Tricks of Past Weeks - Part 1
And now that we've cleared it all up, let's have some fun... :)
| 32BitDiskAccess=ON | To turn on 32-bit disk access in Windows for maximum
performance. To disable 32-bit access ONLY for troubleshooting purposes (NOT recommended), replace ON with OFF. This is equivalent with starting Windows by running: WIN /D:F |
| COMBoostTime=1 | To speed up keyboard buffered operations (decrease character download time) at high speed modem transfers (above 9600 bps), using communications/internet applications. Affects the time (in milliseconds) the Operating System processes a COM port interrupt. Default value is 2. If you notice any loss of keyboard characters while using internet/communications apps, increase it to 4 or higher. Experimenting may be necessary to determine your optimal setting. |
| COMxBuffer=1024 | To increase the
buffer size (in Bytes) for characters sent/received by your communications device (modem) on a specific COM port. Replace x
with the COM port number used by your modem. Valid COMx values: 1, 2, 3 and 4. Default Buffer value is 128. High values will
decrease modem transfer speed slightly, but might prevent loss of characters at high baud rates (above 9600 bps).
Experimenting may be necessary to find your "sweet spot". NOTE: BEFORE increasing the COMx Buffer value, you need to add an empty (BLANK) COMxProtocol= line (see setting below): |
| COMxProtocol= | To specify whether Windows should stop simulating characters in DOS
boxes/sessions after the Virtual Machine (VM) sends an XOFF character, if a DOS based communications/internet program/game
loses characters while performing text transfers at high baud rates (above 9600 bps), on a specific COM port. Replace x with
the COM port number used by your analog modem. Valid COMx values: 1, 2, 3 and 4. Valid values: XOFF (to stop) or BLANK (to
continue). Default is any value other than XOFF. Set this line to BLANK (leave it empty) when performing binary transfers. |
| COMIrqSharing=ON | Windows/WfWG 3.1x ONLY: To enable COM port IRQ sharing in Win31, ONLY IF using ANY serial I/O communications cards (UART, modem, NIC etc) that support IRQ sharing with other hardware devices in your computer. Default value is OFF. |
| ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1 | Windows 98/ME ONLY: To disable the "PageFile_Call_Async_Manager" feature that allows the Memory Manager to asynchronously write out swap file buffers during VFAT idle times. This reverts swap file usage back to Windows 95 style, and forces the use of the computer's physical memory (faster) first, before the use of the slower hard disk virtual memory (swap file). Default is enabled (0). See "CONSERVATIVE SWAP", also in TIPS98.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], for complete details. |
| DMABufferSize=64 | To increase your 16-bit Direct Memory Access (DMA) channel buffer
to maximum size: 64 (in KiloBytes). Affects ALL I/O (Input/Output) DMA operations: sound card FM/wavetable, MIDI
playback/recording, disk buffered reads/writes. Default value is 16. In Windows 9x/ME this can also be done in: Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager tab -> System devices -> Direct memory access controller -> Settings tab -> check Reserve DMA buffer box -> 64 K bytes reserved -> OK -> OK. |
| DualDisplay=ON | Mandatory for compatibility with extended/expanded memory managers
(EMM386.EXE, QEMM386.SYS, RM386.EXE, 386MAX.SYS etc), to allow Windows to use the B000-B7FF Upper Memory Area (UMA) on VGA,
Super VGA (SVGA) and eXtended VGA (XVGA) color monitors, ONLY IF NOT using a secondary display adapter/monitor. Default value
is OFF. You MUST also add/modify your memory manager CONFIG.SYS line to include this area (example): DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE I=B000-B7FF |
| EMMExclude=A000-FFFF | To prevent Windows from searching the Upper Memory Area (UMA)
for unused memory (RAM) upon startup. Safer if you use any 3rd party memory managers (QEMM, NetRoom, 386MAX etc), or any real
MS-DOS mode devices/drivers/TSRs in CONFIG.SYS/AUTOEXEC.BAT. This is equivalent with starting Windows by running: WIN /D:X |
| FileSysChange=OFF | Windows/WfWG 3.1x ONLY: To prevent updating file changes in DOS sessions/boxes, and thus speed up disk operations in DOS sessions and File Manager. Default value is ON, which decreases system performance on slower computers. |
| HardDiskDMABuffer=32 | Windows/WfWG 3.1x ONLY: Memory allocated (in KiloBytes) for the Direct Memory Access (DMA) buffer for
