between Outlook applications
Setting Outlook to be the Default E-Mail
Program
Added 5/14/01
Normally you can set the default mail program from the Internet Explorer
(Tools / Internet Options / Programs)
If this still doesn't work for you:
- Open the Explorer (not Internet Explorer)
- Select Tools / Folder Options
- Click on the File Types tab
- Go to URL:MailToProtocol
- Edit the Open action to be "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OUTLOOK.EXE"
-c IPM.Note /m "%1"
Note: The location of Outlook may be different depending on the version of
Office you have installed.
Changing the Office2000 Registered Owner
Updated 4/4/01
An easier way was submitted:
- Start Word2000
- Go to Tools / Options / User Information
- Change the current user's name.
Submitted by Terry N. Hart
Added 1/2/01
To change the name of the registered owner without reinstalling, two simple
registry changes need to be made.
These are the names displayed in the opening splash screens of each
application as well as the About box.
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion
\ Uninstall \ {00000409-78E1-11D2-B60F-006097C998E7
- Change the value of RegOwner and RegCompany to the ones you
would like
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Office \ 9.0 \ Common \
UserInfo]
- Rename the UserInfo key
- Now you should see the new name and company information when you start
your Office2000 application.
Reducing the File Size of Word Documents
Updated 2/20/01
There is, however, a much easier way.
- Choose Tools
- Options...
- Open the Save tab
- Uncheck Allow Fast Saves
This makes Word rewrite the entire document file from scratch each time it is
saved. The save command takes slightly longer, but your files can be drastically
smaller (especially if you've done lots of formatting changes).
Submitted by Brandon Lundh
Submitted 11/7/99
If you have make documents using MS Word and you make many formatting changes
for the paragraph, fonts, page etc., you will see your file size gets bigger.
Microsoft Word saves files by blocking, so any change you made for your document
it will create a new block with the new formatting and disappear the old block
without deleting it from the file.
You can solve this problem.
- If you open your file and select File \ Save As and give your file
a new name, it will save only the active blocks with out the old ones.
- If you compare the two files you will see a difference in size
Submitted by Ziad Dabash
Enabling Outlook 2000 Mail Logging
Added 10/16/00
Normally Outlook 2000 does not log Internet, SMTP, and POP sessions.
To turn on this feature:
- Start Regedit
- Go to Hkey_Current_User \ Software \ Microsoft \ Office \ 9.0 \ Outlook \
Options \ Mail
- Create a new DWORD
- Give it a name of Logging
- Give it a value of 1
- After this, 3 files will be created in the C:\Windows\Temp\Outlook Logging
directory.
- InetXP.txt logs the Internet session
- Pop3log.txt logs mail-retrieval activity
- Smtplog.txt logs mail-sending activity
Removing the Task Scheduler
Submitted 5/6/00
To remove Task Scheduler
- Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
- Go to HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\SchedulingAgent
- Click the SchedulingAgent folder
- Double-click the UninstallString key.
- Copy the value data on the UninstallString key.
- Quit Registry Editor.
- Click Start, click Run, right-click in the open dialog box, and then click
Paste.
- Click OK to uninstall Task Scheduler.
Submitted by Frank Lolli
Switches for Starting Outlook 2000
Added 4/11/00
Here are some switches you can add to a shortcut to OUTLOOK.EXE.
I have tested them with Outlook 2000 but they might work with previous versions
as well.
| Hide the Outlook Bar |
/folder |
| Have the specified folder visible |
/select "path/folder name" |
| Create an e-mail message |
/c ipm.note |
| Create a post |
/c ipm.post |
| Create an appointment |
/c ipm.appointment |
| Create a task |
/c ipm.task |
| Create a contact |
/c ipm.contact |
| Create a journal entry |
/c ipm.activity |
| Create a note |
/c ipm.stickynote |
| Prompt for default manager of e-mail, news, and contacts |
/checkclient |
| Create an item with the specified file as an attachment. |
/a "path/file name" |
Opening Files with Other Than the Default
Application
Submitted 2/5/00
If you have more than one application you use for the same type of file
(media, text, graphics etc.)
