Windows Millennium Edition

Windows Me has finally arrived, and with it have come some of the Graphical User Interface (GUI) changes over Windows 9x that first appeared with Windows 2000.

Let's take a look at the Taskbar and Start Menu options first. Located in the usual Start | Settings position, we now have a host of additional options on the Advanced tab. Did you ever find it annoying that you had to open the Printers folder to see the installed printers? Now you can check the Expand Printers option to see the list of printers, as well as the Add Printer Wizard, on a fly out menu from the Start Menu.

Similarly, you can opt to expand the Control Panel, My Documents, My Pictures, and Dial Up Networking.

Once you have all those folders expanded, your Start Menu will start to take over the whole screen. So you might want to pick only the ones you use the most.

Technical Tips © KRMS Productions 2000

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MY DOCUMENTS JUST GOT BETTER

Last time, we continued our discussion of the new features and changes that are part of Windows Me. Windows Me brings a useful feature to the My Documents desktop icon that appeared in Windows 98.

When you right-click the desktop My Documents icon in Windows 98, you are presented the option of browsing for a new location for the My Documents object to point to, as well as a Find Target button to open the current selection in Explorer.

Windows Me now gives you the option to select a new folder for My Documents to point to as well as a Move button to move the files from the old My Documents folder to the new one (on a different disk, partition, and so on). This means that a change of location can now all be done in one step--selecting a different location for your files and moving them all to it instead of needing to use Explorer to do it manually.

You can even manage the Share options from a right-click on the desktop now, too.

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WINDOWS ME'S NETWORK PLACES

In our last TechMail, we started looking at some of the new features and changes that are part of Windows Me. Windows Me might look only slightly different from Windows 98 at first glance, but one change you'll soon notice is the absence of Network Neighborhood!

Network Neighborhood's new counterpart is My Network Places. You can still browse the local network using this desktop icon, but you now have the opportunity to add a "Network Place." This is a share where you have permissions to store files. A network place might be a share on a server, a share on a Web server on the Internet, or on an FTP server on the Internet. These network places are an attempt to bring file storage of different types under a simple and common look and feel to the user.

Network Places might be addressed by their UNC name (e.g., \\serverA\shareb) or even by their Internet URL (e.g., http://webserverA.com/sharedfolder).

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IMPROVED SYSTEM MONITOR IN WINDOWS ME

If you've been following our recent TechMails, you know we've been discussing some of the new features and changes that are part of Windows Me. We've all had concerns about our download speeds over dial up links to the Internet at some point, haven't we? How do you measure it? How do you compare it with other people's results if they are using different tools to measure it?

The familiar System Monitor tool in Windows Me now has a useful addition to help us. Select Add Item from the Edit menu, and the Dial Up Adapters are now listed. Among the counters that are available for that object are Connection Speed, Bytes Received\second, and Bytes Transmitted\second.

Create a Monitor window by adding these counters in to create graphs, and make a note of their peak values (given at the bottom of the window as you highlight each graph) and an average of the values (not given, you will have to judge this) during your dial up sessions. Now if you feel that you are receiving inconsistent service from your ISP, you have more ammunition to make your case.

If System Monitor is not located in your Start | Programs | System Tools menu, or sysmon.exe is not located on your system, you will need to install it from your Windows Me CD using the Windows Setup tab of the Add\Remove Programs applet in Control Panel.

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LOGGING DATA FROM SYSTEM MONITOR

In our last TechMail , we looked at capturing data during dial up sessions. Another feature has been added to System Monitor in this new version of Windows--data logging.

The two new icons on the toolbar in System Monitor start and stop logging to a file named, by default, sysmon.log. This is a Comma Separated Variable (CSV) file, which can be opened in Excel or Access to plot the logged data in a chart. Logging data in this way allows you to run the System Monitor minimized, and while you work, it continues collecting data. Instead of it disappearing off the graph in System Monitor, it is logged to the text file.

This technique would allow an administrator to compile a historical chart from logs from different PCs to aid in troubleshooting performance problems.

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NETWORK PROBLEMS WITH WINDOWS ME, PART 1

After you have installed Windows Me, you might encounter some problems with the network components of the OS. You might find that the Home Networking Wizard causes a blue screen error message, "net use" commands fail, you are unable to browse the network, or you simply don't get an MS Networking logon dialog.

You are not alone if you have discovered these problems, but there is a fix. In this TechMail, we talk you through the first of two steps to try to resolve the problems.

Check for the existence of the following key in the registry using Regedit.exe (please take the usual care when editing the registry):

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VXD\Vnetbios If this key does not exist, create it in Regedit, and then add the following values manually to the new Vnetbios key.

Value name: NetClean
Value type: Binary
Value data: 01

Value name: Start
Value type: Binary
Value data: 00

Value name: StaticVxD
Value type: String
Value data: vnetbios.vxd

Now restart your computer and check to see if the computer exhibits the same behavior or if the problem has been fixed.

