
Windows 98 From A to Z


- M -
Macromedia Shockwave
Macromedia Shockwave is a multimedia Internet technology experience supported
by the major Internet Web browsers on the market today, including Microsoft Internet
Explorer and Netscape Navigator. Macromedia permits Microsoft to integrate its base
Shockwave technology directly into the Internet Explorer 4 Web browser. Because Macromedia
is constantly updating its plug-ins (a plug-in is an add-on component you
can download and install for use directly with your Web browser), you might want
to cruise over to Macromedia's Web site (www.macromedia.com/) and pick up
the latest and greatest plug-ins as soon as you install your copy of Windows 98.
Mail
Electronic mail (email) is the method by which you can communicate in writing
with another user anywhere on the planet. Email can occur via a corporate network
or series of internetworks, or via the Internet. To configure how email is handled
by your Windows 98 system, do the following:
- 1. Right-click the Internet Explorer icon on the Windows 98 desktop
and choose Properties from the ensuing shortcut menu, as shown in Figure M.1.
Figure M.1
- 2. Click the Programs tab in the Internet Properties dialog
box to view the screen shown in Figure M.2.
Figure M.2
NOTE: The Messaging area enables
you to choose which email package you want to use with the Internet Explorer browser,
as well as which Internet news and call software you want to use.
- 3. Click the down-arrow button of the Mail text box to view the
drop-down list box that lists the available email software packages that are compatible
with the IE browser (see Figure M.3).
Figure M.3
NOTE: If you have a full Windows 98 installation,
you are presented with the Outlook Express and the Windows Messaging options.
If you have Office installed on your machine, you'll also have the option of selecting
Microsoft Outlook, as shown in Figure M.3.
NOTE: Outlook Express is my favorite,
because it makes sending and receiving mail very easy.
NOTE: The Windows Messaging client software
is also known as the Inbox or Exchange client, which can be very cumbersome
and difficult to configure and use.
- 4. Click the email package of your choice to select it, and then click
the OK button to accept the changes and to close the Internet Properties
dialog box.
Check out the section titled "Microsoft Outlook Express" for information
about reading and sending mail.
Menus
The menus found throughout Windows 98 enable you to easily access applications,
data, and system utilities by using either your mouse or keyboard. When using your
mouse to navigate menus, you simply click the menu and command you want. To use your
keyboard, you must first determine which keyboard shortcut accesses the menu you
need. To do this, simply look for the underlined hotkey in the menu's name.
For example, the letter F in the File menu is underlined, indicating
that F is the hotkey. Pressing the Alt+F key combination opens the File
menu.
Media Player
Windows 98 Media Player enables you to play several types of files including ActiveMovie,
Mpact MPEG Decoder, Video for Windows, Sound (WAV), MIDI Sequencer, and CD Audio
files (you might be able to play a few other types, depending upon your computer's
sound equipment). To use Media Player, do the following:
- 1. Click the Start button, choose Programs, Accessories,
Entertainment, and then Media Player, as shown in Figure M.4.
- 2. The Media Player window, shown in Figure M.5, opens. To quickly
determine which types of files are supported by your equipment, click the Device
menu option to view a list of acceptable devices.
Figure M.4
Figure M.5
- 3. To select a media file for playing, click the File menu
option and choose Open. The Open dialog box, shown in Figure M.6, appears.
Figure M.6
- 4. Navigate to the folder containing the file you want to view, select
the file, and then click the Open button. As shown in Figure M.7, you are
returned to the Media Player window, and the file you selected (in this case,
Beethoven's Fur Elise) is ready to be played.
- 5. Click the Play button (the one on the far left that resembles
a single right arrow). When the music starts, the marker on the timeline moves to
show how much time has elapsed and how much is remaining, as shown in Figure M.8.
Figure M.7
Figure M.8
Microsoft Chat 2.1
Microsoft Chat enables you to "chat" (using your keyboard) with others
in an Internet chat room. Microsoft Chat is special because it's very visual--everyone
appears as a comic book character. You can modify your own character so it demonstrates
a range of emotions.
NOTE: If your computer is not powerful
enough to support Microsoft Chat's visual elements (that is, its comic-book characters
and so on), you can configure it to operate in plain-text format. However, if you
change it to operate in plain-text mode, then the primary purpose for using Comic
Chat (its visual elements) is lost.
To use the Microsoft Chat application, do the following:
- 1. Connect to the Internet (refer to the sections titled "Dial-Up
Networking" and "Network" for details).
- 2. Click the Start button, choose Programs, Internet
Tools, and then Microsoft Chat, as shown in Figure M.9.
- 3. In the Enter New Nickname dialog box, shown in Figure M.10,
type a descriptive name (your real name is okay, too), and then click the OK button.
NOTE: If you've used Microsoft Chat on
your machine before, you bypass the screen shown in Figure M.10.
- 4. The Connect screen, shown in Figure M.11, appears. Unless you
know of other chat servers or chat rooms that you want to visit, leave the defaults
in place and click OK to continue.
Figure M.9
Figure M.10
Figure M.11
- 5. When you enter the Comic Chat room, you first see the "Message
of the Day" pop-up window. To move beyond this screen, simply click OK.
If you never want to be bothered with this screen during future connections, uncheck
the Show This Whenever Connecting check box.
- 6. Your character, whose name is the same as the nickname specified in
the Enter New Nickname screen, now enters an active chat room. Right-click
the character and choose Get Profile from the ensuing shortcut menu, as shown
in Figure M.12. The result of this query appears in the chat window.
Figure M.12
NOTE: The shortcut menu shown in Figure
M.12 provides many options. You can obtain a user profile, identity information,
software version, lag time, local time, and email options. If you right-click another
user's comic-book character, then the options that are grayed out in Figure M.12
are available for use.
