A Guide to Managing and Maintaining your PC, 6e

1
A Guide to Managing and Maintaining your PC, 6e

• Chapter 16
• Supporting Windows 9x/Me

2
Objectives

• Learn about the Windows 9x/Me architecture
• Learn how to install Windows 9x/Me and how to
  install hardware and applications using Windows
  9x/Me
• Learn about the Windows 9x/Me boot process
• Learn about tools to manage and troubleshoot
  Windows 9x/Me
• Learn how to troubleshoot Windows 9x/Me

3
Introduction

• Microsoft considers Windows 9x/Me a legacy OS
• Microsoft no longer supports this series of
  systems
• Reasons for studying Windows 9x/Me
• It is a great learning tool
• It prepares you to understand more sophisticated
  OSs
• Systems still used by many individuals and
  corporations
• Topics to cover
• How Windows 9x/Me is structured
• How Windows 9x/Me interacts with
  software/hardware
• How to troubleshoot Windows 9x/Me

4
Windows 9x/Me Architecture

• Encompasses a number of releases
• Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me
• Two components of the OS shell and kernel
• Shell
• Relates to the user and applications
• User component manages I/O
• Graphic Devices Interface (GDI) supports
  graphics
• Kernel
• Interacts with the hardware
• Fulfills requests for service passed from the
  shell

5
A Bridging of Two Worlds

• 16-bit processing on one side, 32-bit on the
  other
• Four core components
• VMM (Virtual Machine Manager)
• Manages memory, virtual machines, program
  resources
• IFS (Installable File System) manager
• Takes care of all disk access
• Configuration Manager
• Configures all legacy and Plug and Play devices
• The WDM (Win32 Driver Model) driver manager
• Responsible for managing device drivers

6
Figure 16-1 Windows 9x/Me is the bridge from DOS
to Windows NT/2000/XP
7
Figure 16-2 The Windows 9x/Me architecture as it
relates to the user, software, and hardware
8
Virtual Machines

• Application programming interface (API) call
• Used by application to access hardware or
  software
• Virtual machine (VM)
• Set of resources made available through APIs
• Analogy virtual machines are like logical drives
• Virtual machines allocated by OS based on need
• DOS program provided with its own VM
• Windows 16-bit application shares VM and
  addresses
• Windows 32-bit application shares VM only
• General Protection Fault caused by 16-bit
  programs

9
Figure 16-3 An application is not allowed direct
access to hardware but is allowed access to a
list of predefined APIs
10
Figure 16-4 Windows 9x/Me uses the virtual
machine concept
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Virtual Memory

• Virtual memory hard drive space acting like
  memory
• Functions of Virtual Machine Manager (VMM)
• Stores virtual memory in a file called a swap
  file
• Moves 4KB pages into and out of physical RAM
• Disk thrashing caused by excess memory paging
• Settings you can change in Virtual Memory dialog
  box
• Minimum and maximum file size
• The location of the swap file (Win386.swp)
• Swap files can be placed on a compressed drive

12
Installing Windows 9x/Me, Hardware, and Software

• Topics to cover
• Learn how to install Windows 9x/Me
• Learn how to install hardware and applications
• Reasons for learning how to install Windows 9x/Me
• Need to install OS on replacement drive of an old
  PC
• Reinstall an installation that has been corrupted

13
Installing Windows 9x/Me

• System requirements to verify
• Minimum/recommended hardware for Windows 9x/Me
• Whether legacy device is supported in Windows Me
• Whether software is compatible
• Two kinds of setup CDs
• Windows 9x/Me for a New PC (clean install)
• Windows 9x/Me Upgrade (previous version must
  exist)
• Clean install or upgrade
• Clean install gives fresh start, ignores current
  settings
• Upgrade carries settings forward, and is faster

