Drummer Column, Gibbs, 696 words

Windows seminar

I just got back from an all-day $200 Windows95 seminar in Oakland. I learned all sorts of nifty tricks and tips that I'll share and save you a few bucks. At least I can convey what I learned between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The session lasted until 5 p.m., but my brain was fried by early afternoon from the endless barrage the techno-babble. I finished the day with a glassy stare. Even a computer junkie can become satiated by an eight-hour lecture on hot keys and dialogue boxes.

Lunch was interesting. Imagine 800 Windows Freaks in a room. Half are using cellular phones to check in with their home offices, passing off what they've learned so far like sports reporters at half-time. Lunch counters are mounded high with stacks of additional utility software purchased at the front desk from the sponsors, Mastering Computers Inc. Beepers are chirping like farmyard crickets.

From looking at these folks, one can't tell they're nerds because they're making too much money to have to live with masking tape around their glasses and pocket protectors. These symbols have been replaced with tinted contact lenses and tri-colored suspenders. But when they speak, their status is obvious. No talk of baseball or the Olympics here. Instead, the air buzzes with chatter about RAM limits, network options, and Windows NT benefits.

On with the useful stuff, in the order that I remember it: One can install the inexpensive Windows95 Upgrade CD on a new hard drive without first installing Windows 3.1 or and older DOS. One doesn't even need to dig out his old Windows 3.1 disks. The upgrade only looks for three things: 1) a \WINDOWS directory, 2) the WIN.COM file, 3) the WIN386.EXE file. The files don't even have to be the real ones! One can rename any two files and the upgrade CD will install. That's a time saver.

If the system has WINDOWS 3.1, install WIN95 from 3.1, NOT from DOS. This way all devices will be detected. Be connected to your network, if applicable, so network cards can be detected.

Before installing WIN95, switch WINDOWS 3.1 swap file to temporary, or WIN95 cannot run its improved "Dynapage" adjustable swap file.

When installing WIN95, disable virus checking, including BIOS-based virus detection; disable BIOS-virus-checking from CMOS setup. Also, older 16-bit virus programs often mistake Long File Names as viruses and can damage them. One must use 32-bit virus protection.

Hit ALT and double-click on MY COMPUTER icon to instantly reach SYSTEM PROPERTIES. While there, make sure you have the latest updates to WIN95. It should say your system version is "4.00.950a" If it doesn't show the "a" you need to download the update packet from www.microsoft.com. There are presently about 14 disks of updates to WIN95.

The file DOSSTART.BAT shows what loads when switching to DOS mode. This file can be customized by the user.

Several nifty utilities exist on the WINDOWS CD that must be installed manually. CFGBACK.EXE will back up the registry for up to nine configurations. ERD.EXE automatically creates backups of system's 10 most critical files. LFNBK.EXE allows one to backup Long File Names in case they are accidentally truncated by a 16-bit program such as PKZIP. POLEDIT.EXE, which must be installed using "Add/Remove Programs" option, allows network administrators to restrict user access to any part of the computer; locate the POLEDIT.INF files and click OK to install POLEDIT.EXE. Read up on this program before using it.

If you don't want users messing with your control panel options, hide them. Open CONTROL.INI with Notepad. Add a section called [Don't Load]. Add appropriate *.CPL files with =NO extension. For example, to hide the Display Icon, so people can't change your wallpaper and screen savers, type DESK.CPL=NO and the icon vanishes. To hide sounds and multimedia options type MMSYS.CPL=NO. To hide Password option type PASSWORD.CPL=NO. To hide network icon type NETCPL.CPL=NO. And so on.

There are also many neat registry edits possible, but I wouldn't dare try to explain them. The registry is too fragile.

O.K. Enough is enough. I can't go on. I smell burnt brain tissue again. It's summer. I'm going to shut off this computer and go fishing.