This article is copyright 1996-1997-1998 Gene's Computer Outlet and may not be reproduced unless copied in full including all credits. Using Windows 95 Windows 95 is a combined operating system and enviroment unlike Windows 3.1, which was just an enviroment that ran on top on DOS. Windows 95 is not meant to be separated and simply doesn't behave as expected when this is attempted. Windows 95 is also a true 32 bit operating system, unlike DOS which was an 8 bit operating system. This means that Windows 95 must be used on a 32 bit or higher processor such as a 386, 486, or Pentium and it will not work on an XT or 286, the older technology computers. Windows 95 has some specific rules, which if broken, will cause plenty of grief. These include: never shut the computer off without shutting down Windows 95 completely; never install software with any programs running (and this includes programs that may be automatically loaded that you may not be aware of); understanding that you must have at least 16 MB of system memory and never less than 50 MB of free space on your hard drive (32 MB of system memory is much better); knowing which programs do not get along with each other and avoiding them; having a backup of your data that you create on at least 2 medias; keeping your original Windows 95 installation disks, drivers disks, and program disks available for easy re-installation; never operate your computer when the electricity is or can flicker on or off (best to use an uninteruptable power supply). You can determine which programs are running by simutaniously pressing the CONTROL ALT and DELETE keys just once. From here, you can close any programs except EXPLORER which is Windows 95 itself. Windows have several modes of operation which can be enabled at startup: normal mode, safe mode, command prompt, and sometimes previous version of DOS. Normally, your computer will startup in normal mode unless there was trouble sometime during the last use and this will either send you to "safe mode" or possibly an incomplete boot or a boot with error messages. Most failures can be prevented. One of the worst man-made problems comes from un-installing a program, either with an installer or by some other means. If you need to un- install, remember to backup any un-replacable data first. If you have to un- install, it is usually because you are low on hard drive space or you have a problem. If neither of these exist, do not un-install a program, just let it be. When Windows 95 first starts up, it usually takes from 30 to 60 seconds to be ready for use. You are usually presented with the standard desktop where you see a half a dozen icons on the left side including: "My Computer", Network Neighborhood, Inbox, Recycle Bin, Internet, and at the bottom left the START button. It is best not to customize your desktop too much because if you ever need "Tech Support" from a software vendor, you will confuse them and you and may never get the help you need. The most important parts of this screen are either the START buttom, My Computer, or a "shortcut" that has been placed on the desktop. In the absence of shortcuts, all programs start from the START button. Simply move the mouse untill the curser is over the Start buttom and click the left mouse button. This opens the first group of Windows showing Programs, Documents, Settings, Find, Help, Run, and Shutdown. By clicking on Programs, another Window opens showing Assessories, programs, and other groups that may have been created or installed. When you find what you want to open, simply click or double click the left mouse to open what you wish to open. Under the assessories group, there are items such as games, Internet Tools, Multimedia, system tools, calculator, character map, dialup networking, hyperterminal, notepad, paint, phone dialer, and wordpad. This assessories group holds at least 2 important utilities you should be familiar with: system tools has SCANDISK and DISK DEFRAGMENTER. Both of these should be run at least once per month. Scandisk fixes and alerts you to serious problems that may arise and disk defragmenter puts programs back together that get ripped apart and separated. Once you select a program to run, simply click or double click on it to open and start it. It then becomes a matter of knowing the program you are going to run. You must also realize that you must save your data that you create on the hard drive as well as a backup floppy tape if it is important to you. The safest procedure to to save each file as it's created both on the hard drive as well as onto floppy disk. Remember to exit your program when done which is usually accomplished by double clicking on the X at the upper right corner of the program screen. Most programs can also be closed by accessing the FILE menu in the upper left corner and choosing EXIT. A very important part of Windows 95, called Windows Explorer, compares to the old Windows 3.1 file manager. You can access it by going to the START button, opening the first Windows, and looking for explorer near the bottom of the list. Once you have opened Explorer, you can "drop and drag" files from one location to another (copying). You can also run programs from here, and you can also get into alot of trouble from here. Once a file or groups of files has/have been tagged (highlighted), you can move - copy - delete - view - or create a shortcut to the Desktop. If you accidently get CUT or DELETE, it does just that so you must be careful. A good part of out business comes from missing or deleted files including programs because someone has accidently deleted files from the system, and in many cases, this is where Windows files to boot next time or starts coming up with errors. MY COMPUTER, located in the upper left part of the desktop is quite important. You should not change this name which is done easily. From here you can access a floppy drive, your hard drive, or CD ROM drive in a manner similar to Windows Explorer. You also get access to the Control Panel, Printers, and DIAL Up Networking. The Control Panel allows you to access "DISPLAY" where resolutions and the color mode is set or changed. You can Add New Hardware, Add/Remove Programs, Setup the Internet, Add or change your Modem, Setup or change Multimedia, Change Mouse settings, Set up or change Network settings, Add or change Printers, and access the "System Device Manager". You should not change or play with any of these unless you are 'on a mission" to do so and know where you are going. The System Device Manager is where all settings are maintained for the system registry and making one wrong move may shut you down if you do not understand how the device manager works. Devices are checked and even removed from here. This is also where addresses and IRQ's are assigned and sometimes changed when conflicts arise. Do not play here although it is safe to look. You must understand that Windows is a complicated operating system involving hundreds of files and utilities to make it and other utilities work. Every piece must be in tact. Many times, when installing new software, the new software adds to or modifies Windows itself. When un-installing a program, it may take a vital piece away that is shared with either Windows or another program. Understanding the concept of software "drivers" is very important. Each device that makes up your computer such as your hard drive, floppy drive, CD ROM drive, mouse, display card, keyboard, printer, modem, scanner, and so forth has a software driver associated with it. This driver may have come from the Windows 95 installation itself, or it may have come from a manufacturers disk supplied with that device. Typically, the display driver, CD ROM driver, modem driver, printer driver, and scanner drivers become the most important to keep track of because they are the drivers that seem to be lost when a reinstallation of Windows is necessary. These disks should be placed in a safe place and organized with a system to keep track of them. They are critical to maintaining your system. Drivers are written & supplied by manufacturers of the equipment because each manufacturer has their own specifications and operating features. You should also understand that there are 5 basic versions of Windows 95 and that they can't be mixed. Each computer should have reference as to which version is on it. There are 2 upgrade versions of Windows 95 that were meant to upgrade from Windows 3.1 and there are at least 3 OEM versions from the original, to 2.1 and now OEM 2.5. OEM 2.5 is almost Windows 98 with many bug fixes and features added. You can not use an OEM disk without a complete reformat of the drive meaning that everything on the hard drive goes. You can not use the OEM disk to update a system that was installed with an upgrade Windows 95 version or visa versa. Windows 95 does not backup very well or should I say it does not restore well at all. A full back is always suggested because Windows 95 and the programs in it do not always store data where you think it does. Data that you create is stored all over your hard drive and in different directories or folders depending on what you do. This usually happens when you are working in a program, save data, then start probing around from that program. Then, the next time you save, it starts putting your data in this new found location. A restore from tape for the Windows 95 operating system rarely works or works poorly because the backup can not get to files in use being part of Windows 95. Several tape manufacturers have made claims that theirs can but many of our customers as well as us here in the store have not been able to and tech support doesn't seem to be able to help. Windows 95 OEM 2.5 as well as the upgrade with service packs seems very stable as long as you use your computer along the path of a business computer keeping many utility programs away from it. My recommendation is to not use Oil Change, Norton, First Aid, Uninstallers, and other similar utitities. Keep the games off the computer, and don't play - just use it. Also, do NOT use any software before Windows 95 came out that is not Windows 95 compliant and certainly not DOS software. Software that is not fully Windows 95 compliant and there is plenty of it, will take down your system. Follow these recommendations and you will enjoy Windows 95. Don't be the first to rush out and get Windows 98. We have Windows 98 Beta 3 and it doen't agree with much of what we use every day. Following Windows 98 release, you will find many other the software publishers issueing there upgrades so the actual cost of Windows 98 is only a small portion of the real cost of the upgrade. Gene Mitchell Copyright 1996-1997-1998