Windows 98 Tips - Program Management / Installation

submitted by: Matthew
posted: 2/14/01

Easier access to apps in the Start Menu

Here's a shortcut for your Start Menu.

To get to a program fast, rename the program or folder and put a number in front of the Program(s) you want to get to quickly.

EXAMPLE:

1 WinZip
2 Microsoft Word
3 Windows Explorer

Then type the Start Menu shortcut (Ctrl + Esc), click on Programs, then type the number in front of the program you want.

Example: Ctrl + Esc + click on Programs + 2 = Word

Hope the trick helps!

MATTHEW (I'm 11)

submitted by: Roger Griffin
posted: 9/8/00

Easier way to find your Win98 Product Key

Start >> Run

Type in Regedit

GoTo Edit >> Find

Type in ProductKey (no space between words)

Hit Enter

Be patient. Edit takes a few moments to work.

You'll be taken to the key where you can see the 25-digit key

submitted by: EsperNZA
posted: 8/11/00

Fixing the Programs listing

Hate the way the Start Menu's Programs listing is now one big long column that you have to scroll up and down to find the stuff you want? You can put it back to the old multi-column style with a simple Registry edit.

Start >> Run >> Regedit
(make sure you back up your Registry first! I'm not reponsible if you mess up the Registry somehow and disable your machine!)

Go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Software
Microsoft
Windows
CurrentVersion
explorer
Advanced

Edit > New > String Value

Then type StartMenuScrollPrograms and hit Enter
Double-click on the new box then put false in the Value data box

Voila! No more single column scrolling blues!

submitted by: GORK
posted: 6/22/00

Changing your identity

Hello. I'm GORK, I live in Portugal, and this tip works with Win98SE Portuguese (never tried on older versions/languages--[Ed. Note: works with my English copy]).

If you want to change the serial number, registered name, or organization in Win98SE, try this:

• Right-click on My Computer

• Select Properties

• Copy the xxxxx-OEM-xxxxxxx-xxxxx (or similar)

• Go to the regedit program [Start >> Run >> regedit] (or similar)

• Go to Edit >> Find... and search for the xxxxx-OEM-xxxxxxx-xxxxx (the other items are there, too)

• Delete the key.

Next time you boot there will be a form asking you for the name/organization and serial number.

submitted by: Hesperides
posted: 5/26/00

Cool Closing Trick

To close a number of open programs at the same time, hold down the CTRL key, click the programs on the taskbar you want to close, then right-click on any one of the selected ones and choose Close.

submitted by: Michael Douglas
posted: 3/31/00

Reinstalling a faster, slicker Win98

Need to format your drive and reinstall Windows from scratch? It just got easier.

1. Boot up with a Win98 boot disk which has the IDE CD-ROM drivers on it

2. Tell it to boot with CD-ROM support

3. Format the C: drive (format c:)

4. Switch to the C: drive and create a dir called c:\options\cabs\win98

5. Switch to the CD-ROM drive letter and go into the Win98 folder. (e.g., E:\win98)

6. Type the following command to copy needed setup files: copy *.* c:\options\cabs\win98.

7. After this is done, eject the Win98 CD and switch back to the C: drive (c:\options\cabs\win98)

8. Type setup and watch it go

You will notice that almost half of the junk files are not loaded this time--just the essentials.

Also, whenever you add an accessory, Windows knows exactly where to look to get the files it needs. Nope, not the Windows 98 CD, but the c:\options\cabs\win98 directory from which you originally installed it.

submitted by: Ted
posted: 10/29/99

Finding your Product Key

Lost your Windows 98 Product Key (used to install/re-install Windows)?

If it's already installed on your system, you can find it using RegEdit and going to key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ProductKey

There you'll find your 25-digit install code!

submitted by: Diogenes Perez
posted: 10/29/99

Dealing with different OEM #s

Want to install Windows 9x but you have another CD that contains another OEM# and you don't want to format the drive?

