Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

Hi all,

(Running OS in RAM is below this Trick for those that have enough RAM to
do it, but if not, there another way to Speed it up by adding a small HD
that I hope will be of help those with small RAMs.)

* OS on a small HD all by itself. *

I you crash a lot and have to format you HD often, try this.

Get a small HD like 4 Gig and set it up as you C:\ Drive and only
install Windows on it, and nothing else.
Install all your other Programs including IE and OE on other Drives (D:,
E, F ect).

Export a copy of your Registry to Disk or one of the other HD's.
Do the same with IE favorites under C:\Windows\Favorates (including all
sub folders) and your NS Bookmarks.

Now if you crash you only have to reinstall your OS and nothing else.
Just import your old Registry, Favorites and Bookmarks.

Saves a lot of work reinstalling of all your other programs and not
having to set them up the way you like them from scratch again or lose Data.

***

* Run OS in RAM Speed Trick *

If you have Gigs of Ram try this.
Programs run in RAM run 1000 times faster than off a HD or CD !!!
How about running your OS there !

The way to do this is with a Ram Drive but the one that comes with
Windows is too small but others make bigger Ram Drives that are not
expensive.

Ram Drive is software to trick your Computer into thinking part of it's
RAM Memory is a Hard Disk Drive.
You must have enough RAM left over to run programs outside the RAM Drive
so you might want to upgrade your RAM Memory.

Once you have a Ram Drive, install Windows on Drive C as normal.
But put IE and OE on another HD.

Then use a Program like Norton's Ghost to Copy your OS to another HD and
Burn it (Windows OS) to CD.
Use your Autoexec.bat and or Config.sys Files load the RAM Drive on
Bootup and Load the OS from the CD to the RAM Drive and Execute Win.exe
on that RAM Drive to run Windows.

Then do your Windows Update and use that Norton Ghost or other program
to Copy the RAM Drive to HD and or Burn that to CD.
You can use you Autoexec or Config to run the Saved OS on the (D:, E,
ect...) HD for those Updates that must be installed alone and rebooted
after.
Install all your Programs then save the OS in RAM Drive to CD and your
on your way.

You'll also have to do this every time you install/uninstall a Program
but you'll also always have a clean OS on Boot even if infected with a
Trojan or Virus.

And the Speed Boost of OS running in RAM has a 4 GHZ Computer run like a
50 GHZ Computer.
Are you a Gammer, do a lot of Multitasking or Audio/Video ?
Then this could be an option for you.

Before shutting down if you want to keep the Reg settings that changed
after the OS is installed you just copy your Registry again and import
it back to Windows in the RAM Drive if you don't want to Burn it to CD.
If you install a new Program you'll want to do this so you can Burn a
new OS CD with the new Registry or just import it when you want to use
that program.

When you reboot you install a Fresh OS each time making it very hard for
a Virus or Trojan to take hold.
You can still get infected by user error but it's much easier to clean
when you cut it out of the OS.

Always use a Firewall and if on a Broad Band Connection get behind a NAT
Router even if you have only one Computer.
It's better than a Software Firewall but I'd still use one with the NAT
anyway.

Hope this is of interest to you.
Good luck.

!:?)
Kevin

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

Tip #1 is so full of holes that you could drive a truck through it. Simply
backing up the Registry and your Favorites doesn't do anything about
programs or data - if someone follows your advice they will wind up with all
their documents missing and probably a trashed system since the Registry
will contain multiple references to programs that no longer exist.

Tip #2 is similarly flawed ... We refer to this one as the "I didn't have
enough room for an emergency gas tank so I mounted it inside my existing gas
tank. Aren't I smart?"

Combined, these two tips are a recipe for disaster and should be shunned by
all.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@gmail.com
* In fond memory ... Alex, you shall be sorely missed
* http://www.aumha.org/alex.htm



"!:?)" <No@Spam.Com> wrote in message
news:ef4AZGrQFHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> Hi all,

<snipped as I can't bear to read it again>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

Richard G. Harper wrote:
> Tip #1 is so full of holes that you could drive a truck through it.
> Simply backing up the Registry and your Favorites doesn't do anything
> about programs or data - if someone follows your advice they will
> wind up with all their documents missing and probably a trashed
> system since the Registry will contain multiple references to
> programs that no longer exist.

