CNet's Top 20 Windows Questions

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Top 20 Windows 95 Questions & Answers

Index

1. How do I make Windows 95 recognize my memory upgrade?
2. Why can't I play my games anymore after installing FAT32?
3. How do I "unpartition" my hard drive?
4. What files do I need for an emergency start-up disk?
5. How can I replace a corrupted data file?
6. Is there a way to cancel a command?
7. Why does my hard drive spin during shutdown.
8. Why does my hard drive spin when I'm not using my PC?
9. How can I remove a listing from the Add/Remove Programs utility?
10. How do I make Windows 95 recognize my parallel port?
11. How do I upgrade to the latest releases of Windows 95?
12. How do I know if a driver needs updating?
13. How do I set up peer-to-peer networking?
14. How do I add a second hard drive?
15. How do I move Windows 95 from my C: drive to my D: drive?
16. How do I delete a file from my Start Up folder?
17. How do I shrink my temp directory?
18. How do I clean out my Registry?
19. How do I make Windows recognize a new peripheral?
20. How do I associate a program with a new file type?

Miscellaneous Tips and Tricks

1. How do I make Windows 95 recognize my memory upgrade?

I just upgraded my computer to 64MB of RAM. In the Windows 95 Control Panel, when I bring up the System Properties, it's still showing that I have only the original 32MB. However, when I check the CMOS settings, they indicate that I have 64MB. What do I need to do for Windows 95 to show the correct amount of RAM? --John Guillaume

The good news is that if CMOS sees your memory, then the memory you've purchased is compatible with your system. The bad news is you'll have to experiment to find out what is wrong.

Look again at your CMOS settings. Even though your computer recognizes all 64MB, some BIOS programs let you disable certain banks of SIMMs. You may have inadvertently turned on this option, so check around for a command that will turn all of your memory back on. (Most newer machines don't have this option.)

Another possibility is that a protected-mode or a real-mode device driver is claiming a portion of the RAM when it loads from the autoexec.bat or config.sys file. This is a good possibility if you upgraded a Windows 3.1 computer to Windows 95, or if you're using a RAM drive. To figure this out, you should show your autoexec.bat or config.sys file to a tech support person. If you upgraded from Windows 3.1, call Microsoft's tech support. If you bought a PC with Windows 95 preinstalled, call the PC manufacturer.

Other possibilities: if your computer has an EISA bus, the himem.sys memory-manager file may not be addressing all of the available memory. Or your Registry may be corrupted for a variety of reasons. Regardless, the fix is the same: reinstall Windows 95.

Trust us, extra RAM is worth all this effort.

2. Why can't I play my games anymore after installing FAT32?

I just upgraded my hard drive and installed the version of Windows 95 with the FAT32 file system, but now I can't play Comanche3 and Warcraft II as I used to in regular Windows 95. I have to reboot in DOS mode to play them. Why? --Stan Woodward

FAT32 has caused a lot of compatibility problems. That's why Microsoft isn't officially supporting FAT32 yet, even though it made the new file system available to PC makers who want to offer bigger hard disks.

In your case, however, this filing system should be working.

Comanche3 and Warcraft II both require complete control of PCs, which is offered only in MS-DOS mode. Windows 95 should automatically leap into MS-DOS mode when you launch the program. Since it doesn't, the solution is to create a new PIF (program information file) for each game. This file provides Windows 95 with the information it needs to run a DOS program.

So, first find the right PIF. Use the Windows 95 Find utility to locate a file that ends with the PIF extension, for example, comanche.pif. It could be in the folder with the program file, in a hidden PIF folder within the Windows 95 folder, or in some other folder.

Once you find the PIF file, delete it. Make sure there is no other copy of this file. If you find one, get rid of it.

Do not delete any executable files ending with the extensions .bat, .com, or .exe.

When you're done, launch the game again. This time, it should create a PIF file that will automatically launch the game in MS-DOS mode.

If this fix doesn't work, you'll have to manually change the PIF file.
1. Right-click the icon for the game's executable file and check out its Properties.
2. Select the Program tab and click the Advanced button. The Advanced Program Settings dialog box appears.
3. Check the MS-DOS Mode check box and make sure the "Use current MS-DOS mode" check box is also checked; choose OK and close the Properties dialog box.
4. Try launching the game again.

If you're still having trouble, you may need to go back into the Advanced Program Settings and choose "Specify a new MS-DOS configuration." Look at the program's documentation for sample config.sys and autoexec.bat text, and enter that text in the MS-DOS Mode area of the Advanced Program Settings dialog box.

While you're there, make sure the other settings that the program requires--for mouse, expanded memory, sound card, and so on--are in fact selected. If they're wrong, that could be the cause of your launch problem. Check the program's documentation for this information, and make sure the information in the Advanced Program Settings dialog box matches.

For these manually modified settings to take effect, you will need to launch the program by double-clicking the program's icon. The settings won't work if you simply open a DOS window and type the program's name at the prompt.

3. How do I "unpartition" my hard drive?

I have a system with a 2GB drive that was partitioned into two 1GB formats. Now I want to reformat it to a single volume that will allow me to take advantage of the FAT32 file system. What do I need to do? --James A. Esquivel

FAT32 is a new file system that has two advantages: it lets you use hard drives bigger than 2GB without partitioning, and it uses storage space more efficiently, so you can pack more data onto the same size hard drive. You don't have to "unpartition" to get the second benefit; each partition will get more for its money with FAT32.

But if you're tired of dealing with partitions, then here's what you do, even if you're not using FAT32.

