Windows 98 is not working
Once you are familiar with the desktop and used to the way Windows 98 responds to your work routine, you can easily detect if Windows 98 is not working correctly. For example:

Windows 98 fails to start after the Starting Windows 98message appears.
Windows 98 takes a long time to start.
Windows 98 responds differently from the normal routine.
the screen does not look right.
Unless a hardware device has failed, problems usually occur when you change the system in some way such as installing a new program. If you experience any of these problems, use the start-up options in the Windows 98 Start-up menu to fix the problem.

Using Start-up options to fix problems
If Windows 98 fails to start properly, you may have to change your system's configuration or verify the start-up procedure to fix the problem. To do this, use the start-up options in the Windows 98 Start-up menu. This section describes each start-up option and when to use the procedure.

To open the Windows 98 Start-up menu:

Restart your computer.
Press F8 when your computer starts.
The Windows 98 Start-up menu displays the following options:

Normal
Logged (\BOOTLOG.TXT)
Safe mode
Step-by-step confirmation
Command prompt only
Safe mode command prompt only
HINT: If your computer is connected to a network, the Start-up menu may display different versions of Safe mode.

Starting Windows in Normal mode
Selecting Normal starts Windows 98 under normal conditions. Start the computer in Normal mode when there are no apparent problems with the system.

Starting Windows in Logged (BOOTLOG.TXT) mode
Selecting Logged starts Windows 98 under normal conditions and creates a hidden start-up log file named C:\BOOTLOG.TXT. This file records every step of the system's start-up process.

You or a qualified Windows 98 expert can use this log file to check the loading and initializing of Windows 98 device drivers.

DEFINITION: A device driver is a file that contains information to help the computer's BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) control the operation of devices connected to the system.

Starting Windows in Safe mode
Selecting Safe mode bypasses basic start-up files and starts Windows 98, enabling only the mouse, keyboard, and standard VGA display drivers.

Running Safe mode allows you to undo any changes you made to the system configuration that may have caused Windows 98 or a device to fail. For example, if you choose a resolution that is not supported by the display, Windows 98 has a problem starting correctly. Safe mode bypasses the setting and allows you to change the resolution to one supported by the display. Once you have done this, Windows 98 starts correctly.

Other problems may involve a device driver. See Windows NT can help you to fix the problem.

HINT: Windows 98 automatically starts in Safe mode if it detects that system start-up failed or the Windows 98 Registry (the file that defines how Windows 98 is set up) is corrupted.

Starting Windows with Step-by-step confirmation
When you turn on your computer, Windows 98 processes the start-up files. Selecting Step-by-step confirmation, causes the system to ask you to confirm each line of the start-up process once it appears. Use this option:

When the start-up process fails while loading the start-up files.
To verify that all drivers are being loaded.
To temporarily disable one or more specific driver(s).
To check for errors in the start-up files.
Windows 98 uses a file called IO.SYS, which contains all the information needed to start the computer. Although your computer does not need the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files to start, it does process these files to support backward compatibility with some programs and device drivers. The same holds true for the SYSTEM.INI and WIN.INI files.

TECHNICAL NOTE: Programs and devices that are backward- compatible are designed to work with older operating systems and other programs. For example, many features of Windows 98 are backward-compatible with earlier versions of Windows. This lets you use older programs with Windows 98.

Most of the information contained in these files is now stored in the Windows 98 Registry. However, they are still processed during system start-up. BOOTLOG.TXT file contains a record of all the components and drivers loaded during start-up and the status of each. When you select Step-by-step confirmation, you can view all these files one line at a time to help diagnose the cause of a problem.

Starting Windows with the Command prompt only option
Command prompt only starts the basic operating system with all the start-up files and device drivers.

Use this option when you want to run MS-DOS or Windows 98 commands. This option is for advanced users who are familiar with MS-DOS and know what these commands do.

Starting Windows with the Safe mode command prompt only option
Selecting Safe mode command prompt only bypasses the system start-up files and displays the command prompt.

Use this option under the following conditions:

Windows 98 fails to start even in Safe mode.
You want to run MS-DOS commands such as Edit to make changes to your start-up files.
You want to avoid loading HIMEM.SYS (extended memory manager), or IFSHLP.SYS (file system manager).
Windows 98 can help you
If Windows 98 has started properly, but you still have a problem using your computer, Windows 98 Help can assist you in troubleshooting the problem.

To access Windows 98 Help:

Click the Start button and click Help.
Click the Contents tab and type Troubleshooting.
Double-click a problem you would like help with, and follow the steps on the screen.
Fixing a problem with Device Manager
Device Manager provides a way to check and change the configuration of a device.

NOTE: Using Device Manager to change the default settings can cause other conflicts that make one or more devices unusable. Device Manager is a tool for advanced users who understand configuration parameters and the ramifications of changing them.
Windows NT does not have Device Manager.

Disabling a device in Windows
Click the My Computer icon with the secondary button, then click Properties.
The System Properties dialog box appears.

Click the Device Manager tab.
The Device Manager page moves to the front.



Device Manager


This page lists the components of the system that you can change through Device Manager.

Double-click the device type to display the device installed.
Double-click the device.
A dialog box displays the device's properties.

In the device usage section of the dialog box, select the check box next to "Disable in this Hardware Profile."
A check mark appears in the box.

Click OK to close the Device Properties.
Click OK to close System Properties.
Checking device properties
Device Manager provides a way to view the properties of a device. Properties include the name of the manufacturer, the type of device, the drivers installed, and the system resources assigned to the device. To check a device's properties, follow these steps:

Click the My Computer icon with the secondary button, then click Properties.
Windows 98 displays the System Properties dialog box.

Click the Device Manager tab.
To view the device installed, double-click the device type.
To view the properties, double-click the device.
Windows displays the Device Properties dialog box, which provides tabs from which to choose. The number of tabs displayed depends on the device. Some of the most frequent tabs are:

The General tab provides basic information about the device.
The Resources tab lists the resources assigned to the device. If you have a device conflict, it is shown in the Conflicting device list.
The Drivers tab displays the drivers being used by the device.
For further information about Device Manager, refer to Windows online help.

Back to Bob's Index Page