Microsoft(R) WinNews Electronic Newsletter Vol. 2, #18, October 16, 1995 *********************************************************** Thanks to all the people who wrote in suggestions for WinNews topics. We will be going to people who can help address these issues. We had some interesting announcements for Windows 95 since our last issue. You may have heard about Windows 95 being a platform for games. Below you will see announcements on our Online Games Launch later this month and the release of the Windows 95 Games SDK. Also, the Japanese Edition of Windows 95 was sent to manufacturing last week. This ensures the Japanese Editor of Windows 95 will be available in the time period previously announced. With Comdex approaching, we hope all readers will come by the Windows 95 booth to check out the updates to our Internet Explorer web browser as well as what you can expect from Windows in the future. If you haven't actually seen the final version of Windows 95, we invite to come by and check that out as well. This issue of WinNews contains: 1. "WINDOWS 95 HINTS AND TIPS" Our regular feature offering some helpful ways to use Windows 95. Hints provided in this issue focus on using the keyboard for various functions. 2. "WINDOWS 95 SERVICE FOR NETWARE DIRECTORY SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE" - we know many of you have been waiting for the availability of NDS with Windows 95. Check out this announcement for more details. 3. "ON LINE EVENT FOR GAMES FOR WINDOWS 95" - Microsoft will be holding a Halloween event (one day early) to announce games support for Windows 95. You have the opportunity to go on-line and participate in these announcements on-line. 4. "GAME SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS KIT (SDK) RELEASED TO MANUFACTURING - The completion of the Game SDK is a major milestone in making Windows 95 a leading game platform. Pertinent information is included for game developers or anyone interested in games. 5. "GAMEBANK TO RELEASE WINDOWS 95 GAME SOFTWARE IN LATE NOVEMBER OR EARLY DECEMBER" - Gamebank and Activision Japan will team up to market game software that runs with the Japanese version of Windows 95. For more information on future plans as well as software titles to be introduced, see this article. 6. "ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS" Microsoft's Product Support team provides answers to questions they are asked most often to help you support and run Windows 95 in your organizations. This issue contains answers to questions on PC (PCMCIA) Cards. 7. "DESIGNED FOR WINDOWS 95 LOGOED SOFTWARE" - Here is a complete list of software products that has received the Windows 95 logo (as of October 5). 8. "NEW POSTINGS TO WINDOWS 95 WEB SITE AND FORUMS" Our regular information of new postings to various on-line servers locations - and how to access these files. QUICK NOTES A. The Internet Explorer 2.0 beta is now available to be downloaded from most on-line services, in addition to the Windows 95 website where it was already available. B. If you support corporate computing then you know migrating an enterprise raises many questions. Windows 95 Corporate Migration Stories has Corporate IT managers, Windows 95 implementers, and experienced and novice end-users both discuss their experiences and give advice on migrating to Windows 95. See how Ford, Dow, Sprint and others discovered that early migration has given their companies a competitive advantage, increased user productivity, and reduced their overall technical support burden. Costs, time and effort spent on installations, end-user training issues, and how migration was facilitated by Microsoft's Migration Tools are all discussed. Corporation Migration Stories can be found at - http://www.microsoft.com/windows/support/testimonial Jay Goldstein WinNews Editor *********************************************************** SUBSCRIPTIONS If you know someone who might be interested in WinNews, please instruct them to: 1. Send Internet e-mail to: ENEWS99@MICROSOFT.NWNET.COM 2. Send the message from the account that you wish to subscribe (some people use more than one e-mail account). 3. Subject line should be blank. 4. Body of message should ONLY have in the text: SUBSCRIBE WINNEWS You may also feel free to forward this document, provided you forward it in its entirety, as per the copyright notice below. If you wish to stop receiving WinNews, send mail to enews@microsoft.nwnet.com with a blank subject line and the body of the message should only have in the text: UNSUBSCRIBE WINNEWS. WinNews is published twice a month, on the first and third Monday of each month. Special editions of WinNews may also be sent out occasionally. *********************************************************** 1. WINDOWS 95 HINTS AND TIPS The following are a few useful hints and tips that will result in a more productive work environment. This issue has two keyboard hints and one important phone number. A. If you are in the U.S. , you can call and get Fast Tips for Windows 95 toll-free at 1-800-936-4200. This