The easy way--relatively easy way--to delete a partition is to use a $50 utility from Quarterdeck called Partition-It. The tool is supposed to help you create partitions, but it can also help you get rid of them. You do that by resizing the unwanted partition, making it smaller and smaller until there is nothing left, while moving everything on that partition to your C: drive. This process is boring and time-consuming, but not as boring and time-consuming as the alternative: reformatting your hard drive. If what you want is to get rid of one partition, we recommend that you use Partition-It. But there are also times you want or need to reformat, so we'll tell you how to do that, too.

Reformatting your hard drive deletes all data on your hard drive. You must start by backing up all your data from the hard drive onto floppies, tape, or a network drive. Realize that after you're done, you'll need to reinstall Windows 95, all of your applications, and all of the drivers for your peripherals.

(To use FAT32, you must have Windows 95 OSR2, which you can get only when you buy a new PC or hard drive. To check whether you're already using OSR2, double-click the Control Panel's System icon. On the General tab of the dialog box that appears, look at the number under Microsoft Windows 95. If it has a B at the end, for example, 4.00.950 B, you have OSR2. If you see an A, or if there's no letter, you have the original Windows 95.)
1. Create an emergency start-up disk, which you'll need to boot the computer from. (For instructions on creating this disk, see question 4)
2. Also copy your DOS real-mode CD-ROM drivers to this disk, so you'll have access to your CD-ROM drive when you use the disk. To find where the drivers are, check the CD-ROM documentation, or use the Find utility to locate your config.sys file. Double-click the file to open it in Notepad. Choose the Search menu and the Find command. In the Find What text box, type the name of the driver and click the Find Next button. The drivers' names usually include the name of the manufacturer or the brand.
3. Test the emergency start-up disk by booting with the disk and then accessing the CD-ROM drive.
4. Once you have successfully accessed your CD-ROM drive, insert the emergency start-up disk in the floppy drive, and start the computer. At the A: prompt, type fdisk. A message appears that explains large-disk support and asks whether you want to enable it. Click the y box for yes.
5. Choose fdisk Options, the Delete Partition command, and then "Delete primary DOS partition." Select the partition you want to delete (that is, of course, your second partition and not the one with your system files on it!), and enter the volume label of that partition. Choose to delete the extended DOS partition. Confirm the deletion.
6. Choose fdisk Options again, and then choose Create DOS Partition and "Create primary DOS partition." The utility verifies the disk integrity and then asks whether you want to use the maximum available size and make the partition active. Answer y for yes. The utility continues to verify the drive integrity and then prompts you to restart the computer. Press Esc and reboot the computer (leaving the disk in the floppy drive).
7. After you restart the computer, you can format the drive. At the A: prompt, type format C: /u. When the format is complete, copy the directory with your CD-ROM drivers to the hard disk. You can then run Setup from the CD-ROM.

So that's how you "unpartition" a hard drive. But are you sure you want FAT32? Lots of utilities, tools, and drivers don't work with it yet. Microsoft has upgraded several disk tools, including Format, Defrag, and ScanDisk. However, DriveSpace, for example, won't compress FAT32 files, and dual boot won't work because DOS and some versions of Windows don't recognize the FAT32 partitions. Eventually, Microsoft and third-party software companies will update everything, but probably not until Windows 98 ships.

4. What files do I need for an emergency start-up disk?

Can I create an emergency recovery start-up disk from the Windows 95 files that are currently on my hard drive? I don't have a CD-ROM drive, so I need to find out what files to copy onto a floppy disk. --Serafin S. Torga Jr., MD

Here's how to make an emergency start-up disk:

1. Open Windows Explorer, and insert a formatted floppy. Right-click the disk, and choose Format from the pop-up menu. Make sure the Format dialog box identifies the correct floppy drive. Under Format type, choose "Copy system files only" and click the Start button. This process adds the following files to your disk: io.sys, drvspace.bin, msdos.sys, and the Command folder. Close the dialog box when the copying is finished.

2. Next, copy the following files to the floppy disk. (Look at the List view.)

From the \windows\command folder: attrib.exe, chkdsk.exe, debug.exe, edit.com, fdisk.exe, format.com, scandisk.exe, and sys.com.

From the root directory of your hard drive, copy the config.sys file.

From the Windows folder, copy the following files: himem.sys, regedit.exe, and uninst.exe.

3. To test the floppy, insert it into the floppy drive and restart your computer. The computer should boot to the A:\ prompt. Make sure you can get to the C:\ prompt by typing C: and pressing Enter; then type C: dir to make sure you still have access to the hard drive.
You should also copy any files and drivers named in your config.sys file to the floppy disk. To do this, open the config.sys file with Notepad and make a note of any file paths and filenames. If you have a CD-ROM drive, copy the CD-ROM drivers. The drivers' names often include the manufacturer's name, the brand name, or the letters CD.

Because you've moved them somewhere else, make sure that you edit the config.sys file that's residing on the floppy disk to include the correct path to the drivers (they'll be located on A: now and not on C:, for example). If you fail to do this, the system files still won't be able to find the drivers, even though you know they're on there.

Don't edit the original config.sys file on your hard drive by mistake.

Test the disk right away, and make sure it will boot the computer.

If you do have an emergency, first try to boot the computer in Safe Mode (by rebooting the computer and pressing F8 when you see the message Starting Windows on the monitor). You'll have a better chance of diagnosing your problems in Safe Mode than with the start-up disk in DOS mode. From DOS mode, however, you can copy important files or reinstall Windows, if necessary.

If you copy the files from your hard disk to create a start-up disk, as opposed to using the original Windows CD-ROM, you may be copying corrupted files. (See question 5 for more on corrupted data files.) The CD-ROM is the only way to make sure you have clean files.
The Windows CD-ROM can also automatically create an emergency start-up disk. Go to the Control Panel. Double-click Add/Remove Programs; select the Startup Disk tab. Insert a disk into your floppy drive and click the Create Disk button.