disk buffered reads/writes. Default value is 0. Maximum allowed value is 32. If using SMARTDRV with double-buffering turned on: DEVICE=C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE /DOUBLE_BUFFER this setting is determined automatically. |
| InitPS2MouseAtExit=OFF | Windows/WfWG 3.1x ONLY: Disables the search for a PS/2 mouse upon Win31 exit, thus saving a few milliseconds. Default value is ON. |
| IRQ9Global=ON | Windows/WfWG 3.1x ONLY: Use this setting if your system hangs when reading from floppy drive(s) in Win31. Default value is OFF. |
| Windows 95/98/ME ONLY: Unfortunately this is just another urban myth. :-( More info. | |
| KeyBoostTime=0.1 | To increase keyboard response (in seconds) to keystrokes with several background Windows programs running. Default value is 0.001 (1 millisecond = 1/1000 of a second). |
| LocalLoadHigh=1 | To increase the amount of conventional (low) DOS memory (RAM) available to each DOS session/box to maximum. Default value is 0. See "LOCALLOADHIGH", also in MYTIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], for more details. |
| MaxBPs=1500 | Windows/WfWG
3.1x ONLY: To increase the number of Maximum Break Points used by Windows Virtual Memory Manager (VMM) to fix
General Protection Fault (GPF), application or out of memory errors, system crashes or lockups, caused by programs that do
not release unneeded Break Points after closing. Default is 200. Maximum allowed is 1600 (rounded up to 1637), which allows
for a total of 4 blocks of 4 KB each (4 x 4 KB = 32 KB total). Each Break Point is a 10 Byte memory block used to keep track of the system state when Windows switches from one type of program to another, DOS based applications included. Windows 3.xx allocates memory space for Break Points in 4096 Bytes (4 KB) blocks. A value of 200 is actually rounded up to 370 to fit into the 1st 4 KB block. If raised to 400 Windows opens a 2nd 4 KB block (8 KB total), if raised to 800 a 3rd block (12 KB total) is allocated, and 1500 opens up a 4th block (16 KB total). OBSOLETE: NOT used by Windows 95/98/ME! |
| MaxPagingFileSize=xxxxxx | To define the upper (maximum) limit of the swap file size in KiloBytes (KB). Default is 50% of available free space on target drive. Maximum allowed has to match total available free space on selected hard drive/partition, equivalent to deleting this line. See "FIXED SWAP FILE", also in TIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], for more details. |
| MinPagingFileSize=xxxxxx | To define the lower (minimum) limit of the swap file size in KiloBytes (KB). Default is NONE. Minimum allowed is 0 KB, equivalent to deleting this line. See "FIXED SWAP FILE", also in TIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], for more details. |
| MaxPhysPage=40000 | To define the upper (maximum) limit of installed memory (RAM) allowed to be used by Windows in hex address. Default is to use all available RAM, equivalent to deleting this line. Maximum allowed is installed RAM upper hex address. 40000 = Windows allowed to use only first 1 GB (1,024 MB) of RAM. Used to troubleshoot Windows errors/limitations and/or RAM errors. See "BAD MEMORY?", also in TIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE] + in MYTIPS31.TXT [part of W31-11D.ZIP], for more details. |
| MessageBackColor=8 | To specify the BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death) background (screen) color. Default is blue (1). See "BLUE (OR ANY OTHER COLOR) SCREEN OF DEATH", also in TIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], or in MYTIPS31.TXT [part of W31-11D.ZIP], for complete details. |
| MessageTextColor=C | To specify the BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death) foreground (text) color. Default is bright white (F). See "BLUE (OR ANY OTHER COLOR) SCREEN OF DEATH", also in TIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], or in MYTIPS31.TXT [part of W31-11D.ZIP], for complete details. |
| MinSPs=8 | Windows 95/98/ME ONLY: To increase the spare stack pages, to prevent possible stack fault situations. Default value is 2. Read "MINSPS", also in TIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], for complete details. |
| MinTimeSlice=40 | To increase the minimum time (in milliseconds) a DOS Virtual Machine (VM) is allowed to run before other VMs can take over. Default value is 20. Smaller values (i.e. 10) make multitasking smoother, but decrease overall system performance. |
| PageBuffers=32 | To increase the 4 KB page buffers number (in KiloBytes) for storing asynchronous read/write pages, and thus boost Windows fixed disk performance. Works ONLY if using 32-bit disk access (FBDA) AND a permanent swap file. Default value is 4. Maximum allowed is 32. |
