Earthquake City BBS

Running from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.

Last updated by Steven Libis & Associates on 08/27/2008

Unshackle Yourself From The Last Millennnium
...
AssetMetrix surveyed 670 corporations that had more than 320,000 computers in use. Surprisingly, 12.5 percent still used windows 98 and 14.7 percent still used Windows 95-a combined total 27+ percent representing more than 87,000 computers. In addition, 80 percent of companies surveyed say that they still had one or more computers running either windows 95 or 98. Finally, the number that is truly stunning is that IDC estimates that there are still 79 million users running Windows 95 or 98.
Why are this many people still using software that is five to ten years old? The answer is probably because it works and these people understand the software they use. Another answer may be because they do not want to jump into the upgrade game that has consumers upgrading software and hardware on a regular basis. ...
by Rick Richardson, in CPA Magazine, November 2004, Volume 3, No. 6

STABILITY?
"Windows 98 crashes a lot. It's built for compatibility, not reliability. Win 98 is designed to play nice with 10 year old DOS games and archaic 16-bit graphics adapters."
from an article "It Just Works-Sort Of", from a regular column "Windows Chronicles", by Jeff Bertolucci, which appeared in Computer Currents, November 1999.

USABILITY?
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates last week centered his Comdex keynote speech here around futuristic computing ideas, saying that the interfaces of today may be usability dinosaurs in just a few years. Gates said users of the future will remember today's PCs "as the machines that didn't listen."

Rich Tong, vice president and general manager of Microsoft's business systems division, said the company expects that in a few years, the current Windows interface will look "primitive."
from an article "Microsoft's Future World", by Paul Kapustka, which appeared in Communications Week - November 25, 1996

BACKUP
Backup your important files. (Actually, you should do this no matter what operating system you are using. You should also test your backups to make sure that they will actually work.)

STARTUP
If your Microsoft Network Logon doesn't appear when you start your computer, you need to go to the Microsoft Knowledge Base and look for Q141858 for direction on how to fix the problem.

SHUTDOWN
Every time you load a new program, remember to shut down your computer and restart it. Wether it asks you to or not.

If you are starting and stopping many programs, memory will get fragmented, and memory won't always be released. Shut down your computer, and restart it.

Anytime something stops working, that used to work, shut down your computer, and start it up again.

While a shut down won't always help, it is a good place to start.

Keep in mind, that all your external devices (printers, scanners, tape backups, CD-ROM drive, ...) should also be turned off after you have shut down your computer, and then turned back on before you restart your computer.

CHANGE SETTINGS (hardware/software)
click on Settings, click on Task Bar to add / remove items from the menu.
click on Settings, click on Control Panel, click on add remove software to add or remove software from your hard drive. If after doing this, there are still unwanted files in the old program directory, you can delete them. Just deleting the program directory causes problems with the registry and various INI files used by the program.

MSCONFIG
NetSquirrel.com has a useful tutorial on How To Use MSConfig. MSCONFIG can be used to removed un-needed/un-wanted programs for the various different startup options.
It also explains about the following four items essential for all Win 9x systems.
scanreg
task manager
systray
load power profile

HOW TO
There are normally many ways of doing most desired actions.

Since I come from a DOS background, and I am very happy using a keyboard, here are some of the keyboard shortcuts I use when I am in windows.

Commonly used keystrokes: [alt]
[alt]+[f4] = close active window (exit program or shut down windows)
[alt]+[tab] = to switch between open windows
[alt]+[esc] = to switch between open windows
[alt]+[f6] = switch between multiple windows in same program
[alt]+[space] = display main window's System menu
[alt]+[-] = display Multiple Document Interface (MDI) child window's system menu
[alt]+[print screen] = save image of active window to clipboard
[alt]+[_] = underlined letter for menu option
[alt]+[enter] = open property sheet

Commonly used keystrokes: [ctrl]
[ctrl]+[f4] = closes current Multiple Document Interface (MDI) window
[ctrl]+[a] = select entire window
[ctrl]+[c] = copy selected item
[ctrl]+[x] = cut selected item
[ctrl]+[v] = paste selected item
[ctrl]+[z] = undo last action
[ctrl]+[esc] = bring up start button/menu bar
[ctrl]+[tab] = to tab through pages in a properties box
[ctrl]+[shift]+[tab] = to tab through pages in a properties box

Commonly used keystrokes:
[shift]+[f10] = right click = activates context menu
[shift]+[arrow] = highlight area
[shift]+[del] = delete items completely (bypass recycle bin)
[shift] while inserting CD, temporarily disables autorun feature
[shift]+[windows]+[m] = undo minimize all windows

Commonly used keyboard commands:
[f1] = starts Windows help
[f2] = rename
[f10] = activates menu bar options
[print screen] = save image of entire desktop to clipboard
[tab] = move cursor to next data field (for filling in forms)

