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See also: Before You Install, Troubleshooters, Setup.txt, Tips, Installing, Win98 Setup, Connect speed

Newsgroup Help -- Useful tips from newsgroup discussions, Dr Suess Manual

The following five sections are a guide we use to maintaining nine PCs with Windows 98 between work and home. Three PCs have been rebuilt with new motherboards and two have started a new life with new hard disks. Many of the items below have been discussed on newsgroups referenced in the previous section.

If the hard disk has only drive C, defragment the drive, then install Partition Magic so you can create a second partition. Then create logical drives D, E, F, and G in the second partition. Keep only Windows on C, data on D, other programs on E, caches on F, and backup on G.

Regular Maintenance

1. Delete the contents of the /TEMP folder (except for today's files).
2. Run Scandisk regularly (should be programmed in Task Scheduler).
3. Run Defrag regularly.
4. Run RegClean (CNET), also here.
5. Delete Temporarily Internet Files in Internet Explorer.
   (Internet Explorer keeps copies of every web site visited including all graphics.)
   • Click Tools and pick Internet Options.
   • Click General Tab, Temporarily Internet Files, click Delete Files.
   • Click OK twice.
   • To do this automatically, click Tools and pick Internet Options. Click Advanced tab and near the bottom in the Security section, click Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed.
6. Run the System Configuration Utility (C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSCONFIG.EXE) and disable unneeded programs in Startup tab by removing the check mark. Click Start, Run, and type msconfig.
7. Compact folders in Outlook Express. Close OE and delete Folders.dbx when large.
   • Click File menu, pick Folder then Compact All Folders (may take awhile).
   • Close Outlook Express and use Explorer to find the Outlook Express folders.
   • Check the size of the folder named Folders.dbx.
   • Delete Folders.dbx if it is over 1 MB. It will be recreated next time.
8. Check and trim Task Scheduler log.
   • Open Task Scheduler.
   • Pick Advanced then Stop Using Task Scheduler.
   • Pick Advanced then View Log to see that recent tasks have competed OK.
   • If log has wrapped around, delete any entries beyond
     ***** Most recent entry is above this line *****
   • Pick Advanced then Start Using Task Scheduler.
9. Trim application log at C:\WINDOWS\Applog to just a few weeks. Remove any programs you don't use frequently.
10. Back up the following
    • C:\ Autoexec.bat and Config.sys
    • C:\Windows ini files and the folders: Desktop, Favorites\Links, Inf, SendTo, and Start Menu
    • C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
11. Check for huge files named ~XXXX.tmp and *.tmp and delete them.
12. Check for duplicate DLLs: Right-click C:\Windows and pick Find, then sort by Name. Leave any duplicates in C:\WINDOWS\SYSBCKUP.
13. Run Boot Log Analyzer Bla.Exe. See Microsoft support for more information. Check here for how to get a new log each restart.
14. Compact the registry
    • Check the sizes of User.dat and System.dat at C:\Windows (sort by Modified)
    • Restart in DOS Mode (Start, Shutdown, Restart in MS-DOS Mode)
    • Give command scanreg /opt
    • Type exit to return to Win98
    • Check sizes of User.dat and System.dat again; they should be smaller
15. Run WinTop to see what is taking too much CPU computer time.

Replace or Clean Off Hard Disk You can make a Win98 startup disk with fat32ebd.exe located on the Win98 CD at Tools\Mtsutil\Fat32EBD. Read FAT32EBD.TXT for directions.

Custom Concepts Crockett's method Boot disk Disk jumpers (KB) Duplicating Hard Disk (KB)

Drive C replace -- Local GTIS Boot Disk Hildrum's Drive Update Install Win98 clean, Local Install Win98 clean, Microsoft

Leo Laporte's Tips, (KB) Nathan Ashworth OSR2 upgrade 2

Clean install of Windows 98

See Clean Win98 Installation for more detailed instructions.

1. Make a Win98 startup disk. From the CD, run tools\mtsutil\fat32ebd\fat32ebd.exe from the CD.
2. Check that the boot floppy works and that you can access the CD ROM drive.
3. Fdisk the hard drive. Create a primary for C and a secondary for the others.
4. Create logical partitions in the secondary partition.
5. Reboot the computer.
6. Format the hard drive with the /s option.
7. Format the other partitions. We use C for windows, D for data, E for other programs, F for cache, and G for backup.
8. Change to the C: drive.
9. Copy Setup.exe from the root of the CD ROM to the root of drive F.
10. Change to drive F, make a folder named Win98, and change to that folder.
11. Go to the CD and change to the folder named win98.
12. Go back to F:\Win98
13. Copy the files from the Win98 folder of the CD to the hard drive with Copy I:*.* . /B.
14. Put the Win95 CD in the drive so the Win98 installation program can verify the upgrade.
15. Run the Setup.exe file from F to start the installation.
16. Have floppy handy for Startup disk.