5. How can I replace a corrupted data file?

Can you tell me what elements or factors cause the corruption of the user data files for Windows 95? Once they become corrupted, how can I replace them?
--Rob Root

Many things can corrupt files: power surges, operating system lockups, disk-space shortage, viruses, incorrect file-type information in the Registry, etc.

Usually you'd never know a file is corrupted unless you got an error message saying so. But that corrupted file could keep functioning, corrupting other files as it went along. If you're really dedicated, you can check the file size and the file date against the original files on the operating system or application CD-ROM. If they're different, that might mean they're corrupted. Then again, it might not. But in general, you don't really need to worry about it unless the computer tells you there's a problem.
For system files that contain information about the user, probably the most common problem is the corruption of the user identification information needed to log in to Windows. When the operating system starts up, a Windows logon (or network logon) dialog box appears for entering a User Name and Password. The PWL file confirms this password.
If the file with the identification information becomes corrupted (or you simply forget your password), you can delete the file and create a new one.
PWL files contain all the passwords for a user, including passwords to network servers, Internet logons, and so on. Sometimes, the file "remembers" these passwords; that is, it automatically confirms all these passwords when you log on to Windows. If you delete the PWL file, you'll have to enter all of your passwords again as you log on to different servers and accounts.

If you're sure you want to delete the PWL file, follow these steps:

1. Open the Find utility. In the Find Files dialog box, type: *.pwl and click Enter. Find Files will list all PWL files on your computer. You want to delete only the corrupted one. The one you want to select is the file that contains your specific logon name, for example, johndoe.pwl.
2. Now you can shut down the computer; choose the "Close all programs and log on as a different user" option. Enter the username and password you want to use, and Windows creates a new PWL file. The file will take the username you've entered as its own name.

Another file with information about the user is the user.dat file in the Registry. The user.dat file includes user profiles--including information about desktop preferences, such as desktop settings (backgrounds, fonts, colors), toolbar preferences, shortcuts, and so on.
You can easily replace the user.dat file. Windows stores a backup in the Windows folder called user.da0. Realize that if you restore the backup copy of the file, some of your user settings may revert to the original settings the next time you log on.
Do not try to edit or remove this file via the Registry, or by using RegEdit, unless you're totally sure you know what you're doing. Above all, don't touch the other Registry file, system.dat. One wrong move and you could disable your computer, damage files, or cause other catastrophic events. If this happens, don't call us: you have been warned.

6. Is there a way to cancel a command?

Is there a way to cancel a command in Windows 95? For example, if I click on the wrong icon, is there a keyboard command to stop the program from loading?
--James L. Anderson III

If only there were. Unlike the Macintosh operating system, Windows 95 provides no keyboard shortcuts to stop a program from opening after you have double-clicked the icon, no matter how long it takes to launch.

But you can stop certain Windows applets from loading if you are quick with the Esc key. For example, if you mistakenly choose Help from the Start menu, you can cancel by very quickly pressing the Esc key. Or, if you've started to empty the Recycle Bin and change your mind, the Esc key will cancel that process.

And if you're working in DOS, you can press Ctrl-C to cancel commands such as Dir /w, Type Filename, Format, and so on.

Most applications will also let you cancel a command by pressing the Esc key. Check an individual program's documentation for other keyboard shortcuts. After all, we all change our minds sometimes.

7. Why does my hard drive spin during shutdown?

When I shut down Windows 95, I get a screen telling me that "It's now safe to turn off your computer," but the hard drive light is still lit, and I can hear it still working. What is wrong? -Christian Jorgensen

When this happens, the hard disk isn't writing further data to your files, and this activity in no way threatens your data. Microsoft says that any disk activity after the "It's now safe to turn off your computer" screen is the result of multiple hard disk reset commands (a kind of mechanical rewind for hard disks) and is nothing to worry about. Once you see the "It's now safe..." message, you can turn the computer off, no worries.

When you shut down Windows 95, it performs several actions at one time. It transfers all protected-mode drivers back to real mode, completes anything it's writing to disk, flushes the disk cache, and closes all open programs. If Windows has problems shutting down, it will hang up on the "Please wait while your computer shuts down" screen.

The problem could be a memory conflict, a faulty virtual device driver, or a corrupted file system setting. If Windows seems hung up on the "Please wait..." screen, just give it a few minutes, and it may right itself. If it continues to hang, simply turn the computer off. The next time you boot the computer, Windows will run ScanDisk to check for disk errors and correct any problems from the incomplete shutdown. (Note: this only applies to version OSR2; if you are not sure what version of Windows you are running, refer to the section, "How do I upgrade to the latest releases of Windows 95?")

Editor's note: This page has changed from the original version. Please see our corrections page.

8. Why does my hard drive spin when I'm not using my PC?

When I leave Windows 95 on for an extended period of time, I come back to find my hard drive just spinning. Why does it do that? --Dr. Vesko Marinov

There are lots of things that could wake up the hard drive even when you're not actively using your PC, none of which is cause for concern.

The Windows 95 System Agent, for example, is a disk maintenance utility that runs programs at scheduled times, but only when the computer is not in use. By default, the System Agent:

A. Checks for low disk space once every hour
B. Runs ScanDisk once every day
C. Runs a more thorough ScanDisk once every month to check hard drives
D. Defragments the drive on an as-needed basis
E. Runs an Agent once every day to compress new files, if the drive is compressed with DriveSpace.

