Getting Windows 98 back up to speed

Run Windows own registry fixing tool:

Start > Run > type "SCANREG /FIX" (no quotes - note space between G and /)

Press enter and reboot when the process completes.

This tool will fix and optimise the registry.

See if that helps.

Zee

I don't beleive that cleaning the registry (there are quite a lot of freeware and shareware registry cleaners, even one from Microsoft itself) influences the performance of a machine more than an insignificant trifle unmeasurable aamount.

Speed is influenced by things like like:
- speed of CPU
- amount of RAM (in relation to what you do)
- speed of video card (especially for games)
- background programs running
- virusses and spyware running in the background
- virtual memory settings
- defrag state of hard disk
- for certain things: amount of files in temp-folder and IE cache

Things to do:
- check with antivirus + antispyware
- disk cleanup wizard
- good look at unnecessary background programs running
- defrag
- set virtual memory fixed
- add RAM

Tell (or ask) more if needed.

Kees

1. I also haven't noticed much help by cleaning-optimizing registry.
2. As noted, msconfig is a good place to turn off unneeded startup stuff, except some stuff puts itself back in; which is where I use System Mechanic (www.iolo.com) to disable startup stuff and it mostly keeps repeats from adding back in. Even after the 30 day trial, changes stay,unless you uninstall it, but nothing new can be done.
3. a few years ago, 32mb ram was on the margin of ok. Now with all the extra stuff needed, 48mb is minimum and 64mb is better. I have BHO Demon, Avast antivirus, Zone Alarm, and a few other things running in the background. I've seen the rise in use of virtual memory.
4. I use WinTop from Win95 Power toys to check processor useage. I don't see a lot using it up. I use Norton Utilities 2002 to check ram and other useage, but it doesn't tell me what is using % of ram. Device Manager-Performance doesn't tell reality of ram useage.
5. two speeds, bootup time and speed of operation. I walk away for 5 minutes now at bootup. All other stuff mentioned in previous post is good. I've seen noticeable speed increase with a faster processor but not as much as maybe worthwhile (500mhz instead of 200mhz for example). 4mb video instead of 2mb is noticeable. Ram seems the biggest diff.
6. I've accepted W98SE as an inherently slow OS, with all the modern stuff, compared to XP. It can't be as fast as before unless you fresh install and don't add anything new (dangerous).

1. Is there something that can be done to correct registry file problems without going in and trying to directly edit the registry file

The likelihood of you knowing what has been added and is now extraneous -- even if you could ascertain what -- would be close to nil. My suggestion is to not even try. However, it could be that Kees has some good suggestions in that some registry cleaners can get rid of stuff that is simply setting there unused -- which would make the file shorter but not necessarily useful.

2. or just completely putting in the disk that gets the computer back to the exact same configuration as when it is purchased new.

Provided you have backups of your data and also backups of device drivers for those items which were added since the system was purchased, it would most likely be the safest and most efficient means of correcting the anomalies now experienced. Just remember however this means the hardware system is now exactly as it was when bought. If not, anything added since would most likely need removing/disconnecting and afterwards added back with the appropriate software installed so they work again.

Wow, how did all of you get so smart? I had gotten lax about running a spyware scan. Boot times were up around 10 to 15 minutes (no kidding). So today I sat down and updated both my anti-virus program and the spyware detection software that I am using. I had just updated the anti-virus software about 5 days ago and ran a scan. Which produced nothing. Today as the anti-virus was running I got the message that I had run out of buffer space and the program was terminating. After that message left the screen the anti-virus software kept doing it's thing producing nothing.

I then ran the spyware detection software and it yielded several concerns. But the big shocker was one of the programs that came with my scanner was listed as spyware.

I am now in the process of updating another spyware program and then I will run that one, and then I will get a third one. After running the last two, I will run the anti-virus again.

Sure will be nice when there is a comprehensive software package for spyware detection. Something that falls along the lines of Symantec. Where a person can purchase it for a year and have updates.

Once again thank you all!

Have a Great Day,
Jim