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NETWORK PROBLEMS WITH WINDOWS ME, PART 2

In the last TechMail, we talked you through manually recreating a registry key and its values to solve problems with Windows Me networking. If those problems have not been resolved by following that procedure, you should continue with the one below.

We need to check whether the file vnetbios.vxd is present in the \windows\system folder. From a command line, type:

dir vnetbios.vxd /ah

If the file is not found, we need to extract it from the original media using either the extract.exe utility we introduced recently ("How to use the Extract utility more easily") or by using the System Configuration utility in Windows Me.

To perform this task with the System Configuration utility (Start | Run | msconfig.exe), click on the Extract File button, type "vnetbios.vxd" without the quotes in the given dialog box, and press the Start button.

Now browse to the folder that holds your installation media (usually c:\windows\options\install or c:\windows\options\cabs), select c:\ to extract the file to, and click OK. When that has completed, use Explorer to drag and drop the file from c:\ to c:\windows\system and click OK to confirm the replacement of the existing file.

Now restart your computer and check to see if the problem has been fixed.

Technical Tips © KRMS Productions 2000

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MY NETWORK NOW HAS PLACES INSTEAD OF A NEIGHBORHOOD, PART 1

Windows Millennium provides users with a GUI that has much in common with the Windows 2000 Operating System. One way this similarity can be seen is the replacement of Network Neighborhood with My Network Places.

The idea of Network Places is simply that you (or your administrator) can create icons to locations on your network that you frequently visit. This may sound familiar if you have ever followed any of our TechMails describing how to put a shortcut to a network share on your desktop.

The convenience of My Network Places, however, comes from the ability to set up shortcuts to an ftp server, network share, or Web folder all in one place. You can set these up by double-clicking on the Add Network Place wizard icon and following the steps to create the "place" icon. You can then right-click the icon and select the Send To | Desktop to place a shortcut to the network place in a more convenient location.

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MY NETWORK NOW HAS PLACES INSTEAD OF A NEIGHBORHOOD, PART 2

In our last TechMail, we introduced My Network Places in Windows Millennium (Windows Me), and looked at the new organization of this network browser.

We can use the Add Network Place wizard to add new network places, but if we want to browse through the available network resources as we did in the Windows 98 Network Neighborhood, the Entire Network icon is still available to us. This icon opens a familiar list of servers.

The first time you enter the Entire Network, however, you may find that the window is completely empty--and if you haven't maximized the window you will not have seen the hyperlink to "View the entire contents of this folder." Once you have clicked on this setting, your preference will be remembered the next time you open Entire Network.

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THE WINDOWS ME SYSTEM RESTORE UTILITY, PART 1

Windows Me now includes a utility that provides functionality that no other member of the Windows 9x family of operating systems has been able to provide.

The System Restore utility monitors the state of Windows system files and takes a snapshot of the state of the Windows Me installation automatically before certain system changes, as well as periodically. It also allows users to take manual snapshots themselves. These "Restore Points" can then be used to roll back the system to recover from a crash or failure.

It is important to remember, however, that this utility does not take into account user-created files (.doc, .txt, .xls, etc.) and should not be seen as a backup program for your data.

The automatic snapshots are taken every 24 hours of real time and every 10 hours of system uptime. At least 200 MB of disk space is required for System Restore to keep the snapshots in the system drive, which are compressed while the computer is idle. As more snapshots (or Restore Points) are created, old ones are eventually purged to conserve disk space. Restore Points are also created when programs are installed using Windows Installer or Installshield 6.1 or higher, or when Windows Automatic Update makes changes to the system.

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THE WINDOWS ME SYSTEM RESTORE UTILITY, PART 2

In the first part of this series on the System Restore utility, we introduced the program and looked at when it creates Restore Points automatically for us. In this TechMail, we take a look at how to manually create our own Restore Points.

Start the System Restore program by selecting Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools | System Restore.

The first time you run the tool, you will be given two options--to create a restore point, and to restore the system back to an earlier time. Select the Create A Restore Point option, and then click Next. On the next page, type a description. Click Next again and the system date and time will be recorded along with your description.

These Restore Points could be created, for example, just before the installation of new software or before the installation of new hardware and its associated drivers.

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THE WINDOWS ME SYSTEM RESTORE UTILITY, PART 3

So far in this series of TechMails discussing the System Restore utility in Windows Me, we have looked at how Restore Points are created automatically for us as well as manually by us. This time out, we'll look at how to roll back the system to a previously saved Restore Point.

To roll a system back to a previously saved Restore Point, start the System Restore program by selecting Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools | System Restore, selecting the Restore My Computer From An Earlier Time option, and clicking Next.

You are then given a calendar that shows dates with valid Restore Points in bold. The Restore Point descriptions and times are listed in the window to the right of the calendar and will change as you select the different days. Any entry in the form "08:53 System CheckPoint" is an automatically created snapshot of the system (See part one of this series for further details on when these are created). Select the required time to roll back to and click on Next. You may be warned to close any programs you have open before you start the rollback. You will need to reinstall any software you installed after the Restore Point to bring your system up-to-date.

