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Go to Ziff Davis' web site and get InCtrl3.zip (In Control 3). It does most of what you're asking for, and it's free besides. From it's Readme file:
ABOUT InCtrl 3
InCtrl 3 lets you track system changes made by Windows95 and Windows
NT installation programs. It tracks file additions and deletions as well
as changes made to .INI files. In addition, it handles long filenames and
tracks
changes to the Registry. InCtrl3 is a 32-bit program and requires
Windows 95 or Windows NT.
I've been using it for a few months now, works great and has allowed
me to COMPLETELY remove those programs
I decided I didn't want to keep after installing. All in all,
a great little piece of work. Available from:
http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/pctech/content/15/13/ut1513.001.html
Check out http://www.winmag.com/library/1997/0101/01htpow.htm and download PWOne.Zip It will do some of what you're asking. The program is Freeware and also requires 32-bit Visual Basic 4.0 Runtime VB40032.ZIP (This zipfile contains 3 other files (MSVCRT40.DLL, OLEPRO32.DLL, and VB40032.DLL) and is available at various shareware sites including: http://winweb.winmag.com/software/wmfiles.htm#misc . Note, check your Windows\System folder first, these files may well be already on your computer.
Unfortunately, in my experience, this program does not work or prevent
a second instance of a program from opening when double clicking on a file
associated with the executable, only the shortcut to the executable which
you've altered as per PWOne's Readme file instructions. It does work
well for the shortcut however.
BTW, it's another useful utility from Karen Kenworthy, a programmer who also has a column in Windows magazine. Her homepage is: http://www.winmag.com/Karen
Lucky you checked this out before starting. Here's what to do:
Do a Find for Dosstart.bat, it is usually set up to load your CD drivers
in DOS, and is generally found in the Windows folder. My command
line to load the CD drivers reads: C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE /D:IDECD001
/M:12
Yours will most likely be different, though similar. Though the
MSCDEX.EXE is the same for all CD-Rom's,
the command parameters are different for each manufacturer (and model)
so everything after that will be specific to
your brand of CD-Rom. Then right click on Start, select Find,
and do a search for *.* containing (on the Advanced tab) .sys /D
It'll most likely be in your config.sys (if you have one). In mine
it reads:
DEVICEHIGH=A:\CPQIDECD.SYS /D:IDECD001
You'll need both an autoexec,bat and a config.sys each with it's proper
command line. It's a good idea to have setup,
(and have tested) a bootable emergency boot disk which loads the driver
(put the command in autoexec.bat). I also have mine set up to load
drivers allowing me to access my Iomega Zip Drive. FWIW, my emergency
disk contains:
ATTRIB.EXE
AUTOEXEC.BAT
ASPIPPM1.SYS (Needed by IOMEGA
Zip Drive)
CHKDSK.EXE
COMMAND.COM (also, of course, io.sys, drvspace.bin & msdos.sys,
it's a system formatted floppy)
CPQIDECD.SYS CD ROM Driver
ED.EXE
My favorite DOS ASCII Editor, select your own favorite
ED.HLP
help file for ED
ED.MRS
support file for ED
EMM386.EXE
EPSON.PRD
FDISK.EXE
FORMAT.COM
GENERIC.PRD printer driver
for ED
GUEST.EXE
(Needed by IOMEGA Zip Drive)
GUEST.INI
(Needed by IOMEGA Zip Drive)
HIMEM.SYS
MEM.EXE
MOUSE.EXE
MOUSEDRV.INI
MSCDEX.EXE
NIBBLE.ILM
(Needed by IOMEGA Zip Drive)
REGEDIT.EXE
SCANDISK.EXE
SCANDISK.INI
SMARTDRV.EXE
SYS.COM
XCOPY.EXE
XCOPY32.EXE
Autoexec.bat:
@ECHO OFF
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1
PROMPT $P$G
path=A:\;C:\;C:\windows;C:\windows\command;C:\windows\system;C:\PROGRA~1;
C: \PE;c:\OldProgs\fox;c:\oldprogs\newps
lh A:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:IDECD001 /M:12
A:\SMARTDRV
A:\MOUSE.exe
REM The following command loads drivers to allow recognition
of the Iomega Zip Drive
GUEST letter=G
Config.sys:
DEVICE=A:\HIMEM.SYS /TESTMEM:OFF
DEVICE=A:\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
DOS=HIGH,UMB,AUTO
DEVICEHIGH=A:\CPQIDECD.SYS /D:IDECD001
FILESHIGH=80
BUFFERSHIGH=40,4
FCBSHIGH=10
LASTDRIVE=M
This will allow me to boot in DOS, and then use my CD (and Zip Drive) to re-install Win95.
The icons are kept in a file named ShellIconCache in your Windows directory.
It could be going bad. Rename it as OldShellIconCache and reboot. A new
ShellIconCache will be created. If that stops the changes in your icons
you
can delete the old file. Also, I've found that Iomega Disk Icons,
which is what gives your Zip drive that cute little blue icon, is a flakey
program at best. On my 2 computers (a Dell Lattitude LM and a Compaq
Presario), running it caused numerous Explorer crashes. I can't begin
tell you how frustrating that is, but if you've experienced them, you know
what I mean. Took a long time to trace that problem down so I pass
it along here.
Check to see if the mute box is checked in your volume control on the system tray. If so, uncheck it. If not, double click on the speaker icon to open Volume Control (or go to Start, Programs, Accessories, Multimedia, Volume Control). Make sure the select boxes are checked for the items you want.
When you want to do this, simply right click on the Start button and select open. Double click on the Programs folder, then double click on the folder you want opened in a window.