Windows 98 is a very rich environment that offers numerous ways to customize the interface and operating system. This chapter explains the many ways you can change Windows 98's appearance and operation. The chapter covers the following topics:
Most of the changes in look and function you can make to Windows 98 are simple to make. Most users like to customize the interface.
Windows 98 makes changing display resolution and other operating system parameters an easy task. One significant feature is that Windows 98, like its predecessor Windows 95, enables you to maintain multiple desktop configurations. Windows 98 can maintain a unique desktop for each user, making it possible for multiple users to share a single PC while providing a unique, custom desktop for each user. First you should learn about the changes you can make to the user interface because those potential changes apply to both single- and multiple-user profiles.
NOTE: For a more complete discussion of user profiles, refer to Chapter 29, "System Policies and User Profiles."
You can change two aspects of the desktop: the background and the wallpaper. Most users want to change the background.
The background is a pattern you can apply to the Windows 98 desktop. You also can create your own patterns. You are restricted to two colors for the desktop pattern: black and the color of the desktop.
TIP: Because the pattern is applied as black on top of the desktop color, specifying a background color of black makes the pattern invisible.
To specify a predefined background pattern, right-click on the Windows 98 desktop and choose Properties to display the property sheet for the desktop. Or, with no items selected on the desktop, press Shift+F10 to display the property sheet. On the Background page, click the Pattern button to display the Pattern dialog box (see Figure 10.1).
FIGURE 10.1 Use the Pattern dialog box to choose or edit a background pattern.
TIP: You also can open the Display property sheet by choosing the Display icon from the Control Panel.
The Pattern dialog box enables you to choose from Windows 98's predefined background patterns, edit an existing pattern, or create a new pattern. To use an existing pattern, simply select a pattern from the Pattern list box. Windows 98 then displays a sample of the pattern. Choose OK or Apply to apply the pattern to the desktop.
If you want to edit an existing pattern or create a new pattern, first choose a pattern from the list; then choose the Edit Pattern button. Windows 98 provides a Pattern Editor dialog box (see Figure 10.2) that you can use to modify the pattern. Click on the squares in the Pattern box to change the pattern. After you establish a pattern that satisfies you, choose Done to save the modified pattern or enter a new name in the Name combo box and choose Add to add the new pattern.
FIGURE 10.2 Use the Pattern Editor dialog box to modify existing patterns and create new ones.
Besides adding a background pattern to the desktop, you can apply a wallpaper image. The wallpaper image appears on top of the desktop pattern. If the wallpaper covers the entire desktop, it also hides any existing pattern.
Wallpaper can be nothing more than a bitmap (BMP) image applied to the desktop. You can use any BMP or device-independent bitmap (DIB) file as wallpaper. You also can use run-length encoded (RLE) files--compressed bitmap files--as well as Graphical Interchange Format (GIF), JPG, PNG, and even Web page files in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) format.
To assign a background file as wallpaper, open the Display property sheet. On the Background page, select a file from the Wallpaper list. This list references all the available background files in the Windows directory. Or click on the Browse button to choose a background file from a different disk or directory.
NOTE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 includes a feature that enables you to quickly use a graphic from a Web page as your desktop wallpaper. To do this, right-click on the image and select Set as Wallpaper from the Context menu. This sets the selected graphic as the wallpaper and names it Internet Explorer Wallpaper in the Wallpaper list.
If the background image is small, you probably want to tile the image across the desktop, as shown in Figure 10.3. If you have a large background image, such as a photograph, you probably want to center it. Choose the Center or Tile option accordingly.
FIGURE 10.3 You can tile wallpaper across the desktop.
In addition to centering and tiling wallpaper, you also can stretch it to fit the desktop. This is handy if the wallpaper image is somewhat smaller than the desktop (a 640¥480 image used on a 800¥600 desktop, for example). To stretch the wallpaper image to fit the desktop, choose the Stretch option from the Display drop-down list.