Commonly used keystrokes: [windows key] for the Microsoft Keyboard
[windows key] = [ctrl]+[esc] = bring up start button/menu bar
[windows key]+[f1] = start Windows help
[windows key]+[tab] = cycle through open programs on taskbar
[windows key]+[d] = minimize all windows and display the desktop
[windows key]+[e] = start windows (desktop) explorer
[windows key]+[f] = find files/folders
[windows key]+[r] = display run dialog box
[windows key]+[ctrl]+[f] = opens find computer
[windows key]+[pause/break] = System Properties
[windows key]+[r] = opens Run window
[windows key]+[m] = minimize all windows


Commonly used mouse clicks:
[right single click] = (on an icon or item) modify setup/properties
[right single click] = (on open spot on task bar) arrange windows
[right single click] = (on open spot on desktop) screen savers, wallpaper, ...
[left single click] = select a single item
[left single click] = select multiple (non-contigious) items
                      while holding the [ctrl], [left single click]
                      another item.  Only the actual items clicked will
                      be selected.
[left single click] = select multiple (contigious) items
                      while holding the [shift], [left single click]
                      another item.  Everything between the first click
                      and the second click will be selected.
[left single click] = select multiple (contigious) items
                      after using [left click] to select a single item,
                      while holding the [shift] use the up, down arrow to
                      select adjacent items
[left single click] = select all items
                      after using [left click] to select a single item,
                      while holding the [shift] use the [home] or [end]
                      to select all items.
[left double click] = open item (document, ...) or execute program

A listing of Keyboard Shortcuts For Windows can be found at the Microsoft site KnowledgeBase in article Article ID Q126449

Unselecting a selected item:
Once you have selected an item, you can unselect it by
[left single click] on any open space

Commonly used symbols:
the right facing triangle indicates more options available

Common features/explanations:
toggle means to switch between turned on/turned off

or
"%windir%\EXPLORER.EXE /n,/e,c:\"

When booting up to Windows XP you may get a error that reads "Unmountable Boot Volume".
This is probably because your boot.ini file is messed up.

You can boot to the XP cd and when you see the Welcome to setup press the letter R
You will get a dos prompt
Then type "chkdsk /p" without the quotes and hit enter
When that is done type "fixboot" and hit enter
"Y" and enter at the prompt
Then type "exit" and hit enter
The system should now reboot into Windows.

If for some reason that don't work for you, you can boot to the recovery console like above and...
Type "chkdsk /r" then enter
When done type "exit" and hit enter.
This will take longer, but the system should boot back into Windows.

Other commands to try include:
bootcfg /list
bootcfg /rebuild

EARTHQUAKE CITY BBS
Windows hints, tips and tricks
[Top (page index)] [Up] [Down] [Bottom (site index)]
[Keyboard Shortcuts] [Desktop Shortcuts] [Windows XP Startup] [Outlook Issues] [Firefox] [United Parcel Service] [Windows Vista Command Prompt] [repair tools]
OUTLOOK (back up)
Because Microsoft thinks Outlook is an integral part of the Operating System (OS), they think you never need to back up the data. Because they think there is no need to back the data, there is no easy way to back up the address book, calendar, contacts, notes, tasks, ...
However, it is possible. But difficult.
Outlook
File
Import and Export
Comma Separated Values (CSV) (Windows)
Calendar
Contacts
Notes
Tasks
(Make sure you save these files into "C:\My Documents" so that you can find them later.

To backup Outlook Express data:

Copy mail files to a backup folder
Export the Address Book to a file
Export the mail account to a file
Export the news account to a file
To restore or import Outlook Express data:

Import messages from the backup folder
Import the Address Book file
Import the mail account file
Import the news account file
Copy Mail Files to a Backup Folder

To make a backup copy of your Outlook Express e-mail message files:
1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
2. On the Maintenance tab, click Store Folder.
3. Select the folder location, and then press CTRL+C to copy the location.
4. Click Cancel, and then click Cancel again to close the dialog box.
5. Click Start, and then click Run.
6. In the Open box, press CTRL+V, and then click OK.
7. On the Edit menu, click Select All.
8. On the Edit menu, click Copy, and then close the window.
9. Right-click any empty space on your desktop, click New, and then click Folder.
10. Type mail backup for the folder name, and then press ENTER.
11. Double-click the Mail Backup folder to open it.
12. On the Edit menu, click Paste.
13. Close the Mail Backup window.

Export the Address Book to a File

NOTE: This step is very important when multiple Identities are in use. A .WAB (Windows Address Book) file is used by Outlook Express 5.x versions, even if multiple Identities are used. The individual data for each Identity is stored in a folder, by user name, within the .WAB file in use.

