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Utilities and Tools for Windows 98; Page 1 |
As you know that laptop users have the hardest time upgrading to Windows 98. One common sticking point involves going into or out of standby mode. Fortunately, Microsoft has come up with a free tool that can locate and even fix the problem. The Power Management Trouble Shooter tool is already on your Windows 98 CD-ROM (look for pmtshoot.exe in the Tools\Mtsutil\Pmtshoot\ directory), but Microsoft recommends that you download a more up-to-date 158KB version from its Web site at ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/softlib/mslfiles/pmtshoot.exe.
After you've installed the utility, it will launch automatically whenever you start Windows 98. When you put your computer into (or resume from) standby mode, the Trouble Shooter identifies the program or driver that's causing the problem. The newer version of the program may even be able to resolve the problem for you. Once you're done tracking down the errors, uninstall the utility using Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs tab.
The Microsoft "Description of the Power Management Troubleshooter Tool" Article:
Microsoft Windows 98
SUMMARY
This article describes the Power Management Trouble Shooter tool (Pmtshoot.exe). Pmtshoot is a tool to assist you in identifying the program or device driver that is preventing your computer from entering a standby (or suspended) state. Pmtshoot monitors your computer when it suspends, and tries to identify programs or device drivers that may prevent your computer from suspending.
MORE INFORMATION
When your computer suspends and when it resumes, Pmtshoot displays text in sections that correspond to the different phases of the suspend process. This may be useful in diagnosing the cause of the suspend issue.
There are different versions of Pmtshoot available, one is on the Windows 98 CD-ROM, and the latest version is located on the Microsoft Support Online Web site. To Download the Power Management Trouble Shooter tool, download the Pmtshoot.exe file to an empty folder, and then double-click the Pmtshoot.exe file to extract its contents.
The following file(s) are available for download from the Microsoft Software Library:
~ Pmtshoot.exe (size: 161344 bytes)
For more information about downloading files from the Microsoft Software
Library, please see the following article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
TITLE : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files
from Online Services
Microsoft recommends that you install the latest version of Pmtshoot from the Microsoft Web site, but you can use the CD-ROM version to help resolve the issue if you do not have access to the Internet.
Installation
To install Pmtshoot from the Internet, follow the instructions listed earlier in this article, and then follow the instructions on the screen to finish the installation. To install the CD-ROM version of Pmtshoot on your computer, use the following steps:
1.Insert the Windows 98 CD-ROM in to your CD-ROM drive.
2.Click Start, click Run, type the following line in the Open box, and then click OK
<drive>:\Tools\Mtsutil\Pmtshoot\Pmtshoot.Exe
where <drive> is the drive letter assigned to your CD-ROM drive.
3.Click Yes when Setup prompts you to continue, and then click OK when Setup prompts you to restart your computer.
Usage
Once Pmtshoot is installed, it runs automatically when Windows 98 starts. When Pmtshoot is running, you can suspend your computer as you normally would. As it suspends, Pmtshoot displays all the activity on your computer in the form of a text report.
After your computer has finished the suspend or resume process, note the text displayed by Pmtshoot. Note that the information displayed in red is what Pmtshoot considers to be most relevant to the suspend issue. Pmtshoot often displays (in red text) the name of the device and driver that caused the suspend issue. It is possible that with this information, you can make the necessary adjustments to resolve the issue.
Pmtshoot version 1.2 (and later) is capable of resolving some issues. If Pmtshoot comes across one of these issues, Pmtshoot asks if you would like to make the change, as well as describing the change. Microsoft recommends that you click Yes when you receive this prompt.
If Pmtshoot does not display a dialog box, it has determined that it is unable to fix the problem. This is usually the result of an out-of-date device driver. Note the device driver name displayed by Pmtshoot, and then contact the appropriate manufacturer for an updated device driver.
Data Analysis
In some cases, Pmtshoot displays a large amount of text, sometimes as much as several thousand lines. To analyze this data quickly, use the following steps:
1.After your computer resumes, scroll to the top of the Pmtshoot report.
2.Scroll down the report, and note any text displayed in red. The first occurrence of red text is the most significant. Note the device that is listed, and in some cases, the device driver. This device is very likely to be the cause of the suspend issue.