- 7. To view your Microsoft Chat options, click the View menu item
and choose Options. This opens the Personal Info tab of the Microsoft
Chat Options dialog box, shown in Figure M.13.
Figure M.13
- 8. The only field you are required to fill out in this screen is Nickname.
(If you've filled in your information but want to change your nickname, simply type
over the name you've already supplied in the Nickname field. In this example,
I've changed my nickname from Phaedrus to MrMan.) If you want to provide
more information about yourself, you can fill out the Real Name, Email
Address, WWW Home Page, and Brief Description of Yourself fields.
NOTE: Microsoft Chat does not accept the
use of spaces, punctuation marks, and special characters in nicknames. Refrain from
using characters other than letters and numbers.
NOTE: If you choose not to enter a personal
profile in the Brief Description of Yourself field, your system displays the
phrase This Person is too Lazy to Create a Profile Entry by default.
- 9. Click the Settings tab to view the screen shown in Figure M.14.
Here you can configure how Microsoft Chat behaves, including whether Microsoft Chat-specific
information is sent to other users, whether users of your machine can visit certain
types of chat rooms, whether you hear sounds, and whether you want to receive chat
invitations.
Figure M.14
- 10. Click the Comics View tab to view the screen shown in Figure
M.15. Here you can customize the fonts used in Microsoft Chat, and you can change
the layout of the Chat window.
Figure M.15
NOTE: If you make your screen four panels
wide, the size of each pane in your viewer area will be smaller than if your screen
is one panel wide.
- 11. Click the Character tab to view the screen shown in Figure
M.16. When you click a character name in the Character list, that character
appears in the Preview box. Click one of the facial expressions in the area
below the Preview box to change the expression--and thus, convey the mood--of
your character. Select the character and expression that you want to use in your
chat sessions.
Figure M.16
- 12. Click the Background tab to view the screen shown in Figure
M.17. When you click a background name in the Background list, that background
appears in the Preview area.
Figure M.17
- 13. Click the Automation tab to view the screen shown in Figure
M.18. This screen enables you to set a greeting to be displayed each time someone
enters a chat room that you are hosting (to host a chat room, you must be the first
person to arrive in a room).
Figure M.18
NOTE: The Macros area of the Automation
tab enables you to create a macro that you can use to send messages. For more information
about this feature, click the Help button in the upper-right corner of the
dialog box.
- 14. Click the Apply button to apply your changes.
- 15. Click OK to exit the Microsoft Chat Options dialog box
and return to your chat room.
- 16. Type what you want your character to say in the long white box at
the bottom of the screen, press Enter, and voilà! As shown in
the bottom-left pane in Figure M.19, your character starts speaking to everyone else
in the chat room.
Figure M.19
- 17. To exit Chat, either click the x button in the upper-right corner
of this screen or click the File menu option and choose Exit.
NOTE: You can print Chat sessions by clicking
the File menu option and choosing Print. To save your Chat session
for future use, click the File menu and choose Save As. You will be
prompted to type a descriptive name for your Chat session, which is saved with a
.ccc file extension.
Microsoft FrontPage Express
Microsoft FrontPage Express provides a quick and easy way for you to create your
own web page that can be viewed on your PC (see the section titled "Personal
Web Server" for more information) or on the Internet (assuming your ISP can
host your pages). To use Microsoft FrontPage Express, do the following:
- 1. Click the Start button, choose Programs, Internet
Tools, and then FrontPage Express, as shown in Figure M.20.
Figure M.20
- 2. The FrontPage Express window, shown in Figure M.21, opens. If
you are an HTML programming wizard, then you can just start typing and create yourself
a web site. But if you are like the rest of us, you will probably find it easier
to modify an existing web site to get the hang of things. To open a web site, click
the File menu and choose Open.
Figure M.21
NOTE: Remember that the text and graphics
of web sites belonging to both companies and individuals are their own and that copyright
and trademark laws do apply. Although I do suggest you use other web sites for learning
purposes, I strongly recommend that you never use anyone else's work on your own
web site. The only time it's acceptable to borrow from other web sites is if you
have written permission to do so. Failure to do so is, well, a bad thing.
- 3. The Open File dialog box, shown in Figure M.22, opens. If you
want to find an existing web page or site on your local computer or network, select
the From File option button and then enter the path name to the file in the
corresponding text box (click Browse if you don't know the path name). Select
the From Location option button if you want to pull a copy of a web page from
the Internet or from an intranet/extranet, and then type the URL of the site you
want to access (in this example, I've typed http://www.microsoft.com).
Figure M.22
- 4. Click the OK button to retrieve the web page and return to the
FrontPage window, as shown in Figure M.23. The screen is filled with graphics
and strange-looking characters.
Figure M.23
- 5. To examine the HTML code that makes the graphical features of the site
possible, click the View menu option and select HTML.
- 6. The View or Edit HTML window, shown in Figure M.24, opens. View
the contents of this window to get a feel for how HTML operates.
Figure M.24
NOTE: HTML code is not as difficult or
complex as it looks. HTML simply uses tags to format text and other elements of a
Web page. For example, to place a title on your Web page, you enclose the title text
with the <title></title> tags (in other words, simply type whatever
text you want to appear as your title between these two tags). To take a closer look
at HTML, pick up Sams Teach Yourself HTML 3.2 in 24 Hours by Dick Oliver.
NOTE: If your goal is to quickly and easily
create your own web sites, I urge you to purchase a book on HTML (The Complete
Idiot's Guide to HTML by Paul McFedries is a good one). Alternatively, I recommend
upgrading to the full Microsoft FrontPage 98 software package. This package provides
many of the very advanced features found in web sites around the Internet.
