___--------------------------------------------------------------------- Updates and Add-ons 23) What's this Microsoft Plus! Pack-- do I need it to run Win95? Microsoft released the Plus! Pack at the same time as the main Win95 package, as a collection of add-on features. While you might find some of the features useful or entertaining, they are not necessary to get full use of Win95, and are not recommended for users of 386 machines. Included in the Plus! Pack are: -- System Agent, allowing users to schedule regular use of Defrag, Scandisk, or other utilities -- Dial-Up-Server, to let other machines connect to yours -- DriveSpace 3, allowing larger compressed partitions, and more features than the DriveSpace that is included with Win95 (but with the penalty of a 100+kb driver in MSDOS Mode, which makes it unusable for many who rely on that mode to play games, etc). -- Internet mail add-on for Exchange, a nice Internet Connection Wizard, and Internet Explorer ver 1.0 web browser (note that these, along with more recent versions of Internet Explorer are freely available via on-line sources) -- A collection of Desktop Themes: wallpaper, screen-savers, sounds, and icons on themese ranging from Leonardo da Vinci to Sports -- A 3-D Pinball Game -- etc. -- It's entirely a matter of personal opinion whether it's worth about $49 (US). ___--------------------------------------------------------------------- 24) What upgrades/bug-fixes to Win 95 are available? -- In my opinion, the core W95 package is quite stable, and can be used by most users without any bug fixes. There are, however, a number of fixes available, which can be freely obtained from Microsoft, most easily from www.microsoft.com. Fixes up to March 1996 have been combined into a single 1.4 meg download, known as Service Pack 1. (There is also a CD-ROM or 14-floppy version, which includes the same bug fixes, along with the driver library as of that date). Ironically, Service Pack 1 breaks W95's password-saving ability-- so there is a password fix, needed by Service Pack users. As well, there are several other post-Service Pack upgrades, also available from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/software/updates.htm -- Not a bug fix, but perhaps more useful to most users, is the free Power Toys package, also at www.microsoft.com. This is upgraded from time to time, so make sure you have the latest version. The 07-01-96 version (or later) restores (and upgrades) the incredibly useful Send to/Any Folder Explorer option, as well as the TweakUI Control Panel applet, previously referred to as the easiest way to make many popular user interface changes. There is also a separate, less useful Kernal Power Toys Pack, which does, however, include a feature to help in customizing DOS Mode sessions. PowerToys are available from: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/software/PowerToy.htm -- A Service Release 2 was released in late 1996. It includes FAT32, which supports drives greater than 2 gigs, and work around the cluster-slack problems of the current FAT; it has only been made available to OEM (system manufacturers), and not to the general public. Installing FAT32 would require backing up and restoring data, and will break current disk utilities. ___--------------------------------------------------------------------- 25) What about Win97, Win 98, etc.? A so-called Win96, code-named Nashville escaped to the Internet during the Winter 95/96, and got a lot of magazine coverage. Microsoft denied any plans to release it as Windows 96. The Nashville name is no longer being used, referring to an Explorer/shell update that adds Internet-ability... sort of combining Win95's current Explorer and Internet Explorer into a single interface. This has also been referred to in the media as Internet Explorer 4.0, now available in a free download from Microsoft. In addition to the so-called Active Desktop, integrating the IE 4.0 browser into the Windows desktop, the next version will include support for new hardware standards such as Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), Universal Serial Bus, Accelerated Graphics Port, and more, and administration features aimed at large business networks. This version, formerly code-named Memphis is currently in beta-testing. Microsoft has finally announced that it is to be called Windows 98 with release expected sometime mid-1998... Beware of rumours... people who actually know what they're talking about tend to be restricted by Non-disclosure Agreements... people who are talking typically base their opinions on limited or incorrect information. Despite the previous paragraph, Win95 Fido-echo participant, Stefan Assmann has screen-shots and information about the Memphis (Win98) beta on his web site(http://www.stefan98.com). ___------------------------------------------------------------------- 26) What about NT 4.0 ? Released in September 1996 is Windows NT 4.0. It adds the Win95 interface and a new device driver model. NT offers better security and stability than W95, along with the option of pre-emptive multitasking for Win-16 applications, and a file system that supports large hard drives with minimal wasted space. On the other hand, it requires quite a bit more ram and other system resources for good performance, and cannot use DOS drivers. Even version 4.0 does not include full plug and play, and notebook users will lose power management and the ability to add or remove PC Cards without rebooting. As well, fewer hardware devices are currently supported under NT 4.0 than W95, and some of the available drivers have fewer options or are less capable than than the W95 equivalents. For information about NT 4.0 from Microsoft, go to http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/ _______________ Internet mail to: azisman@rogers.wave.ca Win95 FAQ at: http://home.bc.rogers.wave.ca/azisman/faq95.htm ___ * WR 1.31 # 126 * --- Maximus 2.01wb * Origin: Basic'ly Computers: Mooo-ing Right