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  Version Conflicts

This is probably one of the most common and overlooked problems when running Windows 98.  The possibility that a file has been corrupted or a version of a file was incorrectly overwritten during installation of a program, is not the first thought that pops into people's minds.  Now don't panic; Windows 98 is prepared to handle such a problem should it occur.  The utility you will use is called the System File Checker and it's worth its weight in gold.

- Simply go to Start >> Run and type sfc (sfc.exe ); this will bring up the SFC box.
- Press the Setting Tab and check the Box "Check for Changed Files" and "Check for Deleted File," and click "OK".
- On the main page, click "Scan For Altered Files" and click Start.

Windows 98 looks for the altered files and if it finds any you will be prompted to replace the file from the Windows 98 CD (so have it handy).  After the scan has completed you may or may not be prompted to reboot (depending on the file replaced), but be prepared just in case.

 

This is probably one of the most overlooked free support that's available on the web today.  News Groups are a valuable, if not necessary, addition to your troubleshooting knowledge base.  News Groups provide a wealth of information regarding specific topics, and should be looked at and read before you give up all hope and try to contact tech support.

Here are a few of the really good ones:

    - microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
    - microsoft.public.win98.apps
    - microsoft.public.win98.fat32
    - microsoft.public.win98.internet_browser
    - microsoft.public.win98.win98.setup
    - microsoft.public.win98.comm.modem
    - microsoft.public.win98.display.general

 

Double-clicking on Windows 95's My Computer icon brings up a mishmash of drives, printers, and the Control Panel.  Wouldn't it be nice if double-clicking on My Computer brought up something useful - like Windows Explorer?  That's easy to change. 

Windows 95/98:  Navigate in the Registry to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20d04fe0-3aea-1069-a2d8-08002b30309d}\Shell

Right-click and choose New, Key. Type in open and press Enter. Right-click on "Open", choose New, Key. Type in command and press Enter. Double-click on "Default", type in

explorer /e, c:\windows

and press Enter.

Windows NT:  Navigate in the Registry to the same \Shell key. Click on Edit, Add Key, type in open and press Enter. Click on Open, Edit, Add Key, type in command and press Enter. Click on Command, Edit, Add Value, OK, then type in

explorer /e, c:\winnt

and click Enter. Now you'll find files in seconds.

 

A friend had bought a large hard disk that was already set up with Win98 and set to fat32. It also had Win98 setup cab files in a sub folder, which, if a person has room for it, is the way to go. You are never prompted to insert the Win98 CD, the system will just run from where it was installed. In this case it was c:\win98. This will be the area where Win98 looks; it knows where the setup was performed and can be changed at anytime.

Another thing that can be changed, is a user name. This is useful whenever installing any new software and avoid filling in the information with a name and organization.

Both of these items are in the registry in the same location. To run 'regedit' click Start >> Run, type regedit. Than navigate to

HKEY_Local_Machine/software/Microsoft/windows/current version

Click on the folder to open it, then click on the right side of the split window so you can scroll down. In this area you will see the three areas you may want to change. They are:

1. Registered Organization
2. Registered Owner
3. Product Key

Double-click on the label and it will bring up the data information, which will be highlighted and you can type in your changes for each one.

If you are skeptical about doing this because you might want to change it back, all you have to do is this:

When CurrentVersion is selected, click on the menu on Registry and then export. Choose Key and it will let you give the file a name. It will add reg as the 3-letter extension (file type). To restore this key after you change it, all you need to do is double-click on the file you exported and named; or right-click and choose Merge; or run Regedit and Import from the file menu and navigate to the file you exported, i.e., CurrentVersionKey.reg. You can also just export the whole HKLM (Hkey_Local_Machine) branch, or for that matter the whole registry with this method.

 

This entire article is posted here, because this is probably one of the best DUN methods you'll come across. The DUN can be faster and much more responsive. Try this method only if you are comfortable with editing the registry. After you have completed it, download FastNet99 to run with this change (Note: This file can no longer be found.). Read the FastNet Readme to find out more about it after you have installed it. Not recommended NT systems.

