WinDOwS Tricks - Part 16

Go to ALL WinDOwS ©Tricks + Secrets Contents

1. Windows 95/98/ME users ONLY:
   "Run Regedit and go to:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\BIOS
   In the right hand pane create a new DWORD Value called "CPUPriority" (no quotes) → (double-)click on it → check the Decimal box → type 1 → click OK to save.
   This will speed things up by using the fastest priority to the CPU when opening any program, and works on 99% of the PCs I've tried it on.
   To reset to Windows 9x/ME default type 3 or delete this Value altogether.
   To see your system's real time performance type 0 (NOT recommended by Microsoft!).
   In some cases this Registry BIOS key is absent, because enabling the BIOS power management feature (APM) and the Win9x/ME ACPI BIOS extentions may disable it!
   Make sure there is a Plug and Play BIOS item listed in Control Panel → System → Device Manager → System devices.
   Here are other DWORD Values (Decimal) you can use to tweak your CPU Priority even further (under the same Registry key above):
   • PCIConcur = 1 (enabled)
   • FastDRAM = 1 (enabled)
   • AGPConcur = 1 (enabled) [if your video controller is AGP based].
   These settings speed up hardware specific operations by allowing installed devices to use extra CPU cycles: PCI, AGP and/or DRAM based I/O transfers from the motherboard interface/bus/bridge (PCI, AGP, DRAM) [→ to the motherboard chipset/bus/bridge where applicable] → to the CPU, and the other way around."
   MEANING:
   "CPUPriority" DWORD valid Decimal values:
   0 = The foreground (active) app/game is assigned exclusive CPU cycles (real time priority). WARNING: Use with caution!
   1 = All open apps/games (foreground and background) benefit from a few more CPU cycles than loaded Win32 TSRs/DLLs/Runtimes/APIs.
   2 = All open apps/games (foreground and background) benefit from even more CPU cycles than loaded Win32 TSRs/DLLs/Runtimes/APIs.
   3 = All apps/games/TSRs/DLLs/Runtimes/APIs share same CPU cycles (default, same as "CPUPriority" absent from Registry).

2. Windows NT4/2000/ME/XP/2003 users ONLY:
   "This Registry hack might fix your CPU Priority if you don't have a PnP BIOS.
   Recently I got a new motherboard and CPU: a P3 1 GHz with 512 MB RAM and an AX34 Pro II black PCB mobo.
   When I loaded Windows I noticed I now have ACPI BIOS, and I found out that this new Registry setting overrides the first one (see "CPUPriority" above), increasing CPU priority by 50 to 100%.
   Run Regedit and go to:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\PriorityControl
   or create it if not present: right-click on an empty spot → select New → Key → paste "PriorityControl" (no quotes) into the type-in box → click OK to save.
   Now highlight this key, and in the right hand pane create a new DWORD [REG_DWORD] Value called "Win32PrioritySeparation" (no quotes) → (double-)click on it → check the Decimal box → type 1 → click OK to save.
   When this baby is set to 1, the foreground (active) application has more CPU power than the background (inactive) apps (if any), and if you set the value to 2, you get even more power to the foreground app:
   0 = Foreground and background applications equally responsive.
   1 = Foreground application more responsive than background.
   2 = Best foreground application response time.
   The maximum value allowed is 26 (Hex) or 38 (Decimal).
   Play around with these values till you find your own "sweet spot".
   BEWARE: Higher settings will drag down system resources considerably, especially when doing something big, like saving a huge Photoshop file, but hey, it saved it pretty darn quick. :)"
   More info:
   • MS Windows 2000 Resource Kits (RK): Win32PrioritySeparation.
   • SmallVoid: WinNT4/2000/XP/2003 Tweak.
   • MSKB: REG: CurrentControlSet, PART 1.
   • Inside Windows 2000, 3rd Edition: Chapter 6: Processes, Threads + Jobs.
   • Windows 2000 Server DOCs: Change performance of foreground and background programs.

• "Some PCs powered by AMD K7 (Athlon) CPUs and AMD compatible chipsets may NOT have the \VxD\BIOS Registry key installed, and therefore canNOT use the "CPUPriority" setting. :("
  [Thank you Peter!]

• "CPUPriority works fine on my PC: AMD K6 450 MHz + 3DNow and Viatech MVP3 chipset."
  [Thank you Julian!]

