New Features of Windows 95

Microsoft Network and Microsoft Exchange

Windows 95 includes the Microsoft Network and Microsoft Exchange. Microsoft Network (MSN) is an on-line service designed, at the outset, to take advantage of the new architecture and features of Windows 95. MSN includes a variety of on-line services covering business, leisure, art, education, computers, and other areas of common interest. Included in MSN are file libraries which give access to a large variety of software, while message areas and chat rooms allow views to be exchanged with other MSN members. MSN's graphical interface was designed to have a similar look and feel as Windows 95 -- navigating MSN should be as easy as exploring the files and directories on one’s own hard drive and MSN also makes use of shortcuts in order to navigate quickly. In addition, MSN gives access to the Internet within the same graphical interface as MSN's native services, making Internet access very simple.

The Microsoft Network is integrated into Microsoft Exchange. Microsoft Exchange is essentially a mail client into which many different services can be integrated. This means that all of the e-mail, messages, faxes, and address books can now be stored in one place. Moreover, Exchange integrates closely with Microsoft Office 95, including Schedule+ version 7.0 and Microsoft Word 95.

Windows Explorer

Much like the File Manager, the Explorer helps keep track of the computer by using a hierarchical drive and folder tree. By just clicking a button, the Explorer can do anything that the File Manager can do. Explorer even has a tree for the network. Renaming is easy: highlight the file or folder and click once on the current name, then type in the new name. To copy files, simply drag them to the folder in which they are to be placed and drop them there. More functionality is present -- use the menu and toolbar to view other tasks that Explorer can perform.

Secondary Mouse Button

Windows 95 now makes more use of the right mouse button. The most common function of the right mouse button is to display a context menu which gives options specific to the item being clicking upon. For example, right-clicking on a blank area of the desktop displays a context menu with options such as icon arrangement, new folder or document creation, and display properties. Right-clicking on an icon allows it to be deleted, copied, renamed, or other actions to be performed on the file that the icon represents.

Right-click and drag an icon by holding down the right mouse button on an icon while moving the mouse. Then, when the button is released, a context menu appears asking which of several tasks to perform. The menu offers, for example, control of whether an icon is copied or moved when it is drug to another location. This method also allows a shortcut to be quickly and easily created; a common item on most context menus is Create Shortcut(s) Here. Feel free to experiment with right-clicking and dragging--the context menu always gives the option to cancel the procedure.

Printer Setup

Setting up a printer or any other hardware is easy to do with Microsoft’s Printer and Hardware Setup Wizards. To setup the printer click Start, click Settings, then click Printers. The Printers window displays. Click Add Printer. This starts the Add a Printer Wizard. This Wizard goes through the steps involved in setting up the printer. If the printer is not supported by Windows 95 and a driver disk is available, put in the disk and click Have Disk. This same procedure can be used to connect to a network printer.

NOTE: If no Windows 95 printer drivers are compatible with the printer being used, contact the printer vendor before installing Windows 3.x printer drivers. Some printer driver software may conflict with Windows 95.

Adding and Removing Software and Hardware

The most reliable way to add Windows 3.x and Windows 95 software to the computer is to use Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel. A series of dialogs step through the process of installing the software and regulate the installation process to ensure that Windows 3.x programs install properly. In addition, using this tool to install Windows 95 programs allows easy removal of the programs in the future. Programs written specifically for Windows 95 will report which files they use and install, allowing Windows 95 to safely delete the correct files if removal of the program is chosen.

Adding hardware is simple as well. The Add New Hardware icon in Control Panel starts the Add New Hardware Wizard. A series of dialogs is presented. Follow the instructions in the dialog boxes to set up the new hardware to work in conjunction with Windows 95.

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