MICROSOFT BACKUP: UPDATING BACKUP JOB
Microsoft Backup, a utility that allows you to create backups of important files, such as data files. To create a backup job, select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup; then follow along as the wizard walks you through the creation process (select Create A New Backup Job, click OK, and so on).
Assuming you've followed the above steps to create a backup job, you now have a backup job in the form of a *.qic file--we'll call it MyBackup.qic. As your data files change, or as you create new files, you'll want to update this backup to reflect these changes. (Creating a new job every time is too time consuming.)
Select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup; select Open An Existing Backup Job; and click OK. Choose the backup you want to update and click Open. Next to What To Backup, select New And Changed Files, then click Start. Microsoft Backup will now do exactly what you've asked--back up only new or changed information.
In our next tip, restoring files from a backup job...

MICROSOFT BACKUP: RESTORING FILES
Microsoft Backup, a utility that allows you to create backups of important files, such as data files. To create a backup job, select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup; then follow along as the wizard walks you through the creation process (select Create A New Backup Job, click OK, and so on).
Now that you've got this backup file (*.qic), how can it help you? Scary thought, but let's suppose your system just crashed and you lost all your data files. Once--or should we say, if--you get the system up and running again, select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup. Select Restore Backed Up Files, click OK, then select the location of the *.qic file you want to restore (for example, a tape or zip drive). Click Next, and the wizard will walk you through the rest of the restoration process. Now imagine if you hadn't backed up those files...

MICROSOFT BACKUP: INVOKING WIZARDS
Microsoft Backup, a utility that allows you to create backups of important files, such as data files. To create a backup job, select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup; then follow along as the wizard walks you through the creation process (select Create A New Backup Job, click OK, and so on).
If you find yourself inside the Microsoft Backup window wishing you could use the wizard to create a new backup job or restore files, don't waste time exiting Backup and reopening this utility to make the wizard appear. You can invoke the wizard at any time. Inside Microsoft Backup, pull down the Tools menu and select Backup Wizard or Restore Wizard; or click the Backup Wizard or Restore Wizard icon.

MICROSOFT BACKUP: RUNNING TOTAL OF BACKUP JOB
Microsoft Backup, a utility that allows you to create backups of important files, such as data files. To create a backup job, select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup; then follow along as the wizard walks you through the creation process (select Create A New Backup Job, click OK, and so on).
As you're selecting files, folders, and drives for a particular backup job, you may wish to see a running total (size-wise) of the items you've selected so far. Select View, Selection Information, and watch the resulting dialog box for file and byte estimates.
(Note: This option is not available from within the Backup Wizard. To bypass the wizard and create a backup job manually, open Microsoft Backup, click Close, and use the options on the Backup tab.)

MICROSOFT BACKUP: PASSWORD PROTECTION
Microsoft Backup, a utility that allows you to create backups of important files, such as data files. To create a backup job, select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup; then follow along as the wizard walks you through the creation process (select Create A New Backup Job, click OK, and so on).
If a number of people use your system (and Microsoft Backup), you'll probably want to protect your important backup jobs from unwanted changes. On the Backup tab, select the job you want to protect, then click the Options button in the lower-right corner of the window. Click the Password tab, select Protect This Backup With A Password, and type a case-sensitive password of up to eight characters. Press Tab, type the password again, then click OK.
One more thing: Don't forget to write the password down somewhere. Now no one can back up files to, or restore files from, this job without the password.

SHRINK THE START MENU
If you add a lot of shortcuts and folders--say, more than seven--to your Start menu, an arrow appears at the top so you can scroll up to the entries that don't fit on screen. To avoid all that cumbersome scrolling, make your entire Start menu smaller. Right-click a blank area of the Taskbar, select Properties, select Show Small Icons On Start Menu, then click OK.

PERMANENTLY DISABLE AUTOPLAY
disable your CD-ROM drive's AutoPlay feature temporarily: After inserting a CD, hold down Shift for as long as it normally takes the CD to start playing. Never liked AutoPlay anyway? Well then, disable it.
Right-click My Computer and select Properties to open the System Properties dialog box. On the Device Manager tab, click the plus sign next to CDROM and select your CD-ROM drive. Click the Properties button, select the Settings tab, and deselect Auto Insert Notification. Click OK, then click Close and restart Windows 98. The next time you insert a CD in that drive--nothing.

OPEN ALL FOLDERS IN TWO-PANED EXPLORER VIEW
Reader J. Kolberg writes, "I read with interest your recent tip on applying view options globally [open any folder window and set the desired viewing options; select View, Folder Options; select the View tab; click the Like Current Folder button; click Yes to confirm; then click OK]. However, what I'd like to do is make every folder open with a double-paned window. Is there a way to do this?"
Actually, doing what you've asked involves a bit more work. Open any Explorer window and select View, Folder Options. Click the File Types tab, and under Registered File Types, select Folder (NOT File Folder). Click the Edit button, and in the Actions box, you'll notice that "open" appears in bold. In this same box, select Explore, then click the Set Default button. Click Close twice, and the next time you double-click a folder, it will open in a two-paned Explorer view. And of course, you can still open a folder in a single-paned window by right-clicking it and selecting Open.
(Note: If you think you might want to revert to the default single-paned view, be sure to read the next tip before following the above technique. It'll take some Registry editing to get things back to normal.)