| PagingDrive=X: | To specify the (permanent) swap file fixed disk location (substitute X with target drive/partition letter). Default is C:. See "SWAP FILE - Part 1", "SWAP FILE - Part 2" and "3.1X/9X/2000/NT/ME/XP/2003 MULTIBOOT SWAP FILE", also in MYTIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE] and in MYTIPS31.TXT [part of W31-11D.ZIP], for more details. |
| PagingFile=X:\PATH\FILENAME.EXT | To specify the (permanent) swap file location: fixed disk (substitute X with target drive/partition letter), path (substitute PATH with target directory name) and filename with extension (substitute FILENAME.EXT with WIN386.SWP for Windows 95/98/ME or with 386SPART.PAR for Windows/WfWG 3.1x). Default is C:\WINDOWS\WIN386.SWP for Win9x/ME or C:\386SPART.PAR for Win31. See "SWAP FILE - Part 1", "SWAP FILE - Part 2" and "3.1X/9X/2000/NT/ME/XP/2003 MULTIBOOT SWAP FILE", also in MYTIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE] and in MYTIPS31.TXT [part of W31-11D.ZIP], for more details. |
| PerVMFiles=60 | To increase the number of private file handles (similar to the native MS-DOS mode "FILES=" command in CONFIG.SYS) allocated to each Virtual Machine (VM), needed by DOS programs running in a DOS session. Default value is 30 for Win9x/ME, and 10 for Win/WfWG 3.1x. Maximum allowed is 225. The specified number (0 - 225) is added to the minimum of 30 VMFiles Windows allocates by default to each VM. In this example: 60 + 30 = 90 VMFiles. More info @ MSKB. |
| RemovableIDE=1 | Windows 95/98/ME ONLY: To turn on support for removable (E)IDE/ATAPI drives: Iomega, Syquest, Jazz, Shark, Orb, Zip, optical, CD, DVD, LS-120, tape etc. Default value is 0 (off). More info @ MSKB + MS TechNet. |
| SyncTime=ON | Windows/WfWG 3.1x ONLY: You MUST enable this line IF TrapTimerPorts=OFF (see setting below), to synchronize Win31's time clock with the computer's BIOS clock periodically. Default value is OFF. |
| SysVMEMSLimit=-1 | To increase Expanded Memory (EMS) available to each DOS session for DOS programs that need EMS to operate. Default value is 2048 (2 MB). Maximum allowed is -1 (32768 = 32 MB). |
| TrapTimerPorts=OFF | Windows/WfWG 3.1x ONLY: Helps time sensitive Win31 programs/games that rely on the computer timer to run more accurate. Default value is ON. |
| VGAMonoText=OFF | To allow Windows to use the B000-B7FF Upper Memory Area (UMA) if
not used by other hardware devices (monochrome video adapters) or graphics/video (VGA/SVGA/XVGA) applications. Default value
is ON. If a hardware device/peripheral or an upper/extended/expanded memory manager using this memory range is installed, this area is NOT available to Windows. |
| WindowUpdateTime=200 | To decrease the time (in milliseconds) between display updates for slower non-Windows (DOS based) programs running in DOS sessions. Default value is 50. |
Some of these settings can be loaded at Windows startup, as command line parameters. To see which ones suit your needs, run:
WIN /?
from any DOS
prompt.
See also "WIN.COM SWITCHES", also in MYTIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE] and in MYTIPS31.TXT [part of W31-11D.ZIP], and "WIN.COM HIDDEN PARAMETERS", also in SECRETS.TXT [part of both W95-11D.EXE
and W31-11D.ZIP], for more details.
FYI:
Windows 95/OSR1/OSR2 users who installed DUN Upgrade 1.4 AND Windows 98/98 SE users: READ "FASTEST INTERNET 98 - Part 1" and "FASTEST INTERNET 98 - Part 2", both also in TIPS98.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], to learn how to improve your dial-up Internet performance by tweaking the "IPMTU" Registry values.
You need an Internet/Online Service Provider to connect to the Internet.
DEFINITION: Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) or packet size of a Network/ISP is the largest amount of data that can be transferred in one physical frame on that Network. Fragmentation will occur if a packet is sent across a Network that has a MTU smaller than the packet's frame length. This leads to lower performance as fragments need to be reassembled. The workaround in this case is to decrease the Winsock's MTU value to match the minimum MTU of ALL intervening Networks. Since it is virtually impossible to determine the minimum MTU of so many Networks, trial and error is almost always the best choice. Start by trying to match your MTU value with your Network/ISP's MTU. Typical cases:
NOTE: MaxMTU [Win95], IPMTU [Win98], DefaultRcvWindow [RWIN], DefaultTTL [TTL] and cachesize [NDI] are NOT present in your Registry if you have never used a "MTU tweaker" like EasyMTU, or added them yourself using a Registry editor like Regedit.
