Improving Win 95/98/Me/2000 just a mouse click away

 

May 20, 2001

 

By JIM BROOKS

We all need a little help now and then -- especially when working with the Windows family of operating systems.

Since I put my current home PC together some months ago, there have been a few things I've wanted to modify about the Windows 98 operates.

I found a site that has all sorts of tips and tricks covering not only Windows 98 operating system, but also Windows 3.1, and the entire Windows 95/2000/Me/XP lineup.

If you've got questions, the Windows-Help.Net Web site has the answers -- or links to someone or someplace that does.

In my own case, I was seeking out ways to improve how my menus worked in the Windows 98 operating system. At the Windows-Help.Net Web site, I hit pay dirt.

Users can find out how to alter the look and feel of their Windows operating systems with instructions so simple even I could follow them.

The long list of hints for Windows 98 included:

• how to change the size of the icons on your desktop;

• turn on/off CD-ROM Autorun;

• adding Windows 95-style cascading menus to the Windows 98 Start button;

• play a midi song on startup; and,

• change the start-up and log-off screens.

Two of the selections I have never used on the Start button menu are "Favorites" and "Documents". With the tips I found at the Windows-Help.Net I was able to easily eliminate these unused features.

Some of the tips and hints may sound basic to experienced users. The problem is that unless you make these changes frequently, it's easy to forget what you did to make the changes.

Besides the Windows hints, you'll find lots more good information for anyone using a version of the Windows operating system.

The site is an information resource for Information Technology professionals and computer users. There are news articles, links to free software, and a very busy online community and forum section where users can post questions about their specific operating system.

There's a lot of good information here, so fix a good cup of coffee and take time to browse the site thoroughly.

Windows-Help.Net is a division of InfiniSource.com, a company devoted to Windows applications and support for the operating systems.

To reach the Web site's section on Windows 95/98/Me/2000 operating system tips, click on the "Win95 Support" link listed under "Resources" on the home page menu, which can be accessed at www.windows-help.net.

TIE THE (FISHIN') KNOT. With Memorial Day and vacation time fast approaching, there's one activity that is as much a part of summer as lemonade and sunscreen.

Some do it for leisure; others do it for sport. Fishing is one of the few sports that can serve both purposes equally well.

Most of us have family members who are masters at fishing knots. Unfortunately, I wasn't a very good student when my dad was showing me as a kid.

The secret, of course, is using the proper technique when tying knots -- a tricky situation when it comes to handling nylon fishing line.

Part-time fishermen like myself can appreciate this section of the Tennessee Outdoorsman Web site devoted to keeping fishing lines properly tied.

It's a simple page with about a dozen different knots, but you'll find something for nearly every situation. It's a handy resource and might even teach an experienced angler something new.

I learned the one fishing knot I can tie is called (at least in Tennessee) a Specialist Fly Knot.

Grab your tackle box and visit www.tnoutdoorsmen.com/knots.htm for more information.

SALON HANGS ON. One of the Web's hippest sites media sites continues to face the struggle of its life as it works to find enough cash to keep it running until it can reach the break-even point.

Salon.com executives think it can reach that point in about six months, provided the company can keep its doors open that long.

Its stock faces delisting by NASDAQ, and the company has endured a number of job cuts and a 15 percent across-the-board pay cut.

In March, Salon.com began offering a premium advertise-free service for $30 per year. The premium service also was to feature content not available at the free Salon.com site.

While it reports visits from more than 2.7 million visitors per month, making those hits pay off in form of revenue remains an exclusive goal of Salon and other online media.

As of Dec. 31, 2000, Salon reported enough cash to carry the company through June. If no cash can be raised, Salon.com may become another statistic in the Great Internet Shakeout.

Comments and questions about this column may be sent to jbrooks@myoldkentuckyhome.com, or visit www.myoldkentuckyhome.com on the World Wide Web.

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