Microsoft NetMeeting
Microsoft NetMeeting permits you to host or join virtual meetings across the Internet,
without having to incur the expense of long-distance telephone calls or purchasing
additional software.
Configuring NetMeeting
To configure NetMeeting for use, do the following:
- 1. Click the Start button, choose Programs, Internet
Tools, and then Microsoft NetMeeting, as shown in Figure M.25.
Figure M.25
NOTE: If you've used NetMeeting on your
machine before, then you are taken directly into the primary NetMeeting screen shown
in Figure M.36.
- 2. If this is the first time you've used NetMeeting, the Microsoft NetMeeting
Configuration Wizard is automatically started. The first screen of this wizard, shown
in Figure M.26, simply describes what you can accomplish by using NetMeeting. Click
the Next button to continue.
Figure M.26
- 3. The wizard's second screen, shown in Figure M.27, enables you to specify
whether you are logged on to a directory server when NetMeeting starts and, if so,
which server you want to use. After you make your selections, click Next to
continue.
Figure M.27
NOTE: The directory server is the
computer that hosts the Internet conference call meeting, and all intended participants
must use the same one. It is suggested that you use the default server provided by
Microsoft until you find or create others for your own purposes.
- 4. The wizard's third screen, shown in Figure M.28, enables you to enter
information about yourself in order to identify you to the other participants on
the meeting server. You must enter information in the First Name, Last
Name, and E-mail Address fields before clicking the Next button
in order to continue.
Figure M.28
NOTE: Before you get riled up about putting
your personal information on the Internet for all to see, just remember that you
need not provide accurate information. You could, for example, enter Chicago as
your first name, Cubs as last name, and WorldSeries@1998 as your email
address if you so desired. NetMeeting does not verify that the information you provide
is correct.
- 5. The fourth screen of the wizard, shown in Figure M.29, enables you
to categorize your information. This screen is important if children share your computer
with you, because it allows you to filter content that is inappropriate. After you
make your selection, click the Next button to continue.
Figure M.29
NOTE: If you select the For Adults-only
Use radio button, you will encounter dozens of NetMeeting participants whose
only purpose appears to be for the trafficking or discussion of pornography.
- 6. In the fifth screen of the wizard, shown in Figure M.30, you specify
the speed of your network connection. If the type of connection you use does not
appear on this screen, click the option that most closely matches the speed of your
connection device. For example, because I use a cable modem, which is much faster
than any of the listed options, I have selected the Local Area Network option
because it is the fastest one available. After you select your connection speed,
click Next to continue.
Figure M.30
NOTE: If you specify a speed that is too
fast for your modem, the graphics and content might be forwarded to you in a manner
that your modem cannot handle. This, in turn, can lead to lost information.
- 7. The sixth screen of the wizard, shown in Figure M.31, enables you to
specify which video capture device (camera) you will use to display your picture
to others in the NetMeeting session. Choose the name of your camera from the drop-down
list and then click Next.
Figure M.31
- 8. The first screen of the Audio Tuning wizard, shown in Figure
M.32, appears. Before continuing with this wizard, you must close all applications
that play or record sounds, such as CD Player or Sound Recorder. Click Next
to continue.
Figure M.32
- 9. Use the second screen of the Audio Tuning wizard, shown in Figure M.33,
to adjust your sound card's playback volume. Simply move the Volume slider
and then click the Test button to hear a sample sound. When you are satisfied
with the playback volume, click the Next button.
Figure M.33
- 10. In the third screen of the Audio Tuning wizard, shown in Figure M.34,
you can test and adjust sound input levels. Simply move the Record Volume
slider and speak the test phrase shown in the screen into the microphone (you'll
probably need to play with this setting until you find one you like). Click the Next
button to continue.
Figure M.34
11. The final screen of the Audio Tuning wizard, shown in Figure M.35,
appears. To confirm your configuration settings, click Finish. You'll see
the Microsoft NetMeeting main window.
Figure M.35
Using NetMeeting
Once NetMeeting is configured for use, you can use it to video conference with
others. To use NetMeeting, follow these steps:
- 1. When you first enter the NetMeeting window (either by completing the
NetMeeting and Audio Tuning Wizards or by clicking the Start button, choosing
Programs, Internet Tools, and then Microsoft NetMeeting),
you'll notice that you are not yet connected to any conference calls or directory
servers. Click the down-arrow button to the right of the Category text field
and choose a category from the drop-down list.
NOTE: The available categories are Business,
Personal, and Pleasure. The Business and Personal options
are for persons of all ages and tastes. The Pleasure category, also known
as the Adult Content category, is definitely not for children.
- 2. Click the down-arrow button to the right of the Server text
field and choose a server from the drop-down list. Until you become more familiar
with Microsoft NetMeeting, I recommend that you stick with one of the default Microsoft
servers, as shown in Figure M.36.
Figure M.36
- 3. Press the Enter key to initiate the connection, and your screen
lists the other users on this directory server, as shown in Figure M.37.
Figure M.37
NOTE: Be aware that your children may
encounter some folks on the business- and family-oriented servers who are trolling
for their own pornographic interests, as shown in Figure M.37 (look at the fifth
entry from the bottom to get a clearer idea of what I mean). The best solution is
close parental supervision when younger children use NetMeeting across the Internet.
NOTE: You must have established a connection
to the Internet if the server you are attempting to contact is located somewhere
else in cyberspace (that is, if you are attempting to connect to a server not found
on your local intranet). This includes all the Microsoft servers as well.
- 4. To join a call in progress, double-click any entry that sports an asterisk
on the left-hand side of its computer monitor icon.
NOTE: The people in the call you are attempting
to join can reject your entry if they so choose. Do not be surprised if you are unable
to join in a call.