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THE WINDOWS ME SYSTEM RESTORE UTILITY, PART 4

To finish off this series of TechMails on the Windows Me System Restore utility, we should briefly look at what happens if a rollback to a Restore Point goes wrong.

Fortunately, the Windows Me System Restore utility will automatically go back to the state it came from should an attempted restore fail. However, if you do roll back to a Restore Point and find you still experience problems, you have two options.

1. You can run the utility again and simply select another Restore Point.
2. You can run the utility again and this time select the third option you will be presented with on the first screen--to reverse the recently made rollback.

Remember that System Restore will not touch your data or document files, browsing history, or even favorites list. It will just put the system files back to a previously stored configuration.

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SHOW FILE ATTRIBUTES IN WINDOWS EXPLORER

In previous TechMails, we looked at the file attributes (e.g., read only and hidden) of individual files by checking the Properties page of each file. However, it might be easier to view this information for a selection of files in Windows Explorer rather than checking each one individually.

To view file attributes for a folder of files, open Explorer and select the Details view from the View menu. Now right-click on the Column Fields bar and select the Attributes option.

You will now have a resizable column that holds a letter for each of the checked attributes on each file's Properties page (e.g., R for read only, A for archive, H for hidden, and S for system).

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NETWORK DIAGNOSTICS IN WINDOWS ME

Windows Me has an extensive Help system built into it. But work your way into the Help system's HTML interface, and you'll find the useful Network Diagnostics tool, which provides a good deal of information about network configuration and hardware. This tool can help solve connectivity problems by highlighting connectivity and associated hardware configuration issues, as well as distribute information about the computer easily to a network administrator or other support personnel.

To navigate to the Network Diagnostics tool, go to Start | Help | Home Networking | Troubleshooting For Networks | Using Network Diagnostics.

An alternative to this path is to go to Start and then in the Run dialog box, type: hcp://system/netdiag/logs.htm

(NOTE: Remember that registry editing can be risky, so be sure you have a verified backup before making any changes.)

After the page opens and the Network Diagnostics tools completes its checks, a list of information will appear that divides the computer into Services, Computer Information, and Modems And Network Adapters.

Click the Save To File button on the left of the tool's page, and an HTML page will be created in the computer's \windows\pchealth\helpctr\system\netdiag folder that contains the collected information. Files are saved with a unique name in the form netdiag(day)(month)(year) (hour)(minute)(seconds).htm, e.g., Netdiag 02022001 211033.htm. Once such a file has been created, it can easily be e-mailed to Tech Support for further analysis if necessary. The collected information could also be used as part of an auditing process.

Beside the Mail and News settings in the Services section, the Internet Service item may offer insight into why a computer is unable to browse the Web. For example, here's an example of a computer that uses a Proxy Server to browse the Web:

Internet Service (192.168.1.1) UNREACHABLE

IE is using a proxy: 192.168.1.1 UNREACHABLE

Cound not ping - pinging (192.168.1.1)
timed out
timed out
timed out
timed out
Proxy server is not accepting connections on port [80].

This item in the tool queries the connections settings in Internet Explorer and determines that a proxy--in this case, 192.168.1.10151--is required to browse the Web and then ascertains that the proxy isn't available to the PC after pinging it and detecting the failed response. If the ping fails, then the specified port will surely fail. (This doesn't test for Winsock access.)

Now combine this knowledge with the next item in the Services section, Loopback, and notice that the TCP/IP protocol has bound properly to the network adapter in the computer's network configuration as the reserved loopback address of 127.0.0.1 has replied to the ping test in this example:

Loopback (127.0.0.1) PASSED
Loopback 127.0.0.1 PASSED

Successful ping - pinging (127.0.0.1)
64 bytes from 127.0.0.1: icmp_seq = 0. time: 8 ms
64 bytes from 127.0.0.1: icmp_seq = 1. time: 8 ms
64 bytes from 127.0.0.1: icmp_seq = 2. time: 8 ms
64 bytes from 127.0.0.1: icmp_seq = 3. time: 8 ms

Therefore, the problem lies with either the computer's IP addressing configuration or the network conditions beyond the computer's configuration.

Technical Tips © KRMS Productions 2000

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ISSUES WITH THE NETWORK DIAGNOSTICS REPORT FROM WINDOWS Me

Inthe above artical, we introduced the Network Diagnostic tool built in to Windows Me's Help system and examined several items within the tool's report that helps users pinpoint connectivity issues. Now we're going to address some points about the Network Diagnostics tool's report that should be noted before the output is treated as the absolute truth about a system at a given point in time.