• "I have used the "CPUPriority" setting of 1 on my E-machine box: AMD K6-2 500 MHz (upgraded), Win98 original. For some reason it reverted itself to 0!"
  [Thank you Greg!]

-----Begin cut & paste here-----
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{79eac9c2-baf9-11ce-8c82-00aa004ba90b}\ProxyStubClsid32]
@="{B8DA6310-E19B-11D0-933C-00A0C90DCAA9}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{79eac9c3-baf9-11ce-8c82-00aa004ba90b}\ProxyStubClsid32]
@="{B8DA6310-E19B-11D0-933C-00A0C90DCAA9}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{79eac9c4-baf9-11ce-8c82-00aa004ba90b}]
@="IHlinkTarget"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{79eac9c4-baf9-11ce-8c82-00aa004ba90b}\ProxyStubClsid32]
@="{B8DA6310-E19B-11D0-933C-00A0C90DCAA9}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{79eac9c5-baf9-11ce-8c82-00aa004ba90b}\ProxyStubClsid32]
@="{B8DA6310-E19B-11D0-933C-00A0C90DCAA9}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{7BF80981-BF32-101A-8BBB-00AA00300CAB}]
@="Picture"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{7BF80981-BF32-101A-8BBB-00AA00300CAB}\ProxyStubClsid32]
@="{00020420-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

------End cut & paste here------

-----Begin cut & paste here-----
[Version]
Signature=$CHICAGO$
[DefaultInstall]
DelReg=Del.Reg
[Del.Reg]
HKLM,%Location%,CPUPriority,,
[Strings]
Location="System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\BIOS"
[SourceDisksNames]
1=,,0
------End cut & paste here------

-----Begin cut & paste here-----
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Appearance\Schemes]
"Windows 2000"=hex:04,00,00,00,77,2f,2c,c3,01,00,00,00,10,00,00,00,10,00,00,00,\
  12,00,00,00,12,00,00,00,f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,bc,\
  02,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,4d,53,20,53,61,6e,73,20,53,65,72,69,66,00,\
  00,00,28,2f,00,00,1f,04,5f,01,bf,00,00,00,00,58,9e,b7,0f,00,00,00,0f,00,00,\
  00,fb,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,4d,53,20,53,61,6e,73,20,53,65,72,69,66,00,00,00,28,2f,00,00,1f,\
  04,5f,01,bf,00,00,00,00,58,9e,b7,12,00,00,00,12,00,00,00,f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,4d,53,20,\
  53,61,6e,73,20,53,65,72,69,66,00,00,00,28,2f,00,00,1f,04,5f,01,bf,00,00,00,\
  00,58,9e,b7,f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,4d,53,20,53,61,6e,73,20,53,65,72,69,66,00,00,00,28,2f,\
  00,00,1f,04,5f,01,bf,00,00,00,00,58,9e,b7,f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,4d,53,20,53,61,6e,73,20,\
  53,65,72,69,66,00,00,00,28,2f,00,00,1f,04,5f,01,bf,00,00,00,00,58,9e,b7,f8,\
  ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,4d,53,20,53,61,6e,73,20,53,65,72,69,66,00,63,00,6f,01,14,88,d7,2d,00,\
  00,00,10,04,00,d7,2d,00,00,d4,d0,c8,00,3a,6e,a5,00,0a,24,6a,00,80,80,80,00,\
  d4,d0,c8,00,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,ff,ff,ff,00,d4,\
  d0,c8,00,c0,c0,c0,00,80,80,80,00,00,00,80,00,ff,ff,ff,00,d4,d0,c8,00,80,80,\
  80,00,80,80,80,00,00,00,00,00,c0,c0,c0,00,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,d4,d0,c8,\
  00,00,00,00,00,ff,ff,e1,00,d4,d0,c8,00,00,00,ff,00,a6,ca,f0,00,c0,c0,c0,00

------End cut & paste here------"