After you determine the cause of the issue, you may want to contact your hardware or software vendor for an update that may resolve the issue.
Uninstalling
It is important to uninstall Pmtshoot when you are finished using it. To do so, use the following steps:
1.Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Programs.
2.Click PMTShoot - Power Management Trouble Shooter, click Add/Remove,
and then click Yes to restart your computer.
Note:
1st, When you perform an upgrade to Win98 on a Win95 machine that has
or had Tweak UI for Win95 installed, you may see error messages that say
Windows can't find TWEAKUI.CPL. If so, uninstall all instances of Tweak
UI and reboot.
Next, run Start/Find/Files or Folders and search for tweakui*.*
across your entire hard disk. You should find no instances of the program,
except for any setup files that might be on your hard disk. If you find
Tweak UI files in your C:\WINDOWS folder or its subfolders, delete the
files.
On with the good stuff::))
Tweak UI PowerToy is there for the taking, right on your Windows 98 installation CD. In case you missed it, you'll find this handy utility in your CD's tools\reskit\powertoy folder. To install it, right-mouse-click tweakui.inf and select Install. To run it, open the Control Panel and double-click Tweak UI.
Wish you could hide a few Control Panel items, to keep meddling fingers from messing with these settings? Tweak UI has an entire tab for just this purpose. Select the Control Panel tab, then scroll through the list of items, deselecting those items you'd like to hide from view. The next time you (or more importantly, anyone else) open the Control Panel, those "hidden" items are nowhere in sight.
So the question then becomes, how do YOU access the hidden Control Panel
items? Set up shortcuts to the hidden *.cpl files (as indicated on Tweak
UI's Control Panel tab) and store them in your secret location of choice.
(Tip: Use Find to locate all *.cpl files in the Windows\System folder;
then right-mouse-click and drag the "hidden" *.cpl file(s) to your location
of choice, let go, and select Create Shortcut(s) Here.)
Open Tweak UI and select the Add/Remove tab. One at a time, select an item you'd like to remove from the list, click Remove, then click Yes to confirm. When you're finished, check out the real-life version, and you'll find a list that's clean as a whistle.
To be sure that Tweakui is not just masking an entry, go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
and look for applications that are not supposed to be there. If they are
there, trash them. Oh, of course BACKUP YOUR REGISTRY 1st.
The PowerToys developers resolved this problem by making the new XMouse
part of Tweak UI. Open Tweak UI, select the General tab, and select Activation
Follows Mouse (X-Mouse). Click Apply or OK, and X-Mouse is on. To turn
it off, simply deselect this same option.
Want to take this whole focus-follows-the-mouse thing one step further?
Select Tweak UI's General tab, and under Effects, select Auto-Raise. Now
moving your mouse pointer over a window selects that window AND raises
it up to the top of the open window pile.
Open Tweak UI and select the IE 4 tab. Under Settings, select Clear
Document, Run and Typed-URL History on Exit. Click OK, and the next time
you exit and restart Windows, all three lists will be wiped clean.
Erase that little arrow from the lower-left corner of every shortcut icon. Open Tweak UI, select Explorer, and check out the options under Shortcut overlay. Select None to delete those arrows altogether, or try Light arrow for a less obtrusive version of the shortcut arrow.
You could also select Custom and select a new icon; just make sure to
choose something small or it will overlap the entire icon!
There's another way to clear this Find history, but you have to be willing to do away with your Documents list, as well as the list of previously typed URLs in IE 4.0. Select Start, Settings, Taskbar & Start Menu. Select the Start Menu Programs tab, click the Clear button (under Documents menu), wait a few seconds until your hard drive stops thrashing, then click OK. All three lists will be wiped clean.
A little-known feature of Tweak UI for Win98 functionally removes the resource-hogging components of the Active Desktop. Click on the IE4 tab, and deselect the Active Desktop Enabled and "Allow changes to Active Desktop" options. Click on OK and reboot. This removes the option from your Desktop's Context menu, preventing you (or other users) from deliberately or accidentally turning on the Active Desktop. It also returns an error message when an application or a Web site tries to enable the Active Desktop. You can download Tweak UI for Win98 from http://www.winmag.com/win98/software.htm.