Ummm...he *did* say to install programs on a drive other than C: and
reserved C: solely for the OS. Presumably, that means no personal docs
on C:

One thing he doesn't cover is stuff added to the Windows directory by
the apps installed on another drive. Same for new hardware.

--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

In news:ef4AZGrQFHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl,
!:?) <No@Spam.Com> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

> Hi all,
<snip>

If you're going to go through all of that why not just use something to
clone your drive to the other drive entirely and then no matter what you are
back up and running at the last cloned time in about five minutes? It's not
going to help you speed up your PC at all but it will save you time from
re-installing.

Galen
--
Signature changed for a moment of silence.
Rest well Alex and we'll see you on the other side.

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

"Galen" <galennews@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:uA%23beavQFHA.576@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> In news:ef4AZGrQFHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl,
> !:?) <No@Spam.Com> had this to say:
>
> My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:
>
> > Hi all,
> <snip>
>
> If you're going to go through all of that why not just use something to
> clone your drive to the other drive entirely and then no matter what you
are
> back up and running at the last cloned time in about five minutes? It's
not
> going to help you speed up your PC at all but it will save you time from
> re-installing.
>
> Galen
> --
> Signature changed for a moment of silence.
> Rest well Alex and we'll see you on the other side.
>
>

Clones take a lot of time to do. Do an image backup. Backup and
restoration time with partition imaging software is much faster than
cloning/copying.

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

In news:u63KIu0QFHA.2252@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl,
Lil' Dave <spamyourself@virus.net> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

> Clones take a lot of time to do. Do an image backup. Backup and
> restoration time with partition imaging software is much faster than
> cloning/copying.

My current system clones (and reverses) an 80 GB drive to an 80 GB drive in
under 10 minutes using Norton Ghost 2k3. (No, the drive isn't completely
full by the way, not even close.) Usually I use partitions but on this
system it's just whole drive cloning. The reason I mention cloning the
entire drive is because an OP can do so for free using this:

clone maxx :
http://www.pcinspector.de/clone-maxx/uk/welcome.htm

I've given that a test run on a couple of systems here and it's actually
fairly nice but does NOT support partition to partition cloning - it only
clones the entire disk I'm afraid.

Galen
--
Signature changed for a moment of silence.
Rest well Alex and we'll see you on the other side.

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

Richard G. Harper wrote:
> Tip #1 is so full of holes that you could drive a truck through it.

Really, they why not explain how, or you don't know and are just Trolling ?

Simply
> backing up the Registry and your Favorites doesn't do anything about
> programs or data

WRONG !

You don't know what the Registry is or what it does do you ?
Please think before inserting Foot in Mouth !

Tell me how the OS knows the Path to your Installed Programs and Data !
Lets see,... could it be the REGISTRY ?

The Registry tells the OS WHERE all the Programs are Installed no matter
what HD they are on !
And you say it doesn't do anything about Programs or Data. LOL !!!
They don't have to be on the C:\ drive !

The Favorates are all the sites you visit in IE that would be wiped
because they are on C:\Windows\Favorites.
So if you want to keep em, save em including the Subfolders and Copy
them back to Windows\Favorites.

Combine that with a Defragger like Norton's Speed Disk where you can
tell it to see the OS and it's All it's Drivers Files and Folders First
before anything else and you'll boost it even more with fewer Crashes
and slow downs.

- if someone follows your advice they will wind up with all
> their documents missing and probably a trashed system since the Registry
> will contain multiple references to programs that no longer exist.


Wrong !!!!

Without a Registry you would be right but when you save and Import your
Registry it will know exactly were all your Programs are and they DO EXIST.