Use one as your default player, make a shortcut to the other player and put it
in the C:\WINDOWS\SENDTO folder.
When you want to open a file with the non-default application, right click on
the file and send it to the other application
Submitted by Roger Freeman
Changing the Name of the Outlook Icon on the
Desktop
Added 2/4/00
To change the name of the Outlook icon on the desktop:
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ CLASSES \ CLSID \
{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
- Change the Default value to the name you want to appear
Showing a Map of an Outlook 2000 Contact's Address
Added 2/2/00
You can view a map to the address of an Outlook 2000 by simply:
- Open up the Contacts
- Open up the contact you want to view
- Select Actions / Display Map of Address or click on the icon
that looks like yellow road sign with an arrow on the toolbar
Note: You need to be connected to the Internet for this to work.
Re-Applying Formatting in Office 2000
Added 2/2/00
The following will work for the Office 2000 version of Word, Front Page,
Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Publisher, and Photodraw
If you have a section of text formatted they way you want additional sections
to look:
- Select the text whose format you want to replicate
- Click on the Format Painter icon. This is the one that looks like a
paint brush.
- Now select the new text and the formatting will be applied
- To repeat this to more than one selection, double-click on the icon and it
will stay selected.
- When you are finished, press the ESC key.
Selecting Columns in Word
Submitted 2/1/00
Selections in MS Word is usually lines or paragraphs.
To make a selection for a column across lines or blocks just press Alt key while
you select your text.
You can see that the selection did not select all of the line. It just selects
the block or the area that had the mouse over it.
Submitted by Ziad Dabash
Having Excel 2000 Display the Year with Four
Digits
Normally, if you enter 1999 or 2000 as the years in Excel, it will change it
to 99 or 00.
To change Excel 2000 so it shows a four digit year:
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_USERS \ .DEFAULT \ Software \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Office \
9.0 \ Excel \ Options
- Add or Change the DWORD Value EnableFourDigitYearDisplay to 1
Note: You may need to create the Excel and Options keys
Disabling Outlook Express Splash Screen
Added 1/8/00
To disable the opening Outlook Express screen:
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Identities
- For OE 5 go below this to {ABE2B8A0-C02D-11D3-867B-948FF355BD32} \
Software \ Microsoft \ Outlook Express \ 5.0
- Add a DWORD NoSplash
- Give it a value of 1
Hidden FDISK Switches
1/8/00
Here are a few additional switches that can be used with FDISK:
- /Status - Give the status of the partitions. Similar to option #4
- /FPRMT - FAT32 in drivers smaller than 512 MB
- /MBR - Fix master boot record
- /PRI:xx - Primary partition of size XX in megs
- /EXT:xx - Extended partitio
- /LOG:xx - Logical drive in extended partition
Customizing the Office Assistants
Added 12/28/99
You can customize the behavior of the Office Assistants.
The easiest way to delete them completely is by deleting the registry key
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Office \ 9.0 \ Common \ Assistant
Note: You will have 9.0 or 8.0 depending on the version of Office you run
You can also create dword values and turn on or off the following selected
features:
- Allow Most Tips - AsstAssistWithWizard = 1
- Disable Showing Office Assistant with F1 - AsstAssistWithHelp = 0
- Assistant Moves When In the Way - AsstMoveWhenInTheWay = 1
- Disable Mouse Tips - AsstMouseTips = 0
- Disable Context Sensitive Help - AsstGuessHelp = 0
- Disable Keyboard Tips - Delete AsstKeyboardShortcutTips
- Disable Feature Tips - AsstFeatureTips = 0
- Disable Tip of the Day - Delete AsstShowTipofDay
- Disable Office Assistant Help Messages - AsstAssistWithHelp = 0
- Show only High Priority Tips - AsstOnlyHighPriorityTips = 1
Starting Outlook Express Immediately
to Mail or News
Added 12/21/99
If you want to start Outlook Express and have it immediately go to your Mail
or News:
Create two new shortcuts
- One is msimn /mail
- The other is msimn /news
Playing DVD's with Windows Media Player
Added 12/20/99
To play DVD's with the Windows Media Player
- Run Regedit
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ MediaPlayer \ Player \
Settings
- Create a new string EnableDVDUI
- Give it a value of yes
- The next time you start the Media Player, you can do a File / Open DVD
Stopping Applications from Starting Automatically
Updated 8/16/01
For Windows2000 or WindowsXP, you can now use the MSCONFIG.EXE that comes
with WindowsXP.
