Windows Desktop Shortcuts
This Tutorial is for all versions of Windows 9x.
We've all seen how new programs after being installed, have added all kinds of Shortcuts. On the Desktop, in the Start Menu, and most of them are just useless. There are also long Shortcuts that require a lot of clicks or Mouse movement to reach them. So here are some Shortcuts that are actually useful and will make Windows, just that "little bit" more pleasant to use.
Our first Shortcut is going to be for Shutting down Windows. This will be faster than clicking: Start > Shut Down > Shut down > OK.
Getting Ready To Start
Close all open Programs and close or minimize all open Windows.
Fast Minimize Tip:
On your Keyboard, hold down the Windows key and press the "M" key.
Now how many little pictures do you see? Those little pictures are called Icons, and they are on the Desktop. They are not Programs, and deleting them only deletes the Icon, not the Program itself. Icons are a graphical Shortcut with the information tucked inside.
Now some of those Icons (such as My Computer, Recycle Bin, etc.) can not or should not, be deleted. For this Tutorial, we are going to focus on Shortcuts that you can create and save on the Desktop for easy access.
Making Your First Shortcut
Right-click anywhere there is free space on the Desktop and you get what's called a "Popup Menu." with various options. Scroll down this Menu to New, then choose Shortcut from the selections.
A Dialog Box will appear and there is a blank line with the words "Command line" right above it. The blank line is where you enter the information for which program or Windows command, you want the Shortcut to link to.
Type the following or use Copy & Paste, into the blank line in the Dialog Box - must be exactly as shown:
C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE user.exe,exitwindows
then click on the Next button.
Name That Icon
You now get to give your new Shortcut a name. Just ignore that it says "RUNDLL.EXE" as you can type right over that. Use the "Delete or Backspace" key to get rid of it, if it doesn't go away. Be nice to have a Delete key for real life, wouldn't it? We would probably abuse it though, and deleting everyone we didn't like would soon leave very few people on the face of the planet. But I digress. 
Since this is a Shortcut for shutting down Windows, let's call it "Shutdown" and keep it simple.
After typing in "Shutdown" (without the quotes), click the Finish button and that's it!
Now when you click on this Shortcut, Windows 9x will do a proper shutdown. Any programs you have open, should now close properly and give you the opportunity to save unfinished work. That is, if the open program itself has that option—which most do.
I know for some this is nothing new and yet for some, it is an accomplishment that they can and should, feel good about. So go ahead, bask in your brilliance and toast the occasion.
Are You Really Finished?
If you are happy with the name "Shutdown" and an Icon that is the Windows logo, then Yes, you are done.
On page 2 of this Tutorial, there is more information for creating other types of Shortcuts.
For those of you that want more selection in your Desktop Icons, let us continue with this Tutorial a little further.
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