TASKBAR TWEAKING

Convert Win3.1 .grp files to Win95 folders
Many questions we receive regard converting Winows 3.11 ".grp" files to Win95 folders. Windows95 provides a program "grpconv.exe" in the Windows folder which, when run, allows the conversion of Program Manager groups to Win95 folders in the Start Menu.

Expand your Taskbar
Ever have a lot of programs open, and the taskbar is so bunched with "icons" you can't read the titles? Make it bigger! Just move your mouse cursor to the top of the task bar (if it's on the bottom) and drag it up.

Changing Taskbar location
You can change the location of the Taskbar to be at the bottom, top, or either side of your screen simply by dragging it to the preferred location.

Fast Control Panel
Create a new folder on your desktop... name it "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Now it should look like the normal Control Panel icon (not a shortcut). Now right click on "Start" in the Taskbar and click on "Open" to invoke a "Start Menu" folder window. Drag the new Control Panel folder from the Desktop to the Start Menu folder. Now when you click on "Start", you should see Control Panel on the drop-down menu. Click on Control Panel and its contents will be displayed. You can do the same with the Printers and Dial-Up Networking folders. Here are shortcut names:

For Control Panel
Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

For Dial Up Networking
Dial Up Net.{992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48}

For Printers
Printers.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}

Deleting Flashing Modem from the Tray
If you have configured Windows95's built-in dial-up networking, you probably have noticed the tiny modem icon that appears in the tray whenever you make a connection. Instructions to remove the icon are below. Steps for each dial-up connection.
  • Open Dial-Up Networking under My Computer.
  • Right-click on the connection you wish to change and select "Properties."
  • Click on "Configure..." to display a box similar, but not identical to, the modem settings in Control Panel.
  • Click on the Options tab
  • Turn off "Display modem status" under "Status control."
  • Click OK, then click OK again.

Deleting Yellow Speaker from the Tray
The little yellow speaker in the Taskbar tray lets you display a master volume control by clicking on it or a sound mixer by double-clicking on it. For those who have volume controls elsewhere or simply do not need to repeatedly change the volume, there is a way to remove the icon.
  • Open Control Panel
  • Double-click on the Multimedia icon
  • Click the Audio tab and locate the Playback section
  • turn off the volume control on the taskbar option.

Edit the Start/Run Drop Down List
This is the list that remebers what commands where executed at the run window. Here is how to edit it.
  • From the 'Start' button choose 'Run' and type 'regedit'.
  • Click on the + to 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER'
  • Click on the + to 'Software'
  • Click on the + to 'Microsoft'
  • Click on the + to 'Windows'
  • Click on the + to 'CurrentVersion'
  • Click on the + to 'Explorer'
  • Click on the 'RunMRU'
  • On the right hand side you will see a list of the names being used by the 'Run' command.
  • Click on the name you want to erase and press the delete key. Be sure NOT to delete the first or last entries.
  • Exit the Registry Editor and restart Windows to make your changes take affect.

Hide your Startup folder
You can hide your start up folder so it doesn't show up on your start menu, but it still runs the programs in it at start up.
  • Right click on the start button
  • Select "Open"
  • Open "Programs"
  • Right click on "StartUp"
  • Select "Properties"
  • Check the "Hidden" box
  • Click OK
Now the startup folder will not show up when you click start/programs. The only disadvantage is you need to view hidden files in order to access it from explorer.

Taskbar Properties
Right-click on an empty part of the taskbar select "Properties" and choose from a list of options including auto-hide, always on top, and others.

Turn Off the Documents Menu
The Documents Menu is a clever idea. It displays a list of the last dozen or so programs and files opened from the Explorer. You can clear the menu temporarily, but there is no way to turn it off permanently. This could be seen as a lapse in security. Microsoft calls it a "feature," and despite their claims that it cannot be disabled, we managed to to come up with a way around it. NOTE: In order for this to work, you must set the Recycle Bin so it deletes files instantly, or you'll have a bunch of old files in your Documents menu.

Clear the menu temporarily as follows:
  1. Right-click on an empty portion of the taskbar.
  2. Select Properties from the menu that appears, and click on the Start Menu Programs tab.
  3. Click Clear to clean out the menu. Note this is only temporary until you launch another file.
Make the documents menu ALWAYS empty as follows:
  1. Right-click on the Recycle Bin on the Desktop, and select Properties from the menu.
  2. Under the Global Tab, select "Use one setting for all drives."
  3. Turn on the option labeled "Do not move files to the recycle bin."
  4. Next, run the Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE).
  5. Open HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ explorer\ Shell Folders.
  6. At the right side of the window, there should be a list containing one or more of your "special" folders.
  7. If an entry named "Recent" doesn't already exist, select "New" from the Edit menu, and then select String Value. Rename the new item to "Recent."
  8. Double-click on Recent, and under "Value Data", enter "c:\recycled."
  9. Press OK and then close the Registry Editor.
  10. Click on the desktop, and press F5 to refresh the desktop so this change will take effect.

Turn off the Exploding Windows Animation
Dont like how windows seem to grow out of the taskbar, then shrink down to it? You can turn this animation off through a Registry setting.
  • Start RegEdit by clicking Start/Run, and entering regedit
  • Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER
  • Expand Control Panel under HKEY_CURRENT_USER
  • Expand Desktop under Control Panel
  • Double-click on the WindowMetrics folder under Desktop
  • Choose "string value" from the Edit/New menu, and create a new string called MinAnimate
  • Double-click the new entry, and enter "0" for the value.
  • Exit RegEdit, and reboot.


Unabridged version of Tips and Tricks for Windows 95 copyright © 1995 - 2001 Hanar Software, all rights reserved. Tips and Tricks for Windows 95 Abridged Internet Edition copyright © 1997-2001, Hanar Software and William Foard Publishing, all rights reserved. AmericaToday.com copyright © 1995 - 2001 William Foard Publishing. Microsoft, MS, Windows, and the Windows logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Corporation in no way endorses or is affiliated with Tips and Tricks for Windows 95. All other trademarks are the sole property of their respective owner(s).