This section contains tips on optimising Windows 95 at StartUp. There are very few people who know about the MSDOS.SYS file in the root directory and its usefulness. Unlike in DOS this is a text file in Windows 95 and it contains a handful of useful startup options. Below is a list of options that are availabe in for this file.
The file referred to over here is C:\MSDOS.SYS
MSDOS.SYS is a read-only, hidden and system file in Windows95. To edit it you must first remove the read-only attributes by typing attrib -h -s -r msdos.sys. Then use a normal text editor.
There are 2 sections related to this file they are
1. Path
2. Options
Following are a list of options and their brief description
[Paths]
| UninstallDir= | Location of Uninstall information eg:UnisnstallDir=C:\ |
| WinDir= | Location of the Windows95 Directory eg:WinDir=C:\Windows |
| WinBootDir= | Location of necessary startup files eg:WinBootDir=C:\Windows |
| HostWinbootDrv= | Location of the Boot Drive Root Directory eg: HostWinBootDir=C |
[Options]
| BootMulti= | Allows booting to previous operating system. The default is 0. Setting this to 1 allows you to press F4 to start your previous version of DOS or F8 to use the Windows StartupMenu. |
| BootDelay=n | This sets the initial delay to n seconds before starting Windows95. This is to give you enough time to press the F4 or F8 keys. The default is 2 seconds. |
| BootMenu=n | Enables the automatic display of the Windows95 Startup menu. The default is 0 so that you need to press F8 on bootup to see the Start menu.Changing it to 1 will always bring up the Start menu. |
| BootMenuDefault=n | This sets the default menu item for the Windows95 Startup menu. |
| BootMenuDelay=n | This sets the number of seconds, n to show the Windows95 Startup menu before running the default menu item (see previous item). The default is 30 seconds. |
| BootKeys= | This enables the startup option keys (F5, F6, F8). The default
setting is 1. Setting this to 0 prevents any startup keys from functioning. |
| BootGUI= | This enables the automatic graphical startup into Windows95. The default is 1. Setting this to 0 will boot you to a DOS prompt. You can then type "WIN" to start Windows95. |
| BootWarn= | Enables starting in Safe Mode without a warning. The default is 1. |
| Logo= | Enables display of the Windows95 animated logo. The default setting is 1. |
| DoubleBuffer= | Enables loading of a double-buffering driver for a SCSI controller, if required. The default setting is 0. |
| Network= | Enables Safe Mode with Networking as a menu option. The default
is 1 for computers with networking installed. |
| AutoScan= | For OSR 2 only.After a bad
shutdown, Windows95 will start ScanDisk. AutoScan=0 will disable this feature AutoScan=1 will stop and prompt you before starting ScanDisk. After 1 minute it will start automatically. This is the default setting AutoScan=2 will start ScanDisk if needed automatically |
| DrvSpace= | Enables loading of Drivespace at StartUp. Setting it to 0 will disable loading of Drivespace |
| DblSpace= | Enables loading of DoubleSpace at StartUp. Setting it to 0 will disable loading of DoubleSpace. |
| LoadTop= | Setting option to 1 will allow loading of COMMAND.COM into High Memory |
OverClocking is basically increasing the speed of your processor by changing certain jumper setting on the motherboard. Normally the CPU Internal Clock Speed Selector jumper on the motherboard needs to be fingered with. However in some cases it becomes necessary to alter the main clock generator. Check out your motherboard manual for details.
Some common consideration before Overclocking
1. Is Overclocking Safe?
To some extent it is. Its alright if you Overclock a 166MHz to 180Mhz. But to overclock from 166Mhz to