I've done that for 15 years on 3 of my own Computers as well as several
Friends and NEVER lost a Program or Data !
And you have fewer Crashes and almost never have to reformat.
Been over 10 years on one Computer !

You install the OS on the Small HD on C:\ and all your other Programs on
D:\, including IE and OE.
Your Registry now points to those Programs that is now STORED on the
other Drives.

Save your Registry and Favorites at this point and wipe (Format) Drive C:\.
C:\ is wiped Clean and all your Programs are Installed on D:\, so at
this point you have installed Programs with NO OS !!!

Import the Registry and copy your Favorites (including Subfolders) and
your back where you started before the Wipe !
Your Registry will still point to your Programs and Data on the other
Drives !
DUH !!! LOL !!!

>
> Tip #2 is similarly flawed ... We refer to this one as the "I didn't have
> enough room for an emergency gas tank so I mounted it inside my existing gas
> tank. Aren't I smart?"
>

Ahh, You can't prove it don't work so attack it without proof LOL !!!
Gammers have been doing that long before Windows so I don't know where
you've been.
We used to load Dos into RAM Drives on Bootup to Speed up the OS and all
the Programs that benifit from that Speed Bost.

> Combined, these two tips are a recipe for disaster and should be shunned by
> all.
>

Details, where are your Details ?
You show you haven't a clue when you said the Registry has nothing to do
with Programs !


!:?)
Kevin

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

Galen wrote:

> In news:ef4AZGrQFHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl,
> !:?) <No@Spam.Com> had this to say:
>
> My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:
>
>
>>Hi all,
>
> <snip>
>
> If you're going to go through all of that why not just use something to
> clone your drive to the other drive entirely and then no matter what you are
> back up and running at the last cloned time in about five minutes? It's not
> going to help you speed up your PC at all but it will save you time from
> re-installing.
>
> Galen

But then you'd still have programs installed on C: with the OS.
Your not getting your Speed Boost then.
And a small C:\ Drive is easier to matain.

!:?)
kevin

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

dadiOH wrote:

> Richard G. Harper wrote:
>
>>Tip #1 is so full of holes that you could drive a truck through it.
>>Simply backing up the Registry and your Favorites doesn't do anything
>>about programs or data - if someone follows your advice they will
>>wind up with all their documents missing and probably a trashed
>>system since the Registry will contain multiple references to
>>programs that no longer exist.
>
>
> Ummm...he *did* say to install programs on a drive other than C: and
> reserved C: solely for the OS. Presumably, that means no personal docs
> on C:
>
> One thing he doesn't cover is stuff added to the Windows directory by
> the apps installed on another drive. Same for new hardware.

Hmmm... Interesting point.
I had thought about Program Files\Common Files but it seems to work fine
without having to back that up.
As for New Hardware, I'm not sure what you mean by new.
If after the Registry is saved then yes but if before then no.

> --
> dadiOH
> ____________________________
>
> dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
> ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
> LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
> Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico


Glad to get an intelligent Post after that Troll Richard.

!:?)
Kevin

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

Hi Galen,

Your right you could Clone but then you wouldn't get the Speed Boost.

But you could Clone and still put the OS on a Small C: Drive by itself
for easy Maintenance and a Defragger to set Files and Folders First.
This would still give you the Speed Boost and you could use the Clone
that might be faster than reinstalling the OS and Registry.


!:?)
Kevin

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

Hi Lil' Dave,

I had tried this on a partition Drive and it worked ok but you won't get
the Speed Boost it should have unless the running Program is on a
Different Drive and not a partition of the same Drive.
I Posted these because I've used them for years and they work.

Putting the OS in RAM is what we did in the late 70's and early 80's
because with 300 baud Modems you needed to save time where ever you
could and it made the OS more Stable.
Loading Programs and running them in RAM was Common and later Loading
the Dos OS there became Common just before Windows 3.0.

But I also hope to learn something here as there maybe some things that
do not effect the Systems I set up but could with others with Specific
Software and or Hardware that could be exceptions I'm not aware of.

