A handy tool that comes with Windows 95 is the Quick View application. Quick View is one of the CD-Extras, so if you don't have the CD-ROM version of Windows 95, CLICK HERE to download it now. By right-clicking on some files, you'll see an option called Quick View, that will allow you to view the contents of a file without opening the application. The problem is that this doesn't work with just any file. To get your favorite files to work with the Quick Viewer, follow these steps:

Solution #1:

Run the Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE). Open My Computer\ HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.

Look for a key that lists the extension you need [e.g. - Paint.Picture, which are .BMP files] - if it isn't there, add it (select New, Key from the Edit menu).

Under this key, add a new key named "QuickView."

Set the value of the "(Default)" value to "*" and close the Registry Editor.

This should work for all files with extensions, except (for some reason) for PCX files.

Solution #2:

Double-click on the My Computer icon, and choose 'Options' from the View menu.

Click on 'File Types', and choose a file type or extension from the list.

Click 'Edit', turn on the 'Enable Quick View' option, and press OK.

If the file you want to add to Quick View is not listed, press 'New Type' to add the extension of the desired file to the list.

You'll have to do this for every file you want to use with Quick View.

-Note that Quick View may not have a filter for every file you view, but sometimes viewing the raw data is better than nothing at all.

WARNING!! This is a REGISTRY HACK! And as such, you MUST FIRST make a backup of your Registry so that you can recover from any mistakes you might make. The Registry is a very unforgiving place if you don't know EXACTLY what you are doing. An incorrect Registry entry can render your entire system INOPERABLE. DO NOT attempt to change Registry settings without a Backup. Don't say we didn't warn you...

The Configuration Backup Utility is one of the CD-Extras, so if you don't have the CD-ROM version of Windows 95, CLICK HERE to download it now.