provides special Windows 95 announcements, frequently asked questions, technical library items, information on the Microsoft support network and lots of important facts. B. Using the cursor from the Keyboard instead of the Mouse You can operate the cursor without using the mouse by going to Control Panel/Accessibility Options select the Mouse tab and activate the "MouseKeys" box. C. Improved Keyboard Access By Numbering Start menu items Rename the items you have placed at the top of the Start Taskbar menu by placing a number at the beginning of the name. When you access the Taskbar using Ctrl-Esc (or by clicking on the Start button) then type the number you added the program name, that program will open. *********************************************************** 2. WINDOWS 95 SERVICE FOR NETWARE DIRECTORY SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 16 - Microsoft Corp. today announced availability of the Microsoft(R) Service for NetWare(R) Directory Services (NDS), an enhanced client software for NetWare that incorporates support for Novell(R) NetWare 4.x Directory Services. Service for NDS is a superset of the rich network support already built into the Windows(R) 95 operating system and provides users with logon and browsing support for NetWare 2.x, 3.x and 4.x bindery servers as well as NetWare 4.x NDS servers. "The Microsoft Service for NetWare Directory Services is another example of Microsoft's commitment to making Windows 95 the best-connected client software available," said Brad Chase, general manager in the personal systems division at Microsoft. "Now, corporate customers who are using NDS can immediately migrate to Windows 95." Windows 95 offers well-integrated, robust, high- performance networking that provides support for NetWare and the Windows NT(TM) operating system out of the box. Because of the open, extensible architecture, third parties such as Banyan Systems Inc., Digital Equipment Corp., Novell Inc. and Sun Microsystems Inc. can implement Windows 95-based client software for their server platforms with the same integration and performance capabilities as Microsoft-supplied client software. Microsoft is also planning to provide NDS functionality in the next release of Windows NT Workstation. The enhanced client software is available for download from Microsoft's world wide web site and commercial online services (listed below in "New Postings"). *********************************************************** 3. ON LINE EVENT FOR GAMES FOR WINDOWS 95 What do a haunted house, Darth Vader, a giant pool of ooze, scores of eye-popping Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 95- compatible games, and the first-ever Doom(TM) world championship Deathmatch tournament have in common? They will all be feature attractions at Microsoft's Judgment Day, the ultimate gaming event of the year happening Oct. 30 in an underground garage at the Microsoft Campus in Redmond, Wash. Learn why the PC game industry is moving to Windows 95 as the development platform of choice. You will have the opportunity to act as judge and jury for an overwhelming number of Windows 95 games as they are introduced LIVE on the virtual "main stage" at http://www.microsoft.com/windows Highlights of the event: * THE VRML Haunted House of the year with six hellish rooms hosted by Microsoft Consumer, ATI Technologies Inc., Activision Inc., id Software, LucasArts Entertainment Co., Mindscape and Zombie. * Highlights and scores from the first-ever DOOM World Championship Deathmatch Tournament. * Game companies making major product announcements for Windows 95 updated live online. * Online Tradeshow featuring the hottest hardware and software companies in the gaming industry. Experience "Judgment Day" Online -- if you dare! http://www.microsoft.com/windows *********************************************************** 4. GAME SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS KIT (SDK) RELEASED TO MANUFACTURING REDMOND, Wash - Microsoft Corp. today announced that the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 95 Game Software Developers Kit (SDK) has been finalized and released to manufacturing. The completion of the Game SDK is a major milestone in making Windows 95 a leading game platform. Major game companies are scheduled to release more than 30 Game SDK- based titles for Windows 95 this holiday season. The Windows 95 Game SDK is scheduled to ship to all Microsoft Developer Network Level II subscribers by Oct. 15, 1995. "The Windows 95 Game SDK and DirectX APIs enable developers to ship the high-performance, action-packed games that consumers demand." said Brad Silverberg, senior vice president at Microsoft. DirectX APIs Empower Developers The Windows 95 Game SDK contains tools, sample code, documentation and a game subsystem featuring the new DirectX game APIs. The DirectX APIs include the following technologies: --DirectDraw(TM) API, for high-performance display graphics and direct access to graphics-acceleration hardware. --DirectSound(TM) API, for high-fidelity, low-latency