Other utilities and applications you may have installed yourself also perform tasks while your screensaver is up. For example, Microsoft Office 97 uses a tool called Find Fast that takes over your computer for 30 to 45 seconds every two hours or so. Find Fast automatically scans your hard drive to create and update indexes of your files, which it supplies to Office applications.

By the way, you can change how often Find Fast updates itself. In the Control Panel, double-click the Find Fast icon. Choose the Index menu, and then the Update Interval command. Enter a new schedule.

9. How can I remove a listing from the Add/Remove Programs utility?

Every time I delete something using the program's uninstaller, or without using the Add/Remove Programs feature in the control panel for Windows 95, it leaves the program name in the Add/Remove Programs menu. How can I delete these entries and program listings, which I no longer have on my computer? --Jon Ariza

This is what's called a design flaw.

There is only one way you can successfully remove the unwanted entries in the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, which lists all the commercial-grade software that Windows thinks you have installed on your system. What you need is Microsoft's TweakUI Power Toy. The good news is that it's free.
1. After downloading the TweakUI tool set into a new folder titled Power Toys, open the Windows Explorer and double-click the Power Toys icon. This is a self-extracting file that will make all the toys available to you.
2. Right-click the tweakui.inf file. From the pop-up menu, choose Install.
3. You'll then find the program in the Control Panel. Double-click the TweakUI icon to launch it.

To remove items from the Add/Remove list, choose the Add/Remove tab in the Tweak UI dialog box. Select the program entry you want to remove, and click the Remove button. Close the dialog box when you're done.

TweakUI is not an uninstaller, and it won't remove a program from your hard drive. Its purpose is to get rid of the remnants of programs that have already been uninstalled. But if you use TweakUI to remove an installed program from the Add/Remove Programs list, you won't be able to uninstall that program later using the Add/Remove Programs utility. You'll be forced to use the uninstaller that came with the program, or a commercial uninstaller, to get rid of it.

10. How do I make Windows 95 recognize my parallel port?

I have a backup machine that used to back up files flawlessly in Windows 3.x, recognizing my parallel port as an Enhanced Parallel Port and backing up files at approximately 16MB per minute. Since I upgraded to Windows 95, I cannot get my EPP capability back. Can you tell me what I need to do? --Robert D. Parlet

Here's the rundown on trying to get a parallel port back online.

1. Open the Control Panel and double-click the System icon. Select the Device Manager tab. Expand the Ports device by clicking the plus sign, and check for your port. If the port's listed but you see (LPT) to the right, then Windows recognizes its existence but thinks it's an ordinary parallel port instead of an Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP), which would explain the decreased transfer rate you're describing. A similar disconnect could also happen with Extended Capabilities Ports (ECP).
2. Since the root of the problem is that Windows 95 doesn't detect the IRQ or DMA usage of your port, you need to check and possibly change its resource settings. Select the port and click the Properties button. In the Port's Properties dialog box, choose the Resources tab.
3. All of the proper settings should be in the documentation. Usually ports are inflexible about the settings they require--they have to match what's in the documentation. The problem is that some other device may already be using those settings, and only one device can use those resources. If this is true, then check the other device's documentation and see whether it allows alternative settings.
4. To change the resource settings, uncheck the Use Automatic Settings check box. Be sure to leave it unchecked while changing the settings.

Be very careful when changing resource settings; you could disable the port completely. If you're unsure, have the manufacturer's tech support people walk you through this process.

If the port isn't listed in the Device Manager, then there is no device driver for your port, and you'll need to install it. To get the best performance, contact the manufacturer of your PC and request an updated driver. Also, ask the manufacturer if there are any specific instructions for dealing with the EPP in Windows 95.

Microsoft's Windows 95 Service Pack 1, an update to the original version, contains a parallel port driver that may correct your problem. The updated driver is lpt.vxd; it automatically installs with the Service Pack. (Service Pack 1 also includes various add-ons and bug fixes.) If you have the OSR2 version of Windows 95, however, you should already have this new driver. See question 11 if you're not sure which version you have.

11. How do I upgrade to the latest releases of Windows 95?

I have the original Windows 95 operating system on my computer, and I want to know how to upgrade to the newer releases. --Selamat

There have been four updates of Windows 95 since its release. You may already have the first version, but to get the others, you'll have to buy a new PC.

Microsoft released a Windows 95 Service Pack just a few months after the release of the operating system. The Service Pack 1 Update fixed bugs and provided several add-on pieces of software that users had to install separately. Downloading this patch will help eliminate a lot of bugs, but not all the add-ons are still relevant. For example, you'd also want to download a more recent version of Internet Explorer.

Windows 95 OSR1, OSR2, and OSR 2.1 are real upgrades, with new features and support for new hardware. Unfortunately, Microsoft has delivered them only to PC manufacturers for preloading on new machines. There have been no retail versions of these upgrades. To get the latest, OSR 2.1--which adds support for some USB hardware--you'll have to buy a new computer, a new hard drive controller, or a new hard disk.

If you did buy new hardware, you'd get: the FAT32 file system; ActiveMovie and DirectX 2.0; support for PCMCIA power management; and a bunch of new Internet programs; plus additional support for printing, faxing, dial-up networking, Windows messaging, and networking. All of this stuff will of course be built into Windows 98, which you will be able to purchase as an upgrade at some point next year.

By the way, here's how to find out which version of Windows you have: open the Control Panel and double-click the System icon. In the System Properties dialog box under the General tab, you'll see a Windows 95 version number. Version 4.00.950 means you have the original Windows 95 A, or Windows 95 A with Service Pack 1 installed, or OSR1. Version 4.00.950 B refers to Windows 95 OSR2 or OSR 2.1.

If you're thinking about copying OSR1 or OSR2 from a friend, please note that this is illegal under the terms of the licensing agreement.