Upgrading to Windows 98

1. Check that Outlook Express is set to Leave a copy of messages on server:
   Tools, Accounts, Mail, Properties, Advanced, Delivery
2. Check for 200 to 300 Mb of free space on drive C.
3. Back up the following
   • C:\ Autoexec.bat and Config.sys
   • C:\Windows ini files and the folders: Desktop, Favorites\Links, Inf, SendTo, and Start Menu
   • C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
4. Disable screen saver.
5. Run Control Panel, Power Management, Turn off monitor and hard disks, never.
6. Delete files in the Temp directory.
7. Clear the browser cache.
8. Run Scandisk and Defrag.
9. Empty the Recycle Bin.
10. Run Regclean.
11. Get a 1.44 Mb floppy disk for a start-up disk.
12. From Explorer, copy the files from the \Win98 folder of the CD to the hard drive. You don't need the folders in Win98.
13. Change the registry to point to the \Win98 folder at

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE,Software,Microsoft,Windows,CurrentVersion,Setup,SourcePath

14. Disable antivirus on startup.
15. Make a folder C:\WINDOWS\Start Menu\Programs\StartUpOld and move all shortcuts there from C:\WINDOWS\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp.
16. Uninstall IE5 if upgrading to Win98SE.
17. Close all running programs except Windows Explorer.
18. Press Ctrl-Alt-Del and close any remaining running programs except Systray and two Explorers.
19. Double-click the file \Win98\setup.exe on the hard disk to start the installation.
20. Have a floppy ready to make a startup disk.

After installing Windows 98

1. Run C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSCONFIG.EXE, General, Advanced, Disable fast shutdown. Put a shortcut to it in the Tool folder.
   Win98 frequently has shut-down problems caused by many things. Fast shutdown can be one of them. (See Win98.htm for more shortcuts.)
2. Right-click My Computer and pick Properties
   • Pick Device Manager and look for ! with yellow background indicating a hardware problem.
   • Pick Performance, File System, Floppy Disk and under Settings, uncheck Search for new floppy disk.
3. Check video settings
   • Right-click desktop and pick Properties
   • Pick Settings tab and set Colors and Screen area (e.g., High Color (16 bit) and 800 by 600 pixels)
   • Pick Effects tab and check Show icons using, Animate windows, and Smooth edges of screen fonts
   • Pick Background tab and select Wallpaper
4. In Windows Explorer
   • From View menu pick Folder Options
   • On General tab set Custom
   • On View tab
     • Put check mark for Display the full path
     • Remove check mark for Hide file ext
     • For Hidden files, mark Show all files
5. Make a separate Temp folder on, say drive F, put the following lines in Autoexec.bat, and then shut down and restart the computer

        set temp=f:\temp
        set tmp=f:\temp

6. Set File System Properties
   • Right click My Computer and pick Properties, Performance
   • Click File System
   • Hard Disk tab, change Typical role to Network server
   • Floppy Disk tab, uncheck Search for new floppy disk
   • Click OK
7. Move virtual memory to another drive
   • Right click My Computer and pick Properties, Performance
   • Click Virtual Memory
   • Click Let me specify my
   • Change Hard disk to say G and set Minimum 120 if possible
   • Click OK and ignore dire warning
8. Get new TweakUI from Win98 CD
   • Copy new TweakUI files from Win98 CD at \tools\reskit\powertoy to hard disk.
   • Uninstall previous version.
   • Right-click new tweakui.inf to install.
   • In TweakUI, click on Explorer tab and remove check mark from Prefix "Shortcut to" on new shortcuts.
9. Make an Explorer shortcut on the Quick-Launch bar
   • Find Explorer.exe in C:\Windows
   • Right drag to the desktop and make a shortcut
   • Right-click new icon and pick Properties
   • In the Target box C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE add /e, d:\ so it reads