- 5. To make your own call, click the Call toolbar button and follow
the prompts.
Changing NetMeeting Settings
If you need to reconfigure any of the settings you specified in the NetMeeting
Configuration Wizard, do the following:
- 1. Click the Call menu option and choose Change My Information.
This opens the My Information tab of the Options dialog, shown in Figure M.38.
Figure M.38
- 2. Enter your contact information and specify how your information should
be categorized.
NOTE: You are free to use fictional names
in NetMeeting if you prefer to remain anonymous.
- 3. Click the General tab to view the screen shown in Figure M.39.
Here you can reconfigure many of the options set in the NetMeeting Configuration
Wizard, including the speed of the connection and the basic NetMeeting operations.
You can also specify the Windows 98 folder that you want to use to store files transmitted
to you during the course of a NetMeeting conference call.
Figure M.39
- 4. Click the Calling tab to view the screen shown in M.40. Here
you can set the name of the directory server that should be used when you first enter
NetMeeting. You can also specify that, for privacy, your name not be listed in the
directory; people who already know your email address will still be able to contact
you.
Figure M.40
- 5. Click the Audio tab to view the screen shown in Figure M.41.
Because you set many of these options in the Audio Tuning Wizard (which you used
while configuring NetMeeting for use), it is recommended that the options on this
screen should not be modified. However, you can rerun the Audio Tuning Wizard by
clicking the Tuning Wizard button.
Figure M.41
- 6. Click the Video tab to view the screen shown in Figure M.42.
Here you can configure the level of video quality, the size of the image you send,
and whether you send or receive video at the start of each call.
Figure M.42
NOTE: The better the quality and the larger
the size of the video images sent and received, the slower the NetMeeting call appears
to operate. Unless you have a high-speed network connection, it is recommended that
you specify Faster Video instead of Better Quality in
the Video Quality area, and either Small or Medium
in the Send Image Size area.
NOTE: If you do not have a camera attached
to your PC, then the settings in this screen do not pertain to you.
7. Click the Protocols tab to view the screen shown in Figure M.43.
Here you can add or remove protocols (such as TCP/IP and the like) and set the properties
of protocols by clicking the Properties button.
Figure M.43
- 8. Click the OK button to accept changes and to return to the primary
NetMeeting window.
Using NetMeeting Tools NetMeeting offers a variety of tools to make conference
calling more efficient. To access these tools, click the Tools menu option,
as shown in Figure M.44. Available tools enable you to do the following:
- Switch audio and video
- Improve video
- Share applications
- Collaborate
- Chat
- Use a whiteboard
- Transfer files
- Tune your audio settings
- Reconfigure various other settings
Figure M.44
Microsoft NetShow Player
NetShow enables the transmission of multimedia communications across networks
such as the Internet. It can support live audio and video to users on the network
without consuming the network's available bandwidth. NetShow Player enables you to
view this content on your PC. To use NetShow Player, do the following:
- 1. Click the Start button, choose Programs, Internet
Explorer, and then NetShow Player, as shown in Figure M.45.
Figure M.45
- 2. The Microsoft NetShow Player window, shown in Figure M.46, appears.
To open a file to view with NetShow Player, click the File menu option and
then choose Open.
Figure M.46
- 3. Navigate to the file you want to view and then click the Open
button.
- 4. Click the Play button in the NetShow Player window (this
button resembles a right arrow) to begin playing the NetShow content, as shown in
Figure M.47.
Figure M.47
If the screen looks a little fuzzy or the sound isn't good, you can modify NetShow
Player's settings by doing the following:
- 1. Click the View menu option and choose Play Settings,
as shown in Figure M.48.
Figure M.48
- 2. The Settings tab of the Microsoft NetShow Player Properties
dialog box opens, as shown in Figure M.49. This tab enables you to change how many
times the NetShow file you are viewing plays, whether the stream should be rewound
when if finishes playing, the size of the playing window, and the available controls.
Figure M.49
- 3. Click the Codecs tab to view the screen shown in Figure M.50.
Here you can see which CODECs are operational on your computer (for more information
about CODECs, refer to the section titled "CODECs").
NOTE: Microsoft provides a web site where
you can obtain more information regarding NetShow CODECs at http://www.microsoft.com
/netshow/codecs.htm.
- 4. Click the Advanced tab to view the screen shown in Figure
M.51. This tab enables you to modify the manner in which data is transmitted and
received by the NetShow Player software.
Figure M.50
Figure M.51
NOTE: Unless you are very well acquainted
with the TCP/IP protocol suite, the HTTP protocol, and data buffering, I suggest
that you leave the default settings in place for this screen.
NOTE: If you are using the Microsoft NetShow
Player in a corporate environment, contact your network administrator(s) for further
assistance in tuning the Advanced settings for your NetShow Player environment.
- 5. Click OK to accept changes and to close the Microsoft NetShow
Player Properties dialog box.
The Microsoft NetShow Player Properties dialog box also includes various
informational screens. Although you cannot enter new information into these screens,
viewing them can be helpful if you encounter problems with a file.
- The General tab, shown in Figure M.52, contains information regarding the NetShow
file being played, including its title, author, copyright, rating (if specified by
the author), and description.
Figure M.52
- The Channel tab, shown in Figure M.53, contains information about the channel
from which the file has been accessed.
Figure M.53
- The Details tab, shown in Figure M.54, contains data about the NetShow file in
use, including its protocol, creation date, duration, bandwidth, error correction,
image width, and image height. A source link is also listed (this link shows where
the file is located on the Internet).
Figure M.54
- The Statistics tab, shown in Figure M.55, provides a graphical view of how the
NetShow file in use has been received, including information about the TCP data packets
that have been received, recovered, or lost during the transmission of the file across
the Internet.