Download the one from the full release
product(64K)
It also lets you change the Services and BOOT.INI file as well.
Updated 12/20/99
With Windows98, you can run MSCONFIG.
Click on the Startup tab to remove apps that are starting automatically from the
registry.
You can also search through the AUTOEXEC.BAT and WIN.INI files as well.
Added 11/30/97
If you have applications that you want to stop from starting automatically,
there are three places you need to look, the WIN.INI file, the Startup Folder
and the Registry.
- The load= or run= lines in the WIN.INI file. This is in the directory
where you installed Win95, usually the C:\WINDOWS directory
- The StartUp folder.
Start the Explorer.
Go to C:\WINDOWS\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp folder.
Remove any shortcuts you find there that you don't want.
- The Registry.
Edit the Registry
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \
Run.
Remove any programs from there.
Changing the Default Page Location for
Front Page
Added 12/19/99
Normally Front Page opens documents in either C:\MY WEBS or C:\MY
DOCUMENTS \ MY WEBS
To change these locations to another directory:
- Start Regedit
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ FrontPage \ Explorer \
FrontPage Explorer \ Settings
- Change the DefaultWebName to the directory you want
Opening a File by Dragging to Task Bar
Added 10/17/99
If you already have a application showing on the taskbar,
a quick way to open a file is to drag it with from the Explorer to that icon and
hold it for a second or so. (Don't let up on the mouse).
The app will re-open with that file loaded.
Eudora Lite and More than One E-Mail Account
Submitted 12/31/98
To set up Eudora Lite to work with more than one E-Mail account you need make
4 changes to the Eudora.ini file and then save the file as Eudora2.ini Etc.
Then to start Eudora on the alternate account you create a new shortcut with the
target entered as C:\Eudora\Eudora.exe C:\Eudora\Eudora2.INI where "C" is the
appropriate drive letter.
The 4 modifications to the Eudora.ini file are all in the "Settings" section
as follows:
Where altname = 2nd user name & alternate.net = 2nd ISP
-
POPAccount=altname@alternate.net
-
ReturnAddress=altname@alternate.net
- DialupUsername=altname
- SMTPServer=mail.alternate.net
Note many setting will remain as they are in the primary account .ini file.
Side Note: To remove Eudora's startup splash screen add the line "NoSplashScreen=1"
in the settings section.
Submitted by Moke Nelson
Hidden Format Switches
Added 8/16/98
There are a couple of undocument Format switches that have been around for
several years: They will work with at least DOS 6.2 and above.
- FORMAT /AUTOTEST - Formats without any prompting and exits the
program when finished
- FORMAT /BACKUP - Like /AUTOTEST but you will be prompted for a
volume label
These can be useful if your are formatting drives from a batch file or
shortcut and don't want to be prompted for input.
Changing the Number of Days Displayed in Outlook
Calendar
Added 5/3/98
When in Outlook's Calendar program with Day View, to change the number of
days shown.
For eampls press Alt along with the number of days you want to see.
For example Alt-4 would show 4 days.
Alt-M shows a Month
Creating Outlook Contacts Shortcut
Added 5/3/98
To create a shortcut for your Outlook Contacts folder on the desktop
- Right click on an open area of the desktop
- Select New / Shortcut
- Enter in the path to your outlook program followed by outlook:contacts.
Note the quotes are necessary - "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OUTLOOK.EXE"
outlook:contacts
Changing File Associations
Submitted 3/1/98
- Changing File Associations quickly
- In Explorer select a fileof the type you want to change.