CTS Software Products
http://www.comminfo.com
http://www.comminfo.com/pages/products.htm
PortInfo and the CTS Serial Port Utilities
Are Com Port or Modem installation and setup problems giving you problems?
Trying to track down an interrupt (IRQ) or device conflict? Need to know
what modems are connected to which ports and what speed they run? Does
your modem work with some applications but not all? PortInfo can help!
The only true diagnostic package devoted exclusively to serial ports identifies
most common port setup problems with detailed messages describing the problem
and the solution!
CTS IRQInfo PRO
Fighting IRQ Problems? Who doesn't! There are lots of products that
try to help - but the other software solutions don't work very well because
they miss lots of devices - especially sound and network cards. The hardware
solutions typically cost hundreds of dollars - way beyond the average users
budget - if they even have a open slot to install a board!
We have a product that works in DOS, Windows 3.1/3.11 and Windows 95! We've combined software detection for common devices with a "hardware emulation" to detect the "hard to find" devices. First you run IRQInfo PRO to detect the IRQs used by devices IRQInfo PRO knows about. As it finishes, it loads a tiny TSR to watch the remaining IRQs for activity generated while the system is used. After you "exercise" the system, run IRQInfo PRO again to combine the test results! You don't even have to open the computer!
CTS IOInfo
Most of the boards you install in a computer use a range of I/O addresses.
Up to now, there hasn't been a good utility available that will tell you
what addresses are already used in the computer. Now there is!
CTS Connect Master
CTS Connect Master - Profession Version for V.34 / V.34+ Modems is
a great new tool for just about any type of modem testing. Use Connect
Master to test failing modems, modem compatibility between different manufacturers
or as a repeatable test for qualifying modems for purchase!
CTS Connect Master does a comprehensive test of a modem by forcing
it to make connections - a LOT of connections! Connect Master uses two
modems to make up to 32 different types of connections at each of 7 different
speeds - up to 224 connections in all! Connect Master can also keep each
connection active for up to an hour to test for "dropped carriers". Connect
Master is a great tool for comparing modems, trouble-shooting connection
problems and identifying failing modems.
CTS Modem Finder for DOS
Modem Finder identifies the modems in a PC and stores the results in
a data file for use by your software. CTS Modem Finder for DOS is "licensed
for distribution" with your software application.
SwapIRQ
Older DOS communication and game software often has limited support
for IRQs. This tiny utility works with many of these applications to let
them work with a modem or sound card at any IRQ!
PortFix
Many PCI bus computers manufactured between Oct 1993 and August 1994
have a serial port that locks up on the second use. This utility helps
DOS and Windows users avoid the lockup!
Product Bundles
We offer money saving product bundles of our most popular utilities:
The CTS Personal Pack includes:
The CTS Serial Port Utilities (Personal License) IRQInfo PRO IOInfo
The CTS ProPack includes:
The CTS Serial Port Utilities (Professional License) IRQInfo PRO IOInfo
The CTS ProPack PLUS includes:
The CTS Serial Port Utilities (Personal License) IRQInfo PRO IOInfo
PortFix SwapIRQ
I've copied my Resource Kit to a C:\ResKit directory and made a Desktop shortcut to it. it's that valuable.
Want to go beyond the basic online help and delve deep into the workings of Windows 98? The Windows 98 Resource Kit includes anything and everything you could ever want to know about Windows 98 (and more). And the best part is it's FREE.
Insert your Windows 98 installation CD in your CD-ROM drive, click Browse
this CD, and navigate your way to the tools\reskit\help folder. Double-click
rk98book.chm and start reading! (It's set up the same as the regular Windows
98 Help--navigate your way through topics in the left pane; read them on
the right.)
For the sake of simplicity, all of these changes have been encapsulated
into a simple on/off button. If you don't like what the program does, simply
run it again to restore your interface to its previous state.
Download "ie-off.zip" HERE
See all the functions at http://www.windows-help.net/wtt/index.html
98Config is a really hot "freeware" utility from:
http://www.mslm.com
With Microsoft ScanReg and AutoScan, computer could go in vicious circles
which will not let you start computer at all if it couldn't fix and restore
computer.
To be sure that you are at the steering wheel, run freeware 98Config
found in MiniApps. And read below for in detail instructions and how to
prevent getting caught in the ScanReg or AutoScan vicious restore circles.
If you are using Win98:
---------------------
Click Start\Run and type MSConfig, click the Advanced Tab, there deselect
all except "Disable Scandisk After Bad Shutdown", this option is pain if
you are having little problems, it unnecessarily scans the hard drive for
errors wasting your time.
Click Start\Run and type MSConfig, click the Startup Tab, deselect ScanRegistry
and both LoadPowerProfile(optional read below).
Deselect TaskMonitor(Optional).
It will ask you to restart computer, click OK.
In the Systray, click each icon, they should have options to be removed.
If you don't want MS TaskMonitor enabled, there is an option
for it to be disabled, open it and click Advanced in the file menu and
to Pause Task Scheduler.
Once computer Restarted, open 98Config and select to make the following
changes:
*********************
98Config will do all the following for you:
Open the registry, go to the
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run-]
or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
Delete the key TaskMonitor.
Delete the Key ScanRegistry.
Delete the key LoadPowerProfile.
You will find another LoadPowerProfile to delete in
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices-]
or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices]
Note the dash after RunServices and Run.
What is LoadPowerProfile:
----------------
LoadPowerProfile is started twice to provide a power management profile
before and after you log on to Windows.
LoadPowerProfile starts as a machine service so that the default power
management settings are available when Windows 98 starts. It is loaded
again after you log on to Windows to process preferences for individual
users of the computer.
*********************
Message from ERS98 customer:
I had an instance just last night where I crashed and upon rebooting
typed ers at the root copying the latest registry backup. Upon bootup the
Registry Checker within System Information started reloading the system
files and restoring the registry with its own backup; thereby in effect
over writing all the backups I've made with your ERS98. Naturally
the system rebooted and came backup to the same error discovering bad system
files. It was a vicious circle there for a while going back and forth.
Is there a way to turn off the Register Backup and use just your ERS98?
**
Go to the Windows directory and open Scanreg.ini, it should open with
Notepad,
there change
Backup=1
to
Backup=0
and
Optimize=1
to
Optimize=0
That will stop auto registry backup and registry optimization.
Use ERS98 to backup your registry and other important files, it is
only $25 and every thing is setup for you without sweating it. Why use
a backup that backs up any time it feels like it and restores any time
it feels like it. Does Microsoft think people are that stupid.
Registry optimization is still under beta testing and have caused many
users unrecoverable registry corruption.
*********************
In the Windows Explorer, click View\Folders Option and select Show
All files under Hidden Files.
Go to the root directory C, right click MsDos.sys and deselect the
Read Only and click OK.
Double click MsDos.sys and select to be opened with Notepad.
Don't make any changes above the XXXXXXXXXXXXX unless you know what
are you doing.
Below the XXXXXXXXXXXXX, at the very bottom:
To remove the Windows Logo screen at startup type:
Logo=0
This is a worthless feature that would get you no place but cause pain.
Be sure AutoScan is set to 0
Autoscan=0
Never select AutoScan=2 nor AutoScan=1
Be sure that Bootkeys is set to 1
Bootkeys=1
Check MsDos.sys after computer startups, be sure Windows have not changed
it
BootKeys=0
You don't need anything else below the XXXXXXXXXXXXX.
To read descriptions of the MsDos.sys command lines, look for article Q118579, Contents of the Windows Msdos.sys File
Win98 Bug:
---------
A bug in Win98 was found, it will set BootKeys=0 in MsDos.sys.
This means, you can't boot in the Command Prompt Only or any of the
MS-DOS startup menu.
ERS98 will notify you to make an ERS bootdisk if BootKeys=0 found in
MsDos.sys so you can boot in MS-DOS and restore from ERS98.
To be sure that BootKeys=0 is set to BootKeys=1,
click Start\Programs\Windows Explorer, click View\Folder Option and
click the View Tab, there select Show all files.
Go to the root directory C, right click MsDos.sys and deselect Read
Only and click OK,
double click MsDos.sys and select to open it with Notepad, in the very
bottom be sure that BootKeys=1.
************************************
If you are having icon problems, open the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer
Change
Max Cached Icons
String Value to 2048 or 4096.
