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rilef

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Everything posted by rilef

  1. Although never as bad as you portray, booting my XP system also slows down over time. Perhaps I've just been fortunate, but this slowdown has never resulted from a virus or other malware. Instead, I've always been able to correct the problem as follows: Run "CCleaner" to clean the hard disk of unnecessary files and the Windows Registry of unnecessary entries. Disable any unneeded programs that start up with Windows, such as programs that "check for updates". Run "MyDefrag" to defrag the C-drive or system disk, and move system files, to that part of the hard disk where these files can be accessed more readily. Run "Auslogics Registry Defrag" to defrag the Windows Registry. Run "Smart Defrag 2" to defrag remaining system files that can only be defragged at boot time.
  2. Users of Chrome, Iron, and other Chromium browsers should consider using Comodo Dragon instead. Comodo Dragon is a Chromium technology-based browser that offers all of Chrome's features plus an added level of security and privacy from Comodo. Also, unlike Iron and CoolNovo, Comodo Dragon appears to be updated as frequently as Chrome. An optional feature of Dragon, which I like, is the ability to run new website access requests through Comodo's servers, to identify malevolent or suspicious internet sites. This feature can be applied to just Dragon, or to all of your browsers. Download is available from http://filehippo.com/download_comodo_dragon/ or http://www.comodo.com/ or several other websites.
  3. Your Windows Registry may be corrupted (probably by Avast, which is no longer compatible with Windows 98SE). If so, there are two procedures you might try (SCANREG/RESTORE and SCANREG/FIX). Use "SCANREG/RESTORE" to replace your current Windows Registry with a prior working version of the Windows Registry. Note, however, SCANREG/RESTORE has a scary side effect. Windows 98 makes only a limited number of Windows Registry backups. And, each time you restore to a prior Windows Registry, subsequent backup versions of the Windows Registry are lost. So use with care. Use "SCANREG/FIX" to repair your current Windows Registry. I recommend you try SCANREG/FIX first, since no files are deleted. And you can always try SCANREG/RESTORE later, if SCANREG/FIX fails. For SCANREG/RESTORE, restore only the latest backup copy of the Windows Registry, one-by-one, until you find one, hopefully, that works. Hold down the "Ctrl" key when starting your computer. Select "Command prompt only" using your arrow keys. Enter "SCANREG/?" for help, "SCANREG/FIX", or "SCANREG/RESTORE".
  4. Some websites do not accept Opera, especially older versions of Opera (browser sniffing). Try "Identify as Firefox" or "Mask as Firefox" {Right click on page, select "Edit site preferences", select "Network" tab).
  5. You don't need a floppy or a floppy drive to create an "Emergency Startup Disk" or "Emergency Boot Disk" for Windows 9x/ME. Instead, you can create your start disk on a bootable CD, using "WinImage", available from http://www.winimage.com/download.htm or http://america.winimage.com/download/winima80.zip. Instructions on how to create your bootable CD can be found here: http://nightowl.radified.com/bootcd/Programs.html Booting from this CD shows up as the "A" drive. You can also add backup and other files to this bootable CD, which files will show up under a separate drive letter.
  6. For 98SE, use Microsoft's "Tweak UI" (version 1.33 only), available from several sources, including http://download.cnet.com/Tweak-UI/3000-2072_4-2830963.html . Before making changes, a system backup, including backup of the Windows Registry, is recommended.
  7. This might be a hardware problem. The fact that the computer use to work right, but now doesn't-- this may result from a hardware item that use to work right, but now doesn't (or is in the process of failing, or a cable came loose, etc). I have fixed similar problems by swapping out a bad modem card for a good modem card, and a bad network card for a good network card. And, in both instances, the solution did not appear directly related to the cured problem. In some instances, the bad device may be an on-board peripheral, which can be disabled from the system BIOS. Check the system BIOS to see if it is set to halt on all errors. I have my computers set to halt on no errors or only on keyboard errors. Disable any onboard devices no longer needed, such as USB1, serial or parallel ports. I rarely see errors, and none recently, when running scandisk, much less errors that scandisk fixes, only to have similar errors reoccur. Check the system BIOS to see if the drive is properly setup as autoselect, or, if manually selected, is properly configuered. Then try running the DOS version of scandisk from the "Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu". To access the Startup Menu, I hold down the CTRL-key during system bootup. Then select "5. Command prompt only". Then type "SCANDISK /?" for scandisk help. I would be wary of autofixing, or fixing bad sector errors, however, as these may be false positives. You may also want to use the "Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu" to check and repair the Windows Registry. Select "5. Command prompt only". Then type "SCANREG /?" for scanreg help. Type "SCANREG /FIX" to repair and compact the Windows Registry. Run a reliable registry cleaner from Windows, such as ccleaner, before running SCANREG from DOS. Also use the "Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu" for step-by-step-confirmation during bootup. You may be fortunate enough, using this procedure, to identify the point when bootup fails. Boot to Windows, and run "msconfig" from the "Run" prompt. Disable all start menu items, not related to Windows (firewall, antivirus, etc). Reboot and see if the booting problem goes away. You appear to have installed and since removed one of the unofficial service packs for Windows 98. Since these updates appear essential to a stable Windows 98, and updates no longer appear to be available from Microsoft, I recommend you reinstall one of these unofficial service packs. My recommended service pack(which I have used myself, exclusively and with excellent results, for several years) is "Unofficial Windows 98 SE Service Pack 2.1a" (available from several sources, including http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/Unofficial-Windows-SE-Service-Pack.shtml).