- Hold down Shift & Right click the selection.
- Choose "Open With".
- Select the program to open the file type.
- In the dialog box check the Always use this program to open this file.
- Click OK
- The association are now made
Submitted by Mike Clohessy
Added 6/28/97
When you double click on a data file, the application associated with that
file's extension is stated the the file is loaded.
To change a the application associated with a particular file extension:
- Open a Folder
- Go to View / Options / File Types
- Scroll down until you see the particular file extension(s) you want to
change. This will be in the File type details: section towards the bottom of
the dialog box.
- Click on the Edit button
- In the Actions box, double click on Open
- In Application used to perform this action:, enter the name of
the application you want to open when you open a file with the extenstion. You
can enter it manually or browse to it.
- Click on the Ok, Ok, and the Close buttons.
Extracting files from Win95's CAB files
Note from Bob: The submitted tip will only extract files
that start with the name you specificed.
To extract a file from an unknown cab file, where it will search through all cab
files, from the command line, enter:
for %p in (x:\win95\*.cab) do extract %p filename
Where x\win95 is the location of you cab files and filename
is the name of the file you are looking for.
To do this in a batch file, use two % signs instead of one.
Recovering Damaged Text Files
Submitted 2/18/98
Here's a handy tip to recover a corrupt or damaged text file through Word 97.
It doesn't have to startout a Word file either. This can be used to recover any
file that contains text.
Here's how you do it:
- Open Word 97
- Click FILE->OPEN and click the file you wish to recover to select it.
- Down near the bottom of the page on the "Files of type" section, choose
"Recover text from any file"
- Click "Open".
Submitted by Melissa Gaugert
Setting Swap File Size
Added 2/14/98
If when you first start your computer, a swap file is being created. You can
speed the boot process by specifying this as the minimum swap file size.
- Boot your system and don't open any applications
- Note the size of your swap file (WIN386.SWP)
- Open the System Properties dialog box (right click on My Computer
and select Properties)
- Click on the Performance tab
- Click on the Virtual Memory button
- Check Let me specify my own virtual memory settings
- If you have a hard drive or partition that is not ofter used, you can
change the location
- For the minimum size, select the size (or slightly larger) of the swap
file when you first booted.
- Don't select a maximum. Let it default to the rest of your hard drive
space.
Defragmenting the Swap File
Added 2/14/98
Normally when you use Windows95's Disk Defragger, this will not defrag the
swap file.
To defrag the swap file:
- Open the System Properties dialog box (right click on My Computer
and select Properties)
- Click on the Performance tab
- Click on the Virtual Memory button
- Check Let me specify my own virtual memory settings
- Check Disable virtual memory (Note: This will cause the system
not to use a swap file)
- Click on the OK button
- Answer Yes to the warning
- Click on the Close button
- Reboot when prompted
- You system will reboot.
- Check to see that there is no swap file. If one still remains
(WIN386.SWP), you can safely delete it.
- Defrag your system as you usually do
- Now reset the swap file to your previous setting and reboot. (Note: Do not
leave your system running without a swap file)
Another method submitted by
darkbringer@rocketmail.com is to create a small 200-300 meg partition on
your hard drive and put your swap file there.
ScanDisk with OEM SR2
Added 2/11/98
To alter the way the DOS Scandisk gets used during a SR2 bootup, you can
modify the \WINDOWS\COMMAND\SCANDISK.INI file.
Added 11/29/96
With the new OEM version of Windows95, if the system was not shutdown
cleanly,
the next time it is started, it will stop and prompt you before running ScanDisk.
New options are available for the MSDOS.SYS file to configure how ScanDisk will
start.
- AutoScan=0 will disable this feature
- AutoScan=1 will stop and prompt you before starting ScanDisk. After 1
minute it will start automatically. This is the default setting
- AutoScan=2 will start ScanDisk if needed automatically
Substituting Drive Letters
Submitted 1/11/98
You can use the DOS SUBST command in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file to set a
drive letter to a local or networked drive and directory.
