Windows Watcher

A truly powerful resource for readers ... by Tom S. Bair Jr.

Since this column's creation, one hundred fourteen tips have been published. I receive frequent e-mail from readers wanting me to send tips they've seen in past issues but cannot locate. I sympathize. There is nothing more frustrating than losing an item and later finding you need it.

Many readers are apparently unaware they can go online and search the Computer Bits online archive for such information. Every article and column published by Computer Bits since 1995 is there. I promise you: Every tip I have given is present and accounted for. This is truly a powerful resource for readers in understanding their computers. Best of all, it is free. Point your Web browser to http://www.computerbits.com.

Remove Dial-Up Icon

[W95][W98] My wife goes to great lengths to avoid a crowded taskbar. Since the Dial-Up Connection icon that appears in the taskbar tray when she connects is strictly cosmetic, she got rid of it. Here's how she did it:

1. Left-click on the 'Start' button.
2. Highlight 'Programs', 'Accessories', 'Communication', and click on 'Dial-Up Networking.
3. The "Dial-Up Networking" folder opens up into a window. Click on 'Connections' in the file bar (File, Edit, View, Go, Favorites, Connections, and Help) which is directly under the window's title bar.
4. Click on 'Settings' in the drop-down list.
5. Click on the check box next to "Show An Icon On Taskbar After Connected". The check mark will disappear.
6. Click the 'OK' button.
7. Close the "Dial-Up Networking" folder.

Now when you go online, no icon will take up space in your taskbar tray. If you decide you would rather have the icon in the taskbar, just go through the steps above. In step #5, make sure a checkmark appears in the box.

Line Up Desktop Icons

[W95][W98] Last month I showed you how to remove the auto arrange option for desktop icons so that you could place your icons in the order you desire. However, if you want them lined up in straight rows and columns, you can let Windows do that for you. Here's the simple procedure:

1. After arranging the icons to your taste, right-click on a blank area of your desktop.
2. Left-click on 'Line Up Icons' in the pop-up command window.

That's all there is to it. Your icons will move into neat rows right where they are on your desktop.

Online User's Guide

[W95][W98] Many readers have complained about there being no Windows manual to turn to when they are in need of help. However, there is a manual of sorts on your computer, the Online User's Guide. To access it:

1. Left-click the 'Start' button.
2. Click on 'Help'.
3. In Windows 98, the "Windows Help" will start you in the 'Contents' tab. Just click on a topic and a table of contents will appear. You then click on the subject that you need help with.
4. In Windows 95 the process is a bit different. Click on the 'Find' tab.
5. Type in the word "overview". This will bring up a list of topics you can double-click on to display.

Handling Program Hang-ups

[W95][W98] Many of us "old-timers" remember the nightmare days of Windows 3.x: When a program hung up, the entire system crashed. We had no choice but to reboot, losing all of our unsaved work. With Windows 95/98, in most cases we can shut down the malfunctioning program. This allows us to continue working in Windows, saving the data in other programs we might have open before restarting our system.

When a program stops working:

1. Press and hold the 'Ctrl', 'Alt' and 'Delete' keys.
2. Release the keys when the "Close Program" dialog box appears.
3. Click on the malfunctioning program in the list. (It should have the words "Not Responding" after it).
4. Click on the 'End Task' button.
5. Wait for a second box to appear which will ask whether you still want to end the task. This may take up to 10 seconds to appear. Click on the 'End Task' button again.

Windows will terminate the malfunctioning program, allowing you to continue working in your other programs that already are running. I strongly suggest that you save all data and close your open programs. Then restart Windows to clean out the bugs which bit your crashed program.

Resource Summary Report

[W95][W98] The very first thing I do when working on someone's computer system is print out a three-page report that gives me the details of what is in their computer. It tells me what the IRQ assignments are, what is using which I/O port, the DMA channel usage, and what type of drives are installed.

Although this may sound like a lot of techno-babble to many of you, it wouldn't hurt to print out and browse such a report. It helps to become as familiar with your computer as possible. This report is just one more resource at your finger tips.

1. Click on the 'Start' button.
2. Highlight 'Settings'.
3. Click on 'Control Panel'.
4. Double-click on the 'System' icon.
5. Click on the 'Device Manager' tab.
6. Click on the 'Print' button located on the bottom right side of the window.
7. Click on 'System Summary' in the "Report Type" block.
8. If a printer is not connected to the computer, you can write the report to a data file by check marking the box next to "Print to File".
9. Click on the 'OK' button.

Be warned that if you click on "All Devices and System Summary" instead of "System Summary" in step 7, you can expect to print out a 30 to 40 page report. You will only want to print this type of report if you are trouble-shooting a hardware or driver conflict.

Discerning Future Dates

[W95][W98] Are you wondering on which day New Year's Eve will fall 17 or 32 years from now? Wanting to know which day you'll need to take off from work to celebrate your 20th wedding anniversary 9 years from now? Let Windows help with its built-in calendar.

1. Double-click the date display on your taskbar. If you have this option disabled, then click on the 'Start' button. Highlight 'Settings', and click on 'Control Panel'. Now click on the 'Date/Time' icon.
2. Under the 'Date' block, use the month drop-down list and the year box to select the month and year you wish to look up.
3. Look at the calendar to find the day of the week of the date you are checking out.
4. When finished, click the 'Cancel' button. Do not click the 'Apply' or 'OK' button. Doing so will change your computer's calendar to the date you checked.

Adjust Cursor Blink Rate

[W95][W98] Does the cursor in your word processor distract you by blinking too slowly? Does it make you lose your train of thought by blinking too quickly? Would you like to adjust it so that the rate it blinks at does not disturb you? Here are the steps:

1. Click on the 'Start' button.
2. Highlight 'Settings'.
3. Click on 'Control Panel'.
4. Double-click on the 'Keyboard' icon.
5. In the "Cursor blink rate" block, click on the slider with your mouse cursor and drag it toward 'slower' or 'faster' to suite your taste. Watch the sample text cursor at the left for the correct blink rate.
6. Click the 'OK' button.

Adding Sound To ToggleKeys

[W98] I am forever accidentally hitting the Caps Lock key in my efforts to type as fast as I can think. Then I am distracted by having to hit the Caps Lock key again to turn it off, and correct the words typed in all caps. Now I pause and gather my thoughts before continuing, until the next time I accidentally hit that dreaded Caps Lock Key.

I solved this problem by having a sound play when the Caps Lock and Num Lock keys are pressed. Here's how:

1. Click on the 'Start' button.
2. Highlight 'Settings'.
3. Click on 'Control Panel'.
4. Double-click the 'Accessibility Options' icon. If you don't see this icon in your Control Panel, you need to install it using your Windows 98 installation disk.
5. Click on the 'Keyboard' tab.
6. Select 'Use ToggleKeys'.
7. Click the 'Settings' button located beside the 'Use ToggleKeys' setting.
8. Click the check mark box next to "Use Shortcut".
9. Click the 'OK' button.
10. Click the 'OK' button again.
11. Exit 'Control Panel'.

Now when you press the Caps Lock or Num Lock key, you will hear one of two sounds, depending on if you are turning the function on or off. If you wish to silence ToggleKeys, hold down the 'Num Lock' key for five seconds. A tone will sound indicating ToggleKeys has been turned off. To turn back on, just hold the 'Num Lock' key again for five seconds. A dialog box will appear. Just click the 'OK' button to close this box.