  8. Western Digital had a program, called "Data Lifeguard Disc Tools", for installing their disk drives. The software came in both DOS and Windows versions. More recent versions of their hard drives now come only with installation software by Acronis, which software requires at least Windows XP. But Data Lifeguard appears to be still available, either from Western Digital or from third-party download sites (such as MajorGeeks or Softpedia). For Western Digital, try here: http://www.wdc.com/wdsearch/?sc=&sl=en-US&sq=data+lifeguard+98se&x=0&y=0 . I believe the Data Lifeguard software runs on any hard drives, providing either the old drive or the new drive is any Western Digital. I also noted Data Lifeguard versions which run on either PATA of SATA hard drives. To try Data Lifeguard, set up your old 40G drive as drive C. Set up your new 80G drive as an additional drive. Install Data Lifeguard (it will install under Windows in Drive C). Run Data Lifeguard to format your new drive and copy the operating system and data from the old drive to the new drive. After installation, switch cables and jumpers, as necessary, to make your new drive "Drive C". Then reboot. You may be having issues with your Master Boot Record (MBR) for 98SE, which is possibly not being written properly by your other methods. Data Lifeguard, in copying an original 98se hard drive, should fix the MBR.
  9. You should be able to run 32-bit color on your 98SE computer, providing you have the proper 98SE drivers installed for both the video adapter card and the monitor. I've used 32-bit color on 98SE for years, since I installed a video card with memory large enough to handle it. Your 256MB video card is more than adequate to handle 32-bit color. First, right-click on the desktop, select Properties, then Settings, then Advanced. Check the monitor tab, to ensure that Windows is using the Hitachi driver, not the Default Monitor driver. If the Hitachi driver is being used, switch to the Default Monitor. The Default Monitor may correct the problem you're having with 32-bit color. If the Default Monitor driver is being used, switch to the Hitachi Monitor driver. If the Hitachi driver is not found, or doesn't work, or Windows switches back to the Default Monitor, find and install the proper 98SE driver for your Hitachi monitor. You indicated your Hitachi monitor driver was designed to work in Windows 2000. Is this driver also specified to work in Windows 98SE? Similarly, are your NVidia drivers specified to work in 98SE? If not, find and install the correct drivers for 98SE. If you install new drivers, you may have to remove older drivers, first, in order to get the new drivers to work. For this purpose, I've used "Nasty File Remover" (NFR) available here: http://majorgeeks.com/Nasty_File_Remover_d3233.html
  10. Windows 98SE requires a different version of MPC 6.4.9.1, than does Windows XP. The 98SE version is non-unicode, and some of the internal codecs are different from the Windows XP version. You can get both versions here: http://www.free-codecs.com/media_player_classic_download.htm The last Windows 98SE version of MPC 6.4.9.1, which version I use, is revision 82. The latest XP version has a higher revision number, but also contains internal codecs incompatible with 98SE. If your notebook is 98SE, and plays the DVD's, copy the notebook MPC to your desktop PC, and see if the notebook version also works on the desktop. Again, there are different versions of MPC 6.4.9.1, even with the same version number. MPC 6.4.9.1 is a DirectShow media player, as is Windows Media Player. Thus, MPC is able to use external DirectShow codecs to play DVD's, but you must first turn off related internal codecs in MPC. External codecs in MPC may be incompatible with Windows 98 SE. If so, some (but not all) of these external codecs may be made compatible using Kernelex. (If Kernelex is installed, right-click on the codec's dll or ax file, select properties, change Kernelex compatibility to Windows 2000 or Windows XP). Note only DirectShow filters, whether internal or external, work in MPC.