There are two ways of doing this, but NOT BEFORE BACKING UP YOUR REGISTRY FILES:
• THE EASY WAY [USE THE REG FILE]:
All necessary settings can be
implemented by using the included file: MAXMTU95.REG (or restored by using DEFMTU95.REG), both included also in W95-11D.EXE. But FIRST open these
.REG files in Notepad and compare the Registry keys listed there with yours. To view/edit your Win95 Registry, run the
Registry editor (REGEDIT.EXE, located in your Win95 folder), and scroll to the keys listed in MAXMTU95.REG and DEFMTU95.REG.
The "DriverDesc"="TCP/IP" NetTrans keys: 0000, 0001, 0002 might have different values on your system. You may have more than
one "00nn" NetTrans keys ("nn" is an actual number, ranging anywhere from 00 up to 50, depending on your system's
Network/Dial-Up settings). If that is true, you HAVE TO REPLACE THEM with the ones found in YOUR Registry!
The
value in MAXMTU95.REG is MaxMTU = 576. Modify it if your ISP/Online Service uses different MTU values at
server end.
After modifying the MAXMTU95.REG and DEFMTU95.REG keys to match YOURS, (double)-click on MAXMTU95.REG in
Explorer or File Manager, to merge (register) the new settings. Then restart Win95, log on to the Internet as usual, and
notice any differences in access speed.
• THE HARD WAY :) [MODIFY THE REGISTRY MANUALLY]:
Run the Registry editor
(REGEDIT.EXE, located in your Win95 folder) and set MaxMTU to 576
(Win95 default MaxMTU value is 1500) into ALL your TCP/IP NetTrans Registry keys (these are the
SLIP/PPP protocol keys). You may have more than one.
Examples (these are ONLY my TCP/IP NetTrans registry keys, you
MUST customize YOURS to get similar results):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\NetTrans\0000
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\NetTrans\0001
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\NetTrans\0002
"MaxMTU"="576"
"MaxMTU"="576"
"MaxMTU"="576"
MEANING:
"MaXMTU" =
Maximum Transmission Unit, or MTU (packet size in bytes).
Valid values: MTU = MSS +
40.
Respectively: 256, 576, 1006, 1500 (other values are valid as well, depending on
the MTU used by different ISPs).
Default: 1500.
Recommended: 576.
Data type: string:
"MaxMTU"="576"
To determine EXACTLY which NetTrans keys you need to alter (and NO others), bear in mind that you MUST have this entry:
"DriverDesc"="TCP/IP"
under EACH of your TCP/IP NetTrans keys you want to modify! Change/add
the MaxMTU string ONLY under your NetTrans keys that have "TCP/IP" on the "DriverDesc" line!
You may have more than one "00nn" NetTrans keys ("nn" is an actual number, ranging anywhere from 00 up to 50, depending on your system's Network/Dial-Up settings).
Here there are two possibilities:
Repeat the
steps above for ALL your TCP/IP NetTrans keys, to include the recommended values for MaxMTU.
Restart Windows
95 when done so all changes can take effect.
NOTE: Some ISPs use a default packet size (MaxMTU)
value of 1500, so it's a trial-and-error game. To make sure your Win95 Registry TCP/IP settings match the ones used by your
Internet provider, you may need to contact your ISP's support line or e-mail service, and ask them the exact values used for
MaxMTU.
Also, read "ISPS KNOWN MTU VALUES", also in MYTIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE].
Then modify your Registry settings accordingly, to obtain maximum
performance.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Download ALL above mentioned Registration files (.REG) + complete usage guidelines (MAXSPEED.TXT): MAXSPEED.ZIP [12 KB]!
MANDATORY UPGRADES: You might also see modem speed improvements over the Internet by installing these free Microsoft communications upgrades:
UPDATES:
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"I feel the need... for speed!" ... And don't type the quotes! :-)
C:\Windows\Mplayer.exe /play /close
Click OK three times
to close all open dialog boxes. Now you should be again in Explorer's main window, back where you first started.
You can
repeat this operation with all media clip files listed above (and more if you have any other file types installed by your
audio/video software on your machine).
From now on, when you (double)-click a .MID or .WAV file, Mplayer will play the
file once, and then exit, without prompting you for confirmation, nor waiting for you to manually click all necessary exit
buttons.
This is also useful for previewing new media files you download, or from a new cd-rom.
HINT: You can also create a shortcut in the Startup folder, to play once and then automatically close your favorite media clip file, when Win95/98 loads.
Have fun!