-----Begin cut & paste here-----
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Appearance\Schemes]
"Windows 2000"=hex:04,00,00,00,1f,30,8c,d3,01,00,00,00,10,00,00,00,10,00,00,00,\
  12,00,00,00,12,00,00,00,f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,bc,\
  02,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,54,61,68,6f,6d,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,0c,00,00,00,0f,00,00,\
  00,f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,bc,02,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,54,61,68,6f,6d,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,12,00,00,00,12,00,00,00,f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,f4,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,54,61,68,\
  6f,6d,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,54,61,68,6f,6d,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,54,61,68,6f,6d,61,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,f5,\
  ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,f4,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,54,61,68,6f,6d,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,d4,d0,c8,00,3a,6e,a5,00,0a,24,6a,00,80,80,80,00,\
  d4,d0,c8,00,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,ff,ff,ff,00,d4,\
  d0,c8,00,d4,d0,c8,00,80,80,80,00,0a,24,6a,00,ff,ff,ff,00,d4,d0,c8,00,80,80,\
  80,00,80,80,80,00,00,00,00,00,d4,d0,c8,00,ff,ff,ff,00,40,40,40,00,d4,d0,c8,\
  00,00,00,00,00,ff,ff,e1,00,b5,b5,b5,00,00,00,ff,00,a6,ca,f0,00,c0,c0,c0,00

------End cut & paste here------

More info @ MSKB:
• Windows Does Not Start Normally with Bootgui=1 in MSDOS.SYS.
• How to Perform Windows 98 Clean Boot Troubleshooting.

1. Delete an entire Registry key/subkey:
   1. By using Notepad (generic):
      -----Begin cut & paste here-----
      REGEDIT4
      [-HKEY_KEY_NAME\SubKeyName0\SubKeyName1\SubKeyName2\etc...]
      ------End cut & paste here------

   2. Or by running Regedit and exporting the desired (sub)key to a REG file: Highlight a (sub)key name → click "Registry" from the menu → select "Export Registry File..." → Type the filename you wish in the "File name" field → browse to the destination of your choice → click the Save button.
   Then open the saved REG file in Notepad and add a minus (-) sign in front of the respective key name (right after the left square parenthesis) you want erased from your Registry (example):
   -----Begin cut & paste here-----
   REGEDIT4
   [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Config\0000\Display\Settings]
   ------End cut & paste here------

2. Delete a Registry value:
   1. By using Notepad (generic):
      -----Begin cut & paste here-----
      REGEDIT4
      [HKEY_KEY_NAME\SubKeyName0\SubKeyName1\SubKeyName2\etc...]
      "ValueName"=-
      ------End cut & paste here------

   2. Or by running Regedit and exporting the desired (sub)key to a REG file: Highlight a (sub)key name → click "Registry" from the menu → select "Export Registry File..." → Type the filename you wish in the "File name" field → browse to the destination of your choice → click the Save button.
   Then open the saved REG file in Notepad and add a minus (-) sign after the respective value name [right after the equal (=) sign] you want erased from your Registry (example):
   -----Begin cut & paste here-----
   REGEDIT4
   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Config\0000\Display\Settings]
   "DesktopPos"=-
   ------End cut & paste here------

• This way (see paragraph #1 above) ALL adjacent subkeys AND values will also be deleted!
• Do NOT delete ANY of the 6 root/hive/main Registry keys (HKEY), as they are ALL needed for proper operation! See "Registry Structure", also as Intro chapter in REGISTRY.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], for details!
• BACKUP YOUR REGISTRY FILES BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES!

-----Begin cut & paste here-----
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\FS Templates]
@="Max Cache"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\FS Templates\Super Cache]
@="Super Cache"
"NameCache"=hex:00,ff,00,00
"PathCache"=hex:ff,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\FS Templates\Max Cache]
@="Max Cache"
"NameCache"=hex:00,18,00,00
"PathCache"=hex:c8,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\FS Templates\Huge Cache]
@="Huge Cache"
"NameCache"=hex:80,13,00,00
"PathCache"=hex:90,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\FS Templates\Large Cache]
@="Large Cache"
"NameCache"=hex:a0,0f,00,00
"PathCache"=hex:80,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\FS Templates\Medium Cache]
@="Medium Cache"
"NameCache"=hex:20,0f,00,00
"PathCache"=hex:50,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\control\FileSystem]
"NameCache"=hex:00,18,00,00
"PathCache"=hex:c8,00,00,00

------End cut & paste here------

1. "Super Cache" settings appear courtesy of Thomas, and THESE ARE THE MAXimum values accepted by Windows 9x/ME!
2. "Large Cache" settings appear courtesy of Dave.