Figure M.55
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office is the most popular of the three major office suites presently
available in the computer marketplace (the other two are Lotus SmartSuite and Corel
Office). Microsoft Office has two flavors: standard and professional. The standard
version comes with Microsoft Word (a word processor), Microsoft Excel (a spreadsheet
application), Microsoft PowerPoint (a business
presentation program), and Microsoft Outlook (a personal information manager/email
client). The professional edition contains all the applications offered by the standard
version, plus Microsoft Access (a database program).
Microsoft Office works very well with Windows 98, providing some additional integration
in the realm of electronic messaging that you normally would not find in other office
suites's products.
Microsoft Outlook Express
Microsoft Outlook Express is a slimmed-down version of the full-blown Microsoft
Outlook email package that comes with Microsoft Office. Outlook Express provides
a fully functional POP3 email client that can also access Internet newsgroups.
Outlook Express is able to handle multiple Internet mail connection points simultaneously,
a feature not found in most other Internet email software. Suppose, for example,
that you have an Internet mail account at work, another one at home, and a third
at your spouse's school. Outlook Express enables you to send and receive email to
and from all three Internet connections simultaneously instead of requiring you to
log in and log out of each one individually. Starting Outlook Express To access
Outlook Express, click the Start button and then choose Programs, Internet
Explorer, and Outlook Express, as shown in Figure M.56. The Inbox folder
of main Outlook Express window, shown in Figure M.57, opens.
Figure M.56
Figure M.57
Composing a New Message To compose a message to be sent to another user
on your LAN or across the Internet, do the following:
- 1. Click the Compose menu option and choose New Message
Using. As shown in Figure M.58, a submenu of stationery options appears.
Figure M.58
NOTE: If you want to send a message without
using stationery, simply choose New Message from the Compose menu.
- 2. Click the stationery you want to use.
- 3. In the ensuing Compose New Message screen, shown in Figure M.59,
type the recipient's email address and then type your message.
Figure M.59
- 4. Click the Send button to move the message to your Outlook Express
Outbox folder.
Sending and Receiving Mail
To transmit messages from Outlook Express to other people on your LAN or across
the Internet, and to receive messages that others have sent to you, click the Tools
menu option and choose Send and Receive. All the messages in your Outbox folder
are sent, and all messages waiting for you at your ISP or local post office are received
and placed in your Inbox folder. Reading and Replying to Mail Reading email
within Outlook Express is very easy:
- 1. Click the Inbox icon (located under the Outlook Express
icon in the left pane) to select it. A list of messages (if there are any) appears
in the right-hand pane, as shown in Figure M.60.
- 2. Double-click any of the messages that appear in the list. The message
you selected opens, as shown in Figure M.61.
- 3. To reply to this message, click either the Reply to Author or
the Reply to All button, as shown in Figure M.62.
- 4. A Message Reply screen opens, as shown in Figure M.63. Type your reply
and then click the Send button.
Figure M.60
Figure M.61
Figure M.62
Figure M.63
NOTE: You can send one or more message
attachments with any email message from Outlook Express. To attach a file, either
click the paper-clip icon or click the Insert menu option and choose File
Attachment. You are then prompted to select the file you want to attach. Do so
and then send the message as normal.
Configuring Outlook Express To reach the Outlook Express Options
dialog box, where you can configure Outlook Express to better suit your needs, click
Tools and then Options. The following screens are available:
- The General tab, shown in Figure M.64, enables you to configure how often Outlook
Express checks for new messages, whether Outlook Express plays sounds when new messages
arrive, and other aspects of how it performs.
Figure M.64
- The Send tab, shown in Figure M.65, enables you to instruct Outlook Express as
to how you want email and newsgroup messages to be created and sent, and to specify
that a copy of all sent messages be logged.
Figure M.65
- The Read tab, shown in Figure M.66, enables you to specify how incoming messages
are downloaded and viewed.
Figure M.66
NOTE: The Download xxx Headers
at a Time option enables you to specify how many email message headers (that
is, author and subject lines) you want to download during a single connection session.
This can be useful in the event you get spammed (barraged with electronic
junk mail). For example, suppose a spammer sends you dozens of messages about free
trips, free cash, or whatever. If you download the header files for these types of
messages, you can delete them on your ISP's mail server without downloading the full
text of their messages to your PC.
NOTE: Click the Fonts button to
specify the font in which all messages are displayed. Click the International
Settings button to configure Outlook Express for use with other languages.
- The Spelling tab, shown in Figure M.67, enables you to configure how the built-in
spellchecker for Outlook Express works. (If you are familiar with Microsoft Office
applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, this screen will look familiar.)
Figure M.67
- The Security tab, shown in Figure M.68, enables you to set security zones (like
the ones in Internet Explorer), which permit you to configure how scripts and active
content are used within HTML messages (click the Settings button to set these options).
The Secure Mail and Digital IDs sections enable you to hide the content of your email
messages.
NOTE: Click the More Info button
in the Digital IDs section for information on this very complex topic.
- The Dial Up tab, shown in Figure M.69, enables you to automatically connect to
the Internet or your email post office via a telephone line. Simply click the Dial
this Connection checkbox and enter the name of the connection in the adjacent text
box (you can get this information from your ISP).
Figure M.68
Figure M.69
NOTE: If you have a network (LAN/WAN)
connection to the Internet or to your email post office, or if you do not use a modem,
you should skip this section.
- The Advanced tab, shown in Figure M.70, enables you to set message logging options.
Figure M.70
Establishing an Email Account You cannot participate in newsgroups or send email
until you've established an account with an ISP. To establish an account, do the
following:
- 1. In the main Outlook Express window, click the Tools menu option
and select Accounts.