UPDATE: You can use the same command
line above (/play /close) with Microsoft Media Player2
Update [3.5 MB, free].
Microsoft DirectX/ActiveX Media
Player2 v6.0 runtime extensions: ActiveMovie, DirectAnimation, DirectShow [4.46 MB, free].
MPlayer2 uses ActiveX
controls and DirectX APIs, and can also be used as a MS IEx/Netscape browser plug-in, to play ALL Multimedia file formats:
.AVI, QuickTime (.MOV), NetShow (.ASF), Video/Sound MPEG Layer 1 (.DAT, .MP3, .MPE, .MPG, etc), General/Extended MIDI (.MID,
.RMI), Microsoft Wave (.WAV), CD Audio (.CDA), Real Audio/Video (.AU, .RA, .RAM), etc.
This is the MPlayer2 command line
used to play once and then close a Multimedia file (default installation):
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Media Player\Mplayer2.exe" /play /close "%L"
Type the quotes to allow the proper use of Long File Names (LFNs) on the command line.
FYI:
MSKB: Media
Player Command-Line Switches.
NOTE: Certain folders do NOT allow objects to be dropped (i.e. Control Panel + Printers), others ALWAYS Move To regardless of the SHIFT/CTRL status (i.e. Recycle Bin).
LASTDRIVE=Z
If you are not connected to
or using a network or a direct cable/peer to peer link, you lose a few hundred bytes of low or upper DOS memory, because you
probably have a total of 3 to 9 drives (logical partitions and removable drives included) in your system (about 7 if you use
a disk compression utility, like DrvSpace or DblSpace, bundled with Win95/98 or MS-DOS 6.xx).
Each additional drive letter
on your LASTDRIVE= line takes 96 Bytes of conventional memory in MS-DOS 5.00/6.xx, or upper memory in Windows, but ONLY IF
using an extended/upper memory manager, i.e. EMM386.EXE, included by Microsoft with your operating system/environment,
beginning with MS-DOS version 4.00.
If you use DrvSpace, DblSpace, Stacker or any other disk compression utility, change
(or add if not present) the LASTDRIVE= line to read:
LASTDRIVE=M
Examples:
If you don't use
any disk doubler/compression tool, change it to:
LASTDRIVE=D
if you have 1 hard disk (HD) and 1
CD-ROM drive installed.
If you have 2 HDs and 1 CD-ROM or 1 HD and 2 CD-ROMs, you need:
LASTDRIVE=E
If you have 2 HDs and 2 CD-ROMs or 3 HDs and 1 CD-ROM:
LASTDRIVE=F
You get the idea.
The rule of thumb is to assign an additional drive letter to your
system, on top of the last letter used by your last drive/partition.
Some are using RAM (virtual drives in the system
memory) or removable (backup) drives. Don't forget to count them in!
Don't bother counting the floppy drive(s) on your
machine, they ALWAYS take the first 2 letters: your first floppy drive is A (usually 3.5", 1.44 MB), and if you have a second
(i.e. 5.25" 1.2 MB floppy) drive, that would always have assigned the letter B.
Even if you don't have a secondary floppy
drive (B), your first (bootable) hard drive/partition is always C.
CAUTION: ALWAYS BACKUP YOUR STARTUP FILES BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES: AUTOEXEC.BAT + CONFIG.SYS (located in the root directory of your boot drive/partition, C:\ by default).
From a DOS prompt, run:
MEM /C/P
and write down the amount of
your free conventional/upper memory.
Then edit your CONFIG.SYS with Notepad in Windows (or EDIT.COM in DOS), place
LASTDRIVE=X (replace X with the desired drive letter) as one of the first lines (after
the DOS=HIGH,UMB line), save the changes and reboot.
Go to that DOS prompt one more time, and run:
MEM /C/P
again, to see if you gained any more free upper or/and conventional memory.
NOTE: Before messing around with this file, MAKE A BACKUP COPY JUST TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE!... And, if you would like to be entirely on the safe side, would you read (and eventually do) any of this?! :-)
Back to the business at hand: in WIN.INI, scroll down to the [intl] section (stands for "International"). It looks something like this:
[intl]
iCountry=1
ICurrDigits=2
iCurrency=0
iDate=0
iDigits=2
iLZero=1
iMeasure=1
iNegCurr=0
iTime=1
iTLZero=0
s1159=AM
s2359=PM
sCountry=United States
sCurrency=$
sDate=/
sDecimal=.
sLanguage=enu
sList=,
sLongDate=dddd, MMMM dd, yyyy
sShortDate=MM/dd/yy
sThousand=,
sTime=:
And now for the fun changes. As you can see, the "iTime=" line has a value of 1
on my machine. Win95/98 assigns it a value of 0 by default.