Also, there are a few settings you can change to get the fastest possible Internet connection under Windows 98, using the TCP/IP protocol (Dial-Up Networking) and your ISP (Internet Service Provider):

1. Run Control Panel >> Network >> Dial-Up Adapter >> Advanced >> IP Packet Size. Change the IP Packet Size from "Automatic" (Win98's default: dynamically adjusts the MTU setting depending on connection type) to "Small" (MTU fixed at 576, ideal for TCP/IP Internet connections).
   
   MTU = Maximum Transmission Unit (IP packet size in bytes).
   
   Make sure the "Client for Microsoft Networks" item is present on your Network applet list (install it if necessary), to enable the saving of your ISP logon password!
2. Uncheck the "Log on to Network" box in Dial-Up Networking >> Server Types.
   
   This will affect only your login time. Be aware that in certain cases it is necessary to leave this box checked!
3. Start Regedit, and go to (default Win98 Registry key):

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Net\0000

   Make sure you modify these values only under the Net keys that display:

   "DriverDesc"="Dial-Up Adapter"

   or:

   "DriverDesc"="AOL Adapter"

   in the right-hand pane!

   1. In the right-hand pane, double-click the "SLOWNET" hex value, and change its number from 01 to 00.
      
      This won’t dramatically increase your transfers but will reduce timeouts.
      
      
   2. Change the "IPMTU" string to read 576.
      
      Win98's default is 0, corresponding to the "Automatic" IP Packet Size setting: Control Panel >> Network applet >> Dial-Up Adapter >> Advanced >> IP Packet Size (see above).

   Various Win98 TCP/IP configurations may contain the "SLOWNET" and "IPMTU" values under different Registry subkeys.  Double-click on the "Net" key (see above) to view all its subkeys.  Substitute the "00nn" key below with the appropriate integer number(s) present on your machine (valid values for nn: from 0 to 50):

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Net\00nn

   Then track down all "SLOWNET" and "IPMTU" instances and modify them as described above.

4. Run Regedit and go to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Net\0000\Ndi\params\IPMTU

   The same "00nn" >> "0000", "0001" ... etc., substitution principle (see above) applies here.
   
   Change the "default" string found in the right hand pane from 0 (Win98's default "Automatic" setting) to 576, Win98's "Small" setting: Control Panel >> Network applet >> Dial-Up Adapter >> Advanced >> IP Packet Size (see above).

Restart Windows 98 when done so all changes can take effect.

 

Windows 98 is not compatible with RegClean 4.01 but it is compatible with RegClean 4.01a.

You can also run the new Registry Checker built into Windows 98; go to:

START\PROGRAMS\ACCESSORIES\SYSTEM TOOLS\SYSTEM INFORMATION

and run it. Choose the Tools tab, then Registry Checker. This beauty will scan your registry for errors and also perform a registry back up if you want. (Looks like a form of RegClean came built in.)

However, you can also download RegClean 4.01a:

ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/MSLFILES/regclean.exe

and run it. Please read the FAQ above and make sure you take the proper precautions before you run RegClean. This version is listed by MS as one that works with Windows 98. (Note: The link is no longer valid.)

If you prefer to use ScanReg included with Windows 98, exit Windows to DOS, and run SCANREG /FIX and then SCANREG /OPT. It will do what Regclean does and then compacts the Registry.

 

Follow these steps exactly as they are shown and you should be fine:

At the DOS prompt type:

- attrib -h -s -r system.*
- copy system.dat system.bak
- copy system.da0 system.dat
- attrib -h -s -r user.*
- copy user.dat user.bak
- copy user.da0 user.dat
- attrib +h +r +s system.*
- attrib +h +r +s user.*

This will successfully restore your registry. You may need to reinstall some of your applications but this will get you up and running in a jam.

 

For you who need a new tweak, see what you think. The tweak is with the PCI steering settings which may help the system seem to more stable and hopefully, avoid having conflict errors. If you want to give it a try, here's how:

Open Control Panel\System\Device Manager, then path to System Devices\PCI Bus and then double click it. Tab to IRQ Steering and uncheck everything except for the box that says, "Get IRQ table using MS Specification table." This will force the OS to use just the MS steering table and not the others.