Let's say you're looking at a report about a Windows Me computer that can ping IP addresses on the network but is experiencing problems resolving computer names on the network. Your first thought would probably be to check the WINSPrimaryServer and WINSSecondaryServer addresses in the report's Modems and Network Adapters section. This would state the IP addresses of the primary and secondary WINS servers that the computer should use to resolve NetBIOS names against IP addresses on the network. Notice that the address you considered to be the secondary WINS server actually appeared on the report as the primary server. However, Windows Me's TCP/IP stack can detect a temporary or permanent loss of contact with a primary WINS server and will swap the primary and secondary addresses over automatically. Rather than pointing to a fault on the Windows Me computer, this might point to a fault on the primary WINS server.

The Network Diagnostics tool uses ping and TCP port connections as the primary tests for checking connectivity to Email and News servers in the Services section. Some public servers block the ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) traffic that ping uses. This can lead to some misleading information from a mail server that is actually available to the computer. For example, you may receive a report that reads:

MailServer: mail.mailservices.com UNREACHABLE
Could not ping - pinging (mail.mailservices.com)
timed out
timed out
timed out
timed out
Mail server appears to be running [SMTP].

The mail server is stopping ping from replying, but the TCP connection test results in confirmation that the mail service appears to be running on the target computer. A similar situation could arise with the News service.

Also in the Services section of the tool's report is the Internet Service item. This checks for Web, but not Winsock, proxy connectivity. This checks on Internet Explorer settings, which are accessed from their registry entries. The registry keys that are accessed to pull the information into the report and carry out the tests check: a) whether proxy access is enabled and b) the address of the proxy. If the computer is configured to access a proxy, the tool will check to see whether it can browse via the proxy and report on its success. However, the address of the proxy and whether it's enabled or not are completely separate; this means that the report could display the address of the proxy. It's also intelligent enough to know that it isn't enabled and, therefore, won't try to contact it to determine whether the computer has Internet service or not. Apparently, you may be able to "break" the tool if you drag the mouse while clicking on any of the "expand" icons to show the contents of a category on the report. You might see the following error on the page:

Internet Explorer Script Error:

An error has occurred in the script on this page.

        Line: 14
      Char: 1
      Error: Permission denied
      Code: 0
      URL: hcp://system/css/PCHealth.htc

Do you want to continue running scripts on this page?

By clicking click Yes or No, the error message is repeated. Click again and the error disappears. To work around the problem, just don't drag the mouse pointer while clicking!

NOTE: This is not a problem on the report that is created when the Save To File button is clicked.

Technical Tips © KRMS Productions 2000

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MEDIA SENSE IN WINDOWS ME

Windows Me now includes a revised TCP/IP protocol stack that includes some of the improvements presented in Windows 2000. One of these TCP/IP revisions is the inclusion of a Media Sense function. In this TechMail, we'll explore Media Sense's requirements and benefits and explain how to disable the function if necessary.

Media Sense takes advantage of the Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) driver model used by Windows to allow the TCP/IP protocol to be unbound from the adapter driver when the "link" state of the adapter is down. The "link" state is usually visually seen as an LED lit on the physical network adapter and is an indication that the adapter has inserted itself into the logical network. When the network medium (cable) is removed from the adapter, the adapter detects this, the LED goes out, and the Media Sense of the card determines the "link" state is down. Although Windows Me can also detect this fact with its own Media Sense component, it relies on working with a network adapter (and a driver for the adapter) that supports Media Sense.

The major benefit of having Media Sense built into the TCP/IP stack is its interaction with Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers. You can attach your Windows Me computer to a network, receive an IP address from a DHCP server, and go about your work. Then, disconnect physically from the network (TCP/IP unbinds from the adapter) and reconnect to another network with a different DHCP server. Media Sense will detect the change in network state, receive the new IP address, bind and configure the TCP/IP stack to the adapter, and allow you to continue working without having to restart Windows or manually release and renew the DHCP address. In previous versions of Windows 9x, this had to be completed by using the Winipcfg.exe program.

Clearly this is a great benefit to laptop users who may need to switch between different networks regularly, to support professionals who need to attach to different networks, and to home users who are running increasingly complex networks.

In some cases, you may want to disable the Media Sense function. (Note that if this function is disabled, you'll lose the ability to attach to different networks automatically.) For example, you may want to disable Media Sense if you're working on a network that you usually take down while making configuration changes, if your network is experiencing short or intermittent outages while under someone else's maintenance, or if you're troubleshooting problems with the network adapter and/or its driver.

To disable Media Sense, follow these steps:

1. Click on Start | Settings | Control Panel
2. Double-click the Network applet
3. Select the TCP/IP protocol that is bound to the required network adapter you want to configure.
4. Click the IP Address tab, uncheck the Detect Connection To Network Media check box, and click OK.
5. Click OK and restart the computer.

NOTE: We'll remind you that registry editing can be risky, so be sure you have a verified backup before you begin.

Technical Tips © KRMS Productions 2000

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RESTORATION

The _Restore folder is created when Windows Me is installed for use by the System Restore utility. Despite the fact that the _Restore folder performs some valuable functions in this role, it can also cause problems that should be noted.