This way you only need to go to a new drive letter rather than needing to go
several levels deep into a directory structure.
For example:
SET SYST=D:\SYST
SET UTIL=%SYST%\UTIL
SUBST G: %DATADIR%\GRAPHICS
SUBST H: %DATADIR%\HTML
SUBST I: %DATADIR%\HTML\intrepid
SUBST M: %DATADIR%\MIDI
SUBST T: %TEMP%
SUBST U: %UTIL%
SUBST W: %DATADIR%\HTML\smulder
SUBST Z: %DATADIR%\DL
Submitted by Stan Mulder
Shutting Down or Restarting Windows95 from an Icon
Submitted 12/24/97
To Shutdown Windows95, create a shortcut to:
rundll.exe user.exe,exitwindows
To Restart Windows95, create a shortcut to:
rundll.exe user.exe,exitwindowsexec
Note: This will also run the DOSSTART.BAT file if you have
it. There is an easy way to not use this file and boot to DOS Mode. See my
section on Booting to DOS Mode
Submitted by Jeff Pilch
Saving Space Using WinZip
Submitted 10/11/97
Do you have a folder with lots of .txt ot other files that when "ZIPPED"
really compress?
Try this to save valuable disk space:
- Zip all the files into one big "ZIPPED" file.
- Then delete the UNZIPPED files and keep the ZIP file in the original
folder.
- Then when you want to see a particular file, open the main "ZIP" file but
don't extract the files, just double click the file of interest right in the
WinZip screen and it will open.
- If you modify the file and save your changes in the normal fashion, WinZip
sees the change and asks if you want to update the file in the ZIP to which
you of course say yes or Ok.
The net result is your files take up a lot less disk space and the files are
easily accessable. (I have a group of .txt files that ZIPPED are just over one
Meg but unzipped are over 7.5 Megs!)
Submitted by Mocha
Office97 and Plus Pack Themes
Submitted 9/13/97
Plus Pack users who install Office 97 will experience crashes when using the
THEMES.EXE to change their desktop.
The file must be manually replaced with a new one on the Office 97 CD-ROM.
It is not done by default during the Office installation.
The warning is buried deep in the setup instructions and easily missed.
Note from Bob: You can download the patched version of the
file at
THEMES.EXE- Updated Themes.exe version 4.40.311
Submitted by Larry Stone
Opening a Files for Editing
Submitted 5/10/97
I would call this a Web Authoring Tip, but it has many other uses...
Adding an 'Edit' option to HTML Documents Options Menu.
When I double click my *.htm files it always fires up my browser.
Well sometimes I want to edit that document instead. I can put Notepad in the
Send To Folder to ease this problem. Here is another way to deal with this that
is a bit slicker:
- From Windows Explorer, select View then Options
- Click the File Types Tab.
- Select the type you want to add edit for (in my example this would be
'Netscape Hypertext Document' or *.HTM
- Click the Edit Button.
- From the Edit File Type panel click the New button.
- Action is: &Edit, Application used to.... is: c:\windows\notepad.exe %1
- Click OK, then Close, then Close.
Now when you secondary (right) click an HTML Document select Edit
from the menu (or press E) and you are now looking at the source in Notepad.
You can use a similar process for Graphic files (JPG, GIF, etc) to send them to
your favorite Graphics program.
Submitted by Eric Sandoz
Opening Associated Files from a DOS Box
Submitted 4/25/97
For a file with its associated application, say Word for Windows, and a data
file, FILE1.DOC
At a DOS prompt, type START FILE1.DOC (or just file1 if it's
unique). Word comes up and loads the document.
Submitted by Marc Linn
Using Another E-Mail Package when Exchange is
Installed
Added 3/22/97
Normally when web browsing, if Exchange is installed, and you click on a
e-mail address
it will default to opening up. If you want to change it to another e-mail
program:
- Open up a Folder
- Select View / OptionsClick on the File Types tab
- Scroll down to URL:MailTo Protocol
- Click on the Edit button
- Under Actions, highlight open
- Click on the Edit button
- Under Application used to perform action
- From here you can browse to the e-mail program you want to use
Eudora Pro has an option to set that automatically.
