Cleaning classic Windows

The following comments apply to Windows 3.1 and 3.11.

The best way to make Windows 3.1 (or 3.11) work better is to upgrade to modern Windows (Windows 95 or 98 or Me).

Microsoft tried hard to make Windows 95 fix all of Windows 3.1’s problems — and on the whole, Microsoft succeeded! Also, the newest versions of all popular programs require you to buy modern Windows. Internet access is faster, simpler, and more reliable if you buy modern Windows. Modern Windows is technically superior: it does a better job of handling multitasking (many tasks in the RAM simultaneously), new devices (it automatically detects any new hardware you buy), and repairs (it tries to automatically fix itself when anything goes wrong). Many Windows 3.1 headaches arise from incorrect CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files, but modern Windows doesn’t need those files at all!

To run well, modern Windows wants lots of RAM (16M for Windows 95, 32M for Windows 98’s first edition, 64M for Windows 98’s second edition, 128M for Windows Me). If you have enough RAM, the only disadvantage of modern Windows is that it takes longer to boot up and shut down. So if possible, upgrade to modern Windows.

If you refuse to upgrade (because you’re an old fuddy-duddy), the following tricks will make your old Windows run as well as possible. They’re similar to the tricks for making modern Windows run well. I’ll start with the tricks that are the simplest and most foolproof, then progress to the tricks that are more advanced and risky.

Close whatever is open Go to classic Windows’ main screen. Make sure the very top of the screen says “Program Manager” and no other windows or programs are open or running.

Here’s how:

If another window is open, close it by double-clicking its control box (the white horizontal bar in the window’s top left corner).

If a program is running, exit from it by choosing “Exit” from its File menu.

If the words “Program Manager” appear at the top of a window but not at the top of your screen, maximize the window by clicking the “