Tips & Tricks (2)


NOTE: The tips mentioned here have been tried on Windows 95, they might not work on your system because each system works differently during installation and configuration of programs. Though Windows 95 and Windows 98 have the same registry structure, some tips may not work on Windows 98.

Control the screensaver
   To activate and de-activate the screensaver at your will run Regedit and go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Scree-Savers. Add new string value to -Y-N. Close Regedit and restart your system.
   Now!! you can activate your screensaver by simply placing the cursor at the upper right-corner of your screen. Similarly, if you position the mouse on the lower left-corner of your screen, the screensaver will not activate, even after the computer has been inactive for longer that the specified time. This trick is especially helpful to keep your screensaver from activating when you are in the middle of a task that cannot be interrupted, like defragmenting your hard disk.

Variations in Wallpaper
   If you have MS Plus! Pack installed on your system, there are three on your system, there are three ways in which you can display a background wallpaper-- Tiled, Centered, or Stretch to fit the desktop to fit the desktop (the last one is exclusive to Plus! Pack users).
   By editing the Registry, you can add another option to the above--position the wallpaper anywhere on your screen by specifying values for the X and Y co-ordinates.
   Open Regedit and go to: HEKY_CURRENT_USER/ControlPanel/Desktop. Create two new strings and call them WallpaperOriginX and WallpaperOriginY. Gives these subkeys the desired values to position your bitmap off the center on your desktop.
   Er, one more thing: the repositioned wallpaper must be smaller than the size of your desktop.

Retaining the look
  Fed up with resetting Windows Explorer or Control Panel every time you start a new? This time, set them for good. Start Regedit and look for: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer. In the right-pane you will the NoSaveSetting key. This is the Culprit :o) no matter what value is given to this key, the Desktop/Explorer/ControlPanel settings will be modified by Windows 95 again after opening 29 of those windows (the maximum number of windows setting stored in Windows 95's Registry 'memory').
   Delete this key. Close the registry editor and press [F5] after clicking your mouse on the desktop to refresh it. That will ensure that your application 'look' the way you want them to.

The copyright of the article Tips & Tricks (2) in Windows 98 is owned by Ankan Brahmachari. Permission to republish Tips & Tricks (2) in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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