Windows 98 tweak performance

[COIS2004]

Hi all windows 98 experts. I have just ben handed down an old windows 98 PC and it is running very slow at the moment (slower than i believe it should)

my question is
1.) How do i find out the CPU speed, is there a system tool to achieve this?
2.)Any tips to tweak its performance appart from defrag?
3.) also the pc has a lot of junk on (for instance the old users files) how do i format the PC or restore to factory settings...however i dont have a copy of windows 98 on disk so is there a way without uninstalling windows?

Thanks for any advice you can give on the three questions

 

[jrbarnett]

1) WCPUID will tell you the CPU type and clock speed,

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=435

If you want more detailed info though, like graphics card, sound card, network card as well as installed software, get Aida32 from

http://www.aida32.hu.

2) Empty the temp folder, internet history and browser cache, uninstall unwanted software in addition to defragging the hard disk. Also run WindowsUpdate and go to component manufacturer's websites to check for newer drivers as some (not all) can have performance improvements.

If the machine has a network card but is not plugged into a network, give TCP/IP properties for it a fixed IP within a private range so it won't search for a DHCP server on bootup.

3) Check to see if there is a folder "C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS" with a load of files with the .CAB extension and a SETUP.EXE file in there. If there is, I would wipe the C:\WINDOWS and WINDOWS\SYSTEM folder as well as program files and the data then use that to reinstall. I would however take a copy of everything first just in case you come up against problems.
This is where most OEM installations of 98 get put.

John

 

[ski]

Also, update the AV program with the latest files, and check for viruses.

Then, d/l and run Spybot, Ad-aware, and CWShredder to remove any spyware.

Next, go to Start/Run, type msconfig, click OK, click the Startup tab, and uncheck the boxes for all entries except ScanRegistry, System Tray, and a firewall(if the system has one), click OK, and restart the computer.
(I highly recommend that the AV program also be unchecked as it eats up a lot of resources, memory, and CPU bandwidth, which in turn slows down performance. Just be sure to frequently update it, and run it manually. Actually, the best way to prevent getting a virus is to be careful about which e-mail attachmants you open(this is how 90% of viruses are spread), and also be careful with borrowed floppies and burned CD's.)

Then, open System Monitor, enable 'Unused Physical Memory', and 'Swapfile In Use', and 'Processor Usage(%). If the UPM is at or near zero and SIU shows activity, then install more RAM. If the PU(%) is high when no applications are open, then you may have to borrow a Win 98 install CD, reformat the HD, and do a clean Windows install.
If UPM has a positive value and SIU is zero, then open some applications or play a game, and recheck. Add more RAM if the swapfile activates.

If all of the suggestions posted in this string do not help, then it's possible that the HD may be failing. Run diagnostics available at the HD manuf's site to check it.

 

[tviman]

If there is, I would wipe the C:\WINDOWS and WINDOWS\SYSTEM folder

BE CAREFUL!!!! Be fore you do this, MAKE SURE you've copied everything from the C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS folder. Wiping the C:\WINDOWS file before doing so will erase those files as well!

There's always a better way. The fun is trying to find it!