sound effects --DirectPlay(TM) API, for multiplayer connectivity --DirectInput(TM) API, for digital joystick control The DirectX game subsystem may be redistributed royalty- free by developers. Device support in the Game SDK now spans all display and audio devices supported in the retail package for Windows 95. More than 50 hardware and software companies are working closely with Microsoft to develop games and peripherals for Windows 95. "The Game SDK makes it possible for Mindscape to ship Windows 95-based titles this fall that look and perform as well as, or often better than, games we've created for MS-DOS and video-game consoles," said Bob Lloyd, chairman and chief executive officer of Mindscape Inc. "We are relying upon high-performance components such as DirectDraw and DirectPlay to remove the technical barriers that in the past have limited the creative process. We look forward to the compelling, exciting games that lie ahead." Extensive software and hardware testing preceded the release of the Game SDK. Thirty-one hardware companies and 10 software companies attended the Meltdown Plugfest, an intensive two-week testing event held in September in Seattle. The objective of the event was to test game software and hardware systems extensively that will be sold during the 1995 holiday season to help ensure the highest levels of performance and compatibility with Windows 95. Top Game Companies Plan Introductions for Oct. 30 Game-Industry Event Many leading software and hardware game companies, including Activision Inc., ATI Technologies Inc., id Software, LucasArts Entertainment Co., Mindscape and Zombie plan to announce and demonstrate new games and peripherals for Windows 95, several for the first time publicly, at a Halloween-theme event hosted by Microsoft on its Redmond, Wash., campus on Oct. 30. The Game SDK is scheduled to be delivered to more than 100,000 developers worldwide as a premium to Microsoft Developer Network Level II release, and it is scheduled to be available in mid-October. Developers interested in joining the Microsoft Developer Network membership can call (800) 759-5474 in the United States or Canada, or (303) 684-0914 outside North America, to obtain local contact information. THIS COMPLETE ANNOUNCEMENT CAN BE ACCESSED FROM THE ONLINE WINDOWS 95 FORUMS (listed below in "NEW POSTINGS"). Check under - News&Events/PressReleases/oct295.doc. *********************************************************** 5. GAMEBANK TO RELEASE WINDOWS 95 GAME SOFTWARE IN LATE NOVEMBER OR EARLY DECEMBER Gamebank and Activision Japan will team up to market game software that runs with the Japanese version of Windows 95 operating system. Gamebank will receive the license of game software developed by Activision. The company will manufacture, market, and provide customer support. Two software titles to be introduced at the same time as the Japanese version of Windows 95 are Activision's "Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure" and "Shanghai: Great Moments." Both games fully utilize the advanced capabilities of Windows 95 and offer playability similar to comparable titles on home TV game machines, primarily because users just pop in a CD-ROM to automatically start up the games. Both games were also introduced in the U.S. at the same time Windows 95 was released. In the first week, the two titles sold more than 1.5 million copies. Activision Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of Los Angeles- based Activision handles licensed marketing and development of game software. Gamebank is a joint venture between Softbank and Microsoft set up to import game software developed by domestic and overseas leading companies for Windows 95 and worldwide excellent TV game software titles for Windows 95 platform. The company plans to aggressively expand in the Japanese market as well as in markets in other countries. *********************************************************** 6. ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON WINDOWS 95 This regular feature of WinNews provides help on questions that are frequently asked to our Product Support team. A complete list of these questions can be found at Microsoft website at: http://www.microsoft.com/support/products/ windows95/windows95.htm. Q: What socket services do I need to use with my PCMCIA network adapter? To use a protected mode PCMCIA network card, your socket services must match your network card. If you use a real mode network card driver, you must use real mode socket services. If you use a protected mode net card driver, you must use protected mode socket services. To determine what kind of network card driver you're using, go to the Driver Type properties for your network adapter, in the Network Control Panel. Choose a driver type. To enable protected mode socket services, run the PCMCIA wizard from Control Panel. Q: How do I get my PCMCIA cards to work in protected mode? Double click the PCMCIA wizard and then follow the instructions on the screen. You may be asked to select your PCMCIA network or