Other programs may have switches you need to include.
Pegasus needs a -T %1 for it to automatically insert the e-mail
address
Power Surfing
Submitted 3/18/97
This tip works especially well if you have a large monitor and run at a high
resolution...
If you want to really power surf the web, open up more than one browser. Arrange
them on the screen so that you can see at least part of each one at all times.
Once this is done, you can now drag links from one browser to another. This
saves you from having to use the back button constantly, especially if you are
on a page like a search engine, where there are lots of links and you want to
try a bunch of them.
Also, if you encounter a web page with frames, and you want to break out of the
frames, you can drag a link to a new browser. No more frames.
(You can also right-click a link and choose "Open in New Browser".)
Here's an example of using two browsers...
Let's say you are going to be using a search engine for the next hour or so.
Start two browsers and tile them vertically. (Minimize all programs except the
two browsers, and right click a blank spot on the taskbar, then choose 'tile
vertically'). Now drag the edges of the browsers so that the browser on the left
is about 3 inches wide. Drag the edges of the browser on the right so that it
takes up the rest of the screen. Now, using the browser on the left, open your
favorite search engine and do a search. When the list of hits are displayed,
drag a link into the browser on the right.
This lets you see all the hits from the search engine while you are surfing
those sites... no more hitting the 'back' button all day long.
Submitted by John M.
Lotus 123 Release 5 Lockup
Submitted 12/18/96
If your Lotus 123 Release 5 for Windows grays out the spreadsheet and locks
up, here's what to do:
- Go to Control Panel, System, Device Manager Performance, Graphics
- Move the bar to the left until the problem goes away.
- You'll have to reboot and experiment each time.
- When the problem goes away, go back to System and move it up one notch to
tweak it.
- That way you'll be going as fast as you can with the graphics limit.
Submitted by Thomas Wilson
tjwilson@phoenix.net
Wildcards with DIR and File Find
Added 11/29/96
In addition to the usual wildcards for doing such things as a DIR or File
Find,
new options are available with Windows95. The following are a few examples:
COM - All files and folders that have COM in the extension
*ABC* - All files and folders with ABC somewhere in the name
*ABC - All files with ABC as the last characters in the name (no including the
extension)
*ABC? - All files with ABC as the second to last characters in the name
?ABC* - All files and folders with ABC as the second through the fourth letters
in a name
?ABC? - All files and folders with at least one letter before and after the ABC
ScanDisk Command-Line Switches
Added 11/24/96
Scandskw
drive: - Drive letter of disk you want to scan
/A or /ALL - Scans all local, non-removable hard drives
/N or /NonInteractive - Start and closes ScanDisk Automatically
Defrag Command-Line Switches
Added 11/24/96
Defrag
drive: - Drive letter of the disk you want to defrag
/all - Defrag all local, non-removable drives
/F - Defrag files and free space
/U - Defrag files only
/Q - Defrag free space only
/concise - Display the Hide Details view
/detailed - Display the Show Details view
/noprompt - Immediately starts Defrag
Fixing Page Fault in MPREXE.EXE
Added 9/25/96
Occasionally, after Exchange is installed, you will get errors that indicate
that MPREXE.EXE caused a page fault in KERNEL32.DLL
To solve the problem, delete the .PWL file associated with your login ID.
Another solution is to download the
Password List Update (278 K) to repair the existing PWL file.
Auto-Dialing for 32-bit Internet Applications
Submitted 7/11/96
If your 32-bit Internet applications do not automatically invoke your
Windows 95 Dialer, here is a way I found to enable this feature.
- First, bring up an internet application such as Netscape or Internet
Explorer.
- Next, manually dial into your internet provider by double-clicking your
connection icon.
- Once connected, go to the Control Panel and double-click on the
Internet icon.
- Once the window open, uncheck the checkbox titled "Dial whenever an
Internet Connection is needed".
