Without this update, running a Windows Sockets application over a long period of time, especially one which opens and closes a large number of sockets, will result in a significant resource drain. This can cause the Windows swapfile to grow very large, overall deterioration of performance, and over time, possible system instability. This update allows users to better run such applications for long periods of time without loss of system performance and stability, and without requiring users to reboot their computers periodically to free system resources.

File size: 290 kB        File date: April 11, 1996
Author:
     Microsoft Corporation
     http://www.microsoft.com

Includes a keyboard remapping utility, a utility to disable the Windows 95 logo key when you are running games, a CPU process watcher which helps determine which programs are using how much of your CPU, a wizard for configuring your MS-DOS mode (so you don't have to play around with CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT anymore), a time zone editor that's great for laptop users and a conventional memory tracker.

Type of software: Free

File size: 56 kB        File date: July 4, 1996

Author:
     Microsoft Corporation
     http://www.microsoft.com

Desktop Menu opens items on your desktop from a convenient menu on the taskbar.

CabView treats .CAB files like folders, letting you look inside, then drag files in and out with ease.

CD AutoPlay Extender makes autoplay work on any non-audio CD so that you get speedy access to the programs you want to use.

Contents Menu lets you get to your files without even opening their folders.

Desktop Menu lets you open items on your desktop from a convenient menu on the Taskbar.

Explore From Here lets you right click to open the Windows Explorer, rooted anywhere you want.

Find X lets you customize your Find menu with drag-and-drop.

FlexiCD provides quick, convenient audio CD control from the Taskbar.

HTML Printer Driver allows you to save and print HTML documents from many applications.

QuickRes lets you change the screen's resolution and bit depth right from the taskbar without rebooting.

Send To X lets you use Send To with any target folder.

Round Clock is round analog clock.

Shortcut Target Menu shows you the properties for a shortcut's target just by right-clicking the shortcut.

Tweak UI lets you change menu speed, mouse sensitivity, window animation and sound, document templates, shortcut appearance, desktop icons, and much more.

XMouse makes the window with the focus follow your mouse without clicking, just like X Windows.

DOS Prompt Here lets you start an MS-DOS prompt in the folder of your choice with the click of a button.

Telephony Location Selector allows mobile computer users to change their dialing location with ease from a handy icon on the taskbar.

Many of the PowerTools also work with Windows NT.

"This should have been shipped with Windows 95. These tools are great. Let us see more like this Microsoft." - - Stefan

File size: 204 kB        File date: November 17, 1996

Author:
     Microsoft Corporation
     http://www.microsoft.com

The Registry is the central database for Windows 95. Note: RegClean will not function if you have installed Internet Explorer 4.0.

"It's too bad that it's necessary to use RegClean, but thank goodness it's available and free. It stopped my machine from crashing due to a bad registry entry. This is an essential administrator tool. If you're not using an uninstaller utility to record your installations for complete removal, then this very basic utility can be a lifesaver. You run it, it cleans the registry of invalid information that it finds (left over from uninstalls, deletion of directories containing registered applications, etc.), and it creates a file that can be used to restore what it cleaned up should you need to." - - Cliff M.

"This little utility is terrific! I don't know how I managed without it." - - Judy

"The program encounters dificulty if you install IE4.0" - - Ken M.

Minimum requirements: Windows 95/NT, VB40032.Dll, and You must have OLEAUT32.DLL installed on your system, which comes with Microsoft Office, MS Internet Explorer, and other products. Note: RegClean will not function if you have installed Internet Explorer 4.0..

File size: 382 kB        File date: March 13, 1997

Author:
     Microsoft Corporation
     http://www.microsoft.com

More information:
McAfee VirusScan for Windows 95 Home Page
http://www.mcafee.com/prod/av/vs95.asp

Communicator comes with Netcaster, a component that enables push delivery of information and offline browsing. Netcasting technology enables you to subscribe to channels, which then "pushes" content to your desktop. You don't have to manually request or search for the information. Channels can be anchored to your desktop to create a "webtop".

The integrated e-mail has rule-based filtering; improved filing and searching; the ability to compose HTML; and support for looking up addresses in public e-mail directories.

This upgrade offers a quicker loading time, faster Java execution, improved printing, better stability, and other performance enhancements. AOL Messenger, a real-time chat, messaging and communications program is also included.

More information:
Netscape Communicator (32-bit) [complete install] Home Page
http://home.netscape.com/eng/mozilla/4.0/relnotes/windows-4.0.html

The install uses "Active Setup" -- after downloading IE4SETUP.EXE, the install will download the remaining files from the Internet for you, and at that time you can select which optional components to download.

Version 4.01 fixes the "buffer overrun" bug which allowed malicious programmers to cause a computer crash by posting a Web site address that exceeds the browser's capability. The update also fixes the "Freiburg Text Viewing" flaw that allows malicious users to obtain the contents of certain files from a user's hard disk. Browsing has been improved as well. You can customize the text colors and you can now access objects on the screen using only the keyboard, without having to click the mouse.