TIP: The Registry contains a handful of settings you can use to control wallpaper in the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Control Panel/desktop. The values for TileWallpaper and WallpaperStyle essentially have the same effect. A value of 1 for either setting tiles the wallpaper, and a value of 0 for either setting centers the wallpaper. You can give either setting values other than 0 or 1--even numbers have the same effect as 0, and odd numbers have the same effect as 1.
If you're tired of looking at the wallpaper that displays when you start and exit Windows 98, you can replace it with your favorite bitmap. First, back up the files LOGO.SYS (found in the root folder), LOGOW.SYS, and LOGOS.SYS (found in the WINDOWS folder). Next, open the bitmap you want to use as the startup graphic in Paint, size it to 320¥400 pixels, and save it as 256-color bitmap. Name it LOGO.SYS. Do the same for the closing bitmaps and name them LOGOW.SYS and LOGOS.SYS. Each of these bitmaps must be 320¥400, 256 colors, and 127 KB in size. Because Windows stretches the image to fill the entire screen, the image you choose might look distorted when it finally displays onscreen.
Allowing Web Features on Your Desktop
If you have a LAN-based Internet connection, you might wish to enable Items on the Active Desktop. You can accomplish this from the Web property page of the Display property sheet (see Figure 10.4).
FIGURE 10.4 Use the Web property page to enable and configure active desktop content.
You can add almost any Web-type file (including live tickers on remote Web sites) by simply clicking New and typing the URL (Website address); or you can Browse to the local area on your system that contains a Web file.
For an example of how this works, place a check in the View my Active Desktop as a Web page check box on the Web property page. Place a check in the Internet Explorer Channel Bar check box and click OK. The Channel Bar will appear on the desktop and you can move it or resize it like any other window on your desktop. Clicking on a button on the Channel Bar will quickly bring you to the selected channel (you must have an active Internet connection for this to function properly).
The Screen Saver property page of the Display property sheet (see Figure 10.5) enables you to configure Windows 98 to use a screen saver and to configure your monitor's energy-saving features (if any). Screen savers came into being to prevent burn-in, which can occur when the same image remains on the display for an extended period of time. Most of today's computer monitors are not susceptible to burn-in and don't require a screen saver. But screen savers have become a novel way to personalize your PC, and they offer you an additional layer of security. You can configure the screen saver to have a password and engage the screen saver when you need to leave your PC unattended. To turn off the screen saver and regain access to the PC, you or anyone else must enter the correct password.
FIGURE 10.5 Use the Screen Saver page to specify screen saver options.
Windows 98 includes a selection of screen savers. To view a screen saver, choose one from the Screen Saver drop-down list in the Screen Saver property page. A sample appears in the sample display. To view a sample of the screen saver on the entire display, choose the Preview button. Move the mouse or press Esc to cancel the preview and return to the property page.
Use the Wait spin control to specify the amount of time in minutes you want to elapse before the screen saver engages. If the screen saver engages and you have not set a password, moving the mouse or pressing any key on the keyboard turns off the screen saver and returns you to Windows.
Most of the screen savers supplied with Windows 98 include settings you can use to control the way the screen saver functions. After you select a screen saver, choose the Settings button to specify settings for the screen saver. The settings vary from one screen saver to the next.
To password-protect your PC, click on the Password protected check box in the Screen Saver property sheet. Then choose the Change button to specify a password. Choose a password you can remember easily but which other users would have difficulty guessing.
TIP: If you forget your password and the screen saver engages, turn off the computer and restart it (be aware that you might lose data in documents you haven't saved; always save your documents before you leave your system for any period of time). When Windows 98 restarts, display the property sheet for the desktop and choose the Screen Saver page. Clear the Password protected check box and choose OK. If you want to reinstate a screen saver and password, open the Screen Saver property page, enable the Password protected check box, and choose Change to specify a new password.
If your PC supports power management for your monitor, the Screen Saver property page includes options that enable Windows 98 to reduce or turn off power to the PC's monitor. The Low-power standby check box, if enabled, causes Windows 98 to reduce power to the monitor after the specified amount of time passes. The Shut off monitor check box, if enabled, causes Windows 98 to turn off power to the monitor after the specified amount of time passes. If your PC doesn't support power management for the monitor, these check boxes are disabled (dimmed) on the Screen Saver property page.