Exporting this data, while logged in to a specific Identity, is the only means of segregating the Address Book data. If the .WAB file becomes dissociated from the user Identities, the data can only be exported in total - not folder by folder.

To export your Outlook Express address book:
1. On the File menu, click Export, and then click Address Book.
2. Click Text File (Comma Separated Values, CSV), and then click Export.
3. Click Browse.
4. Locate the Mail Backup folder that you created.
5. In the File Name box, type address book backup, and then click Save.
6. Click Next.
7. Click to select the check boxes for the fields that you want to export, and then click Finish.
8. Click OK and then click Close.

Export the Mail Account to a File
To make a backup copy of your Outlook Express mail account:
1. On the Tools menu, click Accounts.
2. On the Mail tab, click the mail account that you want to export, and then click Export.
3. In the Save In box, locate the Mail Backup folder on your desktop, and then click Save.
4. Repeat these steps for each mail account that you want to export.
5. Click Close.

Export the Newsgroup Account to a File
To make a backup copy of your Outlook Express news accounts:
1. On the Tools menu, click Accounts.
2. On the News tab, click the news account that you want to export, and then click Export.
3. In the Save In box, use locate the Mail Backup folder on your desktop, and then click Save.
4. Repeat these steps for each news account that you want to export.
5. Click Close.

Importing Outlook Express data
To restore data, you may need to re-create the Identities for each user, prior to using the following steps. Repeat each step, as needed, for each Identity.

Import Messages from the Backup Folder
To import your Outlook Express e-mail messages from the Backup folder:
1. On the File menu, point to Import, and then click Messages.
2. In the Select an e-mail program to import from box, click Microsoft Outlook Express 5, and then click Next.
3. Click Import mail from an OE5 store directory, and then click OK.
4. Click Browse, and then click on the Mail Backup folder on your desktop.
5. Click OK, and then click Next.
6. Click All folders, click Next, and then click Finish.

Import the Address Book File
To import your Outlook Express address book:
1. On the File menu, click Import, and then click Other Address Book.
2. Click Text File (Comma Separated Values), and then click Import.
3. Click Browse.
4. Locate the Mail Backup folder on your desktop, click the address book Backup.csv file, and then click Open.
5. Click Next, and then click Finish.
6. Click OK, and then click Close.

Import the Mail Account File
To import your Outlook Express mail account file:
1. On the Tools menu, click Accounts.
2. On the Mail tab, click Import.
3. In the Look In box, locate the Mail Backup folder on your desktop.
4. Click the mail account that you want to import, and then click Open.
5. Repeat these steps for each mail account that you want to import.
6. Click Close.

Import the Newsgroup Account File
To import your Outlook Express news account file:
1. On the Tools menu, click Accounts.
2. On the News tab, click Import.
3. In the Look In box, locate the Mail Backup folder on your desktop.
4. Click the news account that you want to import, and then click Open.
5. Repeat these steps for each news account that you want to import.
6. Click Close.

Outlook & Exchange/Windows Messaging Backup And Dual-Boot

Newer versions of Windows and Outlook have a repair tool that can sometimes be used to fix damaged .PST files (SCANPST.EXE) or .OST (SCANOST.EXE).

All files can usually be found in \Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

.pst Personal Folders

.pab Personal Address Book (but can be anywhere on system)

.ost Offline Folders (Exchange Server, Outlook Connector) (but can be anywhere on system)

.msnpst MSN's Outlook Connector

.fav Outlook Bar Shortcuts

.rwz Rules Wizard (O2K and older)

.nick Nicknames for autoresolution

.nk2 Nicknames for AutoComplete (O2K2, O2K3)

Out|Prnt Customized Print Settings

Outcmd.dat Customized Toolbar Settings

Views.dat Customized System Folder Views

VbaProject.otm Macros and VBA Programs

.xml Navigation Bar Customizations (O2K3)

.srs Send/Recieve Group Settings (O2K2 and later)

.rtf, .htm, .txt Signatures

.htm Stationery

.oft Templates

.dic Dictionary

Junk Senders.txt Junk Senders List (O2K, O2K2)

Adult Senders.txt Adult Senders List (O2K, O2K2)

extend.dat Installed Add-ins

EARTHQUAKE CITY BBS
Windows hints, tips and tricks
[Top (page index)] [Up] [Down] [Bottom (site index)]
[Keyboard Shortcuts] [Desktop Shortcuts] [Windows XP Startup] [Outlook Issues] [Firefox] [United Parcel Service] [Windows Vista Command Prompt] [repair tools]
For those of you still using Windows 98, and having an interest in backing up your bookmarks of Firefox, here is where you look.
pebsab3n this is a random code, which is different for all installs.
C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\pebsab3n.default\bookmarks.html

UPS Remote
To install UPS Remote (where it has been installed previously), go to network drive where data files are stored, then run:
?:\ups\uows\remote\install\setup.exe

UPS Administration
To reinstall administration (when it has been lost or damaged), you must first run perform the above procedure, to install UPS Remote. After the UPS Remote has been installed, go to original install CD and then run
?:\migrate\setup.exe
and select convert remote to administrator.