User comments:
 "The full screen mode for the new IE looks really cool." - - Kevin I.
 "I've found this suite astonishing. This is just the last, pre-final step towards full integration of the Web to an operating system. And I admire it a lot, because it makes everyday work easier, despite a bunch of things that Microsoft shoould adjust. And finally, this Beta 2 release is the first time Microsoft lived up its announced schedule." - - Slobodan C.
 "This is the best suite around! The Browser in full screen mode is the best! The shell integration is nice if you like it, but you can turn it off too. Get used to it, folks, this is the next windows interface (Memphis will come with IE4 integrated). The best part is Outlook Express! This is one great e-mail client! Multiple accounts, perfect, customizable interface. The only thing is that it does change windows95 quite a bit, so it'll take a few days to get used to it. Netscape Navigaotr is fine, but it is way too rigid and closed. Netscape Messenger is nothing compared to Outlook Express. A must for Windows 95 users." - - Jason
 "Just installed the final release. Looks great! The split-screen mode adds a whole new dimension to searching. No more hitting the "Back" button with unneeded links--the search window stays there. The full-screen mode brings the Web to an uncluttered interface. Adding point-and-click (yes, not double-click) capabilities to the Windows 95 desktop, Explorer 4.0 is more than just a browser--it's an overall system update." - - Troy S.
 "This thing really works. You have to get this faster explorer!" - - Hector P.
 " IE4 "kicks ass"! The desktop intergration rules. Just pass your mouse over a file and you can get an instant preview of graphics, documents, presentations. Take Win 95 and the internet to the next level with IE4." - - W. K.
 " have been a devoted Netscape fan for years; however, Microsoft has given a reason to change. MS Outlook (e-mail/newsgroup)is has a cleancut interface, which is easy to use. I also just love the the three button mouse control; hit the middle mouse button and screen scrolls automatically. Lot of browser goodies. I'm impressed!" - - Tracey
 " I have noticed a bug of sorts in IExplorer 4. Until I installed IE4 I had been using the Preview 2 release of IE4 and this glitch did not occur. There is a ghosting of text many times when you scroll the text rapidly in full view. Switching to normal view and then scrolling the text, works fine. I don't need to change any settings or purchase any high end hardware to resolve the issue. This is some sort of bug in the application. Other than this issue, I love it." - - William P.
Microsoft Corporation
http://www.microsoft.com

User comments:
 "I used it to compare video cards. It really helped my decision." - - Joe
 "Amazing. One office pentium ran observedly slower than others. WINTUNE identified the problem as a slow CPU and suggested that the advanced power management be reviewed. We went to the control panel, clicked on the power icon that looks like a plug, changed the power management from ADVANCED to OFF. We reset the computer and it started to run more than twice as fast. I don't understand the changes, but my pentium now runs like a pentium instead of a 386 or 486." - - D. Stubben
 "Never seen such amazing power by one program. Fixes so many faults in a matter of minutes. My system goes like a Formula 1 racing car!" - - Boyd F.

More information:
Wintune 97 for Windows 95 Home Page
http://www.winmag.com/software/wt97.htm

WinZip also lets you open and extract UUencoded, XXencoded, BinHex and MIME file and create UUencoded files.

WinZip handles disk spanning operations almost painlessly. If you create ZIP files that fill up more than one diskette, it automatically prompts you to put in a new diskette to continue the archive. There is no need to specify that you want to use disk spanning before creating the ZIP file.

WinZip interfaces to the free Internet Browser Support Add-On, which lets you download and open archives from the Internet with a single click using Microsoft's Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. There is no need to "Save to disk" and then switch to WinZip or to the Windows Explorer or File Manager to open the downloaded file. In addition, all files that have been downloaded are automatically copied from your Web browser's temporary folders to a folder of your choice. This ensures that a permanent copy of the download is saved on your system, even if the downloaded file is automatically deleted by your browser.

WinZip comes with WinZip Self-Extractor Personal Edition for creating self-extracting EXE archives which unzip themselves under either Windows 3.1 or Windows 95/NT.

User comments:
 "A "must have" for all users." - - Anthony
 "Winzip is great -- boy did it help me out dearly..." - - R.P. Kelly
 "I registered Winzip about 5 years ago for fifteen dollars and I can still use my registration code with new releases that come out! An amazing product. I particularly like the Install and Checkout features." - - Paul F.
 "I've used WinZip more than a year and found it as the most powerful zipping tool." - - Andrew M.
 "Winzip is simply just the best. It starts up right when your done downloading a file, it's great!" - - Conor C.
 "The one and only Zip program. Register it, you won't be disappointed. It's worth every penny." - - Charles
 "I can't live without WinZip!" - - Michele A.
 " WinZip is a very decent program. I love the Wizard mode, it makes an Internet Surfer's life much easier if he/she downloads a lot of files. This should have been shipped with Internet packages" - - Peter S.

More information:
WinZip for Windows 95/NT Home Page
http://www.winzip.com/info.htm