Windows 98 gives you a lot of control over its desktop's appearance. The Appearance property page (see Figure 10.6) enables you to change the color, size, and font of almost any component of the Windows 98 interface; you can change desktop colors, icon title fonts, scroll bar sizes, and much more. The Appearance property page enables you to select from predefined color schemes or create your own.
FIGURE 10.6 The Appearance property page.
The simplest way to change interface properties is to choose a predefined scheme from the Scheme drop-down list box to provide a starting point. Then use the other controls on the Appearance property page to customize individual settings. You can use the Bold and Italic buttons to apply character formatting to some of the font options. As you make changes to various components, the sample components showing in the upper half of the property page change accordingly. You also can click on a component in the sample to select it and display its current settings. After you configure the display according to your preferences, choose OK or Apply to apply the changes.
TIP: Most interface changes are purely aesthetic and don't affect your productivity in Windows 98. Other changes, however, can make Windows 98 easier to use. If you have trouble using the scroll bars, for example, making the scroll bars larger might make them easier for you to use. Making the icon font size larger makes the icon descriptions on the desktop and in folder windows easier to read, particularly on higher-resolution displays.
You also can use the Registry Editor to change interface components. All component settings are stored in the Registry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER/ Control Panel; the desktop colors settings, for example, are stored in HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Control Panel/Colors (see Figure 10.7). Most other settings for font and object size are stored in HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Control Panel/ desktop/WindowMetrics. Generally, using the Appearance property page is easier for changing interface characteristics. Modifying the settings directly in the Registry, however, enables you to control settings individually that you can control only as groups if you use the Appearance property page. You can adjust the colors for each of the parts of the command buttons separately in the Registry, for example, but only as a group from the property page.
FIGURE 10.7 Font settings are stored in the Registry.
The Effects page of the Display property sheet (see Figure 10.8) enables you to change graphic representations (or icons) for My Computer and Network Neighborhood as well as both the full and the empty Recycle Bin. This sheet also allows you enlarge all the icons displayed anywhere on your desktop and limit the number of colors those icons display.
FIGURE 10.8 The Effects property page.
To change one of the standard icons, click on it and click the Change Icon button. Windows 98 will respond with a Change icon dialog box that contains your current icon (highlighted) and a horizontal-scrolling window of several more choices. If none of the displayed icons suit your fancy, you can always Browse your computer for others.
If your icons seem too small, simply click on the Use large icons check box. You can also reduce the number of colors by clearing the check mark in the box titled Show icons using all possible colors.
Other changes you can make to the Windows 98 interface using the Settings property page are display resolution, number of colors supported, and monitor type (see Figure 10.9).
The Screen area slider enables you to control the Windows 98 display's resolution, and the available settings depend on the capabilities of the display driver for which Windows 98 is configured. Setting the display to a higher resolution gives you more room to work on the display by reducing the relative size of all objects on the display. You can fit more cells of a spreadsheet into a window, for example, because the relative size of the font used in each cell is smaller than on a lower-resolution display.
FIGURE 10.9 The Settings property page.
To change display resolution, choose the resolution you want to use with the Screen area slider. The first time you change to a particular resolution, you'll probably need to restart Windows 98 before the change can take effect. Unlike Windows 3.x but like Windows 95, Windows 98 can change resolution without restarting if you select a resolution that has been used on the computer before. In such a case, Windows 98 simply changes resolution and asks you whether you want to continue to use the new resolution. If you choose Yes, the change remains in effect and you can continue working at the new resolution. If you answer No, Windows 98 switches back to the previous resolution.
TIP: The maximum resolution Windows 98 can use depends on the combination of display adapter, video driver, and monitor you use. The display adapter, for example, might be capable of supporting a higher display resolution than the monitor. Also, high-resolution displays can be difficult to read on some monitors because of the size and sharpness of the image. Experiment with display resolution until you find one that suits your monitor and your ability to read the display.