REG File Above  "NameCache"     "PathCache"             Memory (RAM) Used
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW Setting      Cached Files   Cached Directories      KiloBytes [KB]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Super Cache     65280           255                     2170 KB (2.1 MB)
Max Cache        6144           200                      150 KB
Huge Cache       4992           144                      108 KB
Large Cache      4000           128                       80 KB
Medium Cache     3872            80                       64 KB

Default         "NameCache"     "PathCache"             Memory (RAM) Used
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OLD Setting      Cached Files   Cached Directories      KiloBytes [KB]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Network Server   2729           64                      40 KB
Desktop Computer  677           32                      16 KB
Mobile/Docking    160           16                       4 KB

• Use the "Super Cache" settings ONLY IF you have at least 128 MB RAM!
• See "CD-ROM/DVD + HARD DISK MAX CACHE", also in REGISTRY.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], to learn how to boost your read-ahead hard disk cache buffer and CD/CD-R/CD-RW/DVD drive performance to the MAX!
• "CacheMan for Windows 9x/NT4/2000/ME/XP/2003 [no nag shareware] can also set your hard disk/CD/DVD cache to higher values, including different options you can customize, depending on your computer's memory and used software."
  [Thank you James for the reminder!]

1. Open Windows Explorer → click View → click Folder Options [Win98/ME] or Options [Win95/OSR2] → select the File Types tab → scroll down to the "Registration Entries" item → (double-)click on it → (double-)click on Merge, which should be the default action (marked in bold) → type:
   REGEDIT.EXE /S "%1"
   in the "Application used to perform action" box (quotes must be included, all characters are case insensitive) → click OK or press Enter 3 times.
   Change the Windows folder name if different on your computer.
   Note that you only need to add the /S parameter to the command line, and you can skip the path altogether, because Regedit.exe resides in the Windows folder, therefore in the system path.

2. Run Regedit and go to:
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\regfile\shell\open\command
   (Double-)click on the "(Default)" String in the right hand pane → type the same REGEDIT.EXE command line above → click OK → close Regedit.

1. The 1st one involves altering your Explorer.exe executable [Thank you Michael!]:
   "Make a backup of Explorer.exe BEFORE doing this.
   Boot into native DOS mode and type:
   EDIT.COM /70 %winbootdir%\EXPLORER.EXE
   Now search for the "S t a r t" string. The spaces there MUST be NUL values [double zeroes (00) in hex] NOT spaces!
   Replace each instance of that text with the new Start button title you want.
   The number of characters typed MUST equal the original string length!
   Also make sure the size of your new Explorer.exe file does NOT change!
   Exit EDIT.COM and start Windows (type WIN and hit Enter) when done."

2. The 2nd one makes use of Resource Hacker (RH), the best freeware Windows resource editor, for this purpose.
   Run RH → load Explorer.exe → (double-)click on String Table → scroll down to 37 → (double-)click on it → click on 1033 → replace the "Start" string (on the 578 line) with whatever floats your boat (or delete it if you wish) → save your file → exit RH → exit/reboot Windows to native MS-DOS → BACKUP (or rename) your original file FIRST → move the "hexed" EXPLORER.EXE to %winbootdir% (usually C:\WINDOWS) by running (example):
   CD\TEMP
   MOVE EXPLORER.EXE %winbootdir%
   Then start Windows GUI by running WIN or reboot in "Normal" mode.
   Done. :)

3. The 3rd one involves using TClock [freeware], which besides placing a "funky" colored (highly customizable) calendar/clock in your Taskbar Tray, can also replace your Start button title AND icon with whatever name/icon you wish.

4. The 4th one makes use of a freeware Hex Editor (FrHed): follow Starman's Hacking Start Button guidelines.

1. The MS IE 4/5/6 Repair Tool can also be accessed from: Control Panel → Add/Remove Programs → (double-)click "Microsoft Internet Explorer (your version number here)" → select Advanced → click "Remove previous versions of Internet Explorer" → hit OK.
   If this option is not available, you can still do this manually, by running this command in the Start button → Run... box (default locations used here):

   rundll32 setupwbv.dll,IE5Maintenance "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Setup\setup.exe" /g "%windir%\IE Uninstall Log.Txt"  

2. Depending on the MS IE 4/5/6 built, you can also get rid of all its backup files/folders, by selecting "Delete the backup information", but this won't allow you to revert back to a previously installed IE release (if any).
3. To reduce your Registry size after doing this, you may need to manually shrink (compact) it, as described in "SHRINK THE REGISTRY!", also in MYTIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE].

