Windows 98 System File Details

1. Distribution Disk Storage Overview
2. Cabinet File Structure
3. Setup Files Overview

Distribution Disk Storage Overview

Windows 98 is stored on the distribution disks as cabinet (CAB) files. When the Windows 98 disks are created,
files are compressed into folders. The Windows 98 files are read in and written out as a continuous byte-stream. The entire stream is compressed and divided into folders as appropriate. Folders can fill one or more cabinets. The following defines the terms used to describe the distribution files.

Cabinet
A file that contains one or more files, usually compressed.

Folder
A decompression boundary. Large folders enable higher compression, because the compressor can refer back to more
data in finding patterns. However, to retrieve a file at the end of a folder, the entire folder must be decompressed.

The Windows 98 distribution disks use distribution media format (DMF), which is a special read-only format for 3.5-inch
floppy disks that permits storage of 1.7 MB of data.

The file structure introduced in Windows 95 has changed slightly in Windows 98. In Windows 95, most of the files were
contained in a Win95#.cab structure. The rest of the files were included in the Base#.cab, Catalog.cab, Driver#.cab, Mini.cab,
and Precopy#.cab cabinets.

Windows 98 instead groups CAB files by function. The following table summarizes the cabinet files and their contents.
 
 

Cabinet file	Quantity	Contents
Base#.cab	2	Files necessary for the first boot.
Catalog3.cab	1	Catalog files necessary for driver certification.
Chl99.cab	1	Offline channel Web pages for the Channel bar.
Driver#.cab	11	Windows 98 drivers. These files are copied to your hard drive only if you need them on first boot. This is the case when the device you are using for the installation media is connected to a sound card.
Edb.cab	1	Various utilities.
Mini.cab	1	Mini Windows, which is used for setting up from MS-DOS.
Net#.cab	5	Network driver-related files. These CAB files are optional and are copied to the hard drive only if you are installing over the network.  Setup and INF files.
Precopy#.cab	2	Setup and INF Files
Win98#.cab	44	Windows 98 files.

The # in the file names uses the following naming convention:

-Base4.cab through Base5.cab
-Driver11.cab through Driver21.cab
-Net6.cab through Net10.cab
-Precopy1.cab through Precopy2.cab
-Win98_22.cab through Win98_69.cab

Organizing the CAB files in this manner allows for easier extraction and a smoother setup. For example, if the computer does not have a network card, the Net#.cab files are not moved to the user's computer during setup.

Viewing and Extracting Cabinet Files Using Explorer

In Windows 98, you can view and extract CAB files using Windows Explorer. In Windows 95, you had to use the command-line Extract program to extract CAB files.

To view the contents of a CAB file with Windows Explorer

1.Click the Start button, point to Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.

2.In the left pane, click the letter that represents the drive where the CAB files are located.

3.Navigate to the folder containing the CAB file you want to view.

4.On the right pane, double-click the CAB file you want to view.

The contents of the CAB file appear in a separate window.

To extract CAB files with Windows Explorer

1.Follow the instructions for viewing the contents of a CAB file.

2.In the window displaying the contents of the CAB file, double-click the file you want to extract.

The Browse for Folder dialog box appears.

3.Click a folder in which to save the file you are extracting, and then click OK.

The Extract program supports command-line extraction of files from the CAB storage format on disk. Extract does not support any other compression system (that is, it is not backward-compatible with any previous Microsoft disk utilities).

The Extract program (Extract.exe) can be found in the \Windows\Command directory or on the Windows 98 installation media.

Important In general, use the Extract program only if your product support representative indicates that using the Extract program is necessary to retrieve a compressed file from the Windows 98 cabinet files.

Under normal circumstances, you should use the Add/Remove Programs or Network icon in Control Panel to install and uninstall components, applications, and support software from the Windows 98 installation media.

If system files are missing or damaged, run Windows 98 Setup from the Windows 98 installation media, and choose the option to validate and restore files.

Syntax

extract [/y] [/A] [/D | /E] [/L location] cabinet_file [file_specification ...]

– Or –

extract [/y] compressed_file [destination_file]

– Or –

extract [/y] /C compressed_file destination_file

Parameters

/A

Process all files in a cabinet set, starting with the cabinet_file. Follow cabinet chain.

/C

Copy source file to destination (to copy from DMF disks).

/D

Display cabinet directory. Do not extract.

/E

Use instead of *.* to extract all files.

/L location

Use the directory specified by location, instead of the current directory, as the default location to place extracted files.

