Last updated on: December 22, 2002
Tweak Freak
Revenge of the Hotkeys
There's no denying that the point-and-click navigation of the graphical user interface, or GUI, represents a quantum leap over the text-based operating systems of old--especially if you happen to be a beginner. Sometimes, however, there's nothing faster than banging oft-used commands with just a keystroke or two.
If you miss the satisfying rat-a-tat-tat of your keyboard, or if you're hoping to stave off the onslaught of repetitive stress injuries, here's a few clever hotkeys that'll speed up your Windows experience.
Restart Windows in a Flash
Do you get tired waiting for Windows to restart? Sometimes it can take ages to shutdown completely, and then you still have to wait for the computer hardware to reset as well. Next time, try holding down the Shift key as you click OK in the Shut Down Windows dialog (with the "Restart the computer?" radio button selected, naturally). Windows will then restart itself without shutting down the entire computer.
Expand and Contract Folders With the Greatest of Ease
Windows 95 introduced the Windows Explorer, a nifty interface that displays folders in a vertical list (called a directory tree); click a folder in the directory tree and it will expand, displaying its contents. If you have many folders to expand or contract, however, clicking each item can be more trouble than it's worth.
Instead, simply highlight the folder (or folders) you wish to control and press either the plus key (+) to expand the folders one level, or the minus key (-) to contract them. You can also use the asterisk key (*) to expand every item within a folder down to the lowest subdirectory.
Note: You must use the plus, minus, and asterisk keys located on the numeric keypad (usually found on the right side of your keyboard), not the ones located above the numbers at the top.
Skip the Recycle Bin
Take care when using this trick, because it does exactly what it says and there are no second chances. When you delete a file, it's normally moved to the Recycle Bin, where it stays until you empty it. To delete a file permanently and bypass the Recycle Bin, hold down the Shift key while deleting the file. You'll get a pop-up window confirming the deletion; if you click Yes, the file is gone for good.
Close Associated Windows With a Single Click
Windows lets you browse the contents a folder in one of two ways. First, when you drill down into folders, Windows can display the contents of each folder within the original window you opened. Alternatively, clicking a folder can spawn a new window that displays its contents. Using the latter method can quickly fill your screen with windows as you delve deeper and deeper into your files; then, once you find what you were looking for, closing all those windows can be a chore. The solution? Hold down the Shift key and close the active window; all the associated windows will close as well.
Tweak Freak
Stop Your Startup Slowdowns
Right this very moment, RealPlayer is draining power from your PC.
You heard right. Some programs, such as RealNetwork's RealPlayer or certain game controller apps, will run a small program nugget at system startup. This nugget will reside in the Windows system tray and takes up a tiny chunk of your system resources.
While some of these nuggets, such as antivirus programs that monitor your system for incoming Trojans, prove useful, others do nothing except help the main program to start up a smidge faster. If unchecked, these startup programs will stretch your system tray to the middle of the taskbar and beyond; whats more, they'll drain system resources faster than a vampire can drain blood from a hemophiliac.
Luckily, you can decide which programs get to take up residence in your Windows startup and system tray. Here's how.
Check Your Program Settings
Usually, an application will have a way to turn its startup component off manually. Check the Options or Preferences of the program, look for a setting called "Enable startup" or something similar, and then uncheck the box in front of it. In RealPlayer, for example, you'll want to select Preferences from the View menu. On the General page, click the Settings button under StartCenter and then uncheck the box in front of Enable StartCenter.
If you'd like to dissuade AOL Instant Messenger from starting up with Windows, select My AIM, Edit Options, and then Edit Preferences. Click the General tab and then uncheck the box in front of "Start AIM when Windows starts".
Most other applications should have similar steps to keep them from sneaking into your system tray at startup.
Tweak the Windows Startup Settings
Some programs, such as Microsoft Office, will integrate their startup features directly into Windows. You can add and remove any programs from the Windows startup menu by following these steps:
Click the Start menu button, select Settings, and then choose Taskbar & Start Menu.
In the Taskbar Properties window, click the Start Menu Programs tab and then click the Remove button under Customize Start menu.
In the Remove Shortcuts/Folders window, scroll down to the Startup folder under Programs.
Click the plus (+) sign in front of it to display all the applications set to start up with Windows.
To delete a program shortcut, highlight it and click the Remove button.
You can also perform this same task by clicking Start, selecting Programs, then selecting Startup, and finally right-clicking on the application you want to remove and choosing Delete from the pop-up menu.
Try the System Configuration Utility
Some really sneaky programs will neither let you disable their startup functionality nor show up in the Windows Startup menu. Luckily, you can use the System Configuration Utility to get at these tricky apps. Here's how it works:
Select Run from the Windows Start menu, type "msconfig" in the Open text field, and click OK.