The Colors drop-down list, which varies according to the installed video driver, enables you to specify how many colors the display driver uses. Increasing the number of colors often gives you better-looking images and a wider choice of colors but also requires more memory and can slow down performance. Also, supporting a large number of colors generally is important only when you use applications for creating, viewing, or editing graphics images. If optimizing speed and memory are your primary concerns, use the minimum number of colors and lowest practical resolution. If you have a relatively fast computer, however, you might barely notice the decrease in performance that using a high-resolution, high-color display can cause. Experiment with the settings to find the combination that suits your situation.
NOTE: To change the number of colors you want your display driver to use, choose an option from the Colors drop-down list. You must restart Windows 98 before the change can take effect. Windows 98 can't change the color palette on the fly the way it sometimes can change the resolution.
If the current Windows 98 display driver supports font size selection, the Font size drop-down list and Custom button are enabled on the Settings property page. These two controls let you control the overall size of the system font, which Windows 98 uses for such things as menus, buttons, dialog boxes, and other general text that contributes to the Windows 98 interface. You can select a font size from the Font size drop-down list or choose Custom to use the Custom Font Size dialog box to specify a custom size (see Figure 10.10).
Changing the font size is particularly useful if you use a high-resolution mode and have trouble reading the text on the display (a typical problem on 14-inch monitors).
If you use a standard video graphics adapter (VGA) display at a resolution of 640¥480, consider reducing the size of the system font to reduce the amount of display space required for dialog boxes, menus, and other components. Although changing font size isn't as effective as changing resolution to give you more room on the desktop, it can help.
You can choose the Advanced button on the Settings property page to bring up the Advanced Display Properties dialog box and specify the type of display adapter and monitor your PC uses.
FIGURE 10.10 You can specify font size to control the size of display elements.
You sometimes need to change the adapter type to take advantage of some of the graphic adapter's capabilities, such as high-resolution modes. Setting the monitor type correctly enables special features for the monitor. You can replace the existing display adapter (or monitor type) by clicking the Change button from the appropriate tab in the Advanced Display Properties dialog box. This will allow you to choose an alternate driver (see Figure 10.11). If your monitor isn't listed, you can choose (Standard monitor types) from the Manufacturers list and then select the appropriate generic monitor from the Models list.
FIGURE 10.11 Choose the appropriate monitor type.
On Windows 3.x and DOS systems, you can set the system date and time by using the basic input/output system (BIOS) setup program, the DOS command line, or the Control Panel. In Windows 98, you use the Date/Time object in the Control Panel to set the system time, date, and time zone. Choosing the Date/Time object opens the Date/Time Properties sheet (see Figure 10.12).
FIGURE 10.12 The Date/Time Properties sheet.
TIP: You can quickly get to the Date/Time menu by right-clicking on the time display located on the far right of the Windows 98 Taskbar and choosing Adjust Date/Time.
The Date & Time property controls are self explanatory. Use them to set the current month, day, year, and time. As you change settings, the calendar and clock on the property page change accordingly.
The Time Zone property page enables you to specify the time zone in which your PC is located. You also can configure Windows 98 to automatically adjust for daylight saving time by enabling the Automatically adjust clock for daylight saving changes check box.
The Keyboard item in the Control Panel enables you to control various options for your keyboard, such as key response and repeat rate. Choosing the Keyboard item displays the Keyboard property sheet, which controls options described in the following sections.
The Speed property page enables you to control your keyboard's responsiveness. You can use the Repeat delay control to specify the amount of time a key must be held down for Windows 98 to begin repeating the character and the Repeat rate control to specify how rapidly Windows 98 repeats the character. After you use the Repeat delay and Repeat rate controls to specify settings, click in the associated text box; then press and hold a key to test the repeat delay and rate.
TIP: The Cursor blink rate control enables you to specify the rate at which the text cursor blinks. Increasing the value can make finding the cursor easier in some applications.
The Language property page (see Figure 10.13) enables you to install support for multiple languages and keyboard layouts so you can quickly switch between them as you work.
FIGURE 10.13 The Language property page.