/Y

Overwrite files in the destination without prompting. The default is to prompt the user if the destination file already exists, and to allow one of the following:

Overwrite the file.
Skip the file.
Overwrite this file and all subsequent files that may already exist.
Exit.

compressed_file

This is a CAB file that contains a single file (for example, File1.ex_, which contains File1.exe). If destination_file is not specified, the file is extracted and given its original name in the current directory.

destination_file

This can be either a relative path (.:, .., C:File1, and so on) or a fully qualified path. It can specify either a file (or files, if wildcards are included) or a directory. If a directory is specified, the file name stored in the cabinet is used. Otherwise, destination_file is used as the complete file name for the extracted file.

cabinet_file

This is a CAB file that contains two or more files. If no file_specification parameter is specified, a list is displayed of the files in the cabinet. If one or more file_specification parameters are specified, then these are used to select the files to be extracted from the cabinet. Wildcards are allowed to specify multiple cabinets.

file_specification

This specifies files to be extracted from the cabinets. This can contain the ? and * wildcards. Multiple file_specification values can be supplied.

The following table provides some examples.
 

Command	Behavior
extract filename.ex_	Assuming filename.ex_ contains just the single file Filename.exe, filename.exe is extracted and placed in the current directory.
extract filename.ex_ file2.exe	Assuming filename.ex_ contains just the single file filename.exe, filename.exe is extracted and placed in the current directory in the file file2.exe.
extract cabinet.1	Assuming cabinet.1 contains multiple files, a list of the files stored in that cabinet is displayed.
extract cabinet.1 *.exe	Extracts all EXE files from cabinet.1 and places them in the current directory.

For more information about the Extract program, see Knowledge Base article Q129605, "How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files."

Setup Files Overview

The following table describes the key files used for Windows 98 Setup.
 

File name	Description
Setup.exe	The real-mode Setup component that initializes Windows 98 Setup. If this file is started from MS-DOS, it calls the real-mode stub. If started from within Windows, is a 16-bit Windows stub.
Suwin.exe	The protected-mode Setup components responsible for calling all other dynamic link libraries (DLLs) used in Setup.
Setupx.dll	The primary DLL used during the Copy Files phase to perform most of the installation procedures. It is responsible for reading INF files, handling disks, and copying files.
Netdi.dll	The module called early in the Setup process to install networking services.
Scanreg.exe	The utility that scans an existing registry for errors.
Scandisk.exe	The utility that checks local hard disks for errors.

Also, the Wininstx.400 directory is created at the beginning of the Windows 98 Setup process. This directory contains a minimal set of files used during setup and requires about 10 to 12 MB of free disk space. This directory is removed upon the successful completion of Windows 98 installation.

Directory File Structure and File Locations

Location of Key System Files

The following table lists the directories where various types of Windows 98 system files and supporting files are stored.
 

File type	Directory1
Core Windows 98 files	%WinDir%
Shortcuts to applications	%WinDir%\Start Menu\Programs
MS-xDOS commands	%WinDir%\Command
Printer drivers	%WinDir%\System
Help files	%WinDir%\Help
Font files	%WinDir%\Fonts
Setup and device installation files	%WinDir%\Inf
PIF files	%WinDir%\Pif
Drivers	%WinDir%\System
VxDs	%WinDir%\System
I/O Subsystem	%WinDir%\System\Iosubsys
Viewers	%WinDir%\System\Viewers
VxDs added after installation	%WinDir%\System\Vmm32
Java files	%WinDir%\Java\Classes
Internet Explorer browsing history	%WinDir%\History
Shell extensions	%WinDir%\System\Shellext
Active Desktop configuration files	%WinDir%\Web
Internet Explorer file cache	%WinDir%\Temporary Internet Files
Internet Explorer subscription files	%WinDir%\Subscriptions
Dr. Watson troubleshooting utility	%WinDir%\Drwatson

1 "%WinDir%" refers to the directory that is specified during the installation process to contain the Windows 98 files.

The following list shows where key Windows 98 files are stored when Windows 98 is installed on the local hard disk of a computer.

Description	File name	Location
Real-mode operating system and system detection	Io.sys	Root directory of boot drive 1
Command-line processor	Command.com	Root directory of boot drive
Real-mode stub to start Windows 98	Win.com	Windows
Protected-mode Virtual Machine Manager (VMM)	Vmm32.vxd	Windows\System
Registry	System.dat	Windows 1
Registry backup files	Rb001.cab through Rb005.cab	Windows\Sysbckup
Registry when first created by Setup	System.new	Root directory of boot drive 2
User registry	User.dat	Windows 1
User registry first created by Setup	User.new	Root directory of boot drive 2
Log of the Setup process	Setuplog.txt	Root directory of boot drive 1
Hardware detection log	Detlog.txt	Root directory of boot drive 2
Log of Windows 98 startup process	Bootlog.txt	Root directory of boot drive 2
Real-mode network configuration	Protocol.ini	Windows
Boot configuration file	Msdos.sys	Root directory of boot drive 1
Registry created by Setup completion	System.1st	Root directory of boot drive 1
System initialization file	System.ini	Windows
Customization settings file	Win.ini	Windows
Shell executable file	Explorer.exe	Windows
Compression support file	Drvspace.bin	Root directory of boot drive 2

1 This is a hidden file. 2 This file is visible in the root directory only when the Windows 98 installation has failed. When setup completes, System.new is moved and renamed System.dat. User.new is moved and renamed User.dat.