- 2. Click the Mail tab in the ensuing Internet Accounts screen
to view any existing accounts (if you don't have an account, this tab is empty, as
shown in Figure M.71).
Figure M.71
- 3. Click the Add button and select Mail from the ensuing
shortcut menu. The first screen of the Internet Connection Wizard, shown in Figure
M.72, appears.
- 4. Type the Display Name for your Internet mail account
(this is the name that appears in the From field of outgoing messages) and
click Next to continue.
Figure M.72
NOTE: I usually refrain from using my
real name in this field, but if you are a corporate environment, this might not be
a wise decision. (In other words, use your real name if you are at work.)
- 5. In the Internet E-mail Address window, shown in Figure M.73,
type the email address assigned to you by your ISP or company email administrator,
and then click Next to continue.
Figure M.73
- 6. Enter the names of your email servers in the E-mail Server Names
window, shown in Figure M.74. You must also specify the type of your incoming email
server. If this is an ISP account, the email server is probably a POP3 mail server
(when in doubt, use POP3 as your default). Click Next to continue.
NOTE: Contact your ISP or local email
administrator if you need help filling out this screen.
- 7. The Internet Mail Logon screen, shown in Figure M.75, enables
you to specify your user name and password, or to specify that Secure Password Authentication
(SPA) be used. After you make your selection, click Next to continue.
Figure M.74
Figure M.75
NOTE: When you employ secure password
authentication, your logon information is sent in an encrypted state, which means
it will be more secure than a standard POP3 mail logon. The standard POP3 method
is clear text, so just about anyone can determine what your user ID and password
is, provided they have a sniffer somewhere between your machine and your ISP's server.
- 8. In the Friendly Name screen, shown in Figure M.76, type a name
for your account that will be easy for you to remember, and then click Next
to continue.
- 9. In the Choose Connection Type screen, shown in Figure M.77,
select the method that best describes how you plan to connect to the Internet (in
this example, I have chosen the Connect Using My Local Area Network (LAN)
option because I use a cable modem connection, which means that I have a high-speed
LAN connection directly to my ISP via the fiber optic cable TV lines in my area).
Click Next to continue.
Figure M.76
NOTE: If you connect to your ISP via a
Windows 98 Dial-Up Networking connection at the beginning of a Windows 98 session
and would like to start your email connection at will, you should select the Connect
Using My Local Area Network (LAN) option. If you select Connect Using My Phone
Line, your Outlook email software automatically tries to dial your connection
to the Internet, even if you are already connected.
Figure M.77
- 10. To save your settings, click Finish, as shown in Figure M.78.
You are then returned to the Internet Accounts screen, where the new account
appears, as shown in Figure M.79.
- 11. Click the Close button to exit the Internet Accounts
screen and return to the main Outlook Express window.
Figure M.78
Figure M.79
Microsoft Plus! 98
Just as with Windows 95, there is a Plus! Package for the Windows 98 operating
system. When fully installed, the Microsoft Plus! 98 package consumes 188.8MB of
hard disk drive space. Microsoft Plus! 98 comes with numerous utilities, including
the following:
- Compressed Folders This compression utility is much like WinZip.
- Deluxe CD Player This CD player far surpasses the one that ships with
Windows 98.
- Desktop Themes This utility offers more than 95 MB of desktop themes.
- Disk Cleanup Add-ons This utility provides a few extra features for
the Windows 98 Disk Cleanup utility.
- Golf 1998 Lite This is a scaled-down version of Microsoft Golf 1998.
- Lose Your Marbles This game is quickly becoming my favorite!
- Maintenance Wizard This utility provides a few extra features for
the Windows 98 Maintenance Wizard.
- Organic Art Screensaver This is just like it sounds!
- Picture It! Express This utility is a scaled-down version of Picture
It!,
a very good graphics tool.
- Spider Solitaire This is yet another very addictive Windows solitaire
game.
- Virus Scan This utility is the McAfee Anti-virus software package.
Microsoft VRML 2.0
Support for the Virtual Reality Modeling Language 2.0 (VRML) is built into
the Internet Explorer 4 web browser. The contents of a VRML file are better known
as a world. A VRML file resides on a web site just like an HTML file does
and VRML files come in the format of a text file, usually with a .wrl extension.
Microsoft Wallet
Microsoft Wallet is an Internet Explorer web browser feature that permits you
to store personal information about yourself in electronic format that you might
otherwise keep in a wallet (such as your name, address, home and work telephone numbers,
ship-to address, bill-to address, and credit card numbers with expiration dates).
When you want to purchase something from a web site that supports Microsoft Wallet
(not too many do as of yet), you can securely transmit your information from your
electronic wallet directly to that web site's purchasing information page. That way,
you don't have to type in all that information! To use Wallet, do the following:
- 1. Right-click the Internet Explorer icon on the Windows 98 desktop,
and choose Properties from the ensuing shortcut menu, as shown in Figure M.80.
Figure M.80
- 2. Click the Content tab in the Internet Properties dialog
box to view the screen shown in Figure M.81. Click the Addresses button near
the bottom of the screen.
Figure M.81
- 3. The information you enter in the Address Options screen, shown
in Figure M.82, is what is sent whenever you initiate commerce over the Web. Keep
in mind that these are street addresses and not email addresses. Address files can
be added, edited, or deleted from the Address Options screen. When you are
finished entering information in this screen, click the Close button to return
to the Internet Properties screen.
Figure M.82
- 4. Click the Payments button below the Addresses button
to view the Payment Options screen, shown in Figure M.83. The information
you enter in the Payment Options screen is what is sent whenever you initiate
commerce over the Web. Credit card files can be added, edited, or deleted from the
Payment Options screen.