Use the Add button if you want to add new languages and/or keyboard layouts to your Windows 98 environment. To specify the keyboard layout for a particular language, select the language and choose the Properties button. Windows 98 issues a simple dialog box you can use to specify the keyboard layout to associate with the language.
The Switch languages group on the Language property page contains three options you can use to control your ability to switch languages with a keystroke. Pressing the selected keystroke causes Windows 98 to cycle to the next installed language while you work, which makes it possible to switch almost instantly to a different language and keyboard layout. In addition, you can check the Enable indicator on taskbar check box to display a language indicator in the Taskbar's tray (status area). Clicking on the language indicator in the tray displays a pop-up menu of installed languages (see Figure 10.14), and you can switch to a language simply by choosing it from the menu.
FIGURE 10.14 Choose the language indicator on the tray to choose a language.
The Mouse object in the Control Panel enables you to change various settings that affect the mouse and screen pointers. You can use the Buttons property page, shown in Figure 10.15, to shift the left and right buttons and change the double-click speed. If you have trouble clicking fast enough for Windows 98 to recognize a double-click, try reducing the double-click speed setting. Test the setting by double-clicking on the Test area box. A jack-in-the-box pops up or down if Windows 98 recognizes your mouse action as a double-click.
FIGURE 10.15 The Mouse Properties sheet.
TIP: Some three-button mice, such as those from Logitech, enable you to use a single click of the middle button as a double-click. You must modify a setting in the Registry to configure Windows 98 to recognize a single click of the middle button as a double-click event. To program the Logitech mouse's middle button, open the Registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Logitech/Mouseware/MouseMan/0000 and set DoubleClick to 001. If you are using a different three-button mouse, search the Registry for the string DoubleClick or check the mouse's documentation to determine how to program the middle button for a double-click.
The Pointers property page enables you to customize the pointers Windows 98 uses for various actions. You can choose from predefined schemes or create your own pointer schemes.
To use a predefined scheme, select one from the Scheme drop-down list. You then can choose OK or Apply to apply the new pointer scheme or further customize your pointers. To specify a pointer for a particular action, select the action from the pointer list; then choose Browse. Windows 98 gives you a standard Browse dialog box you can use to locate standard cursor files (*.CUR) and animated cursor files (*.ANI).
NOTE: If you select the (None), 3D Pointers, Windows Standard (large), or Windows Standard (extra large) predefined schemes from the Schemes drop-down list, you lose your default animated cursors (assuming your computer supports animated cursors). Selecting the (None) option doesn't restore the animated cursors. To restore the animated cursors, set the Working in Background pointer to c:\windows\system\appstart.ani and the Busy pointer to c:\windows\system\hourglas.ani. Windows 98 changes the pointers after you choose OK or Apply. You can also open the Registry Editor and locate HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Control Panel/Cursors. Set the value of AppStarting to c:\windows\system\appstart.ani and set the value of Wait to c:\windows\system\hourglas.ani. If you change pointers by editing the Registry, however, you have to restart the computer or log on as a different user before the change takes effect.
The Motion page enables you to control the mouse's responsiveness and turn pointer trails on and off. Use the Pointer speed slider control to control the acceleration of the mouse. Slide the control toward Slow to slow down the pointer's motion or toward Fast to speed up the pointer's motion.
The Pointer trail group enables you to turn pointer trails on and off. When you turn on pointer trails, ghost pointers shadow the real pointer as you move it on the display, creating a trail of pointers. Turning on pointer trails comes in particularly handy on monochrome and passive-matrix LCD displays, on which finding the pointer often proves annoyingly difficult. To turn on pointer trails, enable the Show pointer trails check box. Then use the associated slider control to control the relative appearance of the pointer trail. Sliding the control to the left results in fewer ghost pointer images, and sliding the control to the right increases the number of ghost pointer images. After you arrange the settings to your liking, choose OK or Apply to actualize the change.
The Regional Settings object in the Control Panel enables you to customize your Windows 98 settings for specific countries. Choosing the Regional Settings icon opens the Regional Settings property sheet, shown in Figure 10.16. The regional settings include format for date, time, currency, and other country-specific settings.