Delete the ShellIconCache file in the Windows directory and restart
computer, ShellIconCache is self creating and recreates all icons.
Note: ShellIconCache is a hidden file.
*********************
If you are having problems with Windows folders saving settings, open
the registry:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Double click NoSaveSettings and modify, set value to 0(to save settings)
1 not to save it.
Value should look like this
0x00000000 (0)
instead of
0x00000001 (1)
***********
Other tips:
***********
To assign a folder instead of My Document as the default folder:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders\Personal
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders\Personal
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\User
Shell Folders\Personal
You have to replace My Document with a valid Path, example C:\Windows\Desktop.
To change MyDocuments in MS Word, open MS Word, click Tools\Option\File
Location tab, there customize it as you please.
*********************
If you don't want Web based Desktop(strongly recommended), go to the
Control Panel\Display\Web tab, deselect View My Desktop as Web page.
Then go to the Effects tab, deselect all.
*********************
Click StartMenu\Programs\Windows Explorer, click View\Folder Options\View
Tab, there is many options there.
I would have only Show All Files selected.
In the General Tab, select Classic Style.
*********************
To remove unwanted items in the Start\run menu list.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Explorer/Runmru
*********************
To remove already uninstalled items in the Control Panel\Add Remove
Programs
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
*********************
Known software that are uninstalled already, can be safely deleted
HKey_Current_User\Software
Don't delete anything you are not familiar with.
*********************
To stop windows animation,
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics\
Right Mouse Click an empty space in the right pane
.Select new/string value.
.Name the new value MinAnimate.
.Doubleclick on the new string value (MinAnimate).
.Enter a value of 0 for Off or 1 for On.
*********************
To remove items from the Taskbar, right click the Icon and select delete.
*********************
Save Conventional memory summary in a text, click Start\Programs\MS-DOS
Prompt, type
MEM /C > c:\MEMC.TXT
For details type
MEM /D > c:\MEMD.TXT
The memory summary in a text file will be saved in the C drive.
*********************
Go to the Control Panel\Add Remove Programs\ Windows Setup Tab, in
Online Services, remove all services that you don't want.
*********************
View your TCP/IP Configuration Click start\Run and type winipcfg
*********************
Trace Internet Routes
Click Start\Programs\MS-DOS Prompt
type
tracert www.mslm.com
twf@flash.net
2000@msn.com
2000ted@compuserve.com
http://www.mslm.com
If your PC serves multiple users and you want to prevent people from
inadvertently creating multiple log-on names for themselves, use Microsoft
Family Logon (in Win98 or IE 4.0x in Windows 95). It presents a list of
all previously created log-on names for that PC. Users must choose from
that list and can't create a new log-on name. To set it up, open the Network
Control Panel and click on the Add button under the Configuration tab.
Double-click on Client, then select Microsoft from the left pane and double-click
on Microsoft Family Logon in the right. Under the Configuration tab, click
on the down arrow next to the Primary Network Logon field and select Microsoft
Family Logon from the drop-down menu. Click OK.
Make a shortcut to all your "Troubleshooters".
Windows 98's new System Configuration Utility provides a simple interface that lets you easily control which configuration file--and which lines in each file--will run when your system boots. It also provides advanced troubleshooting settings for diagnosing a number of specific common problems and lets you deselect--and thereby eliminate as a problem source--any software that automatically loads at start-up.
Launch the System Configuration Utility by typing msconfig in the Start, Run box or by selecting it from the Tools menu in the System Information utility (Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools). And since the utility's View menu provides quick access to many other troubleshooting tools such as Control Panel, Device Manager, and Display Settings, you may want to create a shortcut for easy launching. Find msconfig.exe in the Windows\System folder, make sure the folder window isn't maximized, then right-drag the file icon to the desktop. From the resulting pop-up menu, select Create Shortcut(s) Here.
Also see "System File Checker
Can fix many Weird Problems"
From a DOS prompt or from Start/Run type MSCONFIG <enter> This brings
up a configuration box so that you can decide what files should boot with
the systems. You can eliminate or add-in any combination you can think
of to configure the system to find errors and/or problems.