14
Table 16-2 Minimum and recommended hardware
requirements for Windows 9x/Me
15
Installing Windows 9x/Me (continued)

• Choosing a file system
• FAT16 16-bit cluster entries allowing 65,535
  clusters
• FAT32 28-bit cluster entries allowing more
  clusters
• FAT32 drives are less likely to have slack
• Installing a Windows 9x/Me as a clean
  installation
• Prepare your system first e.g., verify boot
  sequence
• Install Windows 98/Me from a bootable setup CD
• If PC does not boot from CD, boot from a floppy
  disk
• Then insert the CD and enter D\Setup.exe
• When dialog box opens, follow onscreen
  instructions

16
Installing Windows 9x/Me (continued)

• Installing Windows 9x/Me as an upgrade
• Prepare for installation e.g., create a rescue
  disk
• Start the PC, loading the current operating
  system
• Close all open applications
• Insert CD in CD-ROM drive or floppy disk in
  floppy drive
• Enter the command D\Setup.exe in Run Dialog box
• Follow the instructions on the setup screen
• Installation process from the setup screen
  forward
• Four options Typical, Portable, Compact,
  Customer
• Installation logs Setuplog.txt, Detlog.txt,
  Detcrash.log

17
Figure 16-8 The opening screen of the Windows 98
CD provides links you can use to navigate the CD
18
Installing Windows 9x/Me (continued)

• Downloading/installing updates for Windows 9x/Me
• Updates include service packs or patches
• Microsoft is no longer updating Windows 9x/Me
• Find previous updates at windowsupdate.microsoft.c
  om
• Use Windows Update on Start menu to access page
• Configuring Windows 9x/Me Startup with Msdos.sys
• Msdos.sys is a hidden, read-only system file
• Msdos.sys has parameters affecting how the OS
  boots
• You must change Msdos.sys file attributes before
  use
• Table 16-3 (partially reproduced) details file
  contents

19
Table 16-3 Contents of the Msdos.sys file options
section
20
Installing and Managing Hardware with Windows
9x/Me

• Driver interfaces application and OS with a
  device
• Ways to begin device driver installation process
• Install device, power on PC, launch install
  wizard
• Run installation program on setup disk or CD
• Download driver from Internet, run setup file
• Scenario view and change current video driver
• Open the Control Panel and double-click Display
• Go to Settings tab to view the installed display
  driver
• To change driver, go to Avanced?Adapter?Change

21
Figure 16-15 The Windows 98 Update Device Driver
Wizard enables you to install a new device driver
for a previously installed device
22
Installing and Managing Hardware with Windows
9x/Me (continued)

• Plug and Play (PnP)
• Specifications simplifying the installation of
  hardware
• Criteria for use of PnP
• The system BIOS must be PnP
• All devices and expansion cards must be
  PnP-compliant
• The OS must support PnP
• A 32-bit device driver must be available
• DriveSpace utility
• Used to compress FAT16 volumes in Windows 9x

23
Installing and Managing Hardware with Windows
9x/Me (continued)

• Hard drive preventive maintenance
• Disk Cleanup used to delete nonessential files
• Disk Defragmenter used to defragment a drive
• ScanDisk checks files and folders for errors

24
Figure 16-20 ScanDisk results
25
Installing and Managing Software in Windows 9x/Me

• Preparing for the software installation
• Check available resources
• Protect the original software
• Back up the registry and system configuration
  files
• Installing software
• Open Control Panel
• Double-click Add/Remove Programs
• Insert software CD or disk in appropriate drive
• Alternatively, download software file from the
  Internet
• Follow directions on setup screen

26
Installing and Managing Software in Windows 9x/Me
(continued)

• Troubleshooting software installations
• Delete all files and folders under \Windows\Temp
• Look for guidance in Readme.htm hypertext file
• Supporting DOS applications under Windows 9x/Me
• Access the Properties feature of DOS program file
• Select Program tab and then click Advanced tab
• Example select Specify a new MS-DOS
  configuration
• Changes are stored in programs information file
  (PIF)

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Figure 16-21 Properties sheets for a DOS
application affect the way Windows 9x/Me provides
an environment for the application
28
Booting Windows 9x/Me

