Windows 98 Tips, Tweaks, and Registry Hacks

Click a heading below to reveal the tips.

See help on customising and using reg files.

Making Phone Calls from the Start Menu

Most people call a some numbers quite frequently. These are usually quite few, a best friend from home or a partner from work. A Windows shortcut can dial a phone. This tip lists two ways of easily dialing frequent numbers.

Windows includes a phone dialer but it's a few mouse clicks to use (6 to start and click the number, 1 to talk, 1 to exit). This allows two mouse clicks if it's on the desktop, three if on the Start Menu.

Before going on you'll need to know what com port your modem is connected to. Open Control Panel and choose Modems. Select your modem and click Properties. Your Comm Port is listed under Port.

Method 1- Using Shortcuts

Right click the desktop and choose New then Shortcut.
Rename (F2 renames a selected item) the Shortcut Dial Mum (or whoever it is)
Right click the shortcut and choose Properties
On the Program tab enter Dialing Mum in the top textbox and C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM /c echo ATDT 99999999 > com2 into the Cmd Line textbox, replacing 99999999 with the phone number you're dialing and com2 with the com port you're modem is conected to. Make sure the Close on Exit checkbox is checked.
On the Screen tab make sure that Window is selected.
Repeat the above steps and call the second shortcut Answer and use this Cmd Line - C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM /c echo ATH > com2.
Either leave the two shortcuts where they are, or Shift + Drag onto the Start Menu.
To ring, Double Click the Dial Mum shortcut (or select it on the Start Menu) and when the other party answers pick up the phone and Double Click the Answer shortcut.

Method 2 - Using a Batch File

Right click the desktop and choose New then Text Document.
Rename (F2 renames a selected item) the Text Document Dial Mum.bat (or whoever it is)
Right click the MS-Dos Batch File and choose Edit
Add the following lines changing the phone number, name and comm port to suit.

@echo off
echo Dialing Mum
echo ATDT 99999999 >com2
Echo.
Echo Press any key when Mum answers or you want to hang up.
pause
echo ATH &gtcom2

Save the file and exit Notepad. Move the file into C:\windows\command folder. Right click the file and choose Properties. Make sure Close on Exit and Window is checked (see Method 1). A new shortcut file will have been created with the same name. Move this file onto the Desktop or Start Menu.
Click the batch file to dial and press any key when it answers.

Notes on Phone Numbers

The modem command string listed above ATDT means dial using tone dialing. Use ATDP if you have a pulse phone.
If you need a pause while dialing use a comma. E.g, 9,99999999.

Collapse section

Quick Spell Check on the Desktop (req Word 97 or 2000)

Copy these lines into a new Text Document. Rename it Speller.vbs. Double click it and a dialog box will ask for a word or phrase (max 1024 characters) to spell check. The corrected string will be copied back to the clipboard. Requires Word 97 or 2000.

'Speller.vbs
'Checks spelling and copies corrected string to the clipboard
'
'Serenity Macros 	http://www.angelfire.com/biz/serenitymacros 
'David Candy	davidc@sia.net.au
'
On Error Resume Next
strTitle="Spelling Checker"
A=""
B=""
Dim oWD
Set oWD = WScript.CreateObject("Word.Application")
ReportErrors "Creating Word"
oWD.Visible =false
oWD.Documents.Add
A=InputBox("Please enter the word to be checked","Quick Speller")
If oWD.CheckSpelling(A)=false then
	oWD.Selection.TypeText A
	oWD.ActiveDocument.CheckSpelling
	Set myRange = oWD.ActiveDocument.Range(0,oWD.Selection.End)
	B=myRange.Text
	myRange.copy
Else
	MsgBox A  & vbCRLF & vbCRLF & "is spelt correctly",vbOKOnly + vbInformation, strTitle
End If
ReportErrors "Using Word's dictionary"
oWD.Quit 0
Set oWD=Nothing
If B<>"" Then
	MsgBox B & vbCRLF & vbCRLF & "Has been copied to the clipboard",vbOKOnly + vbInformation, strTitle
End If
VisitSerenity


Sub ReportErrors(strModuleName)
	If err.number<>0 then Msgbox "Error occured in " & strModuleName & " module of " & err.number& " - " & err.description & " type" , vbCritical + vbOKOnly, "Something unexpected"
	Err.clear
End Sub

Sub VisitSerenity
	If MsgBox("This program came from the Serenity Macros Web Site" & vbCRLF & vbCRLF & "Would you like to visit Serenity's Web Site now?", vbQuestion + vbYesNo + vbDefaultButton2, "Visit Serenity Macros") =6 Then
		sh.Run "http:\\www.angelfire.com\biz\serenitymacros"
	End If
End Sub

Collapse section

Exiting Windows

The first three sections are from Tweak95 available on the downloads page. The fourth section is changes with Win98.