To give you a little history on why this is so, the PCI Bus steering table is read in order, meaning if the first box is checked and a steering table is found, then that is the steering table it will use. If it's unchecked, then the next field is looked at and used if a steering table is found, and so on. By allowing only one table to be checked, this allows the MS table to be the only one in use and from indications, this seems to be what Win98 wants in the first place.

Remember, this is for advanced tweakers only.

 

Did you know that yet another bug in Win98 seems to have appeared? If you are trying to get better performance out of your hard drive and have checked the UDMA box under Control Panel >> System >> Device Manager and don't see a real difference then you need to give this a try.

This is for advanced users. Make sure you back up the Mshdc.inf file just in case something goes wrong. Follow these instructions to the letter and just to make sure you are getting a speed increase you might want to run your favorite diagnostic program first and then after you perform this step. You should see a difference.

The file you are going to edit is the Mshdc.inf file in \windows\inf.  Look for a couple of entries under the [ESDI_Addreg].

HKR,,IDEDMADrive0,3,01
HKR,,IDEDMADrive1,3,01

If you don't see them then add them exactly as here. Now, save the file and head on over to Control Panel >> System >> Device Manager and remove the IDE devices. Reboot when prompted.

After the reboot Windows 98 will find new hardware and request the drivers. Point it to the

C:\Windows\System

folder. It should find the Mshdc.inf file and install the drivers it already has on the system. Now, run your hardware utility and see if you get a nice speed increase. You can also run defrag and then try it again. You should notice a good jump in speed from the defragged the drive.

 

If you really want to customize your Windows 98 OS then try this. Run Regedit from the Run Command, Path to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Window Title

If you go to this Registry Key, you can change the "Microsoft Internet Explorer" which appears on the IE Title Bar after the site name to read anything you type in there. If Window Title isn't there, just add it and give it any value you want.

Then close Regedit, start up IE, and Voila! Your own personalized title bar name!

 DUN Password Box Grayed Out

If you are trying to get DUN to remember your password and you find the option grayed out there are a few things you can try.

- Make sure you have Client for Microsoft Networks installed on your system. Control Panel >> Networking >> Add >> Client >> Microsoft >> Microsoft Networking.
- Your Windows startup is configured to ask for a password and you are hitting the esc key when the logon box is displayed.
- You have a corrupted password file.  Do a search for *.pwl in the Windows folder and rename all the files you find.  Note:  This will force you to rebuild your password files from scratch.
- Edit the Registry:

Run the Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE)
- Open:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Network\ Real Mode Net

- If you see autologon (on the right side) with a value of 00, double-click it, and replace the value with:

01 00 00 00 00

- You'll have to restart Windows for this change to take effect.

 

Setting the monitor refresh rates in the registry is a simple and painless process.

- Open Regedit and path to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Display\0000\DEFAULT

- Right-click in the right pane and choose New, String Value and enter the name RefreshRate
- Double-click the new String Value and enter -1 for automatic refresh rate or a number for a specific value.
- Click OK, close the registry editor and restart the computer.

 

One of the most undocumented features is Win98's ability to back up selected files that you want backed-up automatically. However, only files residing in the root, C:\Windows, and C:\Windows\System can be backed-up automatically.  Here's the trick:

- Open SCANREG.INI in Notepad
- Add a line, Files= (followed by the folder code) and then the file name separated by a comma.

10 : windir (ex. c:\windows)
11 : system dir (ex. c:\windows\system)
30 : boot dir (ex. c:\)
31 : boot host dir (ex. c:\)

You can add multiple files to this particular back-up by including them in the same folder and specifying the filenames separated by a comma:

Example:  Files=30, scandisk.log, config.sys

 

Lose the Log Off Prompt

If you are not connected to a network and would like to get rid of the log off prompt in the START Bar, follow these steps:

- Start the Registry Editor (Start >> Run >> Regedit) and path to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

- Choose Edit, New Binary Value. Name the entry NoLogOff and press enter

- set it to the following value:

01 00 00 00

Close the registry editor and reboot.

 Trouble with the new Windows 98 Registry?