!:?)
Kevin

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

!:?) wrote:
> Brian A. wrote:
>
>> "dadiOH" <dadiOH@x-mail.net> wrote in message
>> news:eXwYeUuQFHA.576@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...

>>> One thing he doesn't cover is stuff added to the Windows directory
>>> by the apps installed on another drive. Same for new hardware.
>
> Never ran into that Problem either and have added new Hardware, saved
> a new Registry and sees it fine.

If the hard/software has stuck an inf or other file some place other
than C:\windows, you may have a problem someday. Granted, not many do
that. But some do...got one inf in C:\

Same thing for apps...some absolutely *insist* on sticking some stuff
some place other than the program directory or C:\windows. I have a
huge, 2.85 GB mapping program on a second hard drive but it also has a
1.51 MB folder of data on C: If I did as you suggest that program
installed on D: wouldn't work properly unless I also saved/restored its
data folder on C:\

--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

!:?) wrote:
> dadiOH wrote:

>> One thing he doesn't cover is stuff added to the Windows directory by
>> the apps installed on another drive. Same for new hardware.
>
> Hmmm... Interesting point.
> I had thought about Program Files\Common Files but it seems to work
> fine without having to back that up.
> As for New Hardware, I'm not sure what you mean by new.
> If after the Registry is saved then yes but if before then no.

Hardware anytime. Saving/restoring the registry doesn't put back the
files that the hardware install wrote to windows\(usually)system. If
those files turn up missing - as they will after a fresh install of
windows - nothing will work.

But what you are doing is reinstalling Windows "over the top"; i.e.,
without a format. In that case, there is no reason to save the
registry, favorites, etc. as they aren't touched in that sort of
install. Of course, that sort of install does nothing about any viruses
or other nasties you may have either.


--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

!:?) wrote:

> Save your Registry and Favorites at this point and wipe (Format)
> Drive C:\. C:\ is wiped Clean and all your Programs are Installed on
> D:\, so at
> this point you have installed Programs with NO OS !!!

And - whoops - all your hardware drivers are gone. All those that
require drivers other than the generic ones in Windows that is...and
there are many. The format wiped them.
_________________

> Import the Registry and copy your Favorites (including Subfolders) and
> your back where you started before the Wipe !
> Your Registry will still point to your Programs and Data on the other
> Drives !

Also gone are any files written to Windows or elsewhere on C: by those
safely ensconced apps installed on another drive. Wiped in the
format...
_________________

> DUH !!! LOL !!!

DUH indeed...

--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

dadiOH wrote:

> !:?) wrote:
>
>>Brian A. wrote:
>>
>>
>>>"dadiOH" <dadiOH@x-mail.net> wrote in message
>>>news:eXwYeUuQFHA.576@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
>
>
>>>>One thing he doesn't cover is stuff added to the Windows directory
>>>>by the apps installed on another drive. Same for new hardware.
>>
>>Never ran into that Problem either and have added new Hardware, saved
>>a new Registry and sees it fine.
>
>
> If the hard/software has stuck an inf or other file some place other
> than C:\windows, you may have a problem someday. Granted, not many do
> that. But some do...got one inf in C:\
>
> Same thing for apps...some absolutely *insist* on sticking some stuff
> some place other than the program directory or C:\windows. I have a
> huge, 2.85 GB mapping program on a second hard drive but it also has a
> 1.51 MB folder of data on C: If I did as you suggest that program
> installed on D: wouldn't work properly unless I also saved/restored its
> data folder on C:\
>
> --
> dadiOH
> ____________________________
>
> dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
> ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
> LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
> Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Hmmm interesting.

The only one I've seen like that has been AOL that for some reason
insists on installing on Drive C:.
And why I won't use AOL on my own PC !

And your right there most be more that do that but I think they are the
few exceptins to the rule I didn't account for.
Most programs give you the option to install on other Drives for all
it's needs and those that don't are rare.