The System Restore utility can be started from Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools | System Restore to create manual backup points and roll the system back to a previous point in time. The _Restore folder on the drive on which Windows is installed holds Restore Point and System CheckPoint files in compressed (.cab) files. Microsoft documentation refers to this folder as the "Data Store." Other disks on the Windows Me system will also hold _Restore folders which are used for indexing and monitoring.

One issue with these _Restore folders that reside on drives other than the system drive is that they contain a 1-byte file named Srdiskid.dat that contains the letter of the drive the folder is on. The System Restore utility uses these files when Windows starts to verify the system. When a drive is added or deleted from the system, drive letter assignments may change. If this happens, Windows purges out the Data Store and starts to rebuild it. The same can happen if you delete the _Restore folder--the Data Store will be reset, possibly losing valuable historical Restore Points.

The Data Store will increase in size each time a Restore Point is created either manually or by Windows within parameters set by the operating system. This is by design, as further compressed files are created in the folder. The contents of this expanding _Restore folder can also cause some problems with antivirus software on Windows Me computers. The System Restore utility protects the contents of the Data Store from alteration to maintain system integrity so that System Restore is the only method of fully accessing the files and folders in the _Restore folder on the windows system drive. While some antivirus programs are able to interrogate the compressed files within the Data Store and report suspicious files, they're unable to remove any viruses from files within the files located there.

You may then need to decide what to do about the reported suspect files. If the rest of the system is reported clean, you may be able to leave the contents of the Data Store alone and wait for System Restore to eventually purge the suspect files as further Restore Points are recorded in the Data Store. This pushes out the older Restore Points as the disk space quota for the Data Store is reached.

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ANOTHER LOOK AT THE _RESTORE FOLDER

In the artical above, we introduced the _Restore folders which are created by the System Restore function of Windows Me. To briefly recap, the _Restore folder that is created on the same drive as Windows is installed onto what becomes System Restore's Data Store, and the _Restore folder on the other drives is used for indexing and verification purposes.

A problem we examined was antivirus software reporting suspected infected files in the Data Store, but not being able to do anything about them because Windows Me protects the files in the Data Store so that only System Restore can modify them. One way to deal with this problem is to allow the suspect files to pass through the Data Store and eventually be deleted. This works because System Restore automatically creates Restore Points which, when stored in the Data Store, gradually fill up the entire free space on the drive if there isn't a quota system to govern it. System Restore then uses a First In First Out (FIFO) system to remove the oldest Restore Points first when new ones fill up the amount of disk space allocated for Restore Points; eventually pushing out suspect files contained in Restore Points in the Data Store.

If you want to speed up this process temporarily, alter the amount of space that System Restore can use to store Restore Points. The maximum disk space value for System Restore is 200 MB. If the Data Store folder is less than 90 percent of that size (or 180 MB), the procedure may not have an effect.

To check the amount of space that is currently being used, right-click the _Restore folder on the drive on which Windows is installed and view Properties. If more than 180 MB are being used:

1. Go to Start | Settings | Control Panel
2. Double-click System and select the Performance tab
3. Click File System and adjust the System Restore Disk Space Use slider control to a lower amount (depending on how much you want to speed up the FIFO effect) and then click Apply
4. Click OK twice

Now use the antivirus tool to recheck your computer for suspect files. If they still exist in the Data Store, continue to decrease its size as described above; just remember that when you do, you're removing historical Restore Points. After you've cleared your system of suspect files, you may wish to return the slider control back to the original position, and restart your computer again.

Once again, this may not work if the amount of disk space available to System Restore for storing Restore Points is less than 200 MB. In this case, manually purge the Data Store completely to remove its contents. (Note that you will lose all the stored Restore Points it contained.) To purge the Data Store:

1. Go to Start | Settings | Control Panel
2. Double-click System and select the Performance tab
3. Click File System and select the Troubleshooting tab
4. Select the Disable System Restore check box and click Apply
5. Click OK and restart your computer

When the system restarts, the Data Store will be purged. Navigate to the check box again and uncheck it. When you restart your computer, System Restore will be restarted and your system will be monitored automatically again.

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A LOOK AT DRIVER SIGNING IN WINDOWS MILLENNIUM EDITION

In recent Windows Me TechMails, we have been looking at some of the features built into Windows Me that are designed to help keep your operating system running smoothly. In this Artical, we'll take a look at another such feature: Digital Driver Signing. In a nutshell, a digital certificate accompanies device drivers that have been certified by the Microsoft Windows Hardware Quality Lab for use with Windows Millennium. This certifies that they have passed the Microsoft testing procedures for safe use with Windows Me. The drivers that ship with Windows Me are, of course, certified, as are the drivers available from the Windows Update site. If you attempt to install a device driver that does not have a certificate, you will receive a warning.