SCSI card during this process. After the wizard runs, you will no longer be loading the device drivers in your configuration files, and you will be running with protected mode drivers from within Windows 95. *********************************************************** 7. DESIGNED FOR WINDOWS 95 LOGOED SOFTWARE This is a list of software products that have earned the "Designed for Windows 95" Logo as of October 5, 1995. A frequently updated help-file of all logoed hardware and software products is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.microsoft.com/windows as well as the electronic services listed below in "NEW POSTINGS". To earn the Windows 95 Logo, software products must be 32-bit Windows-based applications which provide better multitasking and robustness in Windows 95. Applications with the Windows 95 Logo also feature the enhanced user interface of Windows 95, support long filenames, provide automated installation and uninstall capability. Many applications, support OLE component technology which provides better cross-application interoperability and efficiency through features such as OLE Drag and Drop. The Windows Logo is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp WINDOWS 95 LOGOED SOFTWARE 01/FAX for Windows 01 Communique Laboratory Inc. 3D Kitchen Books that Work 3D-Body Adventure Knowledge Adventure, Inc. 3D-Dinosaur Adventure Knowledge Adventure, Inc. ABC Graphics Suite MicroGrafx Action Pack I Activision Adaptec EZ-SCSI Adaptec, Inc. Add-A-BarCode/32 Wallace Computer Services Al Unser Jr. Arcade Racing Mindscape, Inc. All-Star Baseball Accolade Software Announcements for Windows Parsons Technology, Inc. Arcada Backup for Windows 95 Arcada Software AT&T Mail Driver for Mapi AT&T EasyLink Services Automatic Tour of the Internet Morris & Associates Baby Yaga and the Magic Geese Davidson & Associates Beat The House InterPlay Productions Buried in Time Sanctuary Woods, Inc. Calendar Creator Softkey International Cinemania 96 Microsoft Corporation Clarify Clarify CleanSweep 95 Quarterdeck Corporation Colorado Backup for Windows 95 Hewlett-Packard Company Comedy Classics Questar Service Corporation Complete NBA Basketball Guide '95-'96 Microsoft Corporation Coolsville Music Pen, Inc. Crayola Art Studio MicroGrafx Dashboard 95 Starfish Dentrix Dentrix Dental Systems DesignCAD 3D for Windows American Small Business Computers, Inc. Desktop Toys Desktop Toys Dicionario Basico Priberam Inform=E1tica, Lda. Dust: A Tale of the Wired West CyberFlix Incorporated EasyTutor Learn Windows 95 CRT Multimedia Ltd. Encarta '96 Microsoft Corporation Encarta '96 World Atlas Microsoft Corporation Endorfun Time Warner Interactive Group Entomorph: Plague of the Darkfall Strategic Simulations, Inc. Excel for Windows Microsoft Corporation Explorapedia- The World of Nature Microsoft Corporation FastTrack Schedule AEC Software, Inc. First Aid For Windows Users CyberMedia Fisher-Price ABC's Davidson & Associates FlowModel Arcland, Inc. Freddi Fish: Case of the Missing Kelp Seeds Humongous Entertainment, Inc. Fury3 Microsoft Corporation Fusion FTMS Proginet Corp. Harvard ChartXL Software Publishing Corporation Harvard Graphics Software Publishing Corporation HiJaak Inset Systems, Inc. HotFax Menu Smith Micro Software ImageStream(R) for Microsoft(R) Office ImageMark Software Labs, Inc. IntelliType Microsoft Corporation Janna Contact 95 Janna Systems Inc. Kid Desk Family Edition Edmark Corporation Living Book's Dr. Seuss ABC's Living Books, Inc. MAPS & DATA for Microsoft Office 95 MaconUSA Mario's Time Machine Deluxe! Mindscape, Inc. Math Munchers Deluxe Minnesota Educational Computing Corp. Micrografx Windows Draw MicroGrafx Microsoft Access for Windows 95 Microsoft Corporation Microsoft Bookshelf Microsoft Corporation Microsoft Dogs Microsoft Corporation Microsoft Golf Microsoft Corporation Microsoft Golf CD-ROM Microsoft Corporation Microsoft Office for Windows 95 Microsoft Corporation Microsoft Plus! Microsoft Corporation Microsoft Visual Basic Microsoft Corporation Microsoft Visual C++ Microsoft Corporation Microsoft Visual FoxPro Microsoft Corporation Microsoft Works Microsoft Corporation Midisoft Studio for Windows 95 Midisoft Corporation Milestone, Etc. KIDASA Software, Inc. Milestones Simplicity KIDASA Software, Inc. Modern Age Books Electronic Book Engine Modern Age Books Money Microsoft Corporation MTV's Beavis & Butt-head in Virtual Stupidity Viacom New Media MyAdvanced Brochures MySoftware Company Name-It Vertisoft Systems Navision Financials PC&C A/S NavTrek Nobeltec Corporation Netscape Navigator Netscape Communications Norton Anti-Virus for Windows 95 Symantec Norton Navigator Symantec Norton Utilities for Windows 95 Symantec NS/Elite NetSoft Oceans Microsoft Corporation Office Binder Microsoft Corporation OfficeBlox AlphaBlox Corporation Ltd. Oregon Trail II Minnesota Educational Computing Corp. Personal Tax Edge Parsons Technology, Inc. Personal Tax Edge Parsons Technology, Inc. Personal Tax Organizer Parsons Technology, Inc. Phone Search USA DeLorme Mapping PhoneDisc