Windows 98 SE config.sys & autoexec.bat files

[normap]

Is there supposed to be anything in the config.sys and autoexec.bat files when running Windows 98 SE?? I am trying to speed up a system that takes 15 minutes to just startup and there is nothing in these 2 files. If nothing is supposed to be in them then where is all this stuff kept now?? system.ini??

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[edfair]

It loads automatically by the OS. Leave the files alone. Only time you really need them is some older stuff, real mode drivers, and ramdisks.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[torturedmind]

hi. maybe you should look into windows startup routine. click Start->Run... then type "msconfig" (w/out the quotes) and press enter. go to the startup tab and check/uncheck any startup programs. it's possible that windows is loading unnecessary applications right under your nose. i also suggest to run Spybot S&D, Ad-Aware, or any good spyware/malware/adware cleaner. run also a full system check from your antivirus software with updated pattern files. and if necessary, delete ALL contents under C:\WINDOWS\TEMP folder (i do this everytime with IE Privacy Keeper).

hope this will help. peace!


kilroy
philippines

"Illegitimis non carborundum!"

 

[diogenes10]

cdogg's faq615-3144

-------------------------------------
It's 10 O'Clock ( somewhere! ).
Are your registry and data backed up?

 

[TekTippy4U]

to add;
could be trying to look for a Network connection at boot up too. Also - If it's an older box and/or major manu. - make sure you have correct drivers installed for all the components. Definitely clean up the HDD too. Empty is usually fine for those two files (depending on components).
Explain your sys specs and your network connections, if any, in more detail

TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs

 

[AnalogAnomaly]

One interesting thing about Windows98 SE, is that it doesn't need any content in those two files to boot properly. Additionally you don't need a kernel32.dll as windows will regenerate that file aswell. There are some others like this I shall not bother listing here. If you're trying to speed up the boot time of an old machine.. this is what i'd do in 10 steps..

1) backup data

2) check hardware(IE check for blown caps, make sure you have a decent amount of ram.. for 98se 128mb is decent, 512 is max, yes 9x will read more than 512 but you'll have errors and it won't be able to properly address it)

3) Go through and delete all temporary files, this includes but is not limited to the following:

-any file found with %windrive%\*.tmp

-any file found with

-any file found with %windir%\temp\*.*

-any file found with %windir%\local settings\temporary internet files\*.* or any of it's subdirectories

-any file found in your recycle bin

-any file found in %windir% with the extention *.tmp

4) reboot into safe mode, scan disk, then defrag

5) download, install, and run spybot search and destroy 1.3, and adaware 6. Update both, then run them(IE use them to scan your hard drive(s) for spyware and remove any you find) then update and run them again.

6) Scan for virii and remove any you may find.

7) you can clean up some of the system files manually with sysedit, but be careful. I don't reccomend this for novice users, additionly whether you do this or not, i reccomend running system file checker and backing up your registry aswell. System File checker can be run by typing "sfc" at a command prompt or the run line, additonally regedit /backup will make backup copy of your registry if i recall the syntax correctly.

8) if you have any of the following programs, remove them, and get something better:

McAffe Anti-Virus
Norton System Works
AVG
Trend Micro's PCcillin
Norton Anti-Virus(not as crappy as those listed above, but f-secure and kaprsky still make it look stupid)
Kazzaa
E-Mule
Sharezza
E-Donkey
Napster
Rhapsody
Winamp 5(eariler versions are just fine, but winamp 5 is a mess)
Roxio Easy CD Creator(hasn't been half-decent since version 3, go get nero or alcahol)
... unfortonately this list seems quite long.. i'll stop here.

9) once you're done, scan-disk and degfag again, then reboot, hit delete while booting to get into the bios, from there you may benefit from changing the boot order do hard drive, floppy, then cd-rom, save changes (f10 usually) and exit.

10) Once you've finished the basic stuff listed above let us know how the machine is performing, further tweaking may or may not be necessary.