You can check whether a device driver on your Windows Me system is certified by using Device Manager. First, right-click My Computer and select Properties. Click Device Manager and then expand the category you want to select by clicking the plus sign (+) next to the category. Right-click the particular device and select Properties. On the Device Properties window, select the Driver tab. If Microsoft Consumer Windows Publisher is written against the Digital Signer entry, then the device driver has been signed.

You can check your entire system at once by running the Signature Verification tool. To do so, select Start | Run and type sigverif. This can also be done by selecting Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools | System Information | Tools | Signature Verification Tool. When the tool starts, click OK to begin the scan. Results are displayed in the Signature Verification Results window.

When checking for signed drivers, it's important to only check them when you have the system booted into Normal Mode, rather than Safe Mode. If you enter Safe Mode, drivers may be listed as signed when they are not. Driver signing status is only updated when the computer is started in Safe Mode.

If you need to run sigverif in Safe Mode, start it as described above, but click the Advanced button before starting the scan of device drivers. The default search won't work in Safe Mode, so you'll need to create a custom search. If you try the default search, you may receive a message indicating No System Files Found, or incomplete or false results. Select Look For Other Files That Are Not Digitally Signed, select the type of files to check, then select the \windows folder (or other if required), and select Include Subfolders If Needed. Click OK to start the custom search and view the results. You'll see all of the files (of the type that you selected) that aren't signed regardless of whether Windows sees them as system files or not.

You'll find that the Driver Signing tool is an important tool in Windows Me's strategy to keep you up and running.

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CLEAN BOOTING IN WINDOWS ME

Microsoft's Windows Me operating system goes to greater lengths than previous versions of Windows to keep the computing experience as trouble-free as possible. In recent TechMails, we've seen examples of this as we've explored Driver Signing, System Restore, and Media Sense.

Occasionally, however, system problems require us to deduce where the problem lies, One method we can employ is to start Windows as cleanly as possible. In other words, we must start Windows with the bare minimum of system drivers and configuration complexities. Once this is achieved, we can begin re-adding configuration elements to look for the element that's causing the problem.

To achieve a clean boot, start Windows, click Start | Run, type msconfig, and click OK. The MS Configuration Utility will start. On the General tab, select Selective Startup and then clear all of the check boxes. Select the Startup tab and select the *StateMgr check box. Click OK and then restart your computer.

When Windows restarts, it may look as though you have booted into Safe Mode, but Windows has actually booted into Normal Mode.

First, see whether the problem that prompted you to begin this troubleshooting procedure has reoccurred. If it has not, then it's likely that something that we've disabled caused the original problem. Start the MS Configuration Utility again and select the General tab. See whether any check boxes under Selective Startup have been selected by Windows or have been made unavailable. If they have, you will need to contact the vendor of the software that caused this problem to learn why it cannot be disabled in Msconfig.sys. If the problem software can be easily identified, you may be able to easily uninstall it.

Once you've performed a clean boot, under Select Startup, select one check box at a time to add configuration elements, rebooting after each to determine the effect.

To return the computer to a normal boot, start Msconfig.exe, select the General tab, select the Normal Startup option, and restart the computer.

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CACHING YOUR NETWORK PASSWORD IN WINDOWS ME

If you are the only user of your Windows Me-based computer and it is attached to a Windows NT computer, it is possible--contrary to what your default systems settings may tell you--to avoid entering your network password during every Windows' start-up. Windows Me allows you to cache your password in the password list. The password is still required, but it only needs entering once (until you change it).

Note that this option is available only if "you are the only user" of the computer. This procedure will not work if User Profiles have been enabled on the computer, as Windows will force a "Windows Password" to be entered to verify that you have permission to utilize a given Profile. To determine whether User Profiles have been enabled, click Start | Settings | Control Panel and double-click on Passwords. Click on the User Profiles tab and check to see if the Users Can Customize Their Preferences And Desktop Settings - Windows Switches To Your Personal Settings When You Log On option has been selected. If so, and you are the only user for this computer, simply deselect this option. To enable Windows NT network password caching in Windows Me, follow the procedure below:

1. First, click Start | Settings | Control Panel and double-click on Network.

2. The Client For Microsoft Networks should be installed if you are using an NT network. Double-click this client, select the Log On To Windows NT Domain dialog box, and click OK.

3. In the Primary Network Logon drop-down list, click Windows Logon and then click OK. When prompted, do not restart the computer.

4. Now, still in the Control Panel, double-click the Passwords icon.

5. Click on Change Windows Password and in the resulting dialog box, clear any other checked boxes and click OK.

6. Type your existing password in the Old Password field and leave the New Password and Confirm New Password fields empty. Click on OK and then Close.

7. Now restart Windows.

When the Enter Network Password prompt is displayed, type the Windows NT domain username and password and check the Save This Password In Your Password List dialog box. Click OK.