     C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE /e, d:\

     Then Explorer will start with Drive D open.
   • Right-drag the icon to the Quick-Launch bar and pick move.
10. Set Outlook Express coding to UTF-7
    • Pick Tools menu, click Options
    • Pick Send tab
    • Click International Settings
    • Pick Unicode (UTF-7)
11. Install PC-Pine
    • Create a directory name PCPine
    • Create a subdirectory called Pine
    • In the PineCreate subdirectory create a blank file named pine.pwd
    • Download the file pine4xx.zip into the PCPine directory and unzip it there
    • Right-drag the file pine.exe and create a shortcut on the quick-launch bar
    • Check that the shortcut shows PCPine\pine.exe -i so it starts at the inbox
12. Install the Powertoys Sendtox, Doshere, Clock
13. Make Fast Shutdown icon on desktop with C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE user.exe,exitwindows
14. Set system sounds
    • Start menu, Settings, Control Panel,double-click Sounds
    • Asterisk=Toot, Critical Stop=Oh-oh, Default sound=Ding, Exclamation=Chord, Question=Kids
    • Windows Explorer, Start Navigation=Crick
    • If no sound from volume-control icon on tray, see
15. Set up network connection or install dial-up software (NM Tech).
16. Check mouse driver version by right-clicking background and picking About. Download latest driver
17. Set mouse controls
    • Start menu, Settings, Control Panel,double-click Mouse
    • On StepSavers tab, click SnapTo and SmartSpeed
    • On Pointers tab, set Scheme to Animated Hourglasses and and install animated vertical, horizontal, and diagonal icons
    • To use larger cursor arrow, choose Arrow_l.cur
    • On Basic tab, adjust speed and double-click
    • On Visibility tab, check Display pointer trails and set length
18. Register with Microsoft (HKLM,Software,Microsoft,Windows,CurrentVersion,RegDone).
19. Download version 4.1a build 7364.1 of RegClean, install, and run it, also here.
20. Upgrade to latest version of DirectX. Also get the Control Panel Icon Directx.cpl if needed and put it into C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.
21. Update Windows 98
22. Install MSIE Power Toys
23. Check video screen for out of round and resolution
24. Move OE folders to D:\Outlook Express with Tools, Options, Maintenance, Store Folder, Change
25. Make folder f:\IECache and set MSIE cache to there from Tools, Internet Options
26. Install About Time to automatically set clock, also here
27. Install FreeZip, (also here). This program zips and unzips from the right-click menu.
28. Install Adobe Acrobat PDF reader
29. Install Quicktime viewer
30. Install Shockwave
31. Run Wintune Win95
32. Set up Task Scheduler for Scandisk and Defrag
33. Add an Edit Button to MSIE
    You can add an Edit button on the MSIE tool bar to easily edit the current web page.
    • From Windows Explorer (not MSIE) pick the View menu and select Folder Options
    • Pick the File Types tab
    • Scroll the Registered file type list down and pick HTML Document or Internet Document (HTM HTML)
    • Click the Edit button
    • In the Edit File Type dialog box, under Actions:, look for the word edit
    • If edit is not present in the Actions: box, click the New button
    • Click the Action box and type the word edit
    • Click the Application used to box
    • Click Browse and find your editor with the Open With dialog box
    • Click the Open button
    • Add "%1" to the end of the path and filename
    • Click the Close button
    • Click the OK button in the New Action dialog box
    • Click the Close button in the Edit File Type dialog box
    • Click the Close button in the Folder Options
    • Now and edit button will appear in you MSIE tool bar
34. Run C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSCONFIG.EXE, pick Startup tab, and disable unwanted programs in Startup by removing the check mark (e.g. AOL Instant Messenger).
35. Run Scandisk and Defrag
36. Make new copy of Bootlog.txt by restarting while holding F8 or the Ctrl key. Pick item 2. Then, look at the file in C:\Bootlog.txt for the word fail. The program Bla.exe displays the bootlog.
37. Run Control Panel, Power Management, set Turn off monitor to After 25 mins.
38. Install extra fonts
39. To Install Japanese language IME
    • Go to Microsoft IME site
    • Select Microsoft Global IME 5.02 for Japanese - with Language Pack
    • Save file to say, Ftp folder
    • Double-click file to install Japanese IME
    • To write Japanese characters, click the EN icon in the system tray and pick Japanese IME
    • Click the letter A to get a menu so you can choose hiragana or katakana
    • Go to Microsoft IME for more information
40. Go to ShieldsUP and run both Test My Shields and Probe My Ports.
41. Change icons of shortcuts by right-clicking and picking Properties, Change Icon
    E.g. a telephone icon is in C:\WINDOWS\PROGMAN.EXE. Icons are available at:
    • C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\COOL.DLL
    • C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SHELL32.DLL
    • C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\USER.EXE
    • C:\WINDOWS\MORICONS.DLL
    • C:\WINDOWS\PROGMAN.EXE
    • C:\WINDOWS\WELCOME.EXE
    • C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\url.dll (MSIE icon for htm)
42. Speed up Ethernet connections
    Default is for dialup so change registry for larger TCP receive window. This change can increase the speed by 50%.
    See also Speedguide.net.
    • Start RegEdit.
    • Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Current ControlSet\Services\VxD\MSTCP
    • Right-click this key and highlight New.
    • Move right for a new menu and pick DWORD Value.
    • Right-click and rename the new key DefaultRcvWindow
    • Double-click the key name and select decimal
    • Change the value to 32767
    • Close RegEdit.

Windows Update

1. Go to Windows Update to get the latest versions of critical updates.
2. For Win98 don't upgrade to MSIE 6. It causes problems. Seems to be OK for second edition though.
3. If update won't continue because of missing windows scripting host, download scr56en.exe and run it. (I renamed this to WinScriptHost.exe.)

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