 

[AnalogAnomaly]

bleh.. sorry.. wasn't thinking there.. flip-flop steps 7 and 8

I'm a bit off today.. x.x;

 

[TekTippy4U]

!!Welcome Aboard AnalogAnomoly !!
decent post AA, with some very helpul suggestions in detail .
some things;

512 is max, yes 9x will read more than 512 but you'll have errors and it won't be able to properly address it

there's an on going disagreement about the max RAM, here at tek-tips, that 98 will take. I say 1GB, others say 768MB, and MS says 512-768 depending on which article...anyway, we've kinda all-together decided to let that one lay awhile on it's own unless specific thread requesting..[shades]
BTW - capitalized IE usually means Internet Explorer (not nit-picking...honestly)

-any file found with %windrive%\*.tmp
I haven't been able to access %windrive% on my box, though I'm not on a Network either

System File checker can be run by typing "sfc" at a command prompt or the run line,
Sfc at a command prompt will do nothing - though Start > Run SFC will yield results. (Typing SFC in Pure DOS Mode, or even from a DOS Prompt Box -- SFC is a 32bit .exe for Windows only tool)

additonally regedit /backup will make backup copy of your registry if i recall the syntax correctly.
Aware your thoughts are all over -- as mine are also - ALOT of times...just thought I'd clarify
Start > Run Scanregw will backup the REG as well as Start > RunMSinfo32 Tools Menu > Registry Checker (regedit /backup in 98 takes me to REGEDIT).

hit delete while booting to get into the bios
Maybe another Key or KeyCombo to get into BIOS (F1, F2, F10, or even ctrl+alt+del, then another - depending).

from there you may benefit from changing the boot order do hard drive, floppy, then cd-rom, save changes (f10 usually) and exit.
CDROM, HDD, then Floppy is my preference as all will be bypassed if unbootable from each preceeding device.(though Floppy may need to be put first in "certain" circumstances. Floppies can have viruses MAD!! and that's why they're last...(I don't even use them - except for Flashing the BIOS, if necessary, and it's capable from CDROM anyway as long as you can create the Flash on a PC with a floppy drive and CDRW )

Kazaa is BAAAAADDDD!!!
Kazaa Resurrection is OK....AVG is Fine (IMO) and I use it! (it's got a small footprint, unlike NSW, or NIS)...and just in case others who may be reading are googling -- it's Kapersky AntiVirus.

I've made some corrections, and expressed some opinions, but trying to be only constructive and NOT critical....
Thanks
Good to have here AA!


TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs

 

[AnalogAnomaly]

Thanks for the input. Unfortunately we cannot go back and edit our posts here. (Atleast not to my knowledge.)Or I would most certianly be inclined to do so.

some more stuff;

I haven't been able to access %windrive% on my box, though I'm not on a Network either

It was all typed from memory. I do apollogoize for any incorrect or misleading iformation provided therein. I have also noticed that from boxen to boxen %windrive% seems to work just fine in one and not at all on another, even if the same os is loaded. In retrospect, perhaps I shouldn't have used it.

Sfc at a command prompt will do nothing - though Start > Run SFC will yield results. (Typing SFC in Pure DOS Mode, or even from a DOS Prompt Box -- SFC is a 32bit .exe for Windows only tool)

Thank you again for the correction. Again it seems my memory has failed me. Perhaps I need a RAM upgrade?

Aware your thoughts are all over -- as mine are also - ALOT of times...just thought I'd clarify
Start > Run Scanregw will backup the REG as well as Start > RunMSinfo32 Tools Menu > Registry Checker (regedit /backup in 98 takes me to REGEDIT).

Again I thank you for the correction.

Maybe another Key or KeyCombo to get into BIOS (F1, F2, F10, or even ctrl+alt+del, then another - depending).

Indeed, I work mainly with award, trend, and pheonix bios' though every bios is different. I shall strive to be more considerate of such differances in the future.

CDROM, HDD, then Floppy is my preference as all will be bypassed if unbootable from each preceeding device.(though Floppy may need to be put first in "certain" circumstances. Floppies can have viruses MAD!! and that's why they're last...(I don't even use them - except for Flashing the BIOS, if necessary, and it's capable from CDROM anyway as long as you can create the Flash on a PC with a floppy drive and CDRW )

It is indeed a matter of preferance. Floppies are needed for Raid and SCSI drivers, among other things. Every tech does things differently. So long as they get the job done and done right it doesn't much matter. Though for speed I thought it best to boot right to the HDD and bypass the time needed to check both floppy and cd-rom for bootable volumes/media.

Kazaa Resurrection is OK....AVG is Fine (IMO) and I use it! (it's got a small footprint, unlike NSW, or NIS)...and just in case others who may be reading are googling -- it's Kapersky AntiVirus.

This isn't the thread for AV-bashing. Though I would like to express that my distaste and malice towards AVG, McAffe, and Norton System Works, among others should be well known for good reason. Maybe I'll write a thread of FAQ about it.


Thanks Again TekTippy4U, both for your greeting and input, both of which are most appreciated.