Restart your computer again and you will not be prompted for the network password. So long as your Windows password (which we set to blank) and your Windows NT password are different, and you leave the Windows Logon as the primary network logon, you will not be prompted for either of the passwords.

As a final note, your network administrator can require every network user to enter a start-up password, even those who don't share a computer, by issuing a system policy. If the above procedure fails, ask your network administrator if such a security policy is in place.

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A FIRST LOOK AT THE WINDOWS MILLENNIUM HIBERNATE FEATURE

Recently, we introduced Windows Me's Standby feature, which can have problems initiating when network connections are present on that computer. Closely related to the Standby feature is the Hibernate mode, which can also be configured by clicking on Start | Settings | Control Panel | Power Options and clicking on the Hibernate tab.

When a Windows Me computer enters Hibernate mode, it creates a summary of current system processes and data in memory and then writes this information to a hidden file named Vmhiber.w9x in the Windows folder. Windows can do this only if there is enough disk space available to write the file. If sufficient disk space is unavailable, the Control Panel Hibernation option will be grayed out, and a warning prompt will be displayed.

Even when the Hibernation option is set, Windows does not allocate disk space for the Hibernation file. If disk space becomes low during operation, the message "You are running out of disk space on [volume label] [drive letter]: To free space on this drive by deleting old or unnecessary files, click here..." may be displayed. Hibernation will not be possible until adequate disk space is cleared.

There are additional circumstances that can cause Windows computers to fail to enter Hibernation. One such issue is an Enhanced Capabilities Port (ECP) that is connected to an active multipurpose peripheral. For example, this could be a device scanning the port for an incoming fax. To reactivate Hibernation, you would need to first disable the ECP device causing the problem.

Another Hibernation-preclusive issue is Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). If ICS is completely configured and active on an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)-compliant computer, that computer will not be able to enter Hibernation. Instead, a message will be displayed notifying you that if the computer were allowed to enter Hibernation, other users on the network would not be able to access the Internet.

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USING HYPERTERMINAL

The HyperTerminal application has been distributed with the Windows operating system versions for a long time now, and for administrators and network engineers, it can be a very useful tool. HyperTerminal allows a user to make a connection to a "host" system from a Windows Me computer. If you have never looked at the tool, take a couple of minutes to read through the following and see how it can make your life easier by allowing connection to hosts via several different methods.

The HyperTerminal application is started by default from the Start | Settings | Accessories | Communications location. When you start HyperTerminal, you are asked to name the connection you are about to configure. This is useful as once you have configured your connection, you can then save all the settings to a config file of the same name. This config file can be used to implement equivalent settings for subsequent connections. After selecting a connection name, click OK.

On the Connect To dialog box, you are introduced to the different types of connection that HyperTerminal offers. By default, a dial-up connection using a modem is selected (assuming you have a modem present). The Connect Using field will display the installed modem, and you will need to enter the appropriate telephone number before you can dial the remote host.

If you click the downwards arrow on the Connect Using field, you may see one or more Direct to COMn options depending on the number of serial ports available on your computer. These options are typically used for attaching to, say, a UNIX computer via serial cable or to a router via its serial console cable. To connect to one of these devices, select the COM port to use and click on OK. You will next need to enter the Port Settings required to make a serial connection. If you are in doubt as to the settings necessary to negotiate a connection, try the very common settings of 9600 Bits Per Second, 8 Data Bits, No Parity, 1 Stop Bit, and Hardware Flow Control.

The other option you will find on the Connect Using field list is TCP/IP (Winsock)--if available on the computer. Once you click on OK, you will be able to enter the IP address of the computer or router/switch to connect to over the network. (The standard Telnet port is usually 23.) This is a good way to "telnet" to a host on your network, whether available on your LAN (via a network card), a VPN connection, or a previously dialed Dial-Up Networking connection. Note that Windows Me also includes a separate basic telnet.exe program. (Click Start | Run | Telnet | OK.)

Once you have selected and established the connection using one of the connection types given above, HyperTerminal also gives you some opportunity under the File | Properties option. File | Properties allows you to customize the session, though clearly not as many options are available as in a full-blown application. (HyperTerminal can be upgraded to Hilgreave's HyperAccess product; click Help | About | Upgrade Information for more details.) One of the options you may need to set on occasion is the Echo Typed Characters Locally option from the ASCII Setup button. This allows the terminal session to echo your own keystrokes on the screen so that you can see what you are typing, which sometimes is not automatically enabled in certain sessions.

HyperTerminal can give you easy access to configure network equipment, access UNIX systems over serial or dial-up connections, or access other telnet servers (including Windows 2000 server), all within one application that comes free with Windows Millennium.

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BELIEVE IT OR NOT, FLOPPY DISKS ARE STILL POPULAR

It seems that the floppy disk will never go away. We still use them to transfer files between computers, take documents home to work on, and to curse when we lose work. Because we still use them, here's a quick rundown of helpful floppy disk pointers in Windows Millennium Edition.