Digital Directory Assistance, Inc. Pitfall!: The Mayan Adventure Activision Pixel PRO Intergraph Corporation Popular Mechanics Car Guide Books that Work PowerAlbum Softkey International PowerPoint Microsoft Corporation Practitioner Life Care Development Corporation Pressure Drop Rocket Science Games, Inc. Pro CD ProPhone Pro CD Project Microsoft Corporation Publisher for Windows 95 Microsoft Corporation QmodemPro for Windows 95 Mustang Software, Inc. Quick View Plus Inso Corporation Rubicon 95 PC-Systemer Norge AS Sammy's Science House Edmark Corporation Schedule Plus Microsoft Corporation Shanghai: Great Moments Activision Sidekick 95 Starfish SimCity 2000 Maxis SimTown Maxis Smart Moves PHH Technology Services SmarTerm 32-Bit Edition for Windows 95 Persoft, Inc. SmartSketch 95 FutureWave Software, Inc. Street Atlas USA DeLorme Mapping Taxability Pro for Windows Digita International Limited The Family Doctor, 4th Edition Creative Multimedia Trancend Intergraph Corporation TriSpectives (Standard & Professional editions) 3D/EYE, Inc. TSR Screensaver US Gold Undersea Adventure Knowledge Adventure, Inc. VirusScan for Windows 95 McAfee Associates, Inc. Visio Visio Corporation Visual Compta DC2i Visual Smalltalk Enterprise Digitalk Visual SourceSafe Microsoft Corporation Widget Workshop Maxis WINLine MESONIC GmbH WinTutor 95 Softkey International Word for Windows Microsoft Corporation World of Flight Microsoft Corporation XoftWare/32 for WIN32 AGE Logic, Inc. *********************************************************** 8. NEW POSTINGS TO WINDOWS 95 WEB SITE AND FORUMS Technical Information and Support --------------------------------------------------- There is a new whitepaper posted - "Windows 95 Graphics Architecture". This document informs developers of the features, benefits, and delivery schedule for this rich and well-resourced development and authoring environment for creating the next generation of games and multimedia applications - "Whitepapers/Graphics.doc" INF Generator - This utility assists in preparing for automatic installation of Microsoft Windows 95 in the corporate networking environment. Users can specify separate settings for the company, the department, and the individual user when installing Windows 95 - "Other IS Tools/igread.txt" & "Other IS Tools/ig.exe" Free Software -------------------- "Service for NetWare Directory Services" provides enhanced NetWare client support that incorporates support for Novell NetWare 4.x Directory Services - "Windows 95 Updates/msnds.txt" & "Windows 95 Updates/msnds.exe" The "Windows 95 Shell Update" is now available - "Windows 95 Updates/shellupd.txt" & "Windows 95 Updates/shellupd.exe" & The newest beta of Internet Explorer for Windows 95 beta version 2.0 should be available on most online sites. This will be replaced with the final version of Internet Explorer 2.0 as soon as it's available. Instructions on downloading the beta - "Internet Explorer/msie20b1.txt" Downloading the beta - "Internet Explorer/msie20b1.exe" Windows 95 Compatible Products ------------------------------------------------- Updated "Designed for Windows 95 Products" Catalogue - "Logo_w31.txt" & "Logo_w31.exe" News & Events ---------------------- Clarifications - two new clarifications: Explanation of "Server Name Conflict Issue, Reported in PC Week on September 25, 1995" - "sapqa.doc" "Microsoft Windows 95 Registration Wizard - Updated October, 1995" - "r_screen.exe" "Additional information regarding PC Week web posting (October 5th) 'PC Week Labs unearths Windows 95 glitch'" - "pcwkweb.doc" Events - Windows 95 TrainCast. TrainCast is a series of educational and instructional training videos produced by Microsoft Television that uses product demos to cover different features of the Windows 95 operating system - "traincst.doc" YOU CAN FIND THE ARTICLES LISTED ABOVE, AND OTHER WINDOWS 95 INFORMATION: On the World Wide Web at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows On the Internet: ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/PerOpSys/Win_News On The Microsoft Network: Main Page(MSN Central)\Edit Menu\Go To\ Other Location\Windows On America OnLine: Use keyword WINNEWS On CompuServe: GO WINNEWS. On GEnie: MOVE TO PAGE 95 On Prodigy: JUMP WINNEWS. *********************************************************** This document is provided for informational purposes only. The information contained in this document represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of publication. Because Microsoft must respond to change in market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication. INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND FREEDOM FROM INFRINGEMENT. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document. This document may be copied and distributed subject to the following conditions: 1) All text must be copied without modification and all pages must be included; 2) All copies must contain Microsoft's copyright notice and any other notices provided therein; and 3) This document may not be distributed for profit.