Windows 98 Tools

The first tool is the Windows 98 Update-a long awaited tool which allows you to download Updates for Windows 98 with ease.  From the Start menu, select the Windows Update and Internet Explorer launches to the Microsoft Windows 98 Update Web site. Instructions on the web site are self explanatory.  I suggest you try the Windows Update once a week to keep Windows 98 current.

The following tools are found by clicking the Start button with your left mouse button, then select Programs, then Accessories, System Information and finally System Tools.

System Information

This is a great place to start troubleshooting problems. When you select System Information, the System Information window opens. The left column has the following items: Hardware Resources, Components and Software Environment. Each of these items expands by pressing the 'plus sign'(+) next to the item. The right column presents information from the items selected in the left hand column. There is a wealth of information present concerning the system configuration, too much to really present in this page. Try it yourself and see the personal information about your machine. This is the place to look if you want to know what type of hardware you have without opening the case. There are three types of information presented in the right column: Basic, Advanced and History. Each are selected by a radio button. For example, launch the System Information Application and then expand the components. Select Modem and select the Basic Information radio button. View the information presented and then select the Advanced Information button. Note, the Basic button provides only the Modem type, while the advanced button contains the registry key for the Modem and Driver information (other information may be displayed if your modem was not configured with plug and play). Other items of interest are Hardware Conflicts, Components Problem Devices, and Software Environment Drivers. Ever wonder how some applications which are not in the StartUp group is launched when Windows starts?.

Selecting the Tools option from the toolbar opens a dropdown menu with the following selections: Windows Report Tool, Update Wizard Uninstall, System File Checker, Signature Verification Tool, Registry Checker, Automatic Skip Driver Agent, Dr. Watson, System Configuration Utility, Scandisk, Version Conflict Manager.

Windows Report Tool

This tool is used to create a report containing the information that might be required when you contact Microsoft Technical Support.

Update Wizard Uninstall

Use this only if a support technician tells you to uninstall the Update Wizard.

System File Checker

This one checks your files for corruption/changes and allows you to restore the corrupted files, if necessary.

Signature Verification Tool

The Signature Verification Tool verifies the signature on file which has been electronically signed by Microsoft. This allows you to find files which have been changed and not signed by Microsoft.

Registry Checker

This is basically done automatically each time Windows 98 starts. But if you wish to run it, it is accessible.

Automatic Skip Driver Agent

Windows 98 uses the Automatic Skip Driver Agent (ASD) to disable drivers which have caused Windows 98 to fail in starting. These drivers are stored by the Automatic Skip Driver Agent. You can reenable drivers which are skipped by using ASD. If the driver still fails, it will be disable by the ASD.

Dr. Watson

This utility helps debug problems. By enabling Dr. Watson, and enabling the 'Logging' you can access these results to see what happened if you are experiencing some problems.

System Configuration Utility

This one is a great troubleshooting tool which allows you to back-up system configuration files and make adjustments to the system configuration files all in one area. When problems start happening, this is where you go to disable StartUp programs or disable any program that is the problem.

Scandisk

Version Conflict Manager

Version Conflict Manager is the tool you wished you had with Windows 95. Loading software on your system sometimes replaces newer DLLs with older ones which may cause problems. Version Conflict Manager saves the DLLs which were replace so that they can be later restored if needed. Microsoft advises this tool should only be used by technical support people or people who are well versed in the operating system.

What about the Wizards? Click on the wizard to move to Wayne's Windows 98 Wizards page.