* You can increase the speed of Windows Me's start up by ensuring that Windows doesn't check for new floppy drives every time it starts up. To do this, right-click My Computer and select Properties. Click the Performance tab and then click File System. On the Floppy Disk tab, clear the Search For New Floppy Disk Drives Each Time Your Computer Starts check box. However, if you have a laptop that has interchangeable CDs and floppy disks, be wary about clearing this check box--you must ensure that the floppy drives are detected when Windows starts.

* An easy way to copy files to a floppy disk is to locate the file(s) in Explorer or My Computer, right-click them, and select Send To | 3½ Floppy.

* To copy the contents of one floppy disk to another, locate the floppy drive in My Computer, right-click it, and select Copy Disk. You'll be prompted for a source floppy and destination floppy. You will need dexterous hands to swap the floppies as requested! Remember to close the Write Protect tab on the Source disk for safety.

* Another way to copy floppies is to use the Diskcopy.exe command. To use the utility, click Start | Run and type diskcopy a: a: (assuming a: is your floppy disk drive). Diskcopy.exe will prompt you to swap the disks as required.

* Floppy disks can also be excellent tools to revive systems. Hopefully you'll never need a Windows Me Startup Disk, but it's a good idea to have one handy. To create a Windows Me startup disk, click Start | Settings | Control Panel and double-click Add/Remove Programs. Click the StartUp Disk tab and select Create Disk. You will be prompted to insert a blank floppy disk into the drive--make sure it is formatted before you insert it. One way to format a floppy disk is to select My Computer, right-click your floppy drive, and click Format.

* Remember to use the write protect tab to keep your valuable files safe. Floppy disks are great for temporarily storing files--temporarily being the key word. Floppy disks aren't of value after being bent, left in the sun, or put through a washer (don't laugh--it can happen). If you have valuable files to save, there are far better long-term storage options.

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GIVE YOUR WINDOWS SYSTEM AN AUTOMATIC TUNE-UP

In the Windows Millennium TechMails, we often deliver tips on keeping your Windows systems running as efficiently as possible. While these tips involve some manual input, there are some maintenance tasks that you can have Windows take care of automatically. Navigate to the Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools menu and find the Maintenance Wizard program. (You can also find the Maintenance Wizard program by pressing [Windows log key]+R, typing tuneup, and pressing [Enter].)

Select the Custom option and click Next. The Select A Maintenance Schedule option enables you to select when the Maintenance options will be performed.

If you leave your computer running after you leave the office (or all night if it's a home computer), select the Midnight To 3:00 A.M. option so you won't endure the performance hit of the maintenance tasks while you're using the computer.

The Start Windows More Quickly option enables you to select the programs you want to open on start up. Clear the check boxes for the programs that you don't want to automatically open. Remember, the fewer programs you select, the faster Windows will open.

The Speed Up Programs option lets you set up scheduled defragmentation of the hard disk. You can select options to keep program files in adjoining blocks on the disk--this helps them start faster. You can also specify how often you want the defrag to take place, or if you want it to happen at all.

Scan Hard Disk For Errors enables you to set schedules for ScanDisk, including advanced ScanDisk options. A common setting for a nighttime schedule is Automatically Fix Errors.

Delete Unnecessary Options enables you to reclaim disk space by deleting various types of files that you may no longer use. Select a category, click the Settings button, and select or clear the check box to leave or delete the category of files.

Finally, the Summary Screen summarizes your selections. Click Finish, and the schedule will be active. A final option enables you to immediately run an initial pass of the scheduled tasks. You may want to do this to verify that none of the actions will cause errors. You don't want to discover that Windows crashed because ScanDisk (for example) does not function on your computer.

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CLEAN YOUR DESKTOP

If you have a number of applications installed on a computer running Windows Me, you may have discovered that the Start menu is being cluttered with shortcuts and the desktop littered with shortcuts to programs, documents, and folders. The purpose of all of these shortcuts is to have a quick way to start the applications you use most.

Here's another way to do it. Locate the shortcut to a program you frequently use, say Myapp.exe, and then right-click it and select Properties. You will see the field named Shortcut Key, which should have the word None displayed in the field next to it. (NOTE: This tip does not work if you select the Properties of an actual program file instead of the shortcut to a program.)

Click on the word None to select the field. Then hold down the [Ctrl] key and press M (a mnemonic for Myapp.exe). You will see that this combination brings up the [Ctrl][Alt]M combination in the Shortcut Key field. Okay your changes and then press [Ctrl][Alt]M simultaneously. Myapp.exe should now start without you having to click the shortcut key.

You can set up a number of these shortcut keys using [Ctrl][Alt], [Shift][Alt], and [Ctrl][Shift] combinations. If you try to set up a combination that's already used, the attempt will fail. Windows will detect the key combination and start the program that uses the attempted shortcut key combination.

Using this shortcut key trick, you can easily create a quick way to start your most used applications and keep your Desktop and Start menu clutter free.

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