Rename C:\CONFIG.SYS to C:\01CONFIG.SYS
Rename C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT to C:\01AUTOEXEC.BAT
Reboot the computer.
If everything still works, then the answer is no.
--
Here are a few things you DON'T want in CONFIG.SYS:
DEVICE=HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=EMM386.EXE NOEMS
BUFFERS=23,0
FILES=40
DOS=UMB
FCBS=4,0
DOS=HIGH
Place a ; in front of each line to disable it.
--
Here are a few things you DON'T want in AUTOEXEC.BAT:
MOUSE.EXE
SMARTDRV.EXE
MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD000 /M:12 Remark - big no-no
WIN Remark - redundant
SET PATH=C:\DOS Remark - OUCH! ooohh, a disaster waiting to happen!
Place a REM in front of each line to disable it.
--
Open Sysedit
to edit them.
Type SET at the Command
Prompt to view your environment
settings.
--
These settings should be in AUTOEXEC.BAT in most cases:
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 REMark - For programs looking
for soundcard, numbers vary.
set temp=c:\temp You must create a C:\TEMP folder
for this to work!
set tmp=c:\temp
---
Make a TEMP directory
See above - improves performance in some cases by separating the Windows
Temp<13> file from other
programs.
The fake MSDOS.SYS file
You can add or change any of the lines listed (before REMark), don't
delete anything else.
[Paths]
WinDir=C:\Windows
WinBootDir=C:\Windows
HostWinBootDrv=C
[Options]
BootMulti=0 REMark boot to Windows only, 1 for dual
OS like LINUX<14>
BootGUI=1 REMark boot Windows GUI<15>,
0 for Command Prompt<11> only. Default is 1
BootKeys=1 REMark enables the startup option
function keys, 0 disables. Default is 1
Network=1 REMark Shows Windows login
box, 0 may change desktop settings and dial-up password
Logo=1 REMark Shows
Logo.sys<16> screen while booting, 0 turns it off.
BootDelay=10 REMark gives you 10 seconds to press F5 or
F8. Default is 2
DoubleBuffer=1 REMark Read ahead drive caching<17>
AutoScan=1 REMark enables auto-scandisk when
Windows is improperly shut down, 0 disables. Default is 1
WinVer=4.10.1998
BootDelay=3
BootMenu=0 REMark 1 gives you the boot menu<18>
without pressing F8
BootMenuDelay=30 REMark continue booting after 30 seconds
DisableLog=1 REMark enables creating Bootlog.txt during
startup for troubleshooting, 0 disables. Default is 0
;
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxSPACEFILLERxSTUFFxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxa
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxAxBUNCHxMORExLINESxAFTERxTHISxTOOxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxb
;
Virtual Memory Settings
Right click on My Computer<1>, and select:
Properties - Performance - Virtual Memory<2>
Choose 'Let me specify my own virtual memory settings'
>If you want to choose a different drive for your swapfile<3>, run Disk Defragmenter<4> first.
Specify the same value for the Minimum size and the Maximum size, so
Windows95<5> won't spend so
much time resizing the file. A good size is roughly 2 1/2 times the
amount of installed RAM<6>
(i.e. create a 80MB swapfile if you have 32MB of RAM).
For best performance, place the swapfile<3> on a empty partition<8>,
or a fixed swapfile<3> at the
beginning of a drive. Though drive C: is the best choice, (and you
should make that your fastest
drive), it really should to be created when Windows is first installed
(see below) so that it's
at the beggining of the drive.
Defragmenting the Swapfile
Once you've set the swapfile<3> size to be constant, you won't have
to worry about a fragmented<7>
swapfile<3> again. However, you'll need to defragment<7> it at
least once for it to remain that way in
the future.
If you have more than one partition<8> or hard disk<8> in your
computer, defragment<7> all drives<8> first.
Then, move the swapfile<3> (using the configuration procedure above)
to another drive<8>, defragment<7>
the first one, and then move it back.
Although it's also possible to disable the swapfile<3> entirely
while you defragment<7> the drive<8> (and
then re-enable it so it will be recreated whole), it isn't advisable
because Windows95<5> may not
start without a Swapfile<3>.
Virtual Cache
First, if you only have 16 megabytes of RAM<6>, get more!
Open Sysedit<9>.
Add the following two lines to the SYSTEM.INI [vcache] section (add
the section if it's not there):
MinFileCache=4096
MaxFileCache=4096
These values, in kilobytes, regulate the size of the Virtual Cache<10>,
so you can stop it from filling up
all available RAM<6> and paging all loaded apps to disk.
Add 1024 for every 4 MB to the above values (25% of RAM).
System Maintenence
After deleting alot of files, and before installing a new program, run
Disk Defragmenter<4> to
prevent any new fragmentation.
Use System Agent/Task Scheduler to defrag your drives once a week,
or more if you really thrash
your machine.
Flush the Garbage
Yes, there is crap on your computer, you've never used it, and you never
will.
What does that little orange man in the Task Bar do?
If you don't know, then you probably don't need it.
Investigate, eliminate. It's your computer, not Microsoft's, not Compaq's,
not AOL's.
If you don't use it, delete it. If you're not sure, put it in the trash
and reboot.
Open the Close Program<19> dialog box.
Tasks you can end:
Microsoft File Transfer - What is it? Usually gets installed by accident,
for Voice-View modems
only, and I've never seen a voiceview modem before. File name Filexfer.exe
Osa - Office Startup. File name Osa.exe
Find Fast - Microsoft Find Fast. File name Findfast.exe
AIM - AOL Instant Messenger;
select AIM - Setup - Misc. - uncheck "Start AIM when Windows starts"
File name Aim.exe
Vshwin32 - McAfee Virus Shield; scans removable disks for viruses.
File name Vshwin32.exe
Tasks you cannot end:
Systray - The System Tray (clock, etc.). File name Systray.exe
Explorer - Windows shell; closing this closes the current shell and
opens a blank windows shell.
These programs are loaded from several different locations.
StartUp
\WINDOWS\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp\
RegEdit<20>
Hkey_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Hkey_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
Win.ini
run=
load=
Place a ; in front of each line to disable it.