Just renanme Win.COM to Win.CON so that Windows Setup can't recognize it.

You have to do this in DOS mode in order for it to work

submitted by: Rodd Tidd
posted: 9/24/99

Restoring Win98 after installing something new freezes your box

Ever install an application, patch, update, or driver and then reboot your computer and it runs erratically or doesn't bootup at all? Well, Windows 98 has a Registry Restoration program built into it.

To restore the Registry and system to a "pre-install" state, simply reboot and hold down the CTRL key or F8 key so that you get the Windows 98 boot menu. Then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt only and hit Enter.

When you come up with the C:\> prompt change to the C:\windows\command directory. Once there type scanreg /restore, hit Enter, and the system will run the Windows Registry Checker and come up with a list of 5 backed-up Registries and their corresponding backup dates. Choose the date that is nearest to the pre-install date, press Enter, and that Registry will be restored to the system.

By default, Windows 98 keeps copies of only the last 5 backed-up Registries and does this all with no user intervention. There is a way to increase the number of Registries that 98 will store and a way the user can make backup registries for use with Scanreg, but I'm saving those for future tips . . .

submitted by: Joseph Gibbons
posted: 6/11/99

Easy way to change Win98 settings

Need an easy way to view or alter what is running in the background?

Need to change your config.sys or autoexec.bat?

Want to change what drivers are loaded when Windows starts?

All this and more can be done by clicking on your Start button, clicking Run, and typing in msconfig or msconfig.exe.

From here you can alter many settings on your Win98 computer.

submitted by: Brian B
posted: 6/11/99

Win98 Easier Startup Control

Seek and destroy those annoying start up programs that seem unstoppable. Try this well hidden utility present in Win 98.

Under Start / Accessories / System Tools / System Information, and then the Tools Tab / System Configuration Utility, hit the Startup File button. There you will find a list of every TSR, start-up file, setup applet, etc. that is present in your system. Make sure you know which one your looking for, for some of them are vital for Win98.

Also this System Information Utility has a bundle of goodies to review your startup files, with editors to review boot files, Registry review, cleanup, and editing.

Under Tool files there are a many helpful utilities including the system check tool, Direct X Benchmark Utility, uninstall info and a genorous offering of delectable system diagnostic tools. I find it extremely helpful and actually fun to use these. Of course, maybe I should get a life while I am at it.

(Rob note: The tip right below outlines the more "manual" way to control your startup apps.)

submitted by: Zach Z
posted: 5/28/99

Removing Startup programs

You have searched for them in the StartUp folder. You have searched for them in your System.ini file. Yet still no instances of the pesky programs that load at startup. Simple: some of them are still stored in the Registry.

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version. Under that, there are two keys, named Run and RunOnce.

Another place is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version. Under that branch, search for keys named Run, RunOnce, RunOnceEx, RunServices & RunServicesOnce.

Once you find it, it is advisable not to delete the string. Instead, just clear away the value.

Nicely done!

submitted by: Benjamin Lee
posted: 5/28/99

Do Windows Update Privately

Want access to Microsoft Windows Update but don't want to give up all your personal information to do it?

Open your Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE) and navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

On the right-hand side, you should see RegDone "". Edit that to make it RegDone "1".

It won't show up on the Welcome to Windows app, but will give you total access to Windows Update.

submitted by: Zach
posted: 5/28/99

Program Files By Any Other Name

The Problem:
You install a program that insists that its program folder be installed into the C:\Program folder instead of Windows' C:\Program Files folder.

The Solution:
Such programs do not recognize Windows 9x or NT long filenames. When they see Program Files they stop at the space and interpret the input as C\:Program.

In order to get the program to install properly, start by uninstalling it if it's currently installed. Then re-install it, instructing setup to install the program folder into this folder: C:\PROGRA~1.

That's the DOS abbreviation of the long filename for the C:\Program Files folder. You can see it if you enter DOS and type the dir command.

Note: Some programs may need the trailing backslash, like this: C:\PROGRA~1\