1. Installing and Using Windows 9x
Chapter 4
Installing and Using Windows 9x

2. You Will Learn… About the Windows 9x architecture
How to install Windows 9x and how to install hardware and applications using Windows 9x
About tools for using Windows 9x
About the Windows 9x boot process
About tools to manage and troubleshoot Windows 9x
How to troubleshoot Windows 9x
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

3. Windows 9x Architecture
Core components
Shell – relates to users and applications
User component
GDI (Graphics Device Interface)
Kernel – Interacts with hardware
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

4. Windows 9x is the Bridge from DOS to Windows NT/2000/XP
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

5. Windows 9x Architecture (continued)
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

6. Windows 9x Uses the Virtual Machine Concept
Set of resources made available to an application through predefined application programming interface (API) calls
Multiple logical machines within one physical machine
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

7. Installing Windows 9x Windows 9x for a New PC
More expensive
Windows 9x Upgrade requires either
Previous version of Windows installed on the PC
A CD or floppy disk from an earlier version of Windows
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

8. Preparing for Installation
Verify hardware requirements are met
Check the HCL for legacy device support
Check software compatibility
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9. Types of Installations
Clean install
Ignores any settings in currently installed OS
Requires reinstallation of hardware and applications
Takes longer but results in a fresh start
Upgrade install
Carries forward hardware, software, user preferences, and other settings
Faster, but can carry forward problems
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10. Installing 9x as an Upgrade
Start the PC, load current OS
Close all open applications, virus scanners, System Tray icons
Insert CD-ROM, enter D:\Setup.exe
Follow instructions on the setup screen; install Windows in the same folder as the current OS
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

11. Installation Process from the Setup Screen
Typical – All components usually installed
Portable – Used for a notebook PC
Compact – Smallest possible
Custom – Select any group of components
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12. Once Installation is Complete
Verify correct system date and time
Install any additional Windows components
Download available service packs and patches
Test and troubleshoot applications
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13. Configuring Windows 9x Startup with Msdos.sys
Msdos.sys is a text file that contains several parameters affecting how the OS boots
Go to an OS command prompt
Go to the hard drive root directory
Make Msdos.sys available for editing
Make a backup copy
Use Edit.com to edit the file
Save the file and return it to a hidden, read-only system file
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

14. Installing Hardware with Windows 9x
A device driver is software written to interface a specific device and OS
Found New Hardware Wizard is used to install a device driver for new hardware
Install Windows device driver by selecting the hardware device from a list
Install your own device driver by using Have Disk…
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15. Using Device Drivers Supplied by the Device Manufacturer
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16. Viewing Currently Installed Display Driver
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17. Windows 98 Update Device Driver Wizard
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18. Use Device Manager to Uninstall a Device
If a new device fails, try uninstalling and reinstalling the device
Select the device, then click Remove
Reboot and allow Found New Hard-ware Wizard to launch
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19. Plug and Play Hardware Installation
System BIOS must be PnP
All hardware devices and expansion cards must be PnP-compliant
The OS must be Windows 9x or another OS that supports PnP
A 32-bit device driver must be available
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20. Preparing for Software Installation
Check available resources
Hard drive
Memory
CPU and video monitor
Protect original software
Back up registry and system configuration files
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21. Installing Software Use Add/Remove Programs icon from Control Panel
If CD-ROM drive is set to Autorun, a setup screen may appear as soon as the software CD is inserted
Older software may require executing an installation program from the Run dialog box
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22. Properties Sheet for a DOS Application
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23. Display Properties Window
Background. Select desk-top wallpaper or pattern
Screen Saver. Select screen saver and settings
Appearance. Color scheme
Effects. Icon settings
Web. Active Desktop
Settings. Colors and display size
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24. Taskbar Properties Window
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

25. Creating a Shortcut
A shortcut on the desktop is an icon that points to a program you can execute, or to a file or folder
Double-clicking an icon loads the software
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26. Other Ways to Create a Shortcut
Start Menu Programs tab on Taskbar Properties window
Select the file, folder, or program in Explorer or My Computer; select Create Shortcut from the File menu
From the File menu in Explorer, click New and then Create Shortcut
More…
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27. Managing Icons
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28. Managing Icons (continued)
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29. Windows Explorer Click Start, Programs, Windows Explorer
Right-click My Computer and select Explore from the menu
Right-click Start and select Explore from the menu
Open My Computer and click the View menu, Explorer bar, Folders
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30. My Computer
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31. Use the Shortcut Menu to Manage Items in Explorer
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32. Deleting a Folder Right-click folder and select Delete
Sends folder and all its contents to Recycle Bin
Empty Recycle Bin to free disk space
Recycle Bin contents are not deleted until it is emptied
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33. Properties of a File in Windows
File Attributes
Read-only
Hidden
Archive
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

34. Folder Properties
From Explorer, click Tools, Folder Options, and the View tab
Windows 9x hides known file extensions
To display all file extensions, uncheck “Hide file extensions for known file types”
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35. Device Manager
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36. Files Used to Customize the Startup Process
Autoexec.bat and Config.sys are processed for backwards compatibility with DOS
Initialization (.ini) files are read for backwards compatibility with Windows 3.x
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37. Windows .ini Files
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

