Start the Windows

Avoiding Startup Applications

As you know, if you press the SHIFT key on the Windows 9X/Me booting process, no applications in the Startup folder will be activated. Unfortunately, if you perform this process too fast then Windows 9X/Me will be executed on the Safe mode. The better method is holding the CTRL key when the hourglass pointer appears on the screen.

Booting to The Command Prompt

As you know, you can use WinBoost to disable automatic booting to the graphical user interface (see the System and Booting Enhancements section). That is the easiest and the painless way, but probably you want to try another method. To do so, create a file with Notepad. Do not type anything in the file, and save the file to the root directory of the C: drive and name it WIN.BAT. When Windows boots, and finds an empty WIN.BAT file, it will boot the PC to the DOS command prompt. To get to the graphical user interface from the command prompt, just type WIN and press Enter.

Additional Trick! Now, open Explorer and then rename file Win.com in C:\Windows with something else, such as yourname.com. Starting from now on, you can prevent other person to access your Windows, since you are the only one that can load it by typing yourname.com and then press Enter.

Ctrl+Alt+Del for the Not Responding Applications

If you open too many applications on your computer, sometimes one of those applications will make your computer stop responding. To get around this problem, press Ctrl+Alt+Del. The Close Program dialog box will appear on the screen. Select the not responding application and then click End Task.

Faster Shutdown

How long the time that you spend to end your Windows session? So much time wasted only to play the Exit Windows's sound. To get faster shutdown or restart, you can delete that sound. To do so, open Control Panel, double click the Sound icon, in the Events list find the "Exit Windows" item, and then choose None in the Name column.

Hacking the Forgotten Password

If you forget your Windows Logon password, all you have to do is press the Esc key when the Password dialog box appears on the screen. Windows 9X/Me will be opened on its default screen. Go to C:\Windows folder, and then delete the .PWL file that uses your name as the logon name. For example, if your logon name is John then delete JOHN.PWL file. Click the Start-Shut Down menu and then click Close all programs and log on as another user option. When the Password dialog box appears on the screen, type the same name but with the new password. This method is also useful if you want to break up another user logon.

More Choices at Windows Setup

If you want to reinstall Windows 9X/Me, type "setup" followed by one or more of these parameters:

/is to run setup without checking the system /id to run setup without checking available free space /IQ to run setup without checking cross-linked file and directory integrity /in to run setup without Network Setup Module /iw to run setup without copyright confirmation

Presentation at Booting

If you use PowerPoint as your presentation application, you may want to try this tip. First, create your presentation by using PowerPoint. When you have finished, save its file. Run Windows Explorer, go to PowerPoint folder, and then right-click on the POWERPNT.EXE file. Select Create Shortcut, right-click this new shortcut, select Properties, and then go to Shortcut section. To open the presentation in the slide show mode, in the Target column you need add the name of presentation file followed by /s. Move this shortcut into the C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp folder. From now on, your presentation will be automatically opened on Windows Startup.

Printing the BIOS Screen

Make sure that you have turned on your printer. Click on the Start button, click Shut Down, choose Restart the computer, and then click Yes. On the first screen after rebooting, press Del, F1, or F2 depending on what kind of computer that you use. When the BIOS information has appeared on the screen, press PrintScreen button on the keyboard. Your printer will print the information that appears on the screen.

Quick Startup to the DOS mode

If you want to enter the DOS mode on Windows 9X/Me Startup, usually you have to press F8 key when "Starting Windows ..." message appears on the screen. From this menu then you choose "Command prompt only" option. To get faster process, try to press Alt+F5 when the "Starting Windows ..." message appears on the screen.