In the System Configuration Utility window that opens, click the Startup tab at the end. This list shows the nitty-gritty of every application that starts up with Windows.
To prevent any application from starting up with Windows, simply uncheck the box in front of it and then click OK when you're done.
Reboot your system.
You'll want to be careful which aps you eliminate here because the list includes basics such as your antivirus software and the Windows system tray. But others are obviously extras that you don't need, such as SoniqueQuickStart if you've installed this multimedia player.
Tweak Freak
Upgrade Your Hardware Wisely
Software tweaks are all well and good. Defragging your hard drive, killing some background apps or optimizing your swap file may provide some relief for a sluggish system. Sometimes, however, you need to crack the box to boost performance.
Hardware tweaks deliver great performance boosts but bring with them great risks as well. Take the time to research any upgrade thoroughly well before you consider taking the plunge. Here are some tips for three key hardware upgrades.
Check For Open DIMM Slots
If you're the type who keeps your office applications running at all times, with your Web browser, email program, chat client and MP3 player cranking away in the background, you're probably ready for a memory upgrade. You'll be shocked at the jump in performance from 64MB to 128MB, and if you only have 32MB, an upgrade will be absolutely life-changing. Listen to your hard drive. If sounds busy all the time as your system slows down, that's a sure sign of a memory crunch.
Before you buy anything, however, you first need to open up your PC case and take a peek inside. Most modern systems have only one free DIMM slot. In that case, since you only have once chance to get this right, you should get a bit more memory than you think you'll need. If you're lucky enough to have two or more slots free, you might go for a more incremental approach. But don't be too stingy; you simply cannot ever have enough main system memory.
Note: If you have an older system, you may have 72-pin or 30-pin SIMM slots instead of DIMM slots. (Check the manual that came with your computer to find out which variety you have.) If that's the case, consider buying a new computer rather than upgrading your memory.
Learn how to upgrade your computer's memory
Make the New Hard Drive Primary
Adding a faster hard drive to your computer won't just ease your storage space woes, it'll also give you a big boost in speed. To take full advantage of this, however, you need to run your operating system and main applications off of the new drive. This is important for speeding boot up time, application launching, and general system performance.
The best way to accomplish this is with a software utility that will copy the entire contents of your old drive onto your new one. Two such utilities are Drive2Drive and DriveCopy. Follow the instructions carefully to copy the contents onto the new drive, and remember to make your new drive the primary IDE drive. Use your old drive for backups and for storing large, less-needed files and applications. However, we'd recommend that you leave the old drive untouched for a while so you can verify the new drive's stability and performance.
Careful with that CPU Upgrade
The CPU upgrade is probably the most harrowing of all hardware tweaks. Fact is, PCs just aren't designed to make this upgrade easy. Doing it right will require lots of research to ensure compatibility. Then, after you flash (or update) your BIOS and change cryptic motherboard settings, you'll need to deal with a tricky physical installation process.
Even if you get the new CPU plugged in and configured correctly, you can still run into problems with overheating. The first thing to triple check is that the new CPU has a properly installed fan/heat sink combo, and that the fan is plugged in correctly. But even that may not be enough. You probably will also want to install a fan in one of your PC's vents to increase airflow.
Tweak Freak
Speed Up Your Surfing
Still chugging across the Web with a 56K modem? Bummer.
There's nothing more frustrating than zooming around the Net on that T3 connection at work, only to come home to the doldrums of a 56K modem. We can't promise you DSL-like browsing, but we have a few tips that'll help you merge out of the slow lane.
Trade Graphics for Speed
The easiest way to speed up your Web browsing is to avoid downloading images, which tend to take up large chunks of bandwidth compared to plain text. Sure, Web pages won't look as pretty without all those colorful graphics, but you'll be flying across the Net faster than a speeding bullet. Follow these steps to force your browser to ignore graphics.
In Internet Explorer:
Select Tools/Internet Options and click the Advanced tab.
Scroll down to the Multimedia section and uncheck the Show Pictures box.
When you're ready to start viewing graphics again, re-check the Show Pictures box.
Here's how to do the same thing in Navigator:
Select Edit/Preferences from the main menu.
Select the Advanced category, and then uncheck the Automatically Load Images option.
If you later decide that you want to see an image, just right-click the image's placeholder icon and choose Show Picture (or Show Image, in the case of Navigator) from the menu that pops up.
Tweak Your Page Cache
When you're surfing the Web, your browser "caches" the content of pages in memory and on your hard drive; when you come across the same pages in a single session, your browser will pull those pages from the cache rather than fetching them again from the Net. If you increase the size of your hard drive and memory caches, you'll speed up your browsing.
In Netscape Communicator:
Select Edit/Preferences/Advanced/Cache.
Make sure your memory cache is set between 1,024-2,000K and your disk cache is set at about 7,680K.
