Contents of Windows 3.0 WININI.TXT

• Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0, 3.0a

SUMMARY

The following information is contained in the Microsoft Windows 3.0 WININI.TXT README file. The Windows Setup program copies this file to the Windows directory.

MORE INFORMATION

                     WININI.TXT Online Document
                     --------------------------

INTRODUCTION

WIN.INI is one of two Windows initialization files that are included with Windows. Windows initialization files contain information that defines your Windows environment. Windows and applications can use the information stored in these files to configure themselves to meet your needs and preferences.

There are two standard Windows initialization files:

* WIN.INI, which primarily contains settings that allow you to alter

  your Windows environment according to your preferences.

  customize Windows to meet your system's hardware needs.

For information on the SYSTEM.INI file, see the SYSINI.TXT file.

FORMAT

Windows initialization files have the following format:

   [section name]
   keyname=value

The keyname=value statement defines the value of each setting. A keyname is the name of a setting. It can consist of any combination of letters and digits, and must be followed immediately by an equal sign (=). A value is the setting's value. It can be an integer, a string, or a quoted string, depending on the setting.

HOW TO READ LISTINGS IN THIS DOCUMENT

In this document, WIN.INI settings are listed alphabetically within the sections that contain them. These sections are listed in the following order:

   [windows]
   [desktop]
   [extensions]
   [ports]
   [fonts]
   [colors]
   [intl]
   [PrinterPorts]
   [devices]

The syntax, purpose, and recommended method for changing each setting appears in the following format:

SettingName=<value-type>

Purpose:   This paragraph briefly describes the function of the setting
           and its default value (if applicable).

           the value of this setting.

CHANGING SETTINGS

Windows created the WIN.INI file when you installed Windows. All of the settings contained in these files were set to default values defined by Windows.

You may want to change one or more of these values in order to change the appearance or performance of Windows to suit your needs.

There are two ways to change WIN.INI settings:

* You can use Control Panel to change most settings.

* Use a text editor such as Notepad to directly edit the files.

Most settings in WIN.INI can be changed by using Control Panel. This method allows you to avoid opening these files as text files, where it is easier to make mistakes.

For more information on Control Panel, see Chapter 5, "Control Panel," in the User's Guide.

Some changes cannot be made using Control Panel. For these changes, you must open the WIN.INI file and edit it using a text editor, such as Notepad. For more information on how to use Notepad, see Chapter 10, "Additional Accessories," in the User's Guide.

CAUTION: You should use care when making changes to your WIN.INI file using a text editor. Incorrect changes to WIN.INI can lead to unexpected results when you run Windows. The listings in this document indicate which settings can be changed using Control Panel. Use this method whenever possible.

UPDATING WIN.INI FROM PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF WINDOWS

If you update your system to Windows Version 3.00 from Windows Versions 2.x, Setup will automatically update your WIN.INI file by making the following changes:

In the [windows] section, Setup will add one setting

   Documents=

   Device=

   pcx=pbrush.exe ^.pcx
   rec=recorder.exe ^.rec

All other sections are left unchanged.

If you are updating to Windows Version 3.00 from Windows Versions 1.x, your WIN.INI file will not be automatically updated.

WHAT IS IN WIN.INI?

The settings in the WIN.INI file allow you to personalize your Windows environment. WIN.INI contains several sections, each of which consists of a group of related settings. Your WIN.INI file may not have all of these sections, or it might have additional sections. This depends on your system's hardware and software requirements. The following sections can appear in WIN.INI:

This Section               Does This
------------               ---------

[windows]                  Affects an assortment of elements in your
                           Windows environment.

[desktop]                  Controls the appearance of the screen
                           background (desktop) and the positioning of
                           windows and icons.

[extensions]               Associates specified types of files with
                           corresponding applications.

[ports]                    Lists all available communications ports.

[fonts]                    Describes the font files that are loaded by
                           Windows.

[colors]                   Defines colors for parts of the Windows
                           display.

[intl]                     Describes how to display items for
                           countries other than the United States.

[PrinterPorts]             Lists active and inactive output devices
                           that can be accessed by Windows.

[devices]                  Lists active output devices that can be
                           accessed by Windows.