It actually changes the looks of the time display in Explorer,
File Manager, Status Bar, and in whatever application/utility shows the date and the time.
When it is 0, the time looks
like this: 12:00:00AM (don't you hate somebody telling you it's 12, midnight?) I do, so with the
value of 1, the date looks like this: 00:00:00AM (we're doing better already..., just read
on).
The line "iDate=" has 1 as default value. That means the date looks like this: 1/1/96. I don't like this look, so I changed it to 0. Now it looks like this: 01/01/96.
Also, the date and time separators, the "sDate=" and
respectively "sTime=" lines, can be changed to use most any punctuation and/or symbol crosses
your mind.
I personally tried these: / (default separator for the date), -, =, +, \, |, : (default separator for the
time), ;, ~, `, ', ", @, #, $, %, ^, &, *, (, ), [, ], {, }, _, and even the . (period), and the , (comma).
You decide
which ones you like best for your own date/"time machine".
You can also change the way the date shows the order:
month/day/year, or a bit bizarre: year/month/day, etc. Just modify the "sShortDate=" line to the
way you see today's date.
Same principle applies to the way the long date shows: the sLongDate=" line (capital M on this line means the name of the month is going to begin with a capital
letter).
You can find infinite combinations, to make the date/time look good on your screen, so... Make my day...
:-)
But this can also be done by hacking the Registry. Run Regedit and go to:
HKEY_USERS\.Default\Control Panel\International
Example: add/modify these String values (don't type the quotes): "sShortDate", "sDate", "sTimeFormat", "iTime". Then double-click on each of them and type in the characters below (these examples are the ones I use) to customize your date/time "looks" (don't type the quotes):
"sShortDate"="M·d·yy"
"sDate"="·"
"sTimeFormat"="H:m:s tt"
"iTime"="1"
Have fun.
UPDATE: "In all versions of Windows 9x/ME I have been able to alter these settings by highlighting the
required white box and retyping the appropriate settings (if the box is grey you are unable to alter it).
You may have a
small drop-down menu to choose from, but you are still able to alter at your will. Examples of "Time style"
entry:
h:mm:sstt 8:21am HH:mm:ss 08:21 hh:mm:ss tt 08:21 am
You can also alter the "Time separator", "AM symbol" and "PM symbol" in a similar
fashion. The same applies to the Date settings."
[Thank you Brian!]
LocalLoadHigh=1
under the [386Enh] section of your SYSTEM.INI file, found in
your Windows directory/folder. This will give you an extra 2-12 KB (or more, depending on your system configuration) of
conventional (low) memory (RAM) in DOS sessions.
This setting determines the way Windows uses the Upper Memory Blocks
(UMBs) in a DOS session. Valid values are disabled (0, off, no, false) or enabled (1, on, yes, true). Any of
these values are recognized. Default is disabled, equivalent to this SYSTEM.INI line:
LocalLoadHigh=0
If this line is absent (default), Windows uses the entire Upper Memory Area (UMA)
available, leaving no extra UMBs for DOS sessions running in protected mode, each in its own Virtual Machine (VM).
If this
entry is enabled, Windows does not use the entire UMA, thus making UMBs available to each VM (DOS session).
If you load
your DOS mode TSRs/drivers/devices high (in upper memory) in your CONFIG.SYS and/or AUTOEXEC.BAT files (using "DEVICEHIGH" and "LOADHIGH" respectively, enabled by the HIMEM.SYS and EMM386.EXE memory managers "combo" in your
CONFIG.SYS), and have a memory configuration (on bootup, before launching Windows) of less than 16 KB of free upper RAM (the
Upper Memory Area is the first 384 KB of memory above the 640 KB boundary), make sure to remove, or better, remark the
following line with a semicolon (;), in the [386enh] section of your SYSTEM.INI file:
; LocalLoadHigh=1
CAUTION: If this line is enabled, you may NOT be able to start Windows with less than 16 KB of free upper memory on certain system configurations!
On some systems, you might find necessary to add/modify the following line under the [386enh] section of your SYSTEM.INI file to read:
EMMExclude=A000-FFFF
to provide better compatibility with 3rd party memory managers (i.e. QEMM, NetRoom,
386MAX, UMBPCI.SYS etc) or TSRs (Terminate and Stay Resident programs) loaded in your startup files
(CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT).
