Win95/98 Tips & Tricks

Confused About Windows 2000?—Join the Club
Math majors would say it this way: Win95 + upgrade = Win98; Win98 + upgrade = Millenium; WinNT + upgrade = Win2000. You must remember - Win2000 is NOT an upgrade to Win98. Win98 is still the best operating system for most home users.
Windows 2000 was originally to be named Windows NT 5.0; as it is really the upgrade from Windows NT 4.x. It is the next version of the server-based networked terminals operating system designed for business use in those environments.
Windows 98 was upgraded to Win98 SE (Second Edition) and the next upgrade is to be named Win98 Millennium. It is still designed for personal home use and is due out later this year.
Even vendors and resellers are confused. Many are shipping new PCs with Win2000 loaded when the customer (YOU) would probably be better off with Win98 SE. If you are buying new PC do your homework and decide which best fits your needs. Then make sure the proper OS (operating system) is loaded on your new PC.
The differences between Win98 and Win2000 are not near so great as between Win95 and WinNT 4.0. The gap is narrowing but there are still significant differences. Win2000 may require a BIOS upgrade to your current PC; and your vendor may not supply one. Win2000 may require more memory and a higher MHz Pentium CPU than you now have. For those with older DOS applications, start obtaining replacements now. Win2000 and the new Windows Millenium are ever decreasingly DOS friendly.
Before you decide which is best for you, take a look at this web site: www.microsoft.com/insider/mi/pfwinwhich.htm. You can even download a Readiness Analyzer to see if your PC can handle Win2000, and learn of further upgrade issues at: www.microsoft.com/insider/mi/pfwin2kall.htm.
As Win2000 is not a successor to our beloved Win95/98 operating systems, we will not address it in this column. We will add Windows Millenium to the mix when it is released.
Windows Updates - a Way of Life (W98)
Win98 provides a convenient means to keep itself current; but it needs a little help from you. As you are working, you may find a Windows Update box popping up on your screen, informing you of the need to update it. You have the option to do it then or later. If you choose Later (and who wants to stop in the middle their work to do it then?) you will need to CLICK on START, SETTINGS, WINDOWS UPDATE (or START, WINDOWS UPDATE above PROGRAMS). Either will take you to a MS web site and ask you to wait while it looks at your PC to see what MS products may need upgrading. This is harmless so let it run. Then follow the instructions to pick which upgrades you want. Not all are necessary if you don't use various applications etc. They will install automatically upon completion of the download. Just read the provided information. It is unfortunate that these upgrades are necessary on a routine basis - but MS has made it pretty painless and as automatic as possible.
FAX Utility Free (W98)
Most of us don't do a lot of faxing.; but may have an occasional need. If so, you don't have to run out and spend a bunch of money on faxing software. Win98 CD (full version, not the upgrade) has a file awfax.exe. Select and run it to install the free fax utility. It will allow you to send a fax from any MS Office application or from Windows Explorer. You will select MS FAX as your printer and need to make sure MS Outlook is running before sending the FAX. Before doing this - check to see if it is already installed by CLICK on START, PROGRAMS, ACCESSORIES and look in the list for FAX.
Windows 98 Basic (and Advanced) Training
If you are just not quite as up to speed as you would like; or if you want to move to the next level, take a look at the Win98 home page at: www.microsoft.com/windows98/usingwindows/communicating/default.asp. It has goodies for all levels of expertise and you may find some fascinating tips there.
Add Shortcuts to Favorites (W98)
When you CLICK on START you see that your Internet Explorer FAVORITES are right there for you to select. However, your Favorites can consist of more than just the items from your browser's Favorites list. Shortcuts to files and folders may be added there also. Merely open C:\windows\favorites folder and drag and drop your shortcuts into that window.
Pane Options in Explorer Bar (W98)
Internet Explorer offers you four options as to what you want to see in the left-hand pane of its window. CLICK on VIEW, EXPLORER BAR and select from SEARCH (MS's web search page), FAVORITES (your marked sites), HISTORY (where you've been recently on the web), and FOLDERS (ala Windows Explorer). If you don't have choices - you don't have Jack!
Rename Files Shortcut (W98)
Most of us probably rename files by single clicking twice on them then typing the new name. This can be problematic, as it is easy to double-click instead of two single clicks (allow a time interval between them). If you don't use the Active Desktop then CLICK on the filename then press F2 and type the new name. If you do use the Active Desktop then hover the cursor atop the filename to highlight it then press F2 and type the name. A third way (yes Virginia - there is almost always at least three ways to do something in Windows) is to RIGHT-CLICK on the filename and select RENAME and type the new nam