Windows Survival Tips

The following are the 10 most common things users will probably want to do to optimize Windows 95 immediately after installing it. (If your computer has a small screen and this page appears distorted, maximize your browser window to restore proper formatting.)

Quick MS DOS-Prompt 1.     Right-click and open the Start Menu.         Drag a copy of the MS-DOS Prompt         icon to the first level. (See figure         at right.) Add Accessories 2.      Open the Add/RemovePrograms          object from the Control Panel and          install useful accessory features          that were not included in your          setup: Clipboard Viewer, Document          templates, Quick View and System          Resource Meter under Accessories,          Dial-Up Networking and Direct Cable          Connection under Communications,          Backup under DiskTools, and          Microsoft Fax. Startup Disk 3.     Make a Startup disk if this wasn't         done during installation. Open         Add/Remove Programs to the Startup         Disk tab and click the Create         Disk button. Adjust Screen Resolution 4.     Adjust your video resolution above         the default 640x480. Open the         Control Panel Display applet to the         Settings tab and use the Screen         Area slider. (See figure at right.) Install Your Modem 5.     Install your modem if this wasn't         done during Setup. Open the         Modems applet in the Control         Panel, and click the Add button. Install Your Printer 6.     Install your printer if this wasn't         done during Setup. Open the         Printers folder under Settings in         the Start Menu, and click the         Add Printer Button Verify Dial-Up Networking 7.     If you intend to use Win95 or 98         to get on the Internet, you must         first install Dial-Up Networking.         In Windows 98, this is done         automatically in a default setup.         In Windows 95, you must enable         Dial-Up Networking manually.                 Additionally, you must install         the TCP/IP network protocol (a         separate operation) to connect to the         Internet.                 To check whether TCP/IP is         active on your computer, open the         Control Panel->Network applet.         Make sure that the TCP/IP protocol         is linked to the Dial-Up Adapter         in the Components list in the first         screen (Configuration tab). See the         screen at the right.    ---)                 If you don't see TCP/IP in the list         click the Add button, and choose         Protocol.                 For more detailed help on installing         the TCP/IP protocol, click here. Optimize CD-ROM Drive 8.     Check the configuration for CD-         ROM speed. Open the Control Panel         System object to the Performance         tab, click the File Settings         button, and select the CD-ROM         tab. If Win95/98 has configured         the default to Single Speed         Drives, select the "Optimize access         pattern" drop-down list, and         choose a setting appropriate for         your CD-ROM drive. You can also         adjust the Supplemental Cache         size on this screen. Verify 32-Bit Performance 9.     Open the Control Panel System         object to the Performance tab and         examine the settings for File System         and Virtual Memory. If these settings         do not say 32-bit, you are not getting         optimum Windows performance.         You may be using a third-party         disk controller driver, or have         other unnecessary real-mode drivers         (for sound cards, CD-ROM drives,         or SCSI devices present in         AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS. You         can improve performance by         removing any unnecessary device         drivers from your DOS configuration         files. Unhide system files 10.   Unhide system files and allow         Explorer/My Computer to view         DOS file extensions. In Windows 95,         select View->Options View; from         Explorer's pull-down View menu.         In Windows 98, choose View->         Folder Options->View. Select the         option to Show All Files and         deselect the option to hide         file extensions for known         filetypes.

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