  11. Following is the local network setup on my 98SE computer and router: From the Windows 98 control panel, double-click the "Network" icon. Under the "Configuration" tab, double-click "TCP/IP" for your network card. Select "IP Address" tab, click "Obtain an IP address automatically." Click the "Gateway" tab. If any "Installed Gateways" listed, select each one and click "Remove". Click the "DNS Configuration" tab, and then select "Disable DNS". Click OK to exit the TCP/IP Properties window. Then click OK again to exit the Network window. Click yes to restart your computer. After your computer restarts, click "Start" then "Run". Type "WINIPCFG" and click "OK". (Note, "IPCONFIG" is for Windows 2000 and higher, not 98SE).It may take a minute or two for the "IP Configuration" window to appear. From the dropdown menu, select your network card. Click "Release" and then click "Renew". Then click OK to close the window. (you may want to write down the router address, before clicking OK, so that you can later access and configure your router from your browser). Hopefully, your Windows 98 computer is now connected to your router. Note, Microsoft has a "Microsoft Network Wizard" ("Netsetup.exe") for Windows 98SE, which wizard you may find helpful. The wizard is run from a floppy.
  12. Winyl media player is a new audio player for Windows with media library and internet radio support. It is very fast on my ancient Windows 98SE system (run as windows 2000 in kernelex). Download is available from http://download.cnet.com/Winyl/3000-2139_4-10910844.html?tag=mncol;5
  13. Use MPC's internal filter for MP4. The external Gabest direct show filter for MP4 is supposed to be the same as the internal filter. However, I haven't been able to get the external filter to work, even in MPC.
  14. PotPlayer and MPlayer Lite, referenced above, both use MPlayer to play video. MPlayer is awesome in Linux, less so in XP and much less so in 98se/me. I use SMPlayer, an MPlayer front-end, as my default video player in Linux. SMPlayer also runs in Windows 98SE, using a cygwin build of MPlayer. How to do this is explained here: http://smplayer.berlios.de/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21&sid=8140b2d378f191e9f8381f9e6562ec4a A cygwin build of MPlayer is available here: http://sourceforge.net/projects/smplayer/files/MPlayer%20for%20Windows/09_2008/
  15. There may be BIOS issues of a ram upgrade to 512mb for the hp 7845, at least for XP, according to this 2005 posting: http://forums.cnet.com/7723-7591_102-125938.html If so, you may be maxed out at 384mb. You may also be able to upgrade your memory indirectly by upgrading to or installing a newer AGP video card. AGP video uses a portion of system memory in order to run. By installing a newer video card with bigger and faster memory, and reducing AGP Aperture size to the minimum (in BIOS setup), you gain system memory for other computer processes. Allowing for a 16mb AGP Aperture, you may also want to edit or make a new vcache entry in your system.ini file, as follows: [vcache] MaxFileCache=330000 Adjust this number up or down, if you notice degradation in system performance (to edit system.ini, use notepad or run sysedit),
  16. The HP Pavilion 7845 has 2 bank(s) with 1 slot in each bank. Thus, the HP memory module, or any other module, should work standalone in either slot. If not, there may be something wrong with the second slot. Make sure that the slot is clean and the module is properly seated. Also, make sure the memory modules themselves are clean. The newer PC133 memory modules are supposed to be backward compatible to PC100, and should work standalone in either slot, or together with another PC100 or PC133 module. Are you sure that your 256MB module(s) aren't bad? The number of chips on the module should not matter. However, the modules of the same memory size but with fewer chips- these modules tend to be manufactured later, with better quality (especially if made by major manufacturers, rather than generic). Fewer chips also make the module easier to install.
  17. Memory does not need to be a specific brand, but must match the requirements of your motherboad and settings. For example, memory may have to be of a specific speed or higher; memory may have to installed in a specific order; or memory may be best installed, or required to be installed, in matched pairs. Thus, to start, you may want to try downloading an owner's manual for your computer model from HP. Another source, of your computer's memory requirements, may be memory vendors on the internet.
  18. I made an unscientific comparison test, comparing various browsers, on my legacy 98SE computer. Times to open each browser on a blank page: K-Meleon 1.6.0.................................................................. 18 seconds SlimBrowser 5.00 build 99................................................ 3 seconds Internet Explorer 6.0.......................................................... 2 seconds Opera 10.63...................................................................... 10 seconds Firefox 2.0.20......................................................... 1 min 25 seconds Firefox 3.5.8...................................................................... 52 seconds Times to render a new webpage (no graphics or ads) for each browser: K-Meleon 1.6.0.................................................................. 24 seconds SlimBrowser 5.00 build 99.................................................. 3 seconds Internet Explorer 6.0.......................................................... 3 seconds Opera 10.63........................................................................ 3 seconds Firefox 2.0.20....................................................................... 6 seconds Firefox 3.5.8......................................................................... 6 seconds My browser of choice for 98SE is Opera (better security than IE or IE-based browsers, such as SlimBrowser).
