PC Hardware —

Configuring the CONTROL.INI File

All sections in the CONTROL.INI file can be changed from the Control Panel. This is the recommended method. The following are the sections in the CONTROL.INI file:

  • [Current]: The current color scheme.

  • [Color schemes]: Descriptions of color schemes.

  • [Patterns]: Descriptions of the desktop patterns.

  • [Installed]: Installed device drivers.

  • [Screen Saver]: The current password used by the active screen saver (encrypted).

  • [Screen Saver.xxxxx]: Individual screen saver settings.

  • [Don't load]: This setting can be used to exclude items that are displayed in the Control Panel. List the name of the section to be excluded followed by "=1".

For example, you might want to edit the CONTROL.INI file directly if the screen-saver password has been forgotten. The screen-saver password can be removed by changing the following:

 [Screen Saver.Screen Save Name]   PWProtected=1
	(change to =0 to remove password protection)
	
 [ScreenSaver]   Password=139xhfn9
	(encrypted password - delete to remove password)

Configuring the PROGMAN.INI File

This file controls the settings for the Program Manager Group files. Adding a section to PROGMAN.INI called [Restrictions] will add some protection for the group files. If these statement are not present, the value is assumed to be the default of 0, which means that the opposite of the statement will happen. The commands and syntax are:

  • NoRun=1: Disables the File Run command.

  • NoClose=1: Prevents the user from exiting Windows.

  • NoSaveSetting=1: Prevents the Program Manager layout from being saved on exit.

  • NoFileMenu=1: Removes the File menu from the Program Manager.

  • EditLevel=x: From 0, the default, to 4, establishes higher levels of restrictions.

NOTE
Setting attributes as "read-only" can protect individual groups. To do this, locate the .GRP file in the File Manager, select File, next select Properties, and then check the Read Only check box.

Using Sysedit

Windows provides a program for editing the system files (AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS, WIN.INI, SYSTEM.INI). This program resides in the Windows directory and is called Sysedit. Windows does not provide an icon for this program in the standard setup. However, if no icon exists, Sysedit can be run by selecting File and then Run from the Program Manager, and then typing Sysedit and pressing ENTER. If an icon does not exist, it can be created by selecting New from the File menu in the Program Manager.