New Chipset Drivers
Having trouble configuring that latest Plug-and-Play-compliant system you bought? It might be that Windows 9x doesn't know how to handle the features in your system board's chipset. Intel's Web site has driver updates for Windows 95 and Win98.You can find Intel's drivers at http://developer.intel.com/design/chipsets/drivers/inf_update.htm.
Faster Win98
If you're having performance problems, run System Monitor and monitor
Processor Usage. If you see a high CPU load even when you're not actively
using the PC, it's possible that something is running in the background.
Run the Win98 Configuration Manager and look under the Startup tab. You
can uncheck an item to prevent it from running when you next start the
system.
Whether or not you're on a local area network, odds are you don't really need the little logon (login) screen asking for your username and password that comes up when starting Windows 98. To remove this prompt, follow the following directions:
If you don't have multiple users configured:
Open Control Panel, and double-click on the Network icon.
From the list entitled Primary Network Logon:, choose Windows Logon,
and press OK.
Note: If this doesn't work, make sure you didn't initially configure a password for yourself. If you did, Windows 98 will always require it. Double-click on the Passwords icon in Control Panel to choose nothing (leave it blank) for your password.
If you do have multiple users configured:
Run the Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE).
Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ Network\ Logon.
Double-click on the Process Logon Script value, and change the data
from 0000 00 to 0000 01
Sometimes, when installing software, you may have a newer version of a file on your system than the one being installed. Windows 98 Setup automatically installs the (older) Windows 98 file over the newer file and stores the newer version of the file in the \Windows\VCM folder. Those files can be viewed with Version Conflict Manager (VCM).
Note: The determining factor in identifying an older file is the file version, not the file date.
You can use Version Conflict Manager (Vcmui.exe) to restore an application’s version of a file. Reinstalling the entire application is no longer necessary.
To launch Version Conflict Manager:
Select Start > Run and type vcmui in the Open: box.
Version Conflict Manager displays the file name, the backup date, and the backed- up version of every newer file that was replaced. It also lists the current version being used of the file
When Version Conflict Manager restores an older file, the older file
is moved in the \Windows\VCM folder with it's extension changed to .000.
You can then use Version Conflict Manager to determine the original configuration.
Windows 98 includes a version of Dr. Watson, the Diagnostics software. However, Dr. Watson is not loaded at default, nor will you find an entry in the place where you would expect it: in the Programs > Accessories > System Tools.
To have Dr. Watson running all the time, create a shortcut in your \Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp folder to the file \Windows\Drwatson.exe. When you restart your PC, you will see the Dr. Watson icon in the System tray (the indented part at the right on your Taskbar).
If you only occasionally want to run Dr. Watson, you can also just type drwatson in the Run > Open dialog box (click Start > Run).
Or make a shortcut for it.
When you double-click this icon, Dr. Watson will create a snapshot of your system, and display any errors it finds.
If you choose View > Advanced View from the menu, you can see some information
on the state of your system. Dr. Watson will sow you a Diagnostics, System,
Tasks, Startup, Kernel Drivers, User Drivers, MS-DOS Drivers and a 16-bit
Modules tab, with all kinds of information.
Automatic Skip Driver Agent identifies devices that can cause Windows 98 to stop responding (hang) when you start your computer, and then disables them so that they are bypassed when you next restart your computer.
To start Automatic Skip Driver, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, click System Information, and then click Automatic Skip Driver Agent on the Tools menu.
For more information about how to use the Microsoft System Information tool in Windows 98, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID : Q184075
TITLE : Description of Microsoft System Information (Msinfo32.exe)
Tool
All devices or operations that have failed to start are listed by Automatic Skip Driver Agent. You can use Automatic Skip Driver Agent to enable any device it has previously disabled, and Windows 98 then tries to use the device when you next restart your computer. If this device or operation does not start correctly, your computer stops responding.
If you then restart your computer for a third time, Automatic Skip Driver Agent prevents the device or operation from running, and when your computer starts, click Details to identify the device or operation that does not start correctly and then display a suggested course of action.
If Automatic Skip Driver Agent is unable to locate any errors, you may receive a message stating so, and you can then click OK to quit Automatic Skip Driver Agent.
NOTE: Devices disabled by Automatic Skip Driver Agent to allow Windows to start are recorded in the Asd.log file.