Win ME uses the same desktop interface as Win 2000 Pro. Some of the underlying code...most prominently, the new TCP / IP stack that connects to the 'Net, is also borrowed from Win 2000. But...Win ME is an upgrade from the Win 9x OS's that are currently in use. Therefore, using Win ME won't be as alien as jumping from, say Win 3.1 to Win 95. That was a leap.

---

System Maintenance

For excellent performance and maintenance, after running the Maintenance Wizard, open up Task Scheduler and set your tasks to run every night, with half an hour intervals between the start time of each task ( for example...Cleanup, then ScanDisk and finally Disk Defragmenter ). In the ScanDisk mode, you should select the 'Automatically Fix Errors' box. That will ensure that your PC is ready to go at the start of the day.

Faster ISP Connections

You can reduce the time it takes to connect to your ISP. Simply follow the steps below...

1. In Dial-Up Networking, find your connection icon.
2. Right-click on it and then click on Properties.
3. Go ahead and click on the Networking tab and then clear the boxes labeled as NetBEUI and IPX / SPX Compatible.
4. Now click the Security tab and then clear the Log On To Network check box.
5. Now, verify that you can still connect. Many ( if not most ), ISP's don't use those settings and it can take as long as a minute to time out.

Extensions and File Names

The following is a list of valid file names for Win ME programs...

• 12345678.abc ( MS DOS name )
• 12345678.abcdef ( no limit on extensions )
• 123456789012345678901234567890123456789.abc ( long file name )
• 1234567890123456789012345678901234567890.abcdef ( long file name and long extension )
• 123456789.abc.def ( long file name with multiple extensions )
• Also this file name is valid ( long names with spaces that mean something )

Sound confusing? It's really not. To view the MS-DOS name associated with long file names, just right click on the file and then click on Properties.

Quicker Application Launches

Win ME can fine tune your PC to start your applications faster. To start them as quickly as possible, convert your hard disk to FAT32. Then run the Maintenance Wizard from the System Tools menu ( Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools ). The Wizard enables you to regularly schedule the disk defragmentation options that will automatically tune up your application start up times.

Order Of Start Menu

In Win ME, you are able to change the order of the items that reside in the Start Menu and it's sub-menus. Simply drag them to a new location. You are also able to right-click an item, then view it's properties, delete it or sort the list by name.

Custom Boot Disk

You can create a custom, minimal boot disk by copying Io.sys and Command.com from the Windows\Command\EBD folder to a blank formatted floppy disk.

Disable task Scheduler?

Okay...not everyone is fond of the Task Scheduler feature. Win ME has the Task Scheduler running in stealth mode so there is no way to disable it...but, to get the icon in your taskbar ( so you can go to Advanced > Stop Using Task Scheduler ), you have to be user-friendly with Registry editing.

To obtain the icon, click Start > Run and type Regedit in the box.
Go to [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Plus!\System Agent] and then create a DWORD with the value of one, Hexadecimal. Now label the DWORD 'EnableTrayIcon' without the quotes around it. Exit and Reboot the machine.

Note: Do not attempt any Registry editing if you are unsure of what you are doing. Even though Win ME has a System Restore utlity, I strongly advise against 'experimenting'.

To learn a little bit about System Restore, go to Win ME Preview, Part Two.