12. How do I know if a driver needs updating?

How do I know if I need to update a driver on my computer? What specifications should I be looking for, and what steps should I follow if I need to update?
--Jerry Wagner

Sometimes a new application that you're installing will tell you a new driver is called for.

Or, when you're installing new hardware, the Windows Installation Wizard will locate older drivers and give you the chance to remove or replace them.

Whenever you purchase a new device, you will receive a new driver, and you should install it. If you don't get a new driver in the box, contact the manufacturer and make sure you get the latest one.

But if you're not installing anything new, here are some indications that your drivers are outdated:

1. Repeated errors related to a particular device (for example a modem or CD-ROM drive
2. Decreased overall system performance
3. Slower printing
4. Lagging network connections

If you notice any of these symptoms, then updating a corresponding driver won't hurt anything--you can use it as a troubleshooting technique.

Here's how to update a driver:

1. Open the Control Panel, double-click the System icon, and select the Device Manager tab. Click the device you want to update.
2. Select the device, and click the Properties button. Choose the Driver tab, and click the Change Driver button. Follow the directions in the Update Device Driver Wizard that appears. During this process, you'll be given the choice of using a driver from Microsoft's library of drivers or inserting a disk with an updated driver from the manufacturer. If you want to make sure you have the latest drivers, contact the manufacturer and get a disk.

Consider removing old drivers before installing new or updated ones, but always check the manufacturer's documentation first. To remove a device driver, open the Control Panel and double-click the System icon. Select the Device Manager tab and choose the type of hardware. The list of installed devices appears; an exclamation point on a device icon indicates that it has either been removed or is inoperable. Select the item and delete it.

13. How do I set up peer-to-peer networking?

I have two different computers running Windows 95. I understand that Windows 95 supports peer-to-peer networking. What do I have to do to set up this feature and let the computers work with each other? --Vernon Smith

On a peer-to-peer network, all the computers can share printers, CD-ROM drives, and other peripherals and access files stored on all the computers on the network. You can connect up to ten Windows 95 computers together in a peer-to-peer network without compromising performance.

First, you'll need to purchase some networking hardware. A 10BaseT network would be an inexpensive way to start. You'll need network adapter cards for each computer, an Ethernet hub, and Category 5 cabling to connect it all. You could do without the hub if you're only connecting two computers, but then you would need crossover cable instead of the Category 5. The cable is terminated with RJ-45 connectors.

Prices vary a lot, of course, so don't hold us to this, but you should expect to spend $2,000 on the outside for two computers with no hub, or $3,000 for 3 computers with a hub. For more details on this, see the CNET feature on building your own home network.

After installing the network adapter cards and the cabling, put in the Windows 95 CD-ROM, open the Control Panel, and use the Add/Remove New Hardware Wizard to configure the adapter card (simply follow the directions). Restart the computer when prompted.

Next, you'll have to configure the networking software included with Windows 95 and allow each user access to share individual folders and printers. Complete this same process for all the computers on the network.
1. Open the Control Panel and double-click the Network icon.
2. In the Network dialog box, choose the Configuration tab. Click the Add button and, from the resulting dialog box, choose Client. Then click the Add button.
3. In the Select Network Client dialog box, select Microsoft. Make sure "Client for Microsoft Networks" is selected; click OK. You may be prompted to insert the Windows CD-ROM.
4. When Windows is finished, you'll see the Configuration tab of the Network dialog box again. Click the "File and print sharing" button, and check both check boxes (this lets the computers share files and a printer). Click OK.
5. Check the list of network components in the Configuration tab to see whether your network adapter card is displayed. If it isn't, click the Add button, and choose Adapter in the dialog box. Click Add.
6. In the Select Network Adapters dialog box, find the manufacturer of your network card, and select it. In the network adapters list, choose the specific adapter you're using and choose OK.
7. In the Configuration tab, click the Add button again, and choose Protocol from the resulting dialog box. Click Add.
8. In the list of Manufacturers, choose Microsoft. In the list of Network Protocols, choose NetBEUI, and click OK. Note: NetBEUI is the easiest to use for a small peer-to-peer network.
9. Select the Identification tab in the Network dialog box. Enter a name for your computer. In the Workgroup text box, enter a name for your network. When you configure the second computer, the Computer name must be different from that of the first computer, but the Workgroup name must be exactly the same.
10. Choose OK to close the Network dialog box. You will be prompted to restart the computer.

Congratulations, you are now a network administrator.

14. How do I add a second hard drive?

I want to upgrade my hard drive and the amount of RAM from 16MB, yet still keep my present hard drive. Is there a way that Windows 95 is able to autoconfigure the system to accept both hard drives, and to what amount of RAM should I upgrade? --Jonathan Lau

Windows 95 will automatically recognize a second hard drive after you install it.

If you're using SCSI drives, all you need to know is the SCSI ID drive setting (it'll be in the drive's documentation). You'll be prompted to enter this.

IDE drives work a bit differently. Each IDE drive has a built-in controller; when you're using two IDE drives in one computer, a single controller manages both drives. To integrate the controllers, you must make one drive a master and the other a slave. The master drive contains the operating system; the slave drive acts as extra disk space. To do this, you'll have to manipulate jumpers, or electrical connectors, located on the drive. See the hard drive's documentation for instructions on its specific set of jumpers.

Although you can use two drives from different manufacturers, an older disk drive's controller may not work with a new drive. If, for example, your old hard drive is a 150MB drive, and your new one is 2GB, the old controller probably won't be able to manage the new drive. In this case, you must make the old drive the slave and the newer drive the master, and that means installing the operating system on the new drive and removing it from the old one.