Figure M.83
- 5. Click the Add button; you will be prompted for the type of credit
card you want to add (MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or Discover Card).
- 6. After you select the credit-card type, a data-entry screen appears
for that type of card. Enter the card number, expiration date, and cardholder's name
in the appropriate fields.
- 7. Click the OK button to return to the Payment Options
screen; click Close to return to the Internet Properties dialog
box, and click OK again to complete the modification process.
To view and edit your Microsoft Wallet user profile, do the following:
- 1. Click the Edit Profile button that appears just above the Microsoft
Wallet area of the Internet Properties dialog box.
- 2. Update or enter any pertinent information in the Properties
dialog box, shown in Figure M.84.
Figure M.84
NOTE: Most of the information that can
be entered into this screen will save you time when you make electronic purchases
from your browser.
3. Click OK to return to the Internet Properties dialog
box, and click OK again to complete the modification process.
Microsoft Windows 98 DOS and MS-DOS
Prompt
Despite the fact that Windows 98 is a GUI environment, DOS is still an important
aspect of the operating system. To access and use the MS-DOS Prompt, do the following:
- 1. Click the Start button, choose Programs, and then MS-DOS
Prompt, as shown in Figure M.85.
Figure M.85
- 2. The MS-DOS Prompt window, shown in Figure M.86, opens. Simply
type the command you want to execute and press Enter.
Figure M.86
- There are literally dozens of documented and undocumented DOS commands. However,
there are a few commands that you should avoid unless you know how to use them properly:
- Fdisk
- Format
- Debug
- Sys
- Command
- Deltree
NOTE: A few DOS commands, such as Fdisk,
Format, and Debug, should be used with extreme care. You should never
play with these commands to figure out what they do or how to use them properly.
For example, Fdisk and Debug both enable you to quickly and irrevocably
destroy the contents of your entire hard drive.
Countless books and magazines cover the subject of disk operating systems such
as MS-DOS, and you would be wise to invest in one before reconfiguring portions of
Windows 98 through the DOS prompt.
Modems
The term modem literally means modulator-demodulator. In English, a modem
is a hardware device that translates the bits of information from your computer into
bits of data that an analog telephone line (such as the one you call your mom on
every week) can understand enough to transport it to another computer's modem (where
the process is reversed).
To see what modems you have installed in your computer, and for a quick lesson
in determining whether a modem is working, do the following:
- 1. Click the Start button, choose Settings, and then
Control Panel, as shown in Figure M.87.
- 2. Double-click the Modems icon in the Control Panel window,
shown in Figure M.88.
- 3. The modem(s) listed in the General tab of the Modems Properties
dialog box is installed in your computer (see Figure M.89). To determine whether
that modem is properly communicating with Windows 98, click the Diagnostics
tab.
Figure M.87
Figure M.88
Figure M.89
NOTE: If the top box in the General
tab of the Modems Properties dialog box is empty, this means no dial-up modems
are properly installed in your computer. However, it is also possible to see a cable
modem installed and working properly appear in the box; but this is not the norm.
- 4. All the available communications ports are listed in the Diagnostics
tab (shown in Figure M.90), as is the name of the modem installed on each port (in
the event you have more than one modem connected to your PC). Select a modem by clicking
its port and then click the More Info button to check the communications capabilities
of that modem.
Figure M.90
- 5. The More Info screen, shown in Figure M.91, appears. If the
modem is working properly, as is the case in this example, then this screen contains
useful information. For instance, you can determine which communications port and
interrupt your modem uses. Click the OK button to return to the previous screen.
Figure M.91
NOTE: If no responses are indicated in
the box at the bottom, it is likely that the connection between your PC and the modem
has failed, or that your modem is not working properly (perhaps because the wrong
software drivers are loaded, or because the modem is broken).
- 6. Click the General tab in the Modems Properties dialog,
and then click the Properties button to review and configure the highlighted
modem in the Modem Name Properties dialog box (the General tab
of this dialog is shown in Figure M.92).
Figure M.92
- 7. The General tab enables you to set the maximum speed at which
the modem should attempt to connect, and how loud your modem is when it connects.
NOTE: If you have a 19.2Kbps modem, setting
it at 57.6Kbps does not make your modem work faster; it only tells Windows 98 that
maybe your modem can transmit information faster than it actually does.
- 8. Click the Connection tab to view information about how the parity
data bits are set, how your call preferences are set, how well the port settings
are configured, and how well your advanced settings are configured (see Figure M.93).
NOTE: Windows 98 does an excellent job
of configuring the settings in the Connection tab whenever a new modem is
installed, so if you do not understand these complex terms, you can safely leave
them alone.
Figure M.93
NOTE: To access either port settings or
advanced settings, click the Port Settings or Advanced button, respectively.
- 9. Click the Distinctive Ring tab to view the screen shown in Figure
M.94. This screen enables you to configure how the modem will sound if you are using
it for inbound telephone calls.
Figure M.94
NOTE: In order for you to be able to configure
how your modem sounds, your telephone line must support distinctive ring services.
Check with your local telephone company for more information.
NOTE: If no Distinctive Ring tab appears
on your Modem Name Properties dialog box, it indicates that your modem
device is incapable of supporting this option.
- 10. Click the Forwarding tab to view the screen shown in Figure
M.95. If applicable, click the This Phone Line Has Call Forwarding check box,
and type the proper activation and deactivation codes for your line (your local telephone
company should provide these codes to you).
Figure M.95
NOTE: In order for you to be able to enter
information in the Forwarding tab, your telephone line must support forwarding.
Check with your local telephone company for more information.
NOTE: If no Forwarding tab appears
on your Modem Name Properties dialog box, it indicates that your modem
device is incapable of supporting this option.
