Technical
Stuff and Troubleshooting
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Operationally Windows95/98 presents potential
problems in the following areas, which most users are oblivious to:
- Device management -
people get difficulties with device conflicts causing one or more devices
not to work.
- Registry problems - A
corrupted Registry causing problems of starting/running Windows95. Many
users would attempt re-installation of Windows95, causing even further
problems - or even formatting of the Hard Drive to start right from
scratch - all this can be avoided be backing up & restoring the
Registry when needed.
- A progressively
increasing amount of Hard Drive space being lost to *.tmp files
This technical page will address the above, and
over time I shall add new items to it. I hope that you might find it useful.
Mick
Although most devices are now plug 'n' play
this does not mean to say that any new device added to a PC will automatically
be configured correctly.
Re-configuring of devices is done via Control
Panel - System - Device Manager - <selected device> - Properties -
Resources and/or Driver tabs.
General
Tips:
A Re-boot or
two
- In some cases it make
take one or more system re-boots before a device is finally configured, so
if it doesn't work the first time try one or more re-boots.
Remove,
re-install & re-boot
- In others cases you may
need to take out any conflicting device drivers from existing devices.
Subsequently re-install your new device (and reboot), then add back the
previous drivers in turn, re-booting after each re-installation.
Check resources
& reconfigure non-plug'n'play devices
- If you have any
device which has Dip switches or jumpers (non plug 'n'play) and it stops
working after adding a new device, or if some other previously working
device suddenly stops working after adding a new device - then write down
the resource settings of all conflicting devices and reset the non-plug
'n' play device so that it does not match any of those resource settings.
Re-boot once or twice. If that does not work continue with step 2 above.
Wrong Driver -
One of the most common faults.
- It may not be a
device conflict that is causing your problem, but an incorrect driver.
When a device is not working it may be that under Resources it shows 'No
Conflicts' - in this case the chances are that you have installed the
wrong driver for that particular device. There is usually no need to
remove and re-install the device again, but simply use the Driver button
on the Driver tab to replace the existing driver with the correct driver.
Other Devices
????
- If you have this
section in the Device Manager, then the devices shown in this section have
been detected but the drivers for them have not yet been installed. Find
the correct driver for the device and install it.
Other Devices -
PCI Bridge or PCI Card
- If you have these
listed in 'Other Devices' the chances are you have a older TX motherboard
which needs setting up using two files (usually provided on a floppy) - an
Inf file, and a Setup file - this applies mainly to older boards and when
using Windows95.. One file will reset the bridge and IDE controllers,
whilst the other will reset the PCI card. If you don't have these two
files they should be available from your motherboard supplier. Windows98
is more forgiving here and tends to detect, install and configure
motherboard devices.
The OBVIOUS
- An obvious mistake is
connections. I have known people who have had machines virtually pulled
apart because a sound card persistently failed to work - the problem - the
speaker cable was in the wrong hole on the sound card - so check all connections
before removing anything.
Changing COM port
Settings
- - See Windows95
Secrets -Changing COM Port Settings in Win95/98.
Backing
Up and Restoring the Registry/ or Repairing the Registry
The Registry hold the key configurations for
your hardware and software and thus it is essential that Windows has a good
copy of it at all times.
Whilst Windows98 has an auto Registry backup
functionality, Win95 does not and therefore it is good practice to back the
Registry up. The Registry contains info
about Users, Settings, All Software and All Hardware installed
and their settings...etc.
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FOR win98 users where backup is automatic, see how to repair the Registry if Windows won’t start
properly. For Win ME there is a utility in Windows to Restore the Sysytem (and
Registry) to an earlier time when the PC was functioning normally (Start,
Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore |
It is ESSENTIAL for the start-up and running of
Windows95 and it's programs.
Whilst Windows95 does make a backup of this Registry
on each successful start-up, it is not only possible for the backup to be
restored.
The Registry is made up of two hidden files in
the Windows folder:
User.Dat - Users,
network & desktop settings
System. Dat -
Hardware, File,Display,Printer settings & performance data.
If you take off the file attributes then you
can copy the two files to a separate folder and thus have your whole Registry
kept safe at that location.
Should it be necessary to restore your Registry
because Win95 will not start correctly
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or you have lost many device settings.....etc, then you can |
Restore the Registry (Win95 only) For Win98 see Repairing the Registry below |
to it's original condition.
Backing it Up:
In DOS Mode create a new file using the Edit
command:
C:\WINDOWS> Edit Regbckup
Type into the new edit screen:
.......................................................................................................................................
Cls
CD WINDOWS
Attrib -h -r -s User.Dat
Attrib -h -r -s System.Dat
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Copy User.Dat c:\<folder Name> |
- You decide which folder |
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Copy System.Dat c:\<folder Name> |
- You decide which folder |
Attrib +h +r +s User.Dat
Attrib +h +r +s System.Dat
Cls
Exit
........................................................................................................................................
Finally use File/Save to save the file, and
type EXIT to return to Windows.
In DOS Mode create a new file using the Edit
command:
C:\WINDOWS> Edit RegRecov
Type into the new edit screen:
........................................................................................................................................
Cls
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CD <Folder> |
<the folder where the files are backed up in> |
Copy User.Dat c:\Windows
Copy System.Dat c:\Windows
CD..
CD WINDOWS
Attrib +h +r +s User.Dat
Attrib +h +r +s System.Dat
Cls
Exit
........................................................................................................................................
Finally use File/Save to save the file,
and type EXIT to return to Windows.