You can adjust a wide variety of settings at one time by selecting a country from the drop-down list on the Regional Settings page. Selecting a country loads a settings scheme for the selected country. You then can use the other Regional Settings property pages to view and modify individual settings.
TIP: You can select a country from the global map on the Regional Settings page. The bright green area shows the currently selected country. The dark green areas represent countries supported by another set of regional settings. The aqua-colored countries do not have predefined settings, but you can select a country that has similar settings and modify individual settings as needed.
FIGURE 10.16 The Regional Settings Properties page.
To set individual settings, choose the appropriate property page. The settings on each property page are self explanatory and you should have no trouble choosing the settings you need.
The Passwords object in the Control Panel enables you to control various security settings for your PC. Choosing the Passwords icon displays the Passwords property sheet, shown in Figure 10.17.
FIGURE 10.17 Passwords Properties page.
The Change Passwords page enables you to change the password you use to log on to Windows 98. If you choose the Change Windows Password button, Windows 98 displays a dialog box in which you can enter your current password and a new password. Simply enter your old password and new password in the appropriate text boxes.
If you use your computer to access other password-protected services, such as a Windows NT domain or NetWare server, clicking on the Change Windows Password button issues a dialog box prompting you to change passwords. If you have the same password for the domain or server as you have for your Windows 98 logon password, choose from the dialog box the service for which you want to change passwords. Windows 98 changes the password not only for your Windows 98 logon but also for the other selected services.
TIP: To specify a logon method, choose the Network object on the Control Panel to open the Network property sheet. Select your network client from the list of installed clients, adapters, services, and protocols; then choose Properties. Windows 98 displays a property page you can use to specify logon parameters for the client.
You also can change the passwords of other password-protected services separately from your Windows 98 password. To do so, choose the Change Other Passwords button from the Change Passwords property page. Windows 98 displays a dialog box in which you can specify the service for which you want to change passwords.
NOTE: The Remote Administration page enables you to configure your PC to be managed remotely by an administrator. The User Profiles page enables you to configure your PC to support multiple user profiles. User profiles enable each user of a PC to have a unique desktop environment. Profiles also enable you to maintain different desktop environments for yourself--each tailored to different uses. User profiles are explained later in this chapter in the section "Supporting Multiple Configurations and Users."
Most notebook PCs and an increasing number of desktop PCs support some level of power management that enables Windows 98 to shut down the PC's resources--including the hard disk, display, and even the CPU--after the system has been idle for a specified amount of time or at your direction. If your PC is configured to support power management (generally configured in the BIOS setup program), you can use the Power object in the Control Panel to control power management on your PC. Choosing the Power icon brings up the Power Management Properties sheet, shown in Figure 10.18.
FIGURE 10.18 The Power Management Properties sheet.
The Power Management Properties sheet allows you to choose the power scheme for your computer. Use the Power schemes drop-down list to select the most appropriate settings. After the computer type is selected, the Turn off monitor and Turn off hard disks drop-down lists options provide additional controls that enable you to delay the power-down of devices until the system is idle. Otherwise, devices are powered down after their associated activity timeout value comes to pass.
Choosing the Advanced tab allows you to select whether or not the power meter appears on the Taskbar.
Windows 98 includes a feature that makes it much easier for multiple users to share a single PC. This feature, called user profiles, also enables a user to have the same desktop configuration regardless of the network node from which the user logs onto the network. You also might want to use multiple configurations even if you are the only person using the PC. When writing this book, for example, I used two configurations: one for regular work (writing) and another with a simplified desktop configuration for capturing figures.
TIP: If your children use your PC at home, profiles can help you make it easier for them to use the PC without getting into areas they shouldn't get into or running applications they shouldn't be running. You can configure a unique desktop environment for each child containing only those objects to which they should have access. For instructions on how to restrict user access, refer to the section "Applying User Restrictions" later in this chapter.