- Click the check box again and make sure there is a check in the checkbox.
- Next, click the APPLY button.
- Finally , click the OK button.
Once you do this, close your internet application and disconnect from your
internet provider.
Re-start your Internet application and the Windows 95 dialer should start up.
NOTE: From my experience, all Internet applications will be effected and will
automatically start the Windows 95 dialer.
Submitted by J. Walker
jpw@openix.com
DOSSTART.BAT File
Submitted 6/23/96
There's a file name DOSSTART.BAT in the WINDOWS directory. By editing this
file you will be able to configure how to start DOS whenever you exit Windows to
DOS mode.
This is just like an AUTOEXEC.BAT file that starts up your system.
Submitted by Robo
tttran@acs.itd.uts.edu.au
Fixing Corrupted Exchange Files
Submitted 5/8/96
To replace corrupted files in MS-Exchange run
c:\program files\microsoft exchange\mlset32.exe
Normally, just removing exchange won't delete the old files.
If it should happen that one is corrupted it won't be replaced by the original
from the CD when exchange is added again.
Running the program above launches the original exchange setup applet which
guides you through the original install process.
Submitted by Geoff J. Wiener
geoffw@atcon.com
Emergency Recovery Utility
Submitted 5/8/96
Microsoft includes their Emergency Recovery Utility(ERU) on the 95 CD-ROM
This utility makes a backup of the registry and other important system files.
In some cases Windows 95 can be fixed by restoring the registry with this
utility.
The ERU program is in the \OTHER\MISC\ERU directory on the Win95 CD.
If you have the floppy version of Win 95, the utility can be found at
Microsoft's web site
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/download/eruzip.exe
ERU is also a good way to keep recent backups of all your important system
files!
Submitted by Kirk Davis
kirk@olinter.com
Turning off the ending = with Exchange
Added 4/9/96
When using Exchange, sometimes other e-mail packages will end
each line with a = character.
To turn this off:
- Open the Control Panel
- Double Click on the Mail / Fax icon
- Highlight Internet Mail
- Click on Properties
- Click on Message Format
- Uncheck Use MIME when sending messages
Using the Mouse to copy text in a DOS program
Added 3/30/96
If you want to use your mouse to select an area to copy while you are in a
windowed DOS program:
- Right click on the icon that starts the program
- Select Properties
- Click on the Misc tab
- Check the QuickEdit box
This eliminates the need to select text by using the pull down menu.
Using Exchange with more than one phone number
Added 3/29/96
If you set up exchange to connect using the modem, you can only have one
phone number listed.
If you have more than one phone number available for your provider, you would
need to create another profile,
which would have your e-mail to go to two mail boxes.
To get around this problem, simply select Network for the connection.
Connect first using either phone number and then start Exchange
Then no matter what phone number you used to connect to the internet,
all your e-mail will be in one place.
Backing up the Registry
Use CFGBACK.EXEon the Win 95 CD. It is in the /OTHER/MISC/CFGBACK
directory.
It will save up to 9 copies of the registry in*.rbk file format.
You can restore any of these when necessary.
Submitted by KJ King
Adding NOTEPAD to SENDTO
Submitted 1/11/96
Create a shortcut to notepad.exe in the C:\WINDOWS\SENDTO directory.
Then, you'll have the option to view a files contents by right-clicking it and
"sending" to the notepad.
Immensely useful for deciphering old set-up files (or .DOC files that aren't
Word files, READ.ME etc.)
Submitted by Mike Blackmer
mezzb@ix.netcom.com
Eudora Pro for Win95
Added 12/27/95
If you are using the Internet Explorer and send e-mail, Win95 defaults to
using Exchange.
If you would rather use Eudora Pro as your e-mail program:
- Start Eudora Pro for Win95
- Select Tools
- Select Options
- Select Mapi
- For the section Use Eudora MAPI Server, select Always
Now when you e-mail from within the Internet Explorer, Eudora will come up as
your
e-mail program.