NOTE: There can only be one administrator on a network.
NOTE: After conversion to administrator, you need to enable the remote workstations.

After a bit of web searching, I found what looks like a couple of ways to access the command line in Windows Vista.

When browsing the hard drive, hold the shift key, and right click on any directory. You should get a menu that includes Open Command Prompt Here.

Click on start, search, command prompt, and there you should have it.

When using any of these tools, you will need to remember to check for updates.

Virus
For DOS computers, or computers that can be started up in DOS mode, F-Prot has a DOS anti-virus version that works well at removing viruses.

For Windows computers, if you can get to the internet (some viruses try to prevent that), and have a reasonably fast connection, Trend Micro has an online virus scanner that requires minimal install and doesn't conflict with any other anti-virus program you may already have installed.

For Windows computers that can't get to the internet, Trend Micro has an offline virus scanner that requires NO installation and doesn't conflict with any other anti-virus program you may already have installed.
It does require that you download two seperate parts.
1) Trend Micro SysClean is the stand alone program that is used to remove any virus installed on your computer.
2) Trend Micro Virus Pattern Files are used in combination with SysClean to remove an virus found on your computer.

A few other low cost anti-virus programs that continue to get good reviews are:
AVG Anti-Virus: AVG Free Edition (free for personal use)
CA Consumer Online Store - EZ AntiVirus (free for first year)
AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic - More than Security (free for personal use)

AdWare
LavaSoft has a program called Ad-Aware that is used to remove AdWare programs.

SpyWare
Spybot Search & Destroy has a program called Spybot Search & Destroy that can be used to clear out spyware. download it here.

SpyWare
Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta) is a new product from Microsoft that seems to do a reasonable job at removing Spyware from your computer. download it here.

SpyWare
Trend Micro now has Trend Micro Anti-Spyware, a program you can download to remove Spyware from your system. They also have, Trend Micro Anti-Spyware For The Web, a free, online scanner.

Web Browser Hijacking
Intermute has purchased the program called CWshredder that can be used to clear out programs that hijack your web browser and don't let you go where you want to go.

Web Browser Hijacking
Intermute has been purchased by Trend Micro, and Trend Micro CWShredder is still a free download.

missing/damaged files
DLL-files is a place when you can find and download files that have become damaged or deleted.

What Is That Process?
Process Library is a place where you can find out what a DLL or EXE does, so you can figure out what it is doing on your system.

Firewalls
Firewalls allow you to monitor what programs on the internet are trying to get onto your computer, and what programs on your computer are trying to get to the internet. Here are a couple of low cost programs that get a lot of good reviews.
Zone Labs ZoneAlarm Firewall (free for personal use)
Sygate Personal Firewall (free for personal use)

END OF DOCUMENT
[Top (page index)] [Up] [Down] [Bottom (site index)]
[Keyboard Shortcuts] [Desktop Shortcuts] [Windows XP Startup] [Outlook Issues] [Firefox] [United Parcel Service] [Windows Vista Command Prompt] [repair tools]
SITE MAP/INDEX
[Earthquake City BBS HomePage]
[E-Mail Sysop]
[File Areas] [Online Games] [Message Areas] [wcFileGate] [ListServ] [UUCP]
[Users/Friends Links] [Computer Links] [Science Fiction/Fun Links]
[Computer Swap Meets]
[Steven Libis & Associates]

be sure to check out:
Chrome Oxide Music Collector: [Home Page] [site index]

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Last updated by Steven Libis & Associates on 08/27/2008

.pst	Personal Folders
.pab	Personal Address Book (but can be anywhere on system)
.ost	Offline Folders (Exchange Server, Outlook Connector) (but can be anywhere on system)
.msnpst	MSN's Outlook Connector
.fav	Outlook Bar Shortcuts
.rwz	Rules Wizard (O2K and older)
.nick	Nicknames for autoresolution
.nk2	Nicknames for AutoComplete (O2K2, O2K3)
Out\|Prnt	Customized Print Settings
Outcmd.dat	Customized Toolbar Settings
Views.dat	Customized System Folder Views
VbaProject.otm	Macros and VBA Programs
.xml	Navigation Bar Customizations (O2K3)
.srs	Send/Recieve Group Settings (O2K2 and later)
.rtf, .htm, .txt	Signatures
.htm	Stationery
.oft	Templates
.dic	Dictionary
Junk Senders.txt	Junk Senders List (O2K, O2K2)
Adult Senders.txt	Adult Senders List (O2K, O2K2)
extend.dat	Installed Add-ins