  19. Maxthon 3, like Safari and Chrome, is now primarily a Webkit browser. Older versions of Maxthon are needed to work on Windows 98. The best browser I found, using the Internet Explorer 6 engine, is SlimBrowser, available here: http://www.slimbrowser.net/release/sbsetup_501_win9x.exe or here: http://www.slimbrowser.net/en/dlpage.php Maxthon, Avant, SlimBrowser, and other browsers using the IE engine, are no more secure than the version of Internet Explorer used, which for Windows 98SE/ME is IE6. The latest "unofficial" security updates for IE6 are from 2010 available here: http://www.mdgx.com/spx/MDIE6CU.EXE or from here (7-24-2010 Update of MDIE6CU): http://www.mdgx.com/upd98me.php Older versions of Firefox and SeaMonkey are not secure browsers. For more secure browsing, use IE, Maxthon, Avant, or SlimBrowser after updating IE with MDIE6CU. Or better use Opera 10.63. Or best, use later versions of Firefox, SeaMonkey, or Opera with Kernelex.
  20. "Motherboard Monitor" monitors CPU, hard drive, and other temperature, as well as fan speeds, on older computers with specific motherboards listed in the software. The software sounds an alarm if monitored temperatures are exceeded. Download from http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Motherboard-Monitor-Download-6213.html . Another software cooler, alternative to Rain, is Waterfall Pro. Download from http://www.majorgeeks.com/Waterfall_Pro_d437.html .
  21. Check your BIOS settings to determine if your computer uses SHADOW RAM for BIOS or Video. If so, disable all such settings. Also consider disabling some or all of the Power Management settings in the BIOS. Also consider disabling SMART drive settings in the BIOS. If you haven't done so already, eliminate unnecessary line items (in addition to just program startups) from autoexec.bat, config.sys, and win.ini (Run "Sysedit" to edit these files. Type REM at the beginning of autoexec.bat lines and/or config.sys lines to disable these lines. Type a semicolon at the beginning of win.ini lines. Remove these REM's or semicolons, if your changes don't work out.)
  22. There appears to be two compatibility issues at work here. First, for Windows 98, "StartMenuInternet" is in the following Windows Registry key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Clients\StartMenuInternet\ ... On the other hand, beginning with Windows XP, "StartMenuInternet" is in the following Windows Registry key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\ ... Apparently, Opera 11's "Open With" menu no longer looks in the "Software" registry key for "iexplore.exe", but only in the "SOFTWARE" Windows Registry key. Thus, manually entering new "SOFTWARE" registry keys, for IE and other browsers, fixes the problem. Second, Windows 98 handles long file names somewhat differently than Windows XP and above. For example, a lookup of the application path for "iexplore.exe" shows this result in my Windows 98: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\IEXPLORE.EXE] @="C:\\PROGRA~1\\INTERN~1\\iexplore.exe" "Path"="C:\\PROGRA~1\\INTERN~1\\;" "set"="8" Again, Opera 11 may no longer lookup "IEXPLORE.EXE" in the "Software" Windows Registry key, only in the "SOFTWARE" Windows Registry key. And, Opera 11 may no longer handle Windows 98 long filename notation. So try changing your custom IE button in the Opera standard_toolbar[...].ini file from: "Open in Internet Explorer"="Execute program, "iexplore", "%u", "Open in Internet Explorer"". to this: "Open in Internet Explorer"="Execute program, "C:\\Program Files\\Internet Explorer\\iexplore.exe", "%u", "Open in Internet Explorer"".
  23. Try Memorex exPressit Label Design Studio http://www.memorex.com/en-us/Support/exPressit-Label-Design-Studio/ .
  24. I've set MaxFileCache=457216, with only 768 MB of RAM, in the SYSTEM.INI file as follows: [386Enh] MaxPhysPage=40000 [vcache] MaxFileCache=457216 The higher cache size works great, because I have also reduced "AGP Aperture Size", in the system BIOS settings, to a minimum 4 MB ( MaxFileCache = 457216 = apx. ((512MB X 90%) - 4 MB)). Windows 98 uses the same 512 MB of memory available for cache size, as the system memory available to the AGP video card. Accordingly, if you don't need much system memory to augment limited video card memory, try increasing MaxFileCache and decreasing "AGP Aperture Size". (Note, my video card not only has lots of memory, but this video card memory is faster than system memory. Thus, performance of my 98SE computer was much improved with a newer video card, with larger, faster memory).
  25. Try downloading and using the "Banane" skin for your Real Player. The "Music Store" and "Real Guide" and other merchandising go away. And you're left with a simple media player interface. The "XMPlay" media player can be used to play real player audio(sorry, no video), including streaming audio, using its optional Real Audio plugin. The plugin uses either Real Player or Real Alternative codecs.
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