- 11. Click the OK button to accept any changes. You are returned
to the General tab of the Modems Properties dialog box.
- 12. Click the Dialing Properties button to open the screen shown
in Figure M.96. Here you set the location(s) from which you are dialing, as well
as any special codes that must first be dialed to reach an outside line, in order
to disable call waiting or caller ID, or to use a calling card. When you are satisfied
with your selections, click OK to return to the Modems Properties dialog,
and click OK again to accept your changes.
Figure M.96
Mouse
The mouse is one of the most important pieces of hardware on your computer system.
Without one, it is virtually impossible to be productive on a Windows 98 PC.
Most mice have two buttons: a primary one (usually the left button) and a secondary
one (usually the right button). Some mice have a third button or a rolling ball or
wheel (as is the case with the Microsoft IntelliPoint mouse) in the middle.
To configure your mouse to best suit your needs, do the following:
- 1. Install it according to your mouse manufacturer's specifications.
NOTE: Your mouse most likely has a tiny
attachment on the end of the cable that plugs into a specific port on the back of
your PC. (If your mouse's connection looks like the one for the keyboard, refer to
your computer's documentation to figure out where your keyboard and mouse connections
belong).
- 2. Install the software drivers that came with the mouse that you purchased
(if this is a new computer with pre-installed software, chances are that your mouse
software has already been installed for you).
- 3. Click the Start button, choose Settings, and then click
Control Panel, as shown in Figure M.97.
- 4. Double-click the Mouse icon in the Control Panel window
shown in Figure M.98.
Figure M.97
Figure M.98
NOTE: The next several screens are for
the Microsoft IntelliPoint mouse, which has a rolling wheel in addition to primary
and secondary buttons. If you do not have this type of mouse, many of these screens
will vary. In those cases, consult the documentation that came with your mouse so
that you can configure it for Windows 98.
- 5. The StepSavers tab of the Mouse Properties dialog, shown
in Figure M.99, has four timesaving options: SnapTo, Focus, ClickSaver, and SmartSpeed.
These features give you the ability to make things happen faster with fewer mouse
clicks or movements. Carefully read each option before making your choices.
Figure M.99
- 6. Click the Pointers tab to view the screen shown in Figure M.100.
This tab enables you to change how your mouse pointer appears onscreen. To change
your mouse pointer, click the down-arrow button next to the Scheme text box
to view a drop-down list of available pointer schemes (in this example, the Mouse
scheme has been selected).
Figure M.100
- 7. Click the Apply button to accept the scheme you've selected.
- 8. Click the Basics tab to view the screen shown in Figure M.101.
Here you can specify how quickly your pointer moves, which button is the primary,
which is the secondary (this is useful if you are left-handed), and the double-click
speed.
Figure M.101
- 9. Click the Visibility tab to view the screen shown in Figure
M.102. Click these options to specify whether you want your pointer to vanish while
you type, to display pointer trails, or to automatically wrap to the opposite edge
of the screen when you start a new line. You can also select the Sonar option,
which displays a target around your mouse pointer whenever you press the Ctrl
key on your keyboard.
Figure M.102
- 10. Click the Productivity tab to view the screen shown in Figure
M.103. My personal favorite, the Odometer section, lets you see how far your
mouse pointer has traveled across your monitor since the day you installed it.
Figure M.103
- 11. Click the Wheel tab to view the screen shown in Figure M.104.
In addition to enabling you to scroll up and down screens by simply rolling the wheel
forward or backward, the wheel can also act as a button when you press it. To change
the button features of the wheel, click the down-arrow button to the right of the
Button Assignment text box. Then you can select from the list of tasks the
wheel can perform: double-click, get help (F1), start Windows Explorer, or open the
Start menu. Press the wheel, and the action you assigned should occur instantly.
Figure M.104
- 12. Click the Apply button to accept changes to the mouse wheel.
- 13. Click the OK button to exit the Mouse Properties
screen.
Multilanguage Support
Microsoft Windows 98 provides a series of options that permit the support of other
languages within the operating system. To install any of the language options, do
the following:
- 1. Click the Start button, choose Settings, and then click
Control Panel, as shown in Figure M.105.
Figure M.105
- 2. Click the Add/Remove Programs icon in the Control Panel
Window, shown in Figure M.106.
Figure M.106
NOTE: For more information about the Add/Remove
Programs feature, refer to the section titled "Add/Remove Programs."
- 3. Click the Windows Setup tab in the Add/Remove Programs
screen.
- 4. Highlight the Multilanguage Support option in the Components
list. A description of the component appears in the Description box, informing
you of the available languages, as shown in Figure M.107.
Figure M.107
- 5. Place a check mark next to the Multilanguage Support option
and then click the Details button to view the screen shown in Figure M.108.
This screen enables you to install only a portion of the multilanguage support (that
is, you can install a single language instead of installing all of them).
Figure M.108
- 6. Select the language you want to install and then click OK. The
necessary files are installed.
- 7. Click OK in the Windows Setup tab to exit the Add/Remove
Programs dialog box.
- 8. If prompted, insert the Windows 98 CD-ROM.
- 9. Reboot your computer.
Multimedia
The multimedia features of Windows 98 allow a computer to handle audio and video
content in a more pleasing manner, as well as to provide you with a more user-friendly
way in which to learn new things and perform tasks.
To view multimedia content in Windows 98, you can use the ActiveMovie control.
For information on using ActiveMovie, refer to the section titled "ActiveMovie
Control."
My Computer
The My Computer icon found on the Windows 98 desktop provides you with
a quick means to explore your computer. Double-click it to open an Explorer-type
window that enables you to peruse your hard drive just as you do with the Windows
Explorer utility.


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