Your second question, about how much RAM you should have, is easier. The answer is, the more the better. Windows 95 requires 16MB of RAM to run efficiently; however, you'll notice much improved performance with 32MB. With today's faster and more powerful software applications, additional RAM means a more efficient system. If you can afford 64MB or more, go for it.

Before purchasing any RAM, check your computer's documentation. You'll need to know how much RAM your computer can take and what type of RAM to buy; different PC brands use different kinds. (See question 1 to make sure the system will accept the new RAM.)

15. How do I move Windows 95 from my C: drive to my D: drive?

I am running out of room on my C: drive and would like to run Windows 95 from my D: drive, which has more room. Either that, or move some parts of the system folder to free up some space. What do I need to do? --Bob Levis

We don't recommend that you move the entire Windows 95 operating system to your D: drive. That could cause irreparable harm to your operating system, and it's just too risky a maneuver.

But you can free up space on your C: drive by moving portions of Windows 95 onto your D: drive. Specifically, you could move your browser's cache and the system cache, also called a swap file or virtual memory.

Moving the system cache
1. Open the Control Panel and double-click the System icon. Choose the Performance tab, and then click the Virtual Memory button.
2. Select the option "Let me specify my own virtual memory settings."
3. In the hard disk drop-down list, choose the drive you want to move your cache onto. Windows will prompt you to restart the computer, and alert you about changing the default option for virtual memory. This dialog box also tells you how big your cache is; make sure you have enough free space on your secondary drive for the cache.

Change the location of the cache, but don't change the Minimum or Maximum settings for your virtual memory; this could hurt system performance. When your computer restarts, the cache file will be moved, and Windows will resize the virtual memory as needed, depending on the amount of free disk space.

Moving the browser cache
For Internet Explorer:
1. Open the browser, and choose the View menu, then the Internet Options command. Then choose the General tab, and click the Settings button.
2. Click the Move Folder button. Choose a drive and folder; click OK.

For Communicator:
1. Open the browser, choose the Edit menu and then the Preferences command. In the Category list, expand the Advanced optioning the list on the left-hand side by clicking the plus sign next to the word advanced and then clicking the word cache.
2. Click the Choose Folder button, and select the drive and folder; click OK.

16. How do I delete a file from my Start Up folder?

When I start up Windows 95, I get a readme.wri file that opens from some program that I deleted from my hard drive a long time ago. How can I delete this file from my Windows 95 Start Up? --Chris

In general, this is easy:

1. Open Windows Explorer, and open the Windows folder. Next, open the Start Menu folder, then the Programs folder, and finally, the StartUp folder. This is what automatically opens when Windows boots.
2. Delete the file. If you want to keep it, drag the file icon from the right window of the Windows Explorer to some other folder in the left window.

But, if you do not see the readme.wri file in the StartUp folder, or if the file continues to open when you boot Windows, you may have to look deeper to fix the problem.

Win.ini is a file leftover from the Windows 3.1 days; Windows 95 includes this file so it can run Windows 3.1 programs. Windows 95 moved much of what used to live in this file to the Registry, but entries dealing with Windows 3.1 programs remain in the win.ini file. Some of these Windows 3.1 programs update the win.ini file and expect Windows 95 to recognize the updates. This is most likely the source of your readme.wri file.

1. Use the Find utility to locate your win.ini file. Double-click the file to open it in Notepad.
2. To find a reference to your sneaky program, choose the Search menu and the Find command; in the Find What text box, type readme.wri and click the Find Next button. If the file is there, it will likely be on a line with the Load= or Run= statement.
3. Delete the statement, save your changes, and close the program.

If you do not find the file, close the program without making any changes.

17. How do I shrink my temp directory?

I recently noticed that my C:\windows\temp directory has bloated to 607MB. How do I get rid of it, and how do I prevent it from growing so big again?
--Lloyd N. Weiss

Don't delete the Temp folder altogether; your programs need to create and store temporary files in order to operate. If you delete the Temp folder, your programs will simply find another place to store temporary files, and you may not be able to find them so easily.

Instead of getting rid of the Temp folder, you should periodically clean it out.
1. You must close all programs before deleting the TMP files.
2. Open Windows Explorer. Open the \windows\temp folder and select all files with .tmp at the end of the name. Delete them. Don't forget to empty the Recycle Bin; files removed to the Recycle Bin take up disk space until they're permanently deleted.

There may be other files in your Temp folder; often people and other programs may store files they need only temporarily in this folder. Be careful that you delete only those files with the TMP extension.

There are a bunch of uninstaller utilities you can use that will automate this process. (See CNET's review of 5 uninstallers. Also check our feature, "Put your PC on a diet," for more tips on getting rid of files that you don't really need.)

18. How do I clean out my Registry?

I have downloaded, used, and removed many demo and regular programs from my computer, and I'm now concerned about my Windows 95 Registry. I believe there is a lot of information that is no longer needed in the Registry, and I want to clean it out. What should I do? --Steve Wurz

The sensible advice here is that it's actually better not to go near the Registry. You could accidentally remove entries and files that are needed by several programs or by the operating system. For example, many DLL files are shared between applications; removing a file that you no longer need for one application may affect another application.

In the future, when you uninstall applications, we recommend using an uninstaller utility rather than simply the Add/Remove Programs utility that comes with Windows 95. Uninstallers can remove all the files associated with an unwanted application, as well as entries in program logs and any related orphan files. This way, you'll never feel a need to go near the Registry. If you feel that your Registry is already messed up, some uninstallers can also clean your Registry. If we've convinced you to buy one, see CNET's review of 5 uninstallers.