• Topics to cover
• Files that Windows 9x/Me uses when booting
• Startup process in Windows 9x/Me
• How an application loads at startup
• Differences between Win 95 and Win 98/Me boot

29
Files Used to Customize the Startup Process

• Autoexec.bat and Config.sys
• Contain settings for loading 16-bit drivers and
  TSRs
• Supported for backwards compatibility with DOS
• Initialization files (those with .ini extension)
• Custom settings used to load Windows 3.x programs
• Supported for backwards compatibility with
  Windows 3.x
• You can edit text files with various tools e.g.,
  Sysedit
• Comment line information ignored by application

30
Figure 16-22 Sysedit can be used to edit Windows
system files
31
Table 16-4 Windows .ini files
32
The Windows 9x/Me Startup Process

• OS loads in real mode, switches to protected mode
• Initial real-mode files used Io.sys and
  Msdos.sys
• After initial steps, control passes to Vmm32.vxd
• Five phases of the boot process
• Phase 1 Startup bios bootstrap and post
• Phase 2 DOS drivers and TSRS are loaded
• Phase 3 real-mode VxDs are loaded
• Phase 4 protected-mode switchover, PnP
  configuration
• Phase 5 loading the remaining components
• Some differences from Windows 95 e.g., faster
  boot

33
Figure 16-24 Windows 9x/Me core components and
the loading process
34
Troubleshooting Tools for Windows 9x/Me

• Items listed in Table 16-6 (partially reproduced)
• Tools that monitor and improve system performance
• Tools used to control the OS
• Tools for troubleshooting

35
Table 16-6 Windows 9x/Me system performance and
troubleshooting tools
36
System Monitor

• Monitors how system resources are being used
• Items monitored
• The file system
• Memory
• The kernel
• Printer sharing services
• Network performance data

37
System Configuration Utility (Msconfig)

• Used to reduce startup to core components
• Similar to Safe Mode
• How to access the System Configuration Utility
• Enter Msconfig in the Run Dialog Box
• How to isolate a problem using Msconfig
• Select Diagnostic startup, click OK and restart
  PC
• Next, select Selective startup from the dialog
  box
• Methodically add items until the problem
  reappears
• Source of problem is related to the last added
  item
• A few alternatives Registry Checker, CMOS setup

38
Figure 16-27 The Windows 98 System Configuration
Utility helps troubleshoot Windows configuration
problems
39
Dr. Watson

• Used to troubleshoot problems running a program
• Information logged by Dr. Watson
• Detailed system information
• Errors
• Programs that caused errors
• Using Dr. Watson
• Start the utility
• Reproduce the application error
• Go to Diagnosis tab to view events
• Cross-check information to support.microsoft.com

40
Figure 16-28 The Dr. Watson opening window
41
The Windows 9x/Me Registry and Registry Checker

• Registry
• Database of configuration information and
  settings
• Takes over the essential functions of .ini files
• 16-bit applications cannot access the Registry
• Organization of the Registry
• Hierarchical database appearing as an inverted
  tree
• Six major keys appearing in the left pane
• Values and value data appear in the right pane
• System.dat and User.dat
• Files used to store the Windows 95/98 registry

42
Figure 16-29 Structure of the Windows 9x/Me
registry
43
Table 16-7 Six major branches, or keys, of the
Windows 9x/Me registry
44
The Windows 9x/Me Registry and Registry Checker
(continued)

• Ways to recover registry data in Windows 95
• OS replaces System.dat with backup System.da0
• OS enters Safe Mode and prompts recovery process
• If backups are missing, restore registry from
  setup disk
• Ways to recover registry data in Windows 9x/Me
• Recover using backups made by Registry Checker
• Registry Checker types Scanreg.exe, Scanregw.exe
• Modifying the registry
• Automatically performed in most cases
• Manually edit the registry using Regedit.exe