The Registry, whose core files are system.dat and user.dat, stores nearly all settings for the OS and apps. A corrupted Registry can mean hours spent re-installing and re-configuring, but a few preventive steps can save you from this massive headache. Windows automatically runs the Registry Checker at start up, backing up the Registry, scanning it for errors, and optimizing it. You can also manually run it to test new configurations without restarting Windows. You won't find the Registry Checker in the Start menu, though; you'll have to type

scanregw

(scanregw.exe) in the Run dialog. It also comes in a DOS version, scanreg.exe, but stick with the Windows program. If you try to run the DOS version from Windows, it switches to the Windows version automatically.

By default, the Registry Checker maintains five compressed backups of important files on your system, including win.ini, system.ini, system.dat, and user.dat. It saves these backups as .CAB files, named rb000.cab, rb001.cab, and so on, in the c:\Windows\Sysbckup folder. You'll have to check the file dates to find the most recent backup (right-click the file and select Properties).

You can specify the number of simultaneous backups by opening scanreg.ini (select Start >> Run, type scanreg.ini, and click OK) and setting the MaxBackupCopies=5 line to any value you want. Read the scanreg.ini carefully. If you make modifications to this file make sure that you have made a backup copy first. Very important!

 Refresh Update

Some people are having trouble with Auto Refresh not working correctly all the time. I have done some book and web pounding and believe I have found the solution. Legal Stuff:  This "fix" requires that you edit the Registry so you might want to back it up before you try this (aren't you tired of hearing that all over the place?). Anyway, go to START >> RUN and type REGEDIT. Path to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControl Set\Control\Update

Change the UpdateMode value to 00. Close the Registry and reboot. Hopefully this will fix the problem some of us are having.

 8.3 Problem - Long Filenames Need to be Enabled

FONT face="Courier New" size=2>If you are receiving an error when installing Windows 98, that long filenames need to be enabled in order for Windows 98 to install successfully try this:

- Start Regedit (START >> RUN and type Regedit). Path to:

Hkey_Local_Machine\System\Current Control Set\Control\File System

and look for an entry in the right pane titled

NameNumericTail

- Double Click the NameNumericTail and delete the 00 00 00 00 code. Close RegEdit and reboot.

- Now try your installation.

 Registry Tweaks - Editing the Registry.

Okay, this is the key to Windows 98. The registry is the vital information Windows needs and is the best place to optimize or customize almost anything in the whole OS. By all means, it would be to your best advantage to learn about your registry and play around in registry editor (regedit.exe). Here are some tips for you.

First do this: Control-Alt-Delete to see what programs are running.

If there are any you don't want, go to the registry to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Select the program and delete it. (Back up your registry first, using registry backer (scanregw.exe) or "Export Registry" in the Registry.)

If your computer doesn't run off a battery, why waste memory for a program that won't do you any good? Windows98 adds systray.exe to your boot up automatically. If you want to remove it (duh), then go back to the key above and delete it. Also delete C:\Windows\Systray.exe and Batmeter.dll. If you feel pretty safe, or you back up your registry/hard drive often, you can decrease your boot up time by removing the line:
[  C:\Windows\Scanregw.exe /autorun  ] in the same key location as above.

That's what backs up your ultra-long registry and then compresses it each and every time you start windows which makes for unwanted delay.

BE SURE TO BACK UP YOUR REGISTRY. You may accidentally remove something you shouldn't. If this happens, don't worry, just boot to dos and import your backed up registry using regedit.exe in dos.

Look around ... you can customize anything you want basically ... Try different variables if you get bored. You may come up with something you like.

  System Info not working? - This is a problem for a lot of people; thanks to Mathew B. for finding the fix!

Messages posted in the 'microsoft.public.win98.msinfo32' newsgroup provided the magic potion.

First load up the W98 CD. Then, run the following commands in the
Start >> Run box:

rundll.exe setupx.dll,InstallHinfSection Msinfo.reg 64 C:\WINDOWS\INF\msinfo.inf

rundll.exe setupx.dll,InstallHinfSection Msinfo2.reg 64 C:\WINDOWS\INF\msinfo.inf

rundll.exe setupx.dll,InstallHinfSection CDM.base 64 C:\WINDOWS\INF\msinfo.inf

rundll.exe setupx.dll,InstallHinfSection Sigver.Base 64 C:\WINDOWS\INF\msinfo.inf

Reboot and ... PRESTO! Msinfo works properly again.

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