1. "This is true, you do get a DVD player, but it's very restricted. The DVD is totally hardware oriented, not software bound like PowerDVD, WinDVD or CineMaster."
   [Thank you Andreas!]

2. You can also use the Microsoft free dedicated DVD Player included on the Windows 98/98 SE(U) Setup CD-ROM. Pop in your Setup CD (replace the CD/DVD drive letter if different on your system) and then run:
   EXTRACT /A /L %TEMP% D:\WIN98\BASE4.CAB DVD*.*
   Now you should see these 5 files extracted into your TEMP directory (default is C:\WINDOWS\TEMP): DVDPLAY.CHM, DVDPLAY.CNT, DVDPLAY.EXE, DVDRGN.EXE + DVDPLAY.HLP. Move the .CHM, .CNT and .HLP files to C:\WINDOWS\HELP and the 2 executables (.EXE) to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM (if you installed Windows 98/98 SE into C:\WINDOWS, otherwise sustitute the folder names to match yours).
   Create a shortcut to DVDPLAY.EXE, eventually on your Desktop, especially if you watch a lot of DVD movies. :)
   Note that you also need to install the 32-bit DVD Drivers/Codecs, i.e. Microsoft DirectX Media 6 [4.46 MB, free] or CineMaster, to be able to use ANY DVD player.
   DVDPlay is a primitive (lacks custom controls like brightness, color etc), but software based DVD player, and requires a fast CPU (Intel Pentium Pro/II/III/IV/Celeron/Xeon or AMD K6/K7/Athlon/Duron/Thunderbird) for optimal performance.
   [Thank you Terry!]

• DVD InfoMatrix: Win98 DVD Player.
• How to Play DVDs with any Region Code on Windows 98.
• DVD InfoMatrix: PC DVD FAQ.
• DVD Demystified: DVD FAQ.

1. As sent by Jon.
   "I got tired of that ugly brown Briefcase icon. This Registry tweak allows you to change it to a nice metal briefcase icon, for your viewing pleasure.
   Start Regedit and go to:
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{85BBD920-42A0-1069-A2E4-08002B30309D}\DefaultIcon
   (Double-)click on the right hand pane "Default" value → it should show "syncui.dll,0" → change it to "syncui.dll,1" (don't type the quotes).
   Syncui.dll (located in C:\Windows\System) stores several icons but only 2 of them are briefcases: icon 0 represents the brown briefcase (default) and icon 1 represents the metal (aluminum) briefcase.
   Close Regedit and press F5 on the Desktop to refresh when done."

2. As sent by TowerJack.
   "Start Regedit → Edit → Find → type "syncui.dll,0" without the quotes → click Find next button → change 0 to 1 → hit F3 to search further until last match found and modified as above.
   Close Regedit and press F5 on the Desktop to refresh when done."

1. Hit the "three finger salute combo": the Ctrl, Alt and Del keys the same time → highlight "America Online [Not responding]" → click the "End Task" button.
   But sometimes, under certain system configs, after doing this, your entire machine (OS) may freeze, and you may have to punch that dreaded Reset button on your computer case. :(

2. But fear no more, there is a way to close AOL 4.0/5.0/6.0 WITHOUT locking up your "beloved" Operating System. Get TaskMan for Windows 9x/ME [16 KB], a great freeware tool that can "kill" ANY (in)visible running/locked app or process.
   Copy TaskMan.exe over the one included with your Windows copy (which you should BACKUP FIRST!) to your Windows folder. Now instead of using Ctrl+Alt+Del, just run the new TaskMan (create a shortcut for it in the Start menu) → browse to "America Online [Whatever...]" → (double-)click on it → poof, gone!

