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Top Document: Win95 FAQ Part 3 of 14: Usage
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3.3. What is this "Explorer" thing?


   Like I wrote above, it's Win95's new default shell. Explorer actually
   has two big parts and several little ones. The two biggest parts you
   will see right away are the Desktop and the Taskbar. I won't go into
   details, because Microsoft has lots of basic stuff about these two
   devices.
   
   I will go into details on the little pieces, however. Microsoft
   combined the functionality of many utilities (including File Manager,
   Control Panel, Print Manager, Remote Access, Windows Setup, PIF
   editor) into it. Control Panel is pretty obvious and works much the
   way it did back in Win 3.1. The others were completely renamed and
   re-worked, and it'll just take some "Exploring" (pun intended) to
   learn them.
   
   Running explorer.exe with Explorer running will merely open a File
   Manager style window, with directory trees and split displays.
   "Exploring" directories like this is great for power users who need to
   find something fast. Right-click on any folder or drive and select
   "Explore" to begin "Exploring" from that point. You aren't running
   multiple processes of Explorer; you're merely opening another Explorer
   window separate from the Desktop.
   
   Print Manager got replaced by the Printers folder in "My Computer".
   You create and maintain printers here, though there is a shortcut to
   it from Control Panel, for compatibility. When you create printers
   here you may use Win 3.1 printer drivers (though I don't recommend
   this) or Win95 drivers. Microsoft claims NT drivers will install here
   as well, but I couldn't get any of the NT drivers working.
   
   Remote Access gets replaced by Dial-up Networking, which is now a
   general network connection through modems. Dial-up Networking covers
   regular RAS connections, Internet connections, and connections to
   NetWare Connect servers for remote NetWare log ins. Dial-up Networking
   also supports null modems and parallel port cables with Direct Cable
   Connection.
   
   Windows Setup is kinda scattered all over the place, but you'll find
   the main components in the Control Panel's Add New Hardware,
   Add/Remove Programs, and System panels.
   
   PIF files are now "Shortcuts to MS-DOS Programs", and you bring up a
   DOS program's properties to edit its PIF file. Check out How to
   run DOS programs in Win95 for details.
   



Top Document: Win95 FAQ Part 3 of 14: Usage
Previous Document: 3.2. Basic Win95 usage vs MS-DOS (TM)
Next Document: 3.4. How do I...

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