Registry & Registry Backup
corrupted
It is possible that both the Registry
(System.dat & User.Dat) and the backup Registry (System.DA0 & User.DA0)
were corrupted before a registry backup could be performed.
In this case you might think that there is little
alternative but to re-install Windows - there is however one last chance and
this is:
System.1st
This is a copy of System.Dat that was made when
Windows was first installed. This should be in the root directory(folder) of
your Windows system drive (usually C drive).
Copy System.1st to c:\windows\system.dat
You may have to amend some of your user
settings if User.Dat (these are your user details, network and desktop
settings) and User.DA0 suffered corruption, but at least Windows will re-start
and you have the opportunity to restore your user details, network &
desktop.
WIN98/WIN ME Repairing the Registry
Although Windows98 and Windows ME still have
User.dat and System.dat, the backup of the Registry is done automatically at
startup. As to restoring the Registry
this is now taken over by a repair utility.
The program can be run in DOS and is called SCANREG.
To run Scanreg:
Restart the PC, keep the Ctrl key on the
keyboard pressed down. A menu will
shortly appear. From this menu select
Command Prompt.
The prompt will be: C:\>
Type in:
cd Windows
and press the keyboard’s Enter key
The prompt now show: C:\Windows>
Type in then enter: cd Command
The prompt now show: C:\Windows\Command>
Type in then enter: Scanreg /fix
This will run the Register repair utility. At the end it will say that it is complete,
select OK. Restart the PC and let it go
into Windows.
Clearing Out Unwanted Files & freeing up Hard Drive Space
A hard drive can become 'clogged up' with unwanted
files, some of which you might not even know are there and others you know
about and should have got rid of some time ago.
If you have Windows 98, Use the Disk Cleanup
utility to get rid of Temporary files, Temporary Internet Files, unwanted
Downloaded Program files, and files no longer needed in the Recycle bin. To do
this: Click the Start Button, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup. When you
use this just take care not to cleanup files that you do need by viewing the
file types or lists in folders.
Generally speaking you should clear out Temporary
Internet files every couple of weeks so that this folder does not grow too big.
Check the normal Windows/Temp folder's Temporary
files (*.tmp) to make sure you haven't stored important files there within the
same folder, then clear it out using manually or by using Disk Cleanup.
Generally keep your eye on the contents of the
Recycle bin, where files you have deleted reside. You are sure that you do not
need to restore the files you have deleted in to it, then empty the Recycle Bin
manually or by using Disk Cleanup.
Downloaded program files usually have come from
the Internet. You have used these program files to set up programs or for other
purposes, then move the setup program to a separate folder and delete the rest
using Disk Cleanup.
Whether you have Window95 or Windows98 just
remember:
If the PC suffers a power-loss either by a
brown-out or accidental turning off whilst it is in Windows, or if the PC
hangs-up in Windows and needs to be re-booted from there
THEN
temporary files (extension of Tmp) which were
placed on the hard drive during memory swapping, will be left there instead of
being deleted during the normal windows shutdown.
If you don't have Disk Cleanup then:
Temporary Files
You can have manually delete the files in
C:\Windows\Temp or have these Tmp files deleted at Start-up by editing your
Autoexec.bat
Use Run, Sysedit, or Shutdown and Restart in DOS
mode, then change to the root directory (CD\)and edit your Autoexec.bat file
use: Edit Autoexec.bat
add the following 2 lines:
-------------------------------
Set Temp=c:\Windows\Temp
Echo Y | DEL %TEMP%
--------------------------------
Save the file and close the Confuration Editor or
use EXIT to return to Windows from DOS
Temporary Internet Files
Use Internet Explorer, Tools, Internet Options,
General tab (or Start Settings, Control Panel, Internet Options, General tab)
to delete Temporary Internet files.
Programs no longer used
Use Start Settings, Control Panel, Add/Remove
Programs to correctly uninstall unwanted Programs that have been setup
previously.
Finally the health of your PC will naturally
suffer eventually if you don't give it a clean up now and again.. so make sure
you do it, whatever method you use.
Out of Memory message:
Although you may have 32MB or 64MB or more of
memory, it is still possible to get an 'Out of Memory' message - Why when you
may have more memory installed than the average PC ??. This can happen when:
A. You are using old Windows 3x programs, or badly written Window95 programs
which do not release memory resources when they have closed.
Older 16bit programs for Windows3x or 16bit
programs said to be for Windows95 which are not Windows 95-aware will not
release memory resources immediately after they quit. Subsequently running one
or more of these programs will use all memory resources and the only thing to
do then is to quit and re-start Windows. This also applies to programs which
drive hardware devices (drivers such as Fax,Cdrom...etc). If you have memory
problems and have older programs then consider acquiring new Windows95/98
versions.
- You have limited memory
16MB or less and/or there is insufficient room on you hard drive for an
adequate swap file. In the case of an insufficient swap file size you may
also get a message which says 'Cannot write User.dat'. Windows95
writes to this file periodicallyu and in the background (you don't see it
happening). This process requires enough Virtual Memory (Actual memory +
Swap File).
- If you have 16MB Ram or
less - upgrade NOW to 32MB or better still 64MB or even more ( if you have
DIMM slots on your motherboard, these slots can take 64MB chips).
- If your hard drive is
almost full so that you can only have a small swap file, then either clean
the drive up, getting rid of old or unwanted files - or better still get
another hard drive (configure this as a Slave and put it on the end of a
dual IDE cable with the original drive on the first connector. Use Setup
to detect the new Slave and Format the new drive (being careful not to
format the existing drive e.g C Drive = existing drive, D Drive = new
drive - so - Format D: ).
