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Windows 98 Tips & Tricks
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System Diagnostic Tools & More

Check Your Hardware

The hardware diagnostic tool ( hwdiag.exe ) is included in Win98. This executable was first used in Win95 OSR2 and can be very useful in determining whether or not hardware issues are affecting your PC's over all performance. This tool list every key in the Windows Registry that refers to hardware in your computer system. The entries are all color coded as follows...

  • Registry entries will be displayed in green
  • File associations will be displayed in magenta
  • Configuration Manager information will be displayed in brown
  • Error messages will be displayed in red
  • Warning messages will be displayed in blue
To start hwdiag.exe, click on Start>Run and then type hwinfo /ui in the box and then click OK. Even if nothing is wrong, it's nice to see what is in your system!

Replace Corrupted Files Quickly

When running a Win98 (or Win95 ) System, you can usually find all your .CAB and installation files in the C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS directory. If your .CAB or installation files ever become corrupted or damaged in any way ( it happens ), you can drag the Win98 ( or Win95 ) folder and it's contents from the installation CD-Rom to the C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS directory to re-install the OS (operating system ). This will also let you access the Windows installation files from your hard drive.

System File Checker

Even though I've covered this topic before, it is so useful as to warrant repeating. To check your system for altered or missing files this utility is essential ( and it's part of Win98 ). There are a couple of ways to access this tool.

  1. Quick Method is to click Start>Run and type SFC in the box and then click OK.
  2. Also, you can click Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Information>Tools and then choose System File Checker from the drop-down menu.
The second method allows you access to other tools as well. If you don't have an error message of a missing or damaged file, you can choose the Scan for altered files option. Otherwise ( with Win98 disk in CD-Rom ), choose Extract one file from the installation disk and type in the system file that you would like to restore...click start. The utility will prompt you when needed. The interface is pretty straight forward.

Microsoft System Information

While you are in this utility ( via method #2 above ), you will also have access to a handful other other system diagnostic & repair tools. Listed in order they are...

  • DirectX Diagnostic Tool
  • Windows Report Tool
  • Update Wizard Uninstall
  • System File Checker
  • Signature Verification Tool
  • Registry Checker
  • Automatic Skip Driver Agent
  • Dr. Watson
  • System Configuration Utility
  • ScanDisk
  • Version Conflict Manager
Most of the time, system problems can be diagnosed and repair through these methods. There are also several third party utilities that you can purchase and install on you PC to add to your toolbox.

Error Messges While Running ScanDisk & Defrag?

Sometime you may have trouble while attempting to run ScanDisk or Defrag. The programs may run for a bit (up to 30% or so )and then stall. The most common error message may be that Windows is trying to write to the drive ( even with ScreenSaver off--which it must be! ). If this happens then try this...

  1. Go to Start > Run and type msconfig in the Open: box
  2. On the General tab, uncheck all items listed under Selective startup ( make sure that Selective startup is selected )
  3. Click apply and then OK and restart Win98
  4. This will restart Win98 with only the basics and will insure that nothing interferes with the ScanDisk and Defrag utilities
  5. Now run ScanDisk and Defrag. When you are finished you can go back into msconfig and select the Normal startup. Then you need to restart Windows.
This is by no means a complete glossary of info...but it is a good start. More will be added later as my schedule allows. Thanks for coming by!

Official Disclaimer:spider-boy.com is not responsible for user-induced damage to your PC.These Tips & Tricks are provided in good faith and are meant to ease your use of Win98.Some links on this site connect to third-party web-sites and although we at spider-boy.com try our best to verify the integrity of each link,we are also not responsible for the content found there.
Thank you and come again...Spider!


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