Software Report
August 25th, 2004
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PC World
Technology Advice You Can Trust
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Help with pesky software annoyances, tips on taming and improving
Windows performance, and an expert look at the most useful (and
sometimes crucial) shareware. Plus, an enthusiast's look at Linux.
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August 25th, 2004
Make Living With Windows Easier
Contributing Editor Scott Dunn
Every time I set up a new Windows machine, I labor for the better part
of an afternoon to get it just the way I like. These tips get the OS
up to flank speed.
Reveal Your System Files
(2K, XP, 98, Me) When you open a folder that contains important system
files--notably the Program Files, Windows, System, or System32
folder--you're likely to see a patronizing warning that modifying the
contents of the folder could cause your programs to stop working
correctly. Duh! In versions of Windows prior to XP, this warning
appears only if you use the "View, as Web Page" option (in Windows 98)
or if "Enable Web content in folders" is selected under the General
tab of the Folder Options dialog box (in Windows 2000). Often this
warning requires you to click a "Show Files" link to list the folder's
files. If you find this annoying, you're not alone. Fortunately,
there's a quick fix.
In Windows Me and XP, just click the text that reads "Show the
contents of this folder." The contents will remain visible until you
click the text in the left column to hide the contents again. If you
don't see this text, close the folder pane (if it's visible), choose
Tools, Folder Options, and ensure that Enable Web Content in Folders
(in Me) or Show Common Tasks in Folders (in XP) is selected under the
General tab.
To introduce a permanent fix in Windows 98 and 2000, choose View,
Folder Options, View or Tools, Folder Options, View. In Windows 98
select Show all files in the "Advanced settings" list, and in Windows
2000 check "Show hidden files and folders" and uncheck "Hide protected
operating system files." Click Yes to acknowledge the warning (if any)
and then click OK.
If you think you may someday want to revert to the old warning, create
a backup of the folder.htt file that's in each of the folders where
the warning appears by first renaming it--call it something like
"folder_old.htt." Then copy the folder.htt file that's in the Web
subfolder of your Windows or Winnt folder (which lacks the "Show
files" warning) to the folders whose warnings you find bothersome.
When you want to restore the warning for a given folder, simply delete
the folder.htt file from that folder, and then change the name of
folder_old.htt back to "folder.htt'.
Double Up Your Toolbars
(2K, XP, 98, Me) If your toolbars take up too much space in Explorer
and in your folder windows, conserve screen real estate by putting two
or more toolbars on a single line. First, make sure that your screen
resolution is high enough and your folder window large enough to
accommodate the extra toolbar buttons. Otherwise, they will be
difficult to find when you need them.
Before you merge your toolbars in Windows 98, right-click the standard
buttons toolbar (the one that starts with the Back button) and make
sure "Text Labels" is unchecked (the labels make the toolbar buttons
huge). In 2000 and XP, right-click the toolbar area and make sure
"Lock the toolbars" is unchecked. In all versions, drag the left edge
of each toolbar and drop it where you want it. One toolbar can share
space with the menu bar, or you can place two or more toolbars
side-by-side. When you're happy with the arrangement in Windows XP,
right-click any toolbar and choose "Lock the toolbars" to set them in
place. By clicking the double chevron symbol (>>), you can access any
button that's pushed off the right edge.
Windows 2000, Me, and XP give you other ways to abbreviate your
toolbars. Right-click the standard toolbar and choose Customize. To
put your toolbar on a diet, use the list appearing on the right to
select the icons you don't need, and then click Remove. You can
rearrange a toolbar's buttons by dragging and dropping them, or by
using the Move Up and Move Down buttons to shift items you use less
frequently to the right (where they disappear into the >> menu but
remain accessible).
To save even more space, choose "No text labels" from the "Text
options" drop-down list. When you're done, click Close. If you type in
the Address bar and press Enter (instead of clicking the Go button),
save some space by right-clicking the Address bar and unchecking "Go
Button."
Relocate My Documents
(2K, XP, 98, Me) The first tenet of good file management is to keep
your applications separate from your work documents. Windows even
encourages this practice by giving you a folder called My Documents,
which is located on your C: drive by default. But you don't have to
put your data where Microsoft wants you to put it. To redirect the My
Documents folder, right-click the icon and choose Properties. With the
Target tab in front, click in the Target box and type the path to the
drive and folder where you want to store your files. In Windows 98,
you can click Browse, select the folder, and click OK. If the folder
name you type doesn't exist, Windows will create it for you. Recent
versions of Windows will also offer to move the contents of the
existing My Documents folder to the new location; feel free to click
No if you want to reassign the My Documents location but don't want to
move existing files.
To redirect My Music, My Pictures, My Videos, and other built-in
Windows folders, use the right mouse button to drag their shortcuts to
a new location and then choose Move Here. Finally, to change the name
of any of these folders, simply select its icon, click its name (or
press F2), type a new name, and press Enter.