Along. (1:153/9) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 263 WINDOWS '95 Ref: F5G01303 Date: 04/30/98 From: ALAN ZISMAN Time: 12:00am \/To: ALL (Read 5 times) Subj: FAQ #7-- networks Windows 95-- Easy Networking FAQ by Alan Zisman (c) 1997 last updated 6 April, 1997 Networking computers can get very complex. This list of Frequently Asked Questions has modest intentions-- to help home and small business users create a simple network, using the capabilities built into Windows 95. For questions about connecting to more complex, server-based networks, you will have to go elsewhere... a good starting point is the Windows 95 Resource Kit, available as a (US$50) book from Microsoft Press. The complete text is also available for free, as a Windows HELP file, buried deep on your Win95 CD... specifically, at D:\ADMIN\RESKIT\HELPFILE\WIN95RK.HLP ___------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1) What do I need to create a simple network connecting Windows 95 machines? Not much-- most of the software you need is already included with Windows 95. You will need a Network Interface Card (NIC) for each computer. Get either a reputable name brand, or a lower-priced no-name brand clone... but if you go generic, make sure it supports the NE-2000 standard. And you'll have to make a decision about cabling. In general there are two standards-- coax cable (like your TV uses but different) with BNC connectors (also known as thinnet or 10-base-2), or twisted pair (like your telephone cable, but different) with RJ-45 connectors (also known as UTP or 10-base-T). If you use coax, you'll need a T-connector for each machine, and two terminators-- one for each end of cable-chain. Make sure you've got cable for ethernet-- arcnet cables look virtually identical, but will work at best, intermittently! If you use twisted pair, you need to buy a hub, to plug each machine into. (You can connect two machines without a hub, by rewiring the plug on one end as follows: For connection on a LAN using a For connection from one computer concentrator or hub: to another: 1 ---- 1 1 ---- 3 2 ---- 2 2 ---- 6 3 ---- 3 3 ---- 1 6 ---- 6 6 ---- 2 (Thanks to Jerry Spoor for this tip).) ___------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2) How do I install the hardware? Installing network cards is no different from installing other hardware under Win95. If your cards are not plug-and-play, make note of the default IRQ and IO settings, and run Control Panel/System/Device Manager, and check that those settings are free, making changes to your NIC or other devices if necessary. Shut down the machine (very important!), open the case, and insert the card. Close it up, and restart. Win95 may notice the new hardware on startup... if it doesn't, run the Control Panel/Add New Hardware wizard. In either case, if Win95 is unable to identify the new hardware, you can identify it manually to the wizard. Either select the card's manufacturer and model, or click on the HAVE DISK button to point the installation to use drivers provided on disk with your card. Afterwards, you may have to restart your machine. Check Device Manager again... if your network card is conflicting with another device, it will be identified with a coloured warning triangle. Otherwise, you should be okay! ___------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3) How do I install the software? The key here is Control Panel/Network. For a Win95 network, you'll need an installed network adapter, a networking client, and a networking protocol, all bound to one another (so that they can communicate), along with at least one machine set to share files with the others. You should already have a network adapter listed-- the NIC you just installed. Click on the Control Panel/Network Add button, and choose Client, then Microsoft, then Client for Microsoft Networks (which has nothing to do with Microsoft's same-named on-line service). Click OK. Similarly, if needed, Add a Protocol. Select Microsoft, and NetBeui. Click OK. If you got SPX/IPX installed, remove it-- you will need it if you're connecting to a Novell Netware network. Similarly, remove the TCP/IP protocol, if it was installed unless you're using Dial Up Adapter for Internet access... in that case, you need TCP/IP. Note: If you're using a home network to play multi-player games, you may need to choose the SPX/IPX protocol in place of Netbeui. (Thanks to Michele Mauro for this tip). Click on your network adapter, then choose Properties, and look on the Bindings tab. Add a checkmark if needed, to bind it to NetBeui. If you have Dial Up Networking installed, you may find a checkmark binding it to TCP/IP... remove it, along with any other unneeded bindings. Click on NetBeui, and similarly, check Properties and Bindings... it should be bound to Client for Microsoft Networks... ___------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4) How do I share files and printers? On each machine that you want to use to share files and/or printers (i.e. act as a server to the rest of the network), on that same Control Panel/Network/Configuration page, click on the File and Print Sharing button. Choose: [x] I want to be able to give other access to my files [x] I want to be able to allow others to print to my printers as you desire. Click OK. Next, go to My Computer or Explorer, and select a drive icon that you want to share (alternatively, you can share individual folders rather than an entire drive). Right-click and choose Sharing from the pop-up menu. Give the drive a share name, and decide about the other options. Click OK. Notice that the icon for that drive now has an arm and hand holding the drive icon, indicating that it is shared. ___------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net-Faq continued in (hopefully) next message... _______________ Internet mail to: azisman@rogers.wave.ca Win95 FAQ at: http://home.bc.rogers.wave.ca/azisman/faq95.htm ___ * WR 1.31 # 126 * --- Maximus 2.01wb * Origin: Basic'ly Computers: Mooo-ing Right Along. (1:153/9)