Older Operating Systems

Class Notes # 23 Windows 9X System Information February 02, 2004

The system information utility is included in Windows 9X. System information allows you to view: components, hardware, software, etc. in the computer. The system information window is organized in left pane system information window as shown in figure one. These main components are: Hardware Resources, Components, Software Environment, etc.

Figure 1: System information utility The hardware resources display the hardware device settings of the computer. The hardware resources contain the following: • Conflicts/Sharing: Displays resource conflicts and resource sharing. • DMA: Displays the hardware assigned direct memory addresses. • Forced Hardware: Lists the forced settings by a hardware device. • I/O: Displays Input/Output address ranges per component. • IRQs: Displays the assigned interrupt requests to hardware components. • Memory: Displays the assigned memory address ranges to components.

The components section contains information about the Windows 9X sub-systems. The components sections can also be further divided depending on the computer system. The main area includes the following: multimedia, display, input, USB, ports, system, etc.

1 The software environment contains information about Windows 9X software components. The software environment includes the following: • Drivers: Contains sub-sections labelled: Kernel, MS-DOS, and User-Mode. The drivers in the MS-DOS section are for real-mode backwards compatibility purposes. • 16-bit Modules Loaded: Displays 16-bit software components on the system. • 32-bit Modules Loaded: Displays 32-bit software components on the system. • Running Tasks: Real display of all current running tasks. • Startup Program: Displays programs that are started when the computer boots. • System Hooks: Lists all hooks made between programs and system resources. • OLE Registration: Displays information pertinent to object linking and embedding. The OLE registration includes sub-sections labelled: INI Files and Registry. The registry sub-section contains information about registry entries. The INI file sub-section contains information about INI files entries.

System Inventory You can save detailed information about your computer system to a text file. To save this text file choose file, export, specify a filename, and location. The system information also creates a binary file (.NFO file extension) while running. You can save this binary file by choosing file, save, and specifying a filename and location to save this file. Note, only the system information utility can read this binary file.

System Information Tools Actually, there are no system information tools only links to the tools. The typical tools are: • 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 allows you to report the computer problem(s) to a technical support person. With this tool, you enter detailed information about the problem you are experiencing. The Windows report tool also includes in the report, a snapshot of the current system configurations.

2 Follow these steps to create a report: 1. Click on tools from the main menu and select Windows Report tool. The Windows report tool dialog box will appear as shown in figure two. 2. Enter a detailed description of the problem in the problem description box. 3. Enter what you expected from the system in the expected results box. 4. Include the steps needed to recreate the problem in the steps to reproduce the problem box. 5. If you want to modify the system file sections, click on the link entitled: Change system file selections. A collected information dialog box will appear as shown in figure two. Select the files you want to include. 6. Save the file to your hard drive.

Figure 2: Windows report tool

You can send the report file to , an OEM technician, or a member of the desk staff. You can also easily attach this report file to an email message or it to a disk.

3

Figure 3: Problem report include files

Update Wizard Uninstall You can use the update wizard uninstall to remove an updates made by this wizard. will search the system and display any updates and display them in a list. To remove the update, select what you want to remove from the list and click the uninstall button. The file will then be restored to its previous state before the update was applied.

System File Checker This tool verifies the system files for any corruptions. This tool scans the hard drive for various file types and compares them to the originals from the installation media. To launch this tool click tools from the main menu and select System file checker. The system file checker will display a dialog box as shown in figure four. The tool has a default setting to scan certain file types. You can change the file types by clicking on the settings button.

4

Figure 4: System file check options

Signature Verification Tool This tool allows you to verify the digital signatures on any signed files. The signature verification tool appears similar to the tool and is shown in figure five. You can choose signed files from the look for box and select the location to scan. The digital signature allows you to verify who created the file. You can use this file to verify received files from the Internet or un-secure locations. For example, you can verify Microsoft DLL (dynamic link library) updates before installing it into your system by checking the signature to make sure it’s from Microsoft.

Figure 5: Signature Verification Tool dialog box

5 Registry Checker To check your Windows 9X registry, choose tools from the main menu and select registry checker. Windows 9X will scan the registry for corrupt keys and prompt you to back up the registry when done.

Automatic Skip Driver Agent This tool will run in the background and verify if any hardware fails to properly. If a hardware device fails to start properly, it is added to the troublesome devices and prevented from loading during subsequent boots.

Dr. Watson This utility runs in the system tray of the task bar. Dr. Watson can take a snapshot of the computer when problems occur. You can also force Dr. Watson to take a snapshot of your system any time. Dr. Watson can also be used to create a report and you can also send this report to a qualified technician.

System Configuration Utility This tool allows you to modify system files through an interface as shown in figure six. The system configuration utility contains the following tabs: • General: Allows you to start the computer in various modes and back up boot files. • System.ini: Allows you to modify the system.ini file. • Win.ini: Allows you to modify the win.ini file. • Startup: Allows you to modify which program to load at startup. • Config.: Allows you to modify the config.sys file. • Autoexec.bat: Allows you to modify the autoexec.bat file.

6

Figure 6: System configuration options

ScanDisk You can scan the hard drive and fix any problems. The ScanDisk also allows you to perform a surf scan of the hard disk media.

Version Conflict Manager This tool keeps track of all installed files that new existing files. The version conflict manager can be used to restore files.

For example, if you install software, and during the installation the software replaces a newer driver version, then Windows 98 will back up the newer driver so that it can be used later for restore.

7