Set Explorer Defaults
(2K, XP, 98, Me) Windows Explorer gives you many ways to view your
files--as large icons, small icons, thumbnails, lists, or details (the
folder view I prefer). To make Details view the default for all your
folders, use the View menu to set up a single folder window the way
you want; then in Windows 98, choose View, Folder Options, View, Like
Current Folder. In other versions of Windows, click Tools, Folder
Options, View, Like Current Folder (in XP, Apply to All Folders). If
you change your mind and want to go back to the default folder view,
click Reset All Folders.
But what if you want some folders to use Details view, others to show
thumbnails, and so on? No problem. First, use the preceding steps to
set the view you'll use with most of your folders. Then, in the
"Advanced settings" list at the bottom of this dialog box, make sure
that "Remember each folder's view settings" is checked. Click OK.
Whenever you subsequently change the view setting or sort order for a
particular folder, it will retain that view the next time you open it.
Sort of First Resort
(2K, XP, 98, Me) When you sort Explorer windows by name, folders
appear at the top, and other files are listed underneath, each group
in alphabetical order. If you'd like to place a file or folder at the
top of the list, or if you (like me) want compressed folders and
shortcuts to folders at the top near the folder groups--since these
items behave just like folders--rename the item and place a special
character at the beginning of its name. Select the shortcut, file, or
folder, and press F2. Press Home to move the insertion point to the
beginning of the name, and type a punctuation character such as !, {,
[, or (. Press Enter to finish the renaming.
To see the effect, either close and reopen the folder and click Name
at the top of the column (in Details view), or choose View, Arrange
Icons by, Name. If the folder is already sorted by name, you'll have
to follow these steps twice to see the contents in ascending
alphabetical order.
A Fresh Start (Menu)
(2K, XP, Me) Why bother opening a My Documents window, a Control Panel
window, and a Printers window (or some other window) just to reach a
file or icon you want? With a little tweaking, you can make these and
other items appear automatically as submenus off the Start menu.
You'll still have to navigate through one or more submenus to get to
the item you want, but at least you won't have to worry about closing
the file's folder window later.
To create new Start menu shortcuts, right-click the taskbar and choose
Properties. In Windows XP, choose the Start Menu tab and click the
Customize button next to the variation of the Start menu you're using.
In all versions, click the Advanced tab. In the list of check boxes at
the bottom of the dialog box, select the items you want on your Start
menu. For example, check "Expand Control Panel" (in 2000 and Me), or
check "Display as a menu" under the Control Panel category in XP's
Start Menu Items pane. Depending on your version of Windows, you can
do the same for My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, My Computer,
Printers, and Network and Dial-up Connections. When you're done, click
OK to see the result.
For more tips, read "Work Smart From the Start in Windows":
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/202911/21421683/722462/0/
* Windows Toolbox: MinMaxExtender Lets You Tame Your Windows *
The makers of the MinMaxExtender utility believe that three is not
enough. I'm referring, of course, to the buttons on the top right of
folder and application windows. With this program you can add as many
as six new buttons there to maximize windows vertically or
horizontally only, hide a window except for its title bar (the window
shade effect), hide a window completely, minimize it to the system
tray (the taskbar area near the clock), or make it stay on top of all
other windows. You can turn off the buttons you don't need and
customize them in other ways. Unfortunately, the program's creators
don't support the product anymore, so it is now open-source. Still, it
works well for me, except in XP's default blue, olive, or silver color
schemes, whose large buttons collide with MinMaxExtender's stay-on-top
button. So either forget about using that feature in this case, or
tweak additional MinMaxExtender settings in the Windows Registry so
the buttons accommodate each other. And here's the kicker: The program
is free, and you can get it from PC World's Downloads library:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/202911/21421683/722463/0/
For more free tools than you'll know what to do with, read "The Best
Free Software":
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/202911/21421683/722464/0/
Send Windows-related questions and tips to Scott Dunn at:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Read Scott Dunn's regularly published "Windows Tips" columns:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/202911/21421683/364576/0/
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Top News From PC World
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=====================================================================
Editors' Picks
Free Utilities: Shrink DVDs, Boost Windows Media Player
Improve Windows Media Player, convert WMA files and rip MP3s with
latest release of iTunes.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/202911/21421683/722412/0/
GDivX Zenith Player v1.1
Video skipping on Windows Media Player? Try this alternative, which
supports multiple formats.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/202911/21421683/238773/0/
DVD Shrink v3.1.7
Make a back up of your DVD disks, saving the output to your hard
drive.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/202911/21421683/238772/0/
Mp3Trim v1.90a
Shave the dead space from your MP3s to leave more room for the music.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/202911/21421683/722413/0/
iTunes for Windows v4.6
Apple's media player is a joy to use even if you never buy a 99-cent
song.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/202911/21421683/722414/0/
Quintessential Player v4.5.1
Player offers extensive features in a simple design, and lets you rip
files from your CD.
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For a full list of this week's Editors' Picks, go to:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/202911/21421683/722412/0/
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New flatbed is a great choice for home shutterbugs with an undigitized
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Image editing application is best for newbies.
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Check the latest prices on Utilities:
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IBM's first speaker-equipped LCD monitor skimps on more-important
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