38. Windows 9x Startup Process
Io.sys is responsible for only the initial startup process in real mode
Vmm32.vxd takes over and works in protected mode
Msdos.sys is a text file used to configure the way Windows 9x boots
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39. Phase 1: BIOS POST and Bootstrap
Determines which devices are PnP
Enables non-PnP devices
PnP devices receive leftover resources
Performs POST
Saves information for later use by OS
Locates boot device
MBR program executes bootstrap loader
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40. Phase 2: The OS is Loaded Himem.sys – access to extended memory
Ifshlp.sys – 16-bit access to file system
Setver.exe – backwards DOS compatibility
Drvspace.bin – provides disk compression
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41. Phase 3: Static VxDs
Virtual Device Driver (VxD) works with virtual machine to provide access to hardware for software running in VM
Static VxD remains in memory once loaded
Dynamic VxD loaded and unloaded from memory as needed
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42. Phase 4: Protected Mode Switchover and PnP Configuration
Vmm32.vxd switches to protected mode
Configuration Manager configures legacy and PnP devices
Uses information left for it by PnP BIOS
Loads 32-bit VxDs for PnP devices
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43. Phase 5: Loading the Remaining Components
Three core components, fonts, and other resources loaded
Win.ini checked
Shell and desktop loaded
Logon dialog box displayed
Startup directory processes
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44. System Applet in Control Panel
Performance tab can be used to optimize performance
Real mode device drivers may be in use
File System: “Some drives are using MS- DOS compatibility”
Virtual Memory: “MS-DOS compatibility mode”
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45. System Monitor
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46. System Configuration Utility
Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Information
From Tools menu, select System Configuration Utility
Select Diagnose startup – interactively load device drivers and software, Click OK to restart
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47. System Configuration Utility (continued)
Selective startup
Restore one device after another
If problem persists:
Scan for virus
Use Registry Checker
Use File System Checker
Check CMOS
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48. System Information Window
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

49. Dr. Watson Used to trouble- shoot applications Creates a log file
Check Website for problems and solutions
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

50. How the Registry is Organized
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

51. Windows 95 Backup of the Registry
Registry is stored in two files
System.dat
User.dat
Windows 95 creates a new backup copy on each successful boot
System.da0
User.da0
Restores from backup if missing during boot
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52. Windows 98/Me Registry Checker
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53. Registry Editor To edit registry manually Back up two registry files
Use Registry Editor (Regedit.exe)
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54. Troubleshooting Windows 9x Boot Process
Address any error messages
Boot in Safe Mode
Boot to the command prompt
Boot from emergency startup disk
Try Fdisk
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55. Normal
Eliminate Config.sys or Autoexec.bat by using Step-by-step confirmation
Eliminate Win.ini or System.ini
Change name of System.ini to System.sav
Copy System.cb, rename to System.ini
Add drivers=mmsystem.dll to System.ini
Change name of Win.ini to Win.sav
Restart the computer
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56. Safe Mode (Press F5 While Booting)
Does not execute
Entries in the registry
Config.sys
Autoexec.bat
System.ini [boot] and [385Enh] sections
Minimum default configuration
Standard VGA
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57. Using Scandisk
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

58. Safe Mode with Network Support
Used when Windows 95 is stored on a network server and changes must be downloaded in Safe Mode
Does not exist in Windows 98/Me: network support automatically included
Step-by-Step Confirmation
Asks for confirmation before executing each command in Io.sys, Config.sys, Autoexec.bat
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59. Command Prompt Only Available in Windows 95/98, not Me
Executes the contents of Autoexec.bat and Config.sys, stops at DOS prompt
Type WIN to load Windows 95/98
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60. Safe Mode Command Prompt Only
Does not execute the contents of Autoexec.bat and Config.sys
Stops at DOS prompt
Previous Version of DOS
Loads previous version of DOS if one was present when Windows installed
Not available in Windows 98 SE or Me
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

61. Troubleshooting with the Startup Menu
Try a hard boot
Try Safe Mode
Try Step-by-step confirmation
Try Logged option
Try Command Prompt Only
Try Safe Mode Command Prompt Only
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

62. Using the Startup Disk for Troubleshooting
Boot with an emergency startup disk
Attempt to access the hard drive
Successful access means the problem lies with OS boot record, OS hidden files, or command interface files
Unsuccessful access means the problem lies with the partition table, Master Boot Record, hard drive, cables, or power supply
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

63. Windows 98 Rescue Disk Startup Menu
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

64. Troubleshooting Windows 9x Hardware and Software
Begin by asking the user questions
Try rebooting
Check for memory module corruption
Turn on external devices before booting
Try a malfunctioning device with another application
More…
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

65. Windows Troubleshooter
Try clicking Start, Help, and then Troubleshooting
Lots of troubleshooting information at
Check manuals, training materials, other Web sites
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

66. Summary Windows 9x architecture
Installing Windows 9x and installing hardware and applications using Windows 9x
Tools for using Windows 9x
Windows 9x boot process
Tools for managing and troubleshooting Windows 9x
Troubleshooting Windows 9x
A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition