Contents:

1. Access to Online Update without registering


2. Running the Windows Update Manager


3. Disabling the Windows Update Manager


4. Here's a Refreshing Tip!


5. Restoring Your Registry


6. Hiding the Windows98 Version on the Desktop


7. Disabling the Active Desktop


8. Disabling the Windows Update Manager


9. Adding Microsoft Fax or Windows Messaging


10. Changing the Names of the Programs on the Quick Launch Toolbar


11. ScanReg


12. Cange or View the Network Password


13. Unload unused programs in the Registry


14. Permanent alphabetical order


15. Put a Shortcut "Device Manager" on your desktop


16. Put a shortcut to "Restart" on your desktop


17. Put a shortcut to "Shutdown" on your desktop


18. Removing Items From The IE4 Start Menu


19. Add "Special Folders" to the Start Menu


20. Hidden Icons 
21. Monitor the use of your computer on the network


22. Dial-Up Networking is not remembering my password. What do I do?


23. Keep important system files in working order.


24. How do I turn off desktop animation effects?


25. Give your clicking finger a rest, using single-click desktop icons.


26. Use Msconfig to remove items from your StartUp


27. Need to get to the Desktop?


28. Remove those annoying Arrows from your Shortcut Icons


29. Adjusting Explorer's Refresh Rate

To unlock the Windows 98 Online Update functionality without completing the Online Registration, navigate to, and modify to value:

1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RegDone
2. and set the value to 1
3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Welcome
4. Select the RegWiz folder
5. Right click at right panel and add a new string Set the string name to @
6. Double click this new entry and set the value to 1

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To run the Windows Update Manger, connect to the Internet and run WUPDMGR.EXE

To disable the Windows Update Manager make the following registry edit. Go to

1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
2. Add ad DWORD entry called NoWindowsUpdate
3. Give it a value of 1

Win98 doesn't refresh your view of files and folders as often as you might like. Here's how to make it refresh constantly (make sure you Export the registry key before editing the Registry).

Launch the Registry Editor,

1. Click on the plus sign next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE,
2. Click on the plus sign next to System, then CurrentControlSet.
3. Select Control, then Update.
4. In the right pane, right-click on UpdateMode and select Modify.
5. Select the 01 and change it to 00 .

Has your registry recently been damaged? To determine whether your registry was recently damaged, restore the registry from the previous day's backup.

To restore the registry from the previous day's backup:

1. Hold down the CTRL key as you restart your computer.
2. On the Startup menu, select Safe mode command prompt only.
3. Type C:\WINDOWS\SCANREG /RESTORE, and then press ENTER.
4. When you are prompted, select Previous Day's Registry.

Start Regedit. Go to

1. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
2. Add a String Value
3. Name it PaintDesktopVersion
4. Give it a value of 0
5. Reboot the computer

Start Regedit. Go to

1. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
2. Create a new Binary Value
3. Name it NoActiveDesktop
4. Give it a value of 01 00 00 00

To disable the Windows Update Manager, make the following registry edit. Go to

1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
2. Add ad DWORD entry called NoWindowsUpdate
3. Give it a value of 1

If you want to install Microsoft Fax or Windows Messaging, these don't normally show up as options.

They are on the Win98 CD in the Tools\Oldwin95\Message\US directory.

1. Run WMS.EXE to install Windows Messaging
2. Run AWFAX.EXE to install Microsoft Fax

Changing the Names of the Programs on the Quick Launch Toolbar
In case you want to change the name that gets displayed when you hover your mouse over the icons in the

1. Quick Launch Toolbar, the icon names can be changed in
2. C:\Windows\Application\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

Windows98 has a DOS mode registry scanning program. Several switches can be used with this program

1. /BACKUP - Backup the registry and related system configuration files.
2. /RESTORE - Choose a backup to restore.
3. /OPT - Optimizes the Registry by removing wasted space. This will be done automatically by Win98 if there is more than 500K of wasted space
4. /FIX - Repair the registry.
5. /COMMENT="<comment>" :- Adds the specified comment to the CAB file while backing up.

To Cange or View the Network Password

Start Regedit. Go to

1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
2. "DefaultUserName" = DEFAULT USER NAME
3. "DefaultPassword" = DEFAUL PASSWORD

To unload unused programs in the Registry

1. Hit Alt-Control-Delete (once) to see what programs are running in the background.
2. If there are any you don't want go to the registry to:
3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
4. Select the program and delete it.

1. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder\Start Menu\&Programs\Menu
2. Highlite the order entry in contents pane and delete it.
3. The list will be alphabetical next time windows opens.

From the desktop,

1. right-click and select
2. New - Shortcut.
3. Type in (or copy and paste) exactly as shown:
4. C:\WINDOWS\CONTROL.EXE SYSDM.CPL,,1

From the desktop,

1. right-click and select
2. New - Shortcut. Type in (or copy and paste)
3. C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL.EXE user.exe,exitwindowsexec

From the desktop,

1. right-click and select
2. New - Shortcut. Type in (or copy and paste) exactly as shown:
3. C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE user,ExitWindows

Open the Registry Editor and navigate to:

1. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
2. Right-click the right pane and select
3. New - Binary Value:
4. To remove Documents, name the binary value: NoRecentDocsMenu
5. To remove Favorites, name the binary value: NoFavoritesMenu
6. To remove Find, name the binary value: NoFind
7. To remove Log Off, name the binary value: NoLogOff
8. To remove Run, name the binary value: NoRun
9. Double-click the new entry, select modify and add this value: 01 00 00 00
10. To reverse the action, change the value to: 00 00 00 00 or delete the binary value you just made.

Note: TweakUI for Win98 will remove these items for you.Install it from the Win98 located in: CD\Tools\Reskit\Powertoy\Tweakui.inf

Make new folders in "C:\Windows\Start Menu" and name them:

1. History.{FF393560-C2A7-11CF-BFF4-444553540000}
2. Subscriptions.{F5175861-2688-11d0-9C5E-00AA00A45957}
3. Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
4. Printers.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
5. Recycle Bin.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
6. Inbox.{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
7. Network Neighborhood.{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
8. Briefcase.{85BBD920-42A0-1069-A2E4-08002B30309D}
9. Fonts.{BD84B380-8CA2-1069-AB1D-08000948F534}
10. Scheduled Tasks.{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}

Icons are hidden in some DLL and EXE files. When changing icons, browse to

1. C:\Windows\Moreicons.dll
2. C:\Windows\Progman.exe
3. C:\Windows\Winpopup.exe
4. C:\Windows\System\Shell32.dll
5. C:\Windows\System\Pifmgr.dll
6. C:\Windows\System\cool.dll (only if you have Plus!)
7. C:\Windows\System\Awfxex32.exe
8. C:\Windows\System\Gnaapp.exe
9. C:\Windows\System\Systray.exe
10. C:\Windows\System\User.exe
11. C:\Windows\Defrag.exe

Windows 98 comes with a system tool called Net Watcher. You can keep track of who is using files on your computer and which files they have open and for how long. You can view sharing permissions for your computer’s drives and folders, monitor usage on a different computer, or disconnect users from your computer.

How to use Net Watcher:

1. click Start
2. point to Settings
3. Programs
4. Accessories
5. System Tools
6. and click Net Watcher.

Most likely, the Microsoft Network Client is not installed. To install it, have your Windows 98 CD handy and:

1. From the Control Panel, open Network.
2. On the Configuration tab, click Add and then Client.
3. Click Add again.
4. Select Microsoft in the vendor list on the left and Client for Microsoft Networks on the right, and click OK to install.
5. After installation, choose Client for Microsoft Networks as your Primary Network Logon and click OK.

If Windows 98 isn’t operating the way you think it should, there’s a handy utility called System File Checker that sifts through vital system files and informs you of the ones not installed correctly or corrupted. System File Checker restores files with a backup for what it replaces. Best of all, you can customize System File Checker to monitor your important files. To start System File Checker:

1. Click Start, point to Programs, Accessories, and System Tools, and click System Information.
2. From the Tools menu, click System File Checker.
3. Select Scan for altered files and click Start.

To turn off selected desktop effects for a lean and clean desktop:

1. Right-click your desktop, select Active Desktop&trade; and click Customize My Desktop.
2. Click the Effects tab.
3. Clear the Animate windows, menus, and lists and Show window contents while dragging options.

In Windows 98, you can change your desktop to operate in single-click mode, which allows you to open applications, windows, and folders the same way you do in your Web browser. To change from double-click mode to single-click mode:

1. Double-click (for the last time!) My Computer .
2. On the View menu, click Folder Options.
3. Click the General tab and click Custom, based on settings you choose.
4. Click Settings and click Single-click to open an item.

1. Click Start
2. Run
3. Type MSCONFIG
4. Next Click on the StartUp tab
5. and uncheck any unwanted items, this is the safest method.

1. Just click the Start-button,
2. Choose "Run..." and type a dot (.) and press Enter.

Open the Registry Editor and navigate to:

1. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Lnkfile
2. In the Setting pane, find the IsShortcut
3. setting and rename it (to, say, IsShortcutNot).

1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\control\Update
2. You see a setting named UpdateMode, (which controls the Explorer refresh rate.)
3. To set this rate at its fastest, change the value of UpdateMode to 0.