The only Programs I had a problem with are Dos Programs like Trace.bat
to trace IP's, URL's, Domains ect...
That Bat file had to be placed in the Windows Directory and would be
gone after a format.

I just found something that has worked for me and others for years and
hoped it might help others.
Putting the OS on it's own HD solved many problems that reduced crashes
not just of the OS but of running programs.
And a Partitioned Drive is still the same drive so there is little
benifit there.

!:?)
Kevin

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

dadiOH wrote:

> !:?) wrote:
>
>>dadiOH wrote:
>
>
>>>One thing he doesn't cover is stuff added to the Windows directory by
>>>the apps installed on another drive. Same for new hardware.
>>
>>Hmmm... Interesting point.
>>I had thought about Program Files\Common Files but it seems to work
>>fine without having to back that up.
>>As for New Hardware, I'm not sure what you mean by new.
>>If after the Registry is saved then yes but if before then no.
>
>
> Hardware anytime. Saving/restoring the registry doesn't put back the
> files that the hardware install wrote to windows\(usually)system. If
> those files turn up missing - as they will after a fresh install of
> windows - nothing will work.

When I first tried this I saved the System and System32 Folders but
found I didn't have to.
Runs fine with what's installed with the OS but I thought the same as
you and thought it shouldn't.

> But what you are doing is reinstalling Windows "over the top"; i.e.,
> without a format. In that case, there is no reason to save the
> registry, favorites, etc. as they aren't touched in that sort of
> install. Of course, that sort of install does nothing about any viruses
> or other nasties you may have either.

No I am doing a COMPLETE FORMAT of the C:\ Drive (No Partitions) and
installing Windows only on Drive C:\ and I.E., OE and other Programs to
D:, E:, or F:.
Using this setup reduces crashes to a point where they are almost a
thing of the past and the Speed Boost as an added bonus.
Microsoft says the Registry is all you have to save but that's not quite
true.

If you run Batch or other Programs from the Windows Directory that don't
come with Windows they will have to be reinstalled or replaced.
Or like AOL that insists on ONLY installing on Drive C: or having a
Folder on C: that you can't change.
Then you have more work to do.

>
> --
> dadiOH
> ____________________________
>
> dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
> ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
> LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
> Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
>

Thanks for the reply, you brought up some interesting points.

!:?)
Kevin

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

dadiOH wrote:

> !:?) wrote:
>
>
>>Save your Registry and Favorites at this point and wipe (Format)
>>Drive C:\. C:\ is wiped Clean and all your Programs are Installed on
>>D:\, so at
>>this point you have installed Programs with NO OS !!!
>
>
> And - whoops - all your hardware drivers are gone. All those that
> require drivers other than the generic ones in Windows that is...and
> there are many. The format wiped them.

Yes.
And the new install of the OS reinstalled new one and that's before I
import the Registry or anything else.
Plug and Play will detect the Hardware.


> _________________
>
>
>>Import the Registry and copy your Favorites (including Subfolders) and
>>your back where you started before the Wipe !
>>Your Registry will still point to your Programs and Data on the other
>>Drives !
>
>
> Also gone are any files written to Windows or elsewhere on C: by those
> safely ensconced apps installed on another drive. Wiped in the
> format...

I don't have or allow any files to be written to Windows or any other
Folder on C:\.
Most Programs give you a choice of which Drives to Install and place
your working Folders on.

There are a rare few that don't and that's why they are rare because no
one like a piece of software telling them where it should install and
where it's working folders should be.
People don't like limitations and is why programs like that are rare.
Forcing Users to do it their way is doomed to fail.
AOL does that and is why I will never use them but I don't know of ANY
other program that does that.
But Dos Batch Programs you place in your Windows Directory will have to
be replaced but not your games or other apps.

> _________________
>
>
>>DUH !!! LOL !!!
>
>
> DUH indeed...
>
Yes indeed....!!!

> --
> dadiOH
> ____________________________
>
> dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
> ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
> LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
> Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
>
>

!:?)
Kevin