Shut Down Windows

A command to exit Windows 95. This can only be used to shutdown, not restart or exit to msdos. To exit to msdos type ExitToMsDos which runs the Pif file of the same name. Place command in a shortcut or batch file.

C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE user.exe,ExitWindows

Restart Windows

To restart Windows copy Exit To Dos.pif (the pif part is hidden) and copy and rename it to Restart Windows. Edit the Program Sheet in the properties Change the command line to:

C:\WINDOWS\command.com /C exit

Make sure Close On Exit is checked. On the Advanced dialog check Use Current MSDos Configuration to exit and restart Windows without rebooting. Check Warn Before Entering MSDos Mode if confirmation is required before exiting and restarting. MSDos Mode must be checked.

An alternative way is to use the ExitWindowsExec function. This exits to MSDos to run a program, but as no program is given Windows restarts. Tpye into a shortcut or Start - Run dialog box.

C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL.EXE user.exe,ExitWindowsExec

Shut Down Dialog Box

This reg file will set the default choice in the Shut Down dialog box. Windows 95B and IE4 remember the last setting chosen, so to set the default for these versions (rather than the last action) add the following command line to C:\Windows\Winstart.bat (create Winstart.bat if necessary). Remember to use the short filke name.

Regedit C:\&ltPath to Reg File>\ShutDown.Reg

Or this command line to a shortcut and put it in the StartUp folder.

Regedit /s C:\&ltPath to Reg File>\ShutDown.Reg

REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
'1=first choice in dialog box, 2=second choice, ect.
"Shutdown Setting"=dword:00000001

Via the SHExitWindowsEx

Using the User.exe & User32.dll Exit Windows functions doesn't allow any control over what type of shutdown is preformed as parameters aren't passed, they operate as if 0 is passed - which is shutdown for ExitWindows and Logoff for ExitWindowsEx. An undocumented function SHExitWindowsEx in Shell32.dll which is what Explorer seems to use does take parameters.

rundll32.exe shell32.dll,SHExitWindowsEx [optional number in hex]

Action	Value in Hex
EWX_LOGOFF	0
EWX_SHUTDOWN	1
EWX_REBOOT	2
EWX_FORCE	4
EWX_POWEROFF for machines that turn off their own power	8

These values can be added together, eg, 5 is shutdown and force applications to close and an implicit logoff.

Note their is no Restart without rebooting. This requires a parameter of 42 (hex) to be passed to ExitWindows in User.exe. This can't be done from the command line. See tip above for a work around.

Collapse section

Help Windows Find Programs and Documents

Programs and documents can be added to the registry so typing their name without their path in the Start - Run dialog box or shortcut enables Windows to find them.

This is a generic reg file. Copy the lines below to a new Text Document and save it as anyname.reg. Edit it with your programs or documents.

In paths use \\ to seperate folder names in key paths as regedit uses a single \ to seperate it's key names. All reg files start with REGEDIT4. A semicolon turns a line into a comment. The @ symbol means to assign the value to the key rather than a named value.

The file doesn't have to exist. This can be used to set Word.exe to open Winword.exe.

This sample add IE.Txt (from IE5) to the registry so typing IE.Txt will open it. I think the file is called IE4.txt in IE4.

REGEDIT4
;The bolded name below is the name of the document or program, &ltfilename>.&ltfile extension> 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\IE.txt]

;The @ means the path to the file is assigned to the default value for the key.
;The whole path in enclosed in a quotation mark ".

@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Internet Explorer\\IE.txt\""

;Optional Parameters. The semicolon means don't process the line. Remove it if you want to put it in the registry

;Informs the shell that the program accepts URLs.

;"useURL"="1"

;Sets the path that a program will use as its' default directory. This is commented out.

;"Path"="C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office\\Office\\"

To remove a program or document use RegDelete from the Help Page. For the above example type the following into RegDelete (note the trailing backslash)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\format.txt\

Collapse section

Mouse Settings

This tip specifies whether to use a X-Mouse style interface. An X-Mouse interface (in part) means that windows the mouse is over are active. This has been added to Explorer Options on the Explorer page.

The user preference mask is a hexadecimal representation of bit values. To set use Windows Calculator and the values from the table below.

To use Windows Calculator take the value from UserPreferences and AND it with the value from the table below.

Put the value from the table below into Calculator in Hex mode
Press AND
Take the value from from user preferences (in this sample 000000fd as it's byte order reversed).
If it is set it will return the same value as the table below, if it's not set it will return 0

Action	Value in Hex
Turn on x-mouse	1
If on bring window to top	40

REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"UserPreferencemask"=hex:fd,00,00,00
;Sets the amount of time the mouse has to be over a window to activate it. 
;In milliseconds in byte order reversed (00000bb8 = 3000 ms or 3 seconds).
;Default is 0 seconds and the key does not appear by default.
"ActiveWndTrkTimeout"=hex:b8,0b,00,00

This reg file contains the general mouse settings.

REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Mouse]
;The time in milliseconds for two click to be considered a double click
"DoubleClickSpeed"="500"
;If mouse speed is 0 then no aceleration
;If mouse speed is 1 then when the mouse has moved the number of pixels in MouseThreshold1 
;during one interupt the speed is doubled
;If mouse speed is 2 then when the mouse has moved the number of pixels in MouseThreshold1 
;during one interupt the speed is doubled and when it has moved the number of pixels in MouseThreshold2 
;during one interupt the speed is quadrupled
"MouseSpeed"="1"
"MouseThreshold1"="4"
"MouseThreshold2"="0"
;Swaps the left / right buttons
"SwapMouseButtons"="0"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
;The lines to scroll the page per click when rotating the wheel. minus numbers is pages
"WheelScrollLines"="-1"
;The number of pixels that the mouse can move to be considered a double click or drag
"DoubleClickHeight"="2"
"DoubleClickWidth"="2"
"DragHeight"="2"
"DragWidth"="2"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Config\0001\Display\Settings]
;0 is no trails, 7 is maximun trails
"MouseTrails"="7"

Collapse section

Automate Backups with Windows 98's MSBackup

Unlike Backup in Windows 95 Backup in Windows 98 cannot run without a user clicking a few buttons. This means it cannot be automated. StartBackup is a small program that clicks the buttons so Backup will run without user intervention.

Syntax

StartBackup /? | JobName

/?	Displays help
JobName	The Backup job to run

Notes

Because the names of backup jobs can contain spaces StartBackup cannot do error checking on the job name passed on the command line, it must be the only item on the command line.
StartBackup works by pretending to press keys. This means that if a user is working on the computer and clicks away from Microsoft's Backup as it starts then the current application will recieve the key strokes. StartBackup takes some precautions to guard against this but is not bullet proof.
This is a Visual Basic 6 application. The run time library is not included. Download from ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/MSLFILES/vbrun60.exe. To tell if you need to download this file check to see if Msvbvm60.dll is in your Windows\System folder. If it is then the run time libraries are already installed.
StartBackup registers itself in the registry each time it's run. Therefore to install the file just copy it to any folder and double click the file. Thereafter it will run just by typing it's name. It can be renamed or moved, just start the program and it will register the new name or location.
If a job name that doesn't exist is passed to StartBackup then MSBackup will pause with an error.
In Microsoft's Backup Job - Options dialog box set the overwrite options. Select Overwrite this media if you want to overwrite old backups. Select Let me choose this option ... if you want Backup to pause and require user intervention if about to overwrite an older backup job.

Using StartBackup

Download and install the run time libraries.
Using Windows Setup tab of the Add/Remove Programs applet in Control Panel install Microsoft Backup (it's under System Tools).
Start Microsoft Backup and create the job you want to schedule.
Copy StartBackup.exe to a folder then double click it to run and register StartBackup.
Double click the Task Scheduler icon in the system tray, then double click Add Scheduled Task, click next then browse (as only programs on the Start Menu appears in the list) and select StartBackup. Select the options you want and on the final page of the wizard click Open advanced properties for this task when I click Finish. Click Finish then on the property page add the job name to the end of Run textbox.
eg,
```
C:\windows\StartBackup.exe jobname
```

Note: If you want this program ported to another language (Spanish will be available soon) you must provide the following information,

The local name and access key for the Job menu
The local name and access key for the Open menu item
The local name and access key for the Open command button
The local name and access key for the Start command
The local name for the text in the titlebar (in English it's Microsoft Backup)

Download StartBackup.zip (9K) includes source files

Download StartBackupDutch.zip (9K) includes source files. In English but works with Dutch Windows 98.

Download StartBackupSpanish.zip (9K) includes source files. In English but works with Spanish Windows 98.

Download StartBackupItalian.zip (9K) includes source files. In English but works with Italian Windows 98. Includes Italian Help File.

Collapse section

Create Shortcuts to Windows Registry Keys

RegShortcut provides shortcuts to keys or values in the registry. It can be used as a command line utility or by right clicking in a explorer window (or desktop) and choosing New - Registry Shortcut.

Syntax

RegShortcut /? | RegPath | /Unreg | /New

/?	Displays help
RegPath	The registry key or value to open in Regedit
/Unreg	Removes RegShortcut's registry entries
/New	Runs Creates New Registry Shortcut Wizard

Notes

RegShortcut works by pretending to press keys. This means that if a user is working on the computer and clicks away from Microsoft's Regedit as it starts then the current application will recieve the key strokes. RegShortcut takes some precautions to guard against this but is not bullet proof.
This is a Visual Basic 6 application. The run time library is not included. Download from ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/MSLFILES/vbrun60.exe. To tell if you need to download this file check to see if Msvbvm60.dll is in your Windows\System folder. If it is then the run time libraries are already installed.
RegShortcut registers itself in the registry each time it's run. Therefore to install the file just copy it to any folder and double click the file. Thereafter it will run just by typing it's name. It can be renamed or moved, just start the program and it will register the new name or location.
The Registry key must exist. Keys end with a trailing backslash. Values do not end with a trailing backslash.
If Regedit is already opened, the selection must be in the left hand pane (the tree pane) for the correct key to open.

Download RegShortcut.zip (15K) includes source files

Collapse section

Setup a List of Programs to Install

If an Apps.ini file exists and the registry has an entry pointing to it, then an extra tab appears on the Add/Remove Programs control panel applet called Network Install.

This is meant to list the setup programs that a user can install over the network. Though it works for local hard drives as well and it can be any Windows command line.

In the sample Apps.ini shown here the Winzip setup program on D:\setup\winzip32 is listed and also C:\windows\tips.txt, which, if chosen, will open Tips.txt in notepad. This can be used for a Readme before installing or perhaps reg files that configure the system in certain ways. The text on the left of the equal sign appears in the dialog box, and if chosen the command on the right is executed.

[AppInstallList]
Winzip Ver 7=D:\setup\Winzip32\Winzip70.exe
Windows Tips=C:\Windows\Tips.txt

If using UNC paths prefix the path with an asterisk,

[AppInstallList]
Winzip Ver 7=*\\Servername\Winzip32\Winzip70.exe

To set the registry. Copy the lines below to a new Text Document and save it as AppsIni.reg. Edit it with your programs or documents. In paths use \\ to seperate folder names as regedit uses a single \ to seperate it's key names. This assumes that Apps.ini is in the C:\Windows directory.

REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion]
"AppInstallPath"="c:\\windows\\apps.ini"

Collapse section

Windows 98 Tips, Tweaks, and Registry Hacks

Making Phone Calls from the Start Menu

Method 1- Using Shortcuts

Method 2 - Using a Batch File

Notes on Phone Numbers

Quick Spell Check on the Desktop (req Word 97 or 2000)

Exiting Windows

Shut Down Windows

Restart Windows

Shut Down Dialog Box

Via the SHExitWindowsEx

Help Windows Find Programs and Documents

Mouse Settings

Automate Backups with Windows 98's MSBackup

Syntax

Notes

Using StartBackup

Create Shortcuts to Windows Registry Keys

Syntax

Notes

Setup a List of Programs to Install

Win98 & IE5 Easter Egg

Windows 98

Internet Explorer 5

Install Cardfile and Clipbook in Windows 98