Microsoft is again offering a downloadable utility, RegClean, that helps clear the Registry of erroneous values. Microsoft had previously removed RegClean 4.1 from its Web site because of "feature requests, problems, and bugs," which just goes to show how delicate the Registry is.

But if you're still determined to get up close and personal with your Registry, the CNET feature "More Windows 95 hacks" will tell you how. The feature includes a whole section on how to erase all record of removed apps.

Editor's note: this page has changed from the original version. Please see our corrections page.

19. How do I make Windows recognize a new peripheral?

Although I have a joystick attached to my Sound Blaster 16, Windows 95 doesn't recognize it. How do I make my system recognize that I actually have it installed? --Jeff Kipfmueller

Here's the rundown on how to force Windows 95 to realize that you've added a new peripheral:
1. Go to the Control Panel and click the System icon.
2. Select the Device Manager tab, and click the kind of device you're looking for. In this case, click Sound, Video, and Game Controllers.
3. If the device is listed, select it and click the Properties button. Choose the General tab and check the area labeled Device Status. Either it will be working or a message may give you a clue as to why it's not. Also look at the area labeled Device Usage, and make sure that you uncheck the Disable box under This Hardware Profile. On the other hand, make sure that you do check the "Exists in all hardware profiles" check box.
4. If the device you want isn't there, close the System Properties dialog box and double-click the Add New Hardware icon in the Control Panel. Click Next.
5. When the Wizard asks if you want Windows to search for your new hardware, click No. Click Next.
6. In the next dialog box, select the type of hardware you want: in this case, Sound, Video, and Game Controllers. Click Next.
7. Click the Have Disk button if you have a disk with the most recent device drivers on it, which should have come with the hardware; insert the disk, and follow the directions from there. If you do not have the manufacturer's drivers on disk, select Microsoft as the manufacturer. Then select the type of hardware for the model, in this case Gameport Joystick. Click Next, and follow the directions from there.

Some older systems come with a joystick port installed. If you later add a sound card with an additional joystick port, Windows won't be able to identify either joystick port. In this case, you will need to disable one or the other and use only one port in the future. Most newer systems come with both a sound card and a joystick port.

Windows 95 supports only joysticks connected directly to a MIDI/game port on a supported sound card such as Sound Blaster, or those connected to a joystick port on a game card. Microsoft does not support joysticks connected with a Y cable or a switch box, or those connected to a USB port converted to a joystick port by the use of a dongle.

20. How do I associate a program with a new file type?

If you try to open a file from Windows Explorer and Windows 95 doesn't recognize the file extension or doesn't know what program to open the file with, a window will pop up and ask you to associate a program with that file. Unfortunately, by default the box that says "Always use this program to open this file type" is checked. I used this window to pick a certain file type with this default box checked. But it was the wrong kind of file type. Now it always uses the wrong program to open that file. Is there anyway to undo this so that I can select another program to open that file? --Alexandra Adams

That is a funny default, since half of the time you're just guessing which file type is the right kind.

Fortunately, you can easily change the program with which a file type is associated:
1. Open the Windows Explorer and select the file that you're having trouble with.
2. Press and hold the Shift key as you right-click the file.
3. From the pop-up menu, choose the Open With command to display the Open With dialog box.
4. Choose the program you really do want to associate with the selected file type. You can choose the Always option again if you want to. Select OK to reassign the association.

Miscellaneous Tips and Tricks

Proprietary programs loaded by mfg

Home PCs--the ones that are supposed to make computing fun!--often come with special front-end software. These interfaces sit on top of Windows and are supposed to make your machine more user-friendly through the use of special icons and features that highlight your PC's capabilities. Many manufacturers--including IBM, Sony, Hewlett-Packard, Compaq, and Acer--put these programs on their computers.
But these interfaces can take up hundreds of megabytes. For example, the Sony Vaio Space front end eats up 141MB.

If you're like most people, you'll eventually (or immediately) want to remove the front-end software the same way you took the training wheels off your bicycle.

The good news is that manufacturers have made it much easier to get rid of these front ends than it was a year or so ago. You can uninstall most of them by going to the Control Panel and double-clicking the Add/Remove Programs icon. Then choose the Install/Uninstall tab, select the front-end software, and click Uninstall. To do this, you'll need to know the correct name. If it isn't obvious by just perusing the list in the Install/Uninstall dialog box, try looking it up by checking the Properties and then the Target field for the program's shortcut. (This might not work every time.)

If you still don't find it, the Windows uninstaller won't be able to get rid of it. In this case, open the folder where the program is located and see if it contains an uninstall program. It should be called either uninst.exe or uninstall.exe. (Make sure you have all applications closed before you run an uninstaller.)

If there is no uninstaller included, then you'll have to check the PC's user manual or consult your manufacturer's Web site or support line. For example, you can get rid of the Sony Vaio Space front end by simply deleting the directory C:\sonysys, even though the Windows uninstaller can't find it and it doesn't have its own uninstaller.

Even after the front end is gone, a lot of PCs also have other residual software from the manufacturer.

For example, the Compaq Presario 4508 has a 39.8MB directory (C:\cpqreg) that contains the files for online registration. Once you've used it, you can safely uninstall it through the Windows uninstaller. For IBM's Aptiva, you can also remove the front end by using the Windows uninstaller, but that still will leave behind a directory (C:\ibmdemo) with a 231MB demonstration of the system you've already bought. Use Windows Explorer to track it down and eliminate it.

To find similar junk files, try looking for directories on your hard drive that bear the PC maker's name--that's where you'll usually find the manufacturer's proprietary software.