Under "Document in cache is compared to document on network," select Once Per Session. (Keep in mind that you'll be viewing more cached pages and thus surfing faster, but if you're viewing sites that change frequently, you won't always see the freshest version of the page.)
In Internet Explorer:
Select Tools/Internet Options and click the General tab.
In the Temporary Internet Files section, click the Settings button.
Under the "Check for newer versions of stored pages" section, click the Automatically radio button.
Set the "Amount of disk space to use" slider to about 32MB and click OK.
Note: You may be viewing outdated content when your browser pulls up a cached Web page. If you suspect a page has been updated since the last time you visited--for instance, if you're checking the oft-updated CNET News.com--you might want to hit the Reload button to ensure you're getting the latest page.
Try Some Browsing Shortcuts
Sick of having to point and click whenever you browse to a new page or bookmark a site? Check out these shortcuts for a blissfully mouse-free browsing experience. (These shortcuts work in both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.)
Ctrl-H: Open the history list
Ctrl-B: Edit your bookmarks
Ctrl-D: Add the current page to your bookmarks
Ctrl-N: Open a new browser window
Ctrl-R: Reload
Alt-Right arrow: Browse forward
Alt-Left arrow: Go back
Tweak Freak
Exercise Your Right to Right-Click
The right-click is probably the most under-appreciated power move on the PC.
Our best advice is to right-click everywhere; you'll be very surprised just how many handy functions you'll find. To get you started, here are some handy right-leaning maneuvers for the Windows 98 desktop.
Right-Click a File Icon
Whether in Windows Explorer or in an Open File dialog box, just right-click a file icon, and you'll see a long list of options. For instance:
Select QuickView to take a quick look at image and text files without launching an application.
The Print option performs the double-duty of launching the appropriate application and executing the Print command.
The Send To option lets you do things like copy a file to the floppy disk, create a shortcut on the desktop, or email the file as an email attachment.
Select Properties to find out information on a file or folder (like its creation date or size) as well as set the file as read-only or mark it to be archived.
There's also a selection of file management options, including Rename and Delete.
Certain applications will add other options to the right-click menu. For instance, WinZip users will find the option to add the file to an archive, and many antivirus programs offer an option to scan a file for viruses.
Right-Click Desktop Icons
The My Computer and Network Neighborhood icons offer several useful file and system management functions:
Right-clicking either icon gives you quick access to both Windows Explorer and Find File.
Select Map Network Drive to map a network drive to an available drive letter, very handy for often-used network resources.
Select Properties for My Computer to launch the System Properties control panel, which includes the Device Manager as well as virtual memory settings.
Right-click Network Neighborhood and select Properties to launch the Network control panel, which lets you manage networking devices as well as file and printer sharing.
Right-Click the Desktop
Locate an empty area of your Windows desktop and right-click. You'll see a handy list of options, letting you manage Active Desktop, sort and arrange the icons on the desktop, as well as create a new file with one of your installed applications. In addition, if you select Properties, the Display Properties control panel will appear, where you can set screen resolution, select your screensaver, choose a background image, or set the Windows Appearance.
Tweak Freak
Find and Fix Finicky System Files
Never run into a corrupted file or a system conflict in Windows 98? Lucky you.
Fortunately, there's a tool for those of us (or the majority of us, to be more precise) who are all-too-familiar with the dreaded Blue Screen of Death. The Windows 98 System Information utility lets you diagnose conflicts and repair corrupted files through a variety of individual tools for Internet Explorer, DirectX, and other Windows components. You can open System Information by clicking the Start menu, then selecting Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Information. Here's how to operate some of the more useful tools to keep your system running smoothly and swiftly.
Note: It's a good idea to shut down other programs while using the System Information tools to avoid conflicts.
Keep Your System Files in Order
Use the ever-handy System File Checker to verify the integrity of the files in the Windowsfolder (among others) and replace corrupted system files. To open the System File Checker, select it from the Tools menu in the System Information window. To begin, make sure the radio button in front of "Scan for altered files" is checked and then click the Start button. If nothing's wrong, you'll see a dialog box that says the System File Checker has finished. Click the Details button if you'd like to see how many files the Checker scanned and any changes it noted; otherwise, click OK.
If you'd like System File Checker to notify you if any system files have been changed or deleted, click the Settings button in the main window and then in the Settings tab, check the boxes in front of "Check for changed files" and "Check for deleted files." The next time you run System File Checker, it will notify you of results in either category.
Diagnose DirectX Problems
DirectX, the application program interface that enables your system for audio and 3D video, can often get a little gimpy over time. The tests in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool allow you to find out if everything's running smoothly. Select DirectX Diagnostic Tool from the Tools menu in the System Information window to open it.