REVERTING TO SINGLE-PANED EXPLORER VIEW
In our last tip, we showed you how to make all folders open in a double-paned Explorer view by default: Open any Explorer window; select View, Folder Options; click the File Types tab; under Registered File Types, select Folder (NOT File Folder); click the Edit button; in the Actions box, select Explore (you'll notice that Open is currently the default); click the Set Default button; and click Close twice.
Want to switch back to the default single-paned view? If you follow the steps above to make the Open (rather than Explore) action the default again, everything will appear to be functioning normally--EXCEPT double-clicking a folder in the right pane of a two-paned Explorer window now displays its contents in a separate window. To undo this behavior, you'll need to edit the Registry. (Note: As always, back up your Registry files--System.dat and User.dat, hidden files in your Windows folder--before proceeding.)
Open the Registry Editor by selecting Start, Run, typing regedit and clicking OK. Navigate your way to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell. In the right pane, right-click '(Default)' and select Modify. On the Value Data line, delete the word "Open" and click OK. Close the Registry Editor. Double-clicking a folder in the right pane of an Explorer window will now display the contents inside that pane.

RIGHT-CLICK TO MINIMIZE WINDOW
In the past, we've mentioned that you can minimize any open window by pressing Alt-Spacebar-N. But now let's suppose you're a mouse person (or your hand is already on the mouse). Right-click the Taskbar item of the window you want to minimize and select Minimize. It's a lot less strenuous than reaching up to that caption button (in the top-right corner of that window).

DELETE MSN DESKTOP ICON
Remember how, back in Windows 95, the MSN icon was stuck to the desktop like glue (unless you edited the Registry)? Not so in Windows 98. To delete the Set Up The Microsoft Network icon from your desktop, right-click it, select Delete, then click Yes to confirm.(Note: You can always set up MSN by selecting Start, Programs, Online Services, The Microsoft Network.)

BROWSE YOUR HARD DRIVE FROM INTERNET EXPLORER
You're browsing the Web in an Internet Explorer window, and suddenly you want to look at something on your hard drive. Do you go back to the desktop and navigate your way there? Sure, if you like to take the
long way around. For the most efficient route, try this: Select Go, My Computer (or press Alt-G, C), and there are your local drives. Now you can navigate your way to the folder you need, as you would inside any other Explorer window.
(Tip: To jump directly to a folder other than My Computer, type the folder's path on Internet Explorer's Address bar, then press Enter.)

MEET DR. WATSON
Experiencing system faults? Don't call a Windows 98 support technician--yet. First, call Dr. Watson. This troubleshooting utility takes system snapshots--a "comprehensive picture of the present software environment"--that may be able to solve your problem.
Select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Information. In the System Information window, select Tools, Dr. Watson. Click the Dr. Watson icon that appears in the tray of your Taskbar, select Dr. Watson, and wait as this utility generates a system snapshot--with any luck, resulting in a diagnosis of the problem. Name and save the log file.
Now go ahead and call that support technician. You've got a great resource to help him or her solve the problem.

LOAD DR. WATSON AT STARTUP
In our last tip, we introduced Dr. Watson, a Windows 98 troubleshooting utility that takes snapshots of your system to help diagnose any problems you're having. Wouldn't it be nice if Dr. Watson would take a snapshot automatically when a system fault occurred? It will, as long as it's running.
If you want to be sure that Dr. Watson is running all the time, place a shortcut to Drwatson.exe (located in your Windows folder) in your Startup folder. Then, it'll start whenever Windows 98 starts.

PICK A COLOR SCHEME
Tired of that plain-Jane, blue-and-gray look of your Windows 98 world? Not to mention that sea-green desktop! For a quick burst of pizzazz, try out some of Windows 98's ready-made color schemes.
Right-click the desktop and select Properties. Click the Appearance tab, then click the down arrow under Scheme and take your pick. (Selecting any scheme displays its preview at the top of the dialog
box.) Continue selecting schemes until you find one that you like, then click OK to apply it to your desktop.
(Note: To switch back to the default color scheme, select Windows Standard in the Scheme list.)

CREATE A CUSTOM COLOR SCHEME
In our last tip, we showed you how to change the color scheme of your Windows 98 desktop: Right-click the desktop, select Properties, click the Appearance tab, select a scheme in the dropdown list under Scheme, then click OK. Can't find a color scheme you like? Not a problem. Windows provides all the tools you need to make your own.
Open the Display Properties dialog box and click the Appearance tab. One at a time, select an element under Item or click it in the preview box, then adjust its options--size, color, and so on. (The options you
can adjust will vary depending on the desktop item you select.) Keep going until the preview displays the look you're after.
To save the scheme for future use, click Save As, type a name for the scheme, and click OK. Otherwise, simply click OK to apply the scheme to your desktop.