Location of System Files on Compressed Disks

If you install Windows 98 on a compressed drive, Windows 98 Setup places the following files on the boot drive.

Windows 98 Files on the Boot Drive

Autoexec.bat	Dblspace.bin1	Msdos.sys1
Autoexec.dos	Detlog.txt1	Netlog.txt
Bootlog.prv1	Drvspace.bin1	Setuplog.txt1
Bootlog.txt1	Drvspace.ini1	Suhdlog.dat1
Command.com	Io.dos1	System.1st1
Command.dos	Io.sys1	Wina20.386
Config.dos	Msdos.---1	xxxxxxxxxxx
Config.sys	Msdos.dos1	xxxxxxxxxxx

1 Indicates a hidden file.

When Windows 98 is installed on an uncompressed drive other than the startup drive, Setup adds the same files (with the exception of Drvspace.ini) to the boot drive, as listed earlier in this section. The only difference is that Win386.swp will be placed on the same drive as the Windows directory. For example, if you have drives C and D, and if you install Windows 98 on D:\Windows, Win386.swp will be on the root of D. Otherwise, it will be placed as described earlier for compressed drives.

The Windows 98 Startup Disk

The Windows 98 Startup Disk has changed significantly for Windows 98. The following functionality has been added: Multi-start menu for booting your computer with or without access to the CD-ROM.

The Edb.cab file contains several utilities. It is a compressed file whose contents are expanded during the startup process. The following table lists the contents this file.

File	Function
Attrib.exe	Add or remove file attributes.
Chkdsk.exe	Simpler and smaller disk status tool.
Debug.exe	Debug utility.
Edit.com	Real-mode emergency text editor.
Ext.exe	File extract utility.
Format.com	Disk format tool.
Help.bat	Launches the readme.txt for the startup disk.
Help.txt	Text document with information for troubleshooting Windows 98 when it fails to set up correctly, third-party disk partitioning software, and diagnostic tools.
Mscdex.exe	Microsoft CD-ROM file extension for MS-DOS.
Restart.com	Restart your computer.
Scandisk.exe	Disk status tool.
Scandisk.ini	Disk status tool configuration file.
Sys.com	System transfer tool.
Uninstal.exe	Tool for removing Windows 98 from your computer and returning it to its previous state.

Contents of the Windows 98 Startup Disk

The following table lists the contents and describes the function of each file in the Startup Disk.

Note The files contained in the Startup Disk are copied to the \Windows\Command directory only if the user chooses to create a Windows 98 startup disk during Setup. This happens during the first phase of the Startup Disk creation process. If you create a startup disk from Control Panel (From the Startup Disk property page in Add/Remove Programs) and the startup disk files are not in the \Windows\Command directory, you will prompted for the Windows 98 compact disk. A startup disk will be created but its contents will not be copied locally when you use this method.

---

File	Function
Aspi2dos.sys	Real-mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver.
Aspi4dos.sys	Real-mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver.
Aspi8dos.sys	Real-mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver.
Aspi8u2dos.sys	Real-mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver.
Aspicd.sys	Real-mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver.
Autoexec.bat	A batch file with a set of instructions that configure your computer when you boot it.
Btcdrom.sys	Mylex/BusLogic CD-ROM driver.
Btdosm.sys	Mylex/BusLogic CD-ROM driver.
Command.com	Command interpreter.
Config.sys	Loads the device drivers.
Drvspace.bin	Microsoft DriveSpace compression driver.
Edb.cab	Cabinet file containing extract utilities.
Ebd.sys	A file that identifies the disk as a Windows 98 startup disk.
Extract	File to expand the Ebd.cab file.
Fdisk.exe	Disk partition tool.
Findramd.exe	Utility to find the RAM drive during startup.
Flashpt.sys	Mylex/BusLogic CD-ROM driver.
Himem.sys	XMS Memory Manager.
Io.sys	System boot file.
Msdos.sys	Boot option information (paths, multiboot, and so on).
Mode.com	Lets you change display parameters such as number columns.
Oakcdrom.sys	Generic device driver for ATAPI CD-ROM drives.
Ramdrive.sys	Creates a Ramdrive during startup.
Readme.txt	Readme text document with information about the Windows 98 Startup Disk.
Setramd.bat	Searches for first available drive to be a Ramdrive.
Sys.com	System transfer tool.

• Back To The Top

• Back To Home