Also, you might want to remove all the WIN= switches from the EMM386.EXE line in
your CONFIG.SYS file (located in the root directory of your boot drive, usually C:\). Example of EMM386.EXE line with two
WIN= switches:
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE WIN=EE00-EFFF WIN=E000-ECFF I=B000-B7FF RAM AUTO
Remark the entire EMM386.EXE DEVICE line (put REM or a semicolon in front of it), and copy it as the next new line, but this time delete the WIN= switches. Open CONFIG.SYS with Notepad in Windows or EDIT.COM in DOS (the MS-DOS text/ASCII editor), whichever you're comfortable with.
NOTE: You need to restart Windows every time after making ANY changes to your SYSTEM.INI.
... And don't forget to BACKUP YOUR SYSTEM.INI BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES!
SET PROMPT=MS-DOS Mode!$_$P$G
SET WINPMT=Type EXIT & hit ENTER 2 return 2
Windows!$_$P$G
The SET WINPMT= statement line is what you'll see as prompt during your DOS session (Windows DOS box), and you won't forget to go back to Windows when you're done working/playing in DOS.
Did I mention? :) BACKUP YOUR FILES BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES!
The same principle applies to shortcut/link icons. To change a shortcut icon: right-click on
a shortcut (.LNK) file -> click Properties -> click Change Icon -> browse through your image/icon/cursor files folders (with
"All files" choice highlighted) -> (double)-click on any .BMP (Windows BitMaP), .CUR (static mouse CURsor), .ANI (ANImated
mouse cursor), .ICO (standalone ICOn) or icon library/executable (.CPL, .DLL, .EXE, .ICL etc) file -> click OK twice.
More
info @ MSKB.
To change permanently a file type icon, open Windows Explorer: click View -> Options -> File Types -> highlight the desired file type -> click Edit -> click Change Icon -> browse through your folders with the "All files" choice highlighted, until you find a(n) bitmap/icon/cursor to your liking -> click all Apply/OK/Yes buttons until all dialog boxes are closed.
TIP: Download my Windows Icons archive (in DLL, ICL + ICO formats, 32x32 pixels, 16 colors, ZIPped freeware), to use as custom shortcut/link/folder icons or/and as custom static mouse pointers.
NOTE: Compressed icon libraries/executables (.CPL, .DLL, .ICL, .EXE etc) canNOT be used as mouse pointers! :(
%windir%\DEFRAG.EXE /ALL /F /NOPROMPT
Meaning:
defragments ALL your hard (and RAM) drives, performs full and unconditional defragmentation and exits automatically upon
completion, without prompting you for confirmation.
Same goes for Win9x/ME's ScanDisk: to run Scandskw unattended,
type this in a shortcut command line box (and optionally place it in your \Startup folder, to have Scandskw run every time
you start Win9x/ME):
%windir%\SCANDSKW.EXE /A /N
to scan ALL your hard (and RAM) drives,
performing a standard scan (no surface scan) and to exit upon completion, without confirmation prompt.
If you purchased
the Microsoft Plus! Package for Windows 95, or if you have Win98/ME, you can achieve all of the above by scheduling System
Agent (Task Scheduler) to do periodic unattended "runs" on all your (hard) drives using the above Scandskw and Defrag
switches.
WARNING: System Agent (Task Scheduler) puts a significant drain on your system resources when enabled!
Windows 9x/ME Disk Defragmenter switches are displayed when you run:
DEFRAG /?
from the native MS-DOS prompt:
"DEFRAG [drive: | /all] [/F | /U | /Q] [/noprompt] [/concise | /detailed] drive: Drive letter of the disk to be optimized /ALL Defragment all local, nonremovable drives /F Defragment files and free space /U Defragment files only /Q Defragment free space only /CONCISE Display the Hide Details view (default) /DETAILED Display the Show Details view /NOPROMPT Unattended mode: do not stop to display confirmation messages."
Below are the Win9x/ME Disk Scanner parameters, shown when you exit Windows to the real MS-DOS prompt, and run:
SCANDISK /?
"Runs the ScanDisk disk-repair program. To check and repair a drive, use the
following syntax:
SCANDISK [drive: | /ALL] [/CHECKONLY | /AUTOFIX [/NOSAVE]] [/SURFACE]
To check and repair an unmounted DriveSpace compressed volume file, use:
SCANDISK drive:\DRVSPACE.nnn [/CHECKONLY | /AUTOFIX[/NOSAVE]]
To examine a file for fragmentation, use the following syntax:
SCANDISK /FRAGMENT [drive:][path]filename
To undo repairs you made previously, use the following syntax:
SCANDISK /UNDO [drive:]
For [drive:], specify the drive containing your Undo disk.