Profiles work in conjunction with the Windows 98 logon process. When you log on, Windows 98 builds your desktop environment from the shortcuts and other objects stored in a profile that matches your logon name. If your logon name is freddy, for example, Windows 98 uses the shortcuts and other objects in the \Windows\Profiles\freddy folder. The desktop, for example, is based on the objects in \Windows\Profiles\freddy\desktop. If you don't use profiles, this information comes instead from the \Windows\desktop folder.
To configure your PC to support multiple user profiles, open the Control Panel, choose the Passwords icon, and click the User Profiles tab to display the property page shown in Figure 10.19.
FIGURE 10.19 The User Profiles property sheet.
To enable user profiles, choosing the second option button on the User Profiles page, labeled Users can customize their preferences and desktop settings. This configures Windows 98 to provide a unique user profile for each user logon name.
The two check boxes in the User Profile Settings group control the way the profiles are maintained. These check boxes are explained in the following list:
If you configure Windows 98 to support user profiles, and you also enable the Include Start menu and Program groups in user settings check box, the shortcuts for new applications a user installs will not be added to the Programs menu for all users. Instead, the shortcuts will only appear in the Programs menu for the user who installed the program. It's relatively easy, however, to make those shortcuts available to all users of the PC.
To make the shortcuts of newly installed applications available to other users, open an Explorer window and locate the shortcut(s) in the profile folder of the user who installed the application. If user Angie installed a program named Froboz, for example, there should be a shortcut for the program in \Windows\Profiles\angie\Start Menu\Froboz. Copy the Froboz folder to the Start Menu folder for each of the users to whom you want to make the program available.
By default, the Network Neighborhood folder contains the Entire Network icon, icons for each computer in the user's workgroup, and icons for special services, such as HP JetDirect printers. Windows 98 automatically generates these objects in the Network Neighborhood folder. In addition, you also can place your own shortcuts in the Network Neighborhood folder. On a single-user system, these shortcuts reside in the \Windows\NetHood folder. On a multiple-profile system, however, these shortcuts reside in the \Windows\ Profiles\user\NetHood folder, where user is the user's logon name. To make shortcuts available in the Network Neighborhood folder for multiple users, place copies of the shortcuts in each user's \Windows\Profiles\user\NetHood folder.
You can associate the contents of the desktop with the user profile. On a single-user system, the desktop shortcuts and objects are stored in the \Windows\Desktop folder. On multiple-profile systems, the desktop objects are stored in the \Windows\Profiles\user\Desktop folder. To make desktop objects available to multiple users, place copies of the objects or shortcuts in each user's Desktop folder.
TIP: Each user's profile folder contains a unique User.dat file, which represents part of the user's Registry. Each profile, therefore, has a unique Registry. Even if you use a single profile, you might want to configure Windows 98 to use multiple profiles and create a second logon account for yourself that is identical to your regular working account. By creating a secondary account (called backup, for example), you effectively create a backup Registry that you can use if your regular account and Registry become corrupted or damaged.
Windows 98 supports a variety of Registry settings you can use to restrict access to objects and features on the desktop. These settings enable you to prevent a user from accessing any object or file other than those you make available directly on the user's desktop. For example, you can use these settings on a home computer to prevent children from opening or deleting files they shouldn't or accessing programs that should be off limits. You also can use these settings on an office computer to prevent new users from unintentionally corrupting their desktop, applications, or other resources.
NOTE: The method for adding restrictions explained in the remainder of this chapter is similar to the use of user and system policies and enables you to apply user restrictions on a stand-alone computer and on networked computers not served by a Windows NT or NetWare server. The use of policies, however, requires a Windows NT or NetWare security server. This chapter does not cover the use of system or user policies. For information on using system policies with NT or NetWare, refer to Chapter 29.
To apply user restrictions on a computer, first configure the computer to support user profiles, as explained previously. Next, log onto the computer as the user for whom you want to apply restrictions. Then run the Policy Editor, which is included on the Windows 98 CD in the \Tools\Apptools\ Poledit folder as the file Poledit.exe. After you start the Policy Editor, choose File | Open Registry to open the Registry of the user under which you are logged on. Set the restrictions as desired. If you need a more detailed explanation of restrictions or use of the System Policy Editor, refer to Chapter 29.
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