Norton Utilities
Submitted 11/5/95
If the readings on the amount of hard drive space is showing
more than is possible
- Go into Norton Recycled bin
- Hit empty Norton Protected files
This will now give you an accurate reading.
Submitted by K.J. King
kjking@execpc.com
Using EDIT
Added 9/29/95
The DOS based text editor that comes with Windows95 has some advantages
over the one that came with prior versions of DOS.
- It will let you load multiple files.
- It will let you call wild cards from the command line (e.g. EDIT *.BAT).
EDIT can also be used on prior versions of DOS.
Just copy EDIT.COM to your old DOS directory.
Creating Distribution Lists for Exchange E-Mail
Added 9/26/95
- Start Exchange.
- Open up the Address Book.
- Create a New Entry.
- Select Personal Distribution List from the menu.
- Type in the Name of the List as well as any notes.
- Click on the Add/Remove Members button.
- Select the people you want on the distribution list.
- You can use the Windows Ctrl or Shift with left mouse button to select
multiple entries.
- Click the next two OK buttons.
- To send to your Distribution List, simply create your e-mail as usual and
select it from the Address book.
Using Memmaker
Submitted 9/23/95
Here’s a blast from the (supposed) past:
- Run Memmaker from the MS-DOS prompt.
- It will reboot in MSDOS mode and then run as before.
- When you open DOS Prompts and DOS games they will have many of the TSRs in
HIMEM
- I have 637K Conventional memory for all DOS apps!
Submitted by Dan Rhodes
dan@west.net
Signatures Using WordMail
Added 9/21/95
If you are using WordMail that comes with Office95, you can send
e-mail using Microsoft Word.
Exchange will automatically detect the addition and start WordMail when
you create a new e-mail or reply to an existing one.
It will use Word's spell checker, most of the WinWord text formatting
capabilities (centering, full justification, bold, italics)
a special Mail button bar and quite a few new features. It is certainly worth
trying out.
This may sound like MS hype but I'm actually quite impressed
To include a signature:
- Start a new message (Ctrl-N)
- Type in your signature.
- Highlight your signature text.
- From the pulldown menu, select Edit / Autotext.
- Type in signature for the name.
- Click on the Add button.
- Now when you send any message, this text will be added to the beginning.
Advantages are:
- By adding the text to the beginning of the file, a reply will have your
signature at the end of your reply, not at the end of their message.
- You can format text with Bold, Italics, Underlines etc. Anyone using
Exchange can also view them
Adding New Document Templates
Submitted 9/3/95
- Save a blank file with the program for the documents you wish to create
the templates, into the hidden directory \WINDOWS\ShellNew.
- Then open the Registry Editor and add the key "ShellNew" under the
extension related to that document (ie. .BAS, .ORG, .DXF)
- Add a new substring and name it Filename
- Double-click Filename and type the name of the blank document you
just saved.
- Now you can right-click on the desktop, select New and you’ll see the
option to create a document-type icon for the application you just selected.
I have found a lot of variations and options on this tip.
Submitted by Xavier Flix
:x.fkix@server1.codetel.net.do
New XCOPY Switches
There are quite a few new switches to the XCOPY command. To get a full
listing, type XCOPY /?. Below are some of the additions over DOS 6.X.
- /C - Continues copying even if errors occur
- /I - If destination does not exist and copying more than one file, assumes
that destination must be a directory
- /Q - Does not display file names while copying
- /F - Displays full source and destination file names while copying
- /L - Displays files that would be copied
- /H -Copies hidden and system files also
- /R - Overwrites read-only files
- /T - Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not
include empty directories or subdirectories. /T /E includes empty directories
and subdirectories
- /U - Updates the files that already exist in destination
- /K - Copies attributes. Normal Xcopy will reset read-only attributes
- /Y - Overwrites existing files without prompting
- /-Y - Prompts you before overwriting existing files
- /N - Copy using the generated short names
Problems with older Win 3.X programs
There is a program, MKCOMPAT.EXE in the SYSTEM directory. If allows
you to change several settings that could help with problem programs.
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