3. The above are only temporary measures though. :) The "radical" method is to "ditch" (uninstall) AOL 4.0, 5.0 or 6.0 completely and get the new AOL 9.0 32-bit for Win98/NT4/2000/ME/XP/2003 from AOL keyword UPGRADE [36 MB download!].
   But do NOT forget to keep your custom settings [account info, screen name(s), saved password(s), favorite links, saved e-mail, address book, buddies list etc], by making a backup copy of these AOL 3.0/4.0/5.0/6.0 folders and their contents beforehand (I used C:\AOL4 in this example but you can change that if different): C:\AOL4\IDB and C:\AOL4\ORGANIZE, and of these files (if present) from the C:\AOL4 main directory: AOL.INI, AOLPP.INI, AOLPP2.INI, GOTO.INI and VIEWERS.INI.
   Now you're ready to uninstall AOL by running: Start button → Settings → Control Panel → Add/Remove Programs → America Online → hit the Add/Remove button.
   Finally install AOL9, and let it pick up your custom settings from your ol' AOL 3/4/5/6 which you need to restore to their original folder names (listed above), and you're all set. Just make sure to answer NO to this question (or similar), while installing AOL9:
   "Do you want to make AOL your default browser?"
   AOL9 adds some nice bonuses for ya: up to 7 screen names per account (and if you have/create your own AOL based web site you'll get 2Mb of disk space for each screen name, which amounts up to a total of 14Mb if using all 7 screen names), access to new/improved AOL areas, better compatibility with external web browsers (like MS Internet Explorer and Netscape Communicator), and [cross your fingers ;)] more stability.
   After installing AOL 9.0 software, you MUST also upgrade your MS Internet Explorer copy to the NEWEST version, which includes all current security patches and fixes for safer browsing.
   ... And from now on you'll experience (hopefully) fewer AOL lockups...
   BTW: Yule need a serious dose of good luck too! :)

1. Shell out (or reboot) to the native MS-DOS mode → run the command below to move the two MS Sans Serif font files (SSERIFE.FON + SSERIFF.FON) to another folder (NOT in your path: I suggest C:\Windows\Config):
   MOVE C:\WINDOWS\FONTS\SSERIF*.FON C:\WINDOWS\CONFIG
   I used here the default Win9x drive letter and folder name: C:\Windows. Substitute them if different on your computer.

2. (Re)start Windows by typing WIN and pressing Enter.

3. Edit your WIN.INI file (located in your Windows directory) with Notepad or Sysedit, but BACK IT UP FIRST!
   Scroll down to the [FontSubstitutes] header, and add a new line right below this section name (example):
   MS Sans Serif=Arial
   You can replace the Arial font here with ANY other font installed on your system. There are two types of fonts you can use:
   • .FON = raster/display/printer/Terminal/DOS box font (not scalable)
   • .TTF = True Type Font (scalable)
   To see the complete list of installed fonts: open Control Panel → (double-)click on Fonts → (double-)click on the one you want → remember its name as shown in the window title → type its name into the new WIN.INI line you just created above after the equal sign → save your file.

4. Restart Windows so the change can take effect.

5. Have fun.

-----Begin cut & paste here-----
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced\StartMenu\MCSM]
"Type"="checkbox"
"Text"="Multi-Column Start Menu [Win98/ME or Win95/OSR1/OSR2 + MS IE 4/5/6 ONLY]"
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced"
"ValueName"="StartMenuScrollPrograms"
"CheckedValue"=dword:0
"UncheckedValue"=dword:1
"DefaultValue"=dword:0
"HelpID"="IEXPLORE.HLP#50107"

------End cut & paste here------

Setting         Value
---------------------
Large Icons     01
Small Icons     02
List            03
Details         04

1. Windows Explorer icon view Registry key:
   • only for current user:
     HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ExpView

   • or for all users:
     HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ExpView
   In the right hand pane you'll notice the "Settings" Binary value. (Double-)click on it. On the 6th row from the top start at the left and go to the 5th group of 2 digit numbers, ignoring the 1st group of 4 digits. Place the cursor to the left of the 45th Byte (5th double digit group) and hit Delete. Now type in one of the values above (example: 04 for Details) to force Windows Explorer to display its icons the way you want. Click OK.
   [Thank you Kermit for sending the correct Byte group!]
   More info.

2. Control Panel icon view Registry key:
   • only for current user:
     HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams

   • or for all users:
     HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams
   In the right hand pane you'll notice the "Settings" Binary value. (Double-)click on it. On the 1st row from the top start at the left and go to the 5th group of 2 digit numbers, ignoring the 1st group of 4 digits. Place the cursor to the left of this group (between the 4th and the 5th) and hit Delete. Now type in one of the values above (example: 01 for Large Icons) to force Control Panel to display its icons the way you want. Click OK.