45
Troubleshooting Windows 9x/Me

• Problems are categorized by phase of OS operation
  
• Windows installation
• Startup process
• Normal Windows operations
• Troubleshooting techniques are tailored to problem

46
Troubleshooting Windows 9x/Me Installations

• Table 16-9 lists problems and possible solutions

47
Table 16-9 Some problems and solutions when
installing Windows 9x/Me
48
Table 16-9 Some problems and solutions when
installing Windows 9x/Me (continued)
49
Troubleshooting Windows 9x/Me Startup

• Deciphering error messages occurring during boot
• Refer to Table 16-10 in text
• Search support.microsoft.com
• Tools used to troubleshoot boot problems
• Msconfig used to attain cleanest possible boot
• Device Manager disables problem device
• Automatic Skip Driver Agent (ASDA) skip driver
  install
• Try troubleshooting options in Safe Mode
• Troubleshoot from command prompt

50
Troubleshooting Windows 9x/Me Startup (continued)

• Press F8 during startup to open startup menu
• Windows 9x/Me startup menu options
• 1. Normal
• 2. Logged (\BOOTLOG.TXT)
• 3. Safe Mode
• 4. Safe Mode with network support
• 5. Step-by-step confirmation
• 6. Command prompt only (not in Windows Me)
• 7. Safe Mode command prompt only (not in Win Me)
• 8. Previous version of MS-DOS

51
Figure 16-33 Windows 98 Safe Mode desktop
52
Troubleshooting Windows 9x/Me Startup (continued)

• A few tips for troubleshooting with the startup
  menu
• Try a hard boot
• If you have not already done so, try Safe Mode
  next
• Look for errors using Step-by-Step confirmation
• Use Logged option and examine Bootlog.txt
• Using the startup disk for troubleshooting
• If the emergency disk is not available, make one
• Check disk for viruses before inserting it into
  PC
• Disk should have drivers needed to access CD drive

53
Troubleshooting Problems After Windows 9x/Me
Startup

• A few questions to ask the user
• When did the problem start?
• Did you move your computer system recently?
• Has someone else been using your computer
  recently?
• Some general tips for troubleshooting hardware
• Try rebooting the computer
• Test the device with another application
• Check Device Manager for errors reported on
  device
• The driver might be corrupted or need updating
• Try reseating an expansion card

54
Troubleshooting Problems After Windows 9x/Me
Startup (continued)

• Some tips for troubleshooting application
  problems
• Address error messages appearing during program
  use
• Try uninstalling and reinstalling the software
• Some tips for troubleshooting a shortcut icon
• Decide if the icon on the desktop is actually a
  shortcut
• Check name and location of target file for the
  shortcut
• Some tips for troubleshooting a slow system
• Check for applications unnecessarily loaded at
  startup
• Verify Windows is using optimum caching on hard
  drive

55
Figure 16-36 Verify that the hard drive is set
for optimal caching
56
Troubleshooting Problems After Windows 9x/Me
Startup (continued)

• Table 16-12 lists some error messages and tips
• Accessing Windows Help
• Click Start and click Help
• Click Troubleshooting
• Resources at support.microsoft.com
• Device information
• Error message
• Windows utilities
• Application information

57
Table 16-12 Error messages when using Windows
9x/Me
58
Figure 16-37 Troubleshooter making a suggestion
to resolve a hardware conflict
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Summary

• Windows 9x/Me bridges worlds of 16-bit processing
  and 32-bit processing
• Two main OS components kernel and shell
• API specifies how application interacts with
  hardware
• Virtual machine set of resources provided to
  program
• Virtual memory hard drive space acting like
  memory

60
Summary (continued)

• Types of installation clean installation,
  upgrade install
• Msdos.sys file containing parameters for OS boot
• Hard drive utilities Disk Cleanup, Disk
  Defragmenter, and ScanDisk
• Registry database containing configuration and
  settings for all system components
• Troubleshooting tools System Monitor, Msconfig,
  Dr. Watson, Registry Checker