Click any of the tabs at the top, from DirectX Files to Display to Network, and check the Notes section at the bottom. This area will let you know if there are any problems found in this segment of DirectX. The Display, Sound, Music, and Network tabs allow you to run tests on different aspects of DirectX to ensure that each one is working properly. For example, click the Display tab and then click the Test Direct3D button to examine your system's 3D graphics handling ability. The Diagnostic Tool will render a spinning cube in both software and hardware and ask you if it displayed on your screen.
If you run into any problems during your tests of DirectX (they'll be marked in the Notes section), click the More Help tab at the right. If the Restore button is visible, you can click it to have DirectX reinstalled. If this doesn't work, try solving your problem with the Windows DirectX Troubleshooter. Just click the Troubleshoot button. Still having problems? You can always download the latest version of DirectX from CNET Download.com.
Repair, Augment, or Roll Back Internet Explorer
The Internet Explorer Repair Tool can be used to add components to an existing installation of Explorer, repair Internet Explorer, or return to a previously installed version of IE. Select Internet Explorer Repair Tool from the Tools menu in the System Information window to open it. Check the radio button in front of "Add a component" and click OK to expand IE's features. The IE setup program will run, and you'll be able to select the component(s) that you'd like to add from a list.
To fix current problems with IE, check the radio button in front of "Repair Internet Explorer" and click OK. The Tool will fix any problems it finds with Explorer and then require you to reboot your system.
To return to a previous version of IE that you had installed on your system, check the box in front of "Restore the previous Windows configuration." Click the Advanced button to see what versions you will be able to return to or click the OK button to automatically restore the previous version of Internet Explorer.
Tweak Freak
Tweak the Windows Registry
Your Windows Registry, a database of configuration information and references to critical drivers, holds all the keys to your system's kingdom.
Any high-level tweaks that can't be handled by a Windows utility can usually be taken care of by modifying the inner-workings of the Registry. From the Registry, you can do all manner of cool things. For example, you can enhance your computer's performance or even change the appearance of the interface. In this week's Tweak Freak, we'll show you how to make Windows line up properly for you, from setting permanent alphabetical order in file and folder lists to using uppercase and lowercase in file and folder names, and more. Just be sure to back up your Registry before making any changes.
Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
Description of the Registry Files in Windows 98/95
How to Back Up the Registry in Microsoft Windows 95
How to Back Up the Registry in Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition
Description of the Windows Registry Checker Tool (Scanreg.exe) Win 98, Win ME
Command-Line Switches for the Registry Checker Tool Win 98, Win ME
How to Customize Registry Checker Tool Settings Win 98, Win ME
How to Manually Restore the Windows 98/Me Registry
HOW TO: Backup, Edit, and Restore the Registry in Windows NT 4.0
HOW TO: Backup, Edit, and Restore the Registry in Windows 2000
HOW TO: Back Up, Edit, and Restore the Registry in Windows XP
New Windows order
When you first install Windows 98, it lists your Start menu Program folders in alphabetical order followed by individual programs. Newly installed applications are added to the bottom of the list, which often ends up in three sections: the original folders, individual programs, and new folders. You can reorder them manually (by right-clicking any file and selecting Sort by Name from the pop-up menu), but then you'll have to do it again the next time you add a program to the list. You can also make the change for this menu within the Registry. Here's how:
Select Start ? Run, then type regedit and hit OK to open the Registry Editor.
Browse to the subfolder: HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
Click the Menu folder, then right-click Order in the right pane and select Delete from the pop-up menu. You can do the same for your Favorites, located in the same StartMenu folder.
After you close Regedit and reboot your system, the Windows Start menus will always appear in alphabetical order.
Note: if you have folders within folders, you'll have to delete Order for the subfolders as well.
Correct the case
Some versions of Windows will change the case of the letters in the name of a saved file or folder against your will, turning TEST.doc into Test.doc as soon as you turn your back, for example. Make a minor Registry change to turn off this case-changing and keep your filenames as you entered them:
Select Start ? Run, then type regedit and hit OK to open the Registry Editor.
Browse to the subfolder: HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
Right-click the value called DontPrettyPath in the right pane and select Modify.
In the Edit window, enter 1 as the Value Data (0 is the default) and click OK.
After a reboot, Windows won't mess with your file and folder names anymore.
Resize the icons
Some versions of Windows allow you to change the size of your Desktop icons within Display Properties (using the Appearance tab in the Item pull-down menu). You can make the same changes in all versions of Windows just by modifying the Registry:
Select Start ? Run, then type regedit and hit OK to open the Registry Editor.
Browse to the subfolder: HKEY_CURRENT_USERPanel.
If there isn't a value in the right pane called Shell Icon Size, then create one by right-clicking on a blank spot in the right pane and selecting New ? String Value.
Right-click Shell Icon Size and select Modify.
Enter a new Value Data. (32 is the default; a lower number results in smaller icons and a higher number in larger icons.)
After rebooting, your icons will be resized.
