Explorer
Tips
Bitmap Showcase
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Intermed.
To make your bitmap images small versions of themselves, run REGEDIT,
then click down to HKEY_CLASSES_Root/Paint.Picture/Default-Icon. Now,
double-click on (Default) in the right pane and change the value of
Default-Icon to %1. Now all of your bitmaps will be represented by icon
versions of themselves in the Explorer.
Custom Explorer Root
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
To make Explorer open to a specific
folder, make a shortcut that points to "C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE
/n,/e,C:\". Just change the C:\ to the folder you want opened with this shortcut!
Explorer Print Screen
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
To print the screen from the
Explorer, press your Print Screen (PrtSc) button. Then open Microsoft Paint,
select Edit, Paste, and print your screen.
Explorer Windows
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
If your View Options are set to
Browse Folders Using a Single Window for Each Folder, you can open an
additional window for the folder by holding Ctrl while you double click.
Exploring Folders
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
When a folder is open, you can press
BACKSPACE to open the folder one level higher.
Exploring the Start Menu
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
Right-click the Start menu and
select Open or Explore to view and modify its contents. Putting a new folder in
your start menu directory will allow additional hierarchies off of the Start
menu.
Exploring with My Computer
Platform: Windows 95
User Level: Beginner
Submitted by: Steve Riggs
If you use "My Computer"
to look at directories, when you hold down the Ctrl key, and double click on
the directory you want, it will TAKE OVER the window you are using. (instead of
having TWO windows: one being "My Computer", and another being the
"C:\" directory. The C:\ directory window will REPLACE the My
Computer window).
Hidden Icons
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
When changing a shortcut's icon, you
can find hidden icons at C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\PIFMGR.DLL.
Hiding Directories in DOS and Explorer
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Intermed.
Submitted by: William Hart
To hide a directory in DOS and
Windows 95 Explorer. Create a directory using the following method: 1. Type
mkdir and space. 2. hold down the ALT key and on the numeric keypad type 0255
and release the ALT key followed directly by the new directory name. This will
only work with the numeric keypad. To change to the directory type 1. cd and
space hold down the ALT key and on the numeric keypad type 0255 and release the
ALT key. Explorer will not display the directories contents.
Instant Windows Explorer
Platform: Windows 95
User Level: Beginner
Submitted by: Scott Breger
If you like using Windows Explorer
you can get at it instantly by using the Shift key in conjunction with opening
a folder icon. For Example: Press and hold the Shift key while double clicking
on the My Computer icon. You are now using the Windows Explorer to view the
contents.
Move by Mistake
Platform: Windows 95
User Level: Beginner
Ever moved a file and wished you
hadn't? Simply click the Undo button from the Explorer's Edit menu, and the
problem is solved.
Moving to a Parent Folder in Explorer
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
Pressing Backspace in an open folder
takes you back to the parent folder.
Old File Manager
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
Submitted by: Geoffrey Moore
If you don't like win 95 windows
explorer and prefer the old windows file manager. click on start, run and type
in winfile.
Open With
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
If you want to open an already
associated file with a different program than the one it is associated with,
hold down the shift key and then right click the file. "Open with"
should be added to the menu now so you can open the file with a different
program.
Quick Double Pane View
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
In Explorer, if you click on a
folder once, then hold down the Shift key and double click on it, you will open
the folder with a two-pane Explorer view.
Right-Mouse Dragging
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
You can use your right mouse button
to drag files. Try it and see what happens!
Selecting Multiple Files
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
Selecting multiple files in Large
Icon View has a different behavior than in List View. To extend your selection,
click on the first icon in your selection and hold down the Shift key while you
click on the last icon in your selection. To toggle a selection, hold down the
Ctrl key while you select the files you want to toggle (between selected and
not selected).
Sending Files
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
Right click on a file you would like
to send, choose Send To and select the destination from the drop down menu.
Shift Key and Left Click opens Windows Explorer
Platform: Windows 95
User Level: Beginner
Submitted by: Tim Neatrour
When you normally double click and
object, Windows opens a dialog box. If you hold down the shift key and double
click, Windows Explorer will open at that object.
Starting Explorer with All Drives in Left-Pane
Platform: Windows 95
User Level: Intermed.
Submitted by: Ryan Thomas Ross
Normally, when you start Explorer,
it opens up with the current drive at the top of the tree in the directory-pane
on the left. To start Explorer with "My Computer" as the root, and
all drives visible, adjust your shortcuts (right-click, select Properties then
go to the Shortcut page) to Explorer by changing the TARGET field to read :
C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE /e,/n,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} Instead
of copying that out by hand, just drag your mouse over it now, right-click, select
COPY...and then paste it into the TARGET field later (right-click, then
PASTE...you get the idea.) You can also achieve the same result by
right-clicking on "My Computer" and selecting Explore OR by holding
SHIFT while double-clicking "My Computer" but the above method yields
a one-handed, no-keypress solution.
Unhideing Hidden Files
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
When at the bottom of Windows
explorer it says a certain number of files hidden, simply go to view, then click
on options. When you get in there click on the circle that says show all files
and click OK. This will reveal all of the hidden files.
Use Bitmaps as Icons
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
You can use any BMP file as an icon
in the Explorer. When you press the Change Icon button in a Shortcut's
properties dialog, simply choose All Files in the drop down list and select the
BMP file you want.
View Properties of Multiple Files\Folders
Platform: Windows 95
User Level: Beginner
Submitted by: John Allison
To view the properties (ie. total
file size) of a group of files and/or folders, drag to highlight the desired
files and folders, then right click and choose properties.
View the Toolbar
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
Make sure the toolbar is always
visible in your Explorer by selecting View, Toolbar in any Explorer window.