/ALL Checks and repairs all local drives.
/AUTOFIX Fixes damage without prompting.
/CHECKONLY Checks a drive, but does not repair any damage.
/CUSTOM Configures and runs ScanDisk according to SCANDISK.INI settings.
/NOSAVE With /AUTOFIX, deletes lost clusters rather than saving as files.
/NOSUMMARY With /CHECKONLY or /AUTOFIX, prevents ScanDisk from stopping at
summary screens.
/SURFACE Performs a surface scan after other checks.
/MONO Configures ScanDisk for use with a monochrome display.
To check and repair the current drive, type SCANDISK without parameters."WARNING:
There is A DANGEROUS UNDOCUMENTED SCANDSKW SWITCH (Win9x/ME GUI mode only) to be avoided by *ALL MEANS* !!! Here it
is:
SCANDSKW /O
/O = The letter O (ou), NOT zero (0) DELETES ALL Long File Name (LFNs)
references, with NO WAY of restoring them !!!
See also "SCANDSKW HIDDEN SWITCHES",
also in MYTIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE].
NOTE: This has nothing to do with the DOS mode CONFIG.SYS "STACKS=" setting!
Stack overflow indicates
errors in [poorly written :(] drivers, and Win9x/ME sets aside 4 KB of RAM for each stack page used by drivers. But if a
driver tries to use more than 1 page at a time, stack overflow occurs, in which case your computer may crash. If Windows can
successfully "bypass" a stack overflow situation, it reclaims this memory and returns it back to the system.
To prevent
such errors, add the following line under the [386enh] section of your SYSTEM.INI file, located in your Windows folder
(example):
MinSPs=8
If after doing this you still get those error messages, try increasing
the MinSPs number using multiples of 2: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 etc.
Each stack page requires 4 KB of memory.
Default MinSPs value is 2.
To do this edit SYSTEM.INI with Notepad or Sysedit.
Restart Windows when done for
this change to take effect.
FYI: More info @ MSKB.
ÿ [WINKEY] = Open Start Menu
ÿ + D = Maximize (restore) or minimize all open windows or open Desktop menu [Win98/2000/ME/XP/2003 only]
ÿ + E = Start Windows Explorer
ÿ + F = Start Find Files/Folders dialog box
ÿ + L = Start Welcome screen [WinXP + Fast User Switch XP Power Toy only] or Lockup Workstation [Win2000/XP/2003 only]
ÿ + M = Minimize or maximize (restore) all open windows
ÿ + R = Start Run dialog box
ÿ + F1 = Start Help Menu and Support Center [Win98/2000/ME/XP/2003 only]
ÿ + Tab = Cycle and select (press Enter) through all open apps/games Taskbar buttons
ÿ + Ctrl + Tab = Cycle through all open apps/games Taskbar buttons, Tray icons, Start Menu and Quick Launch toolbars (press Right or Left arrows to cycle through Toolbar and Tray items)
ÿ + Pause/Break = Start Systems Properties Control Panel applet
ÿ + Ctrl + F = Start Find Computer dialog box
ÿ + Shift + M = Undo Minimize (restore) all open windows
ÿ + L + Enter = Logoff Windows [Win98/ME only] or Lockup Workstation [Win2000/XP/2003 only]
ÿ + Q = Cycle and select (press Enter) through all users [Win2000/XP/2003 only] or Fast User Switch [WinXP + Fast User Switch XP Power Toy only]
ÿ + U = Start Utility Manager [Win2000/XP/2003 only]
ÿ + U + R + Enter = Restart Windows [Win95/98/ME only]
ÿ + U + S + Enter = Shut down Windows [Win95/98/ME only]
ÿ + Space = Scroll down one page at a time (same as Page Down) in any web browser
ÿ + Back Space = Scroll up one page at a time (same as Page Up) in any web browser
2 [MENU KEY] = Popup right-click context menu for selected item.
BONUS: [;-)] If you own a Microsoft Natural Keyboard or similar, and have installed Microsoft IntelliType Software, you can also do this:
ÿ + A = Start Accessibility Options Control Panel applet (if installed)
ÿ + C = Start Control Panel
ÿ + I = Start Mouse Properties Control Panel applet
ÿ + K = Start Keyboard Properties Control Panel applet
ÿ + L = Logoff Windows
ÿ + P = Start Print Manager
ÿ + S = Toggle Caps Lock ON or OFF
ÿ + V = Start Clipboard
ÿ + Space = Display Microsoft IntelliType shortcut keys list.
FYI: See "KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS", also in TIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE].
