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March
2002 -
Volume 2, Issue 2
Windows
98
Every file in
Win98 has file extension, such, as .EXE or .DOC, that tells the
system what programs to associate with those types of files. How
can users function without bothering to remember a bunch of extensions?
You probably have heard of Win98's support for long file names.
Another neat feature, however, is support for long file extensions.
If you're tired of looking at files such as Windows98.html and remembering
that the. HTML indicates it is a file your Web browser reads, just
right-click the document listing and select Rename.
Next, delete
the letters after the period, and give it a new extension that's
easy to remember. There's no limit to the length of the extensions;
you could call it Windows98.web, Windows 98.browser file, or anything
else you think is better.
Press ENTER
to confirm the name, then press SHIFT while right-clicking the new
document name you created. Select Open With from the pop-up menu
and choose the application you want to use the file with (in this
case, your browser). If you want to use the extension in the future,
be sure to check the Always Use This Program to Open This Type Of
File box.
You frequently
need to use Windows NT and decide it would be best to have a dual-boot
configuration with Win98.
If you have
a little money to spare, the best solution for running multiple
operating systems is System Commander Deluxe from V Communications
Inc. This easy-to-use and powerful utility will let you run any
number of operating systems on your PC. It also launches before
any operating system can, so it won't impact performance. For more
information, see the V Communications Web site at http://www.v-com.com.
We've used it
to run MS-DOS 6.22, Win98, and Windows NT 4.0 on a single PC, without
any trouble. It even handles all your hard drive partitions so you
can move things with out disturbing or deleting files.
If you've already installed Win98 and want to add Windows NT, your
job is relatively easy, but it does have a few restrictions. The
most basic rule regarding the simultaneous operation of Windows
NT 4.0 and Wind98 is to not format your hard drive with FAT32 (a
type of file allocation table). Windows NT can't use the technology
and won't be able to "see" partitions that were formatted
with FAT32.
Similarly, when installing Windows NT, make sure you use FAT16 because
Win98 can't use the NT File System (NTFS), Windows NT's proprietary
technology that is a unique file system with better methods of data
protection and file recovery.
Insert the Windows
NT CD-ROM and install it according the instructions it came with.
When it prompts you to reformat the partition that it's being installed
on, simply tell it not to. Because Windows NT does not install itself
to the WINDOWS folder, it won't disturb Win98. In addition, it adds
a boot menu that lets you choose which operating system you want
to use each time you start your PC.
If you already
have Windows NT installed and want to add Win98, the process is
a little more complicated. You can find a complete step-by-step
procedure for doing so in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (http://www.microsoft.com/support).
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