Norton Disk Doctor

Norton Uninstall comes with an AutoClean feature that lets you remove all manner of junk with the click of a button. In fact, you can program it to clean up whenever you start Windows. If you don't have it, then you have to do the hard work yourself. Here's a quick checklist for slimming down your hard drive fast. But heed this warning: Norton Uninstall automatically backs up files before deleting them--you should, too. Use any removable storage device, like a Zip drive or other backup drive. If you don't have one, compress suspect files into a ZIP archive and leave them on your hard disk for a few weeks--until you're sure you can live without them.

Roll out your recycling

You won't clear files from your hard disk by simply deleting them; you'll need to empty the Recycle Bin, as well. Right-click the Recycle Bin icon (or in Windows Explorer, click the Recycled folder), and select Empty the Recycle Bin.

Clear out your cache

All browsers toss files onto your hard disk as you move from Web site to Web site. The trouble is they leave them there in a folder or a series of folders called the cache. You could have literally thousands of files on your disk that serve little or no purpose. With your browser running, use these instructions to clear the cache:

Internet Explorer 3.x: select View/Options. Under Temporary Internet Files on the Advanced tab of the dialog box that appears, click Settings. In the dialog box that appears, click Empty Folder.

Internet Explorer 4.0: select View/Internet Options. In the dialog box that appears, click the Delete Files button under Temporary Internet Files on the General tab.

Netscape Navigator 3.x: select Options/Network Preferences. In the Preferences dialog box that appears, click Clear Disk Cache Now.

Netscape Communicator: select Edit/Preferences to display the Preferences dialog box. Under Advanced, select Cache, and click Clear Disk Cache.

Empty the Temp folders

It's remarkable how full a Temp folder can get. Programs (especially installation files) throw data into these folders and don't always tidy up after themselves. You could easily reclaim a megabyte by throwing out the trash:

Using Windows Explorer, examine your C: drive for folders called Temp. You may find one off the root C: directory, and you'll certainly find one in your Windows folder.
Click the Modified column twice to sort the files into ascending chronological order.
Hold down the Shift key, click the top file, and scroll down until you find files stamped with today's date.
Click the last file before today's date, and (while still holding down the Shift key) press Delete.
A prompt will ask if you're sure you want to delete these files. Click Yes.
Do without help
You may need help. But you definitely don't need a lot of help keyword files around your hard disk. These files are generated whenever you click a Help dialog box's Find tab to allow you to search the help database by keyword--and they can easily top 50K apiece. Use Windows Explorer to search out these GID files: select Find/Files or Folders, enter *.gid, and select and delete every name from the list. Potentially, they could come to hundreds of kilobytes. While you're at it, search for *.hlp and get rid of the files for programs you don't need help with (they could total thousands of kilobytes). Check for any old CBT files, too. These are an old format of Computer-based Training files that may have gotten with some bundled applications like Labels Unlimited or Calendar Creator.

Root out the read-me files

If you haven't read a read-me file by now, you probably never will. Use Windows Explorer's Find feature to search for read*me, press Ctrl-A to select all the ones in the list, and press the Delete key. You could gain more than 100K.

Veto the video files

Files with the extensions .avi and .mov will be among the biggest space hogs on your hard disk--just a standard Windows/Office 97 installation could leave you with 2MB. Use Windows Explorer's Find feature to locate them, and delete anything you don't need. If in doubt, try it out, then delete it.

Clip out the clip art

Graphics just aren't space-efficient files. Sure, GIF and JPEG files are more compact, but they're still space hogs. In Windows Explorer's Find feature, search for *.bmp, *.pcx, *.tif, *.jpg, *.jpeg, and *.gif--there could be many megabytes of them. View anything you have any doubt about, and delete what you don't need.

Lose leftover installation files

If program installations were people, they'd all be on Men Behaving Badly. They're slobs. They leave junk around the place--potentially dozens of megabytes. If you see a folder called something like _msstartup on your hard disk after you've installed a program, you'll know what we mean. Search for these file patterns: ~*.*, _*.*, *.??_, *.??~. Back up the files, and then delete them--the odds are that anything you turn up will be a leftover file.

Backups: back off

You want backup files for works in progress, but for works that are now a distant memory, they're just wasteful--sometimes to the tune of several megabytes. Search for these filename patterns: *.bak, *.old, *.syd, *.da0, *.da1, *.da2, and so on.

Once you've found them, click the Modified column to sort them in ascending order of age, and start with the older files first. On a case-by-case basis, carefully check out the files. Use Windows Explorer to check for files with the same name but different file extensions. Then open the file in Notepad (they're almost invariably text files) or right-click it and select QuickView. If in doubt, either don't delete them or move them to a backup disk before you delete them.

Other possible candidates for the Recycle Bin include LOG, PRV, TXT, and DOS files from your root C: directory (deselect the Include Subfolders box in Windows Explorer when you search your C: drive), which can account for hundreds of kilobytes. (Note: if you dual-boot Windows and DOS, leave the DOS files alone.) Before you delete them, check them out carefully: right-click the file, and select QuickView. Since most of them are plain-text files, you'll probably be able to read the contents--and often make sense of their purpose. If they seem superfluous, back them up, and then delete them. If you don't experience any software hang-ups after a few weeks of normal computing, you probably don't need the files. If a file's content is incomprehensible even in Quick View, be on the safe side and keep it.

Forget the fonts

Some programs just love to toss fonts onto your hard drive. Many of them are ugly monstrosities you wouldn't use in a million years, and just a standard Microsoft Office 97 installation can leave you with more than 3MB in font files. How do you know what to ax? In the Control Panel, double-click the Fonts folder icon. There are a lot, aren't there? Double-click any font you suspect of being useless, and you'll see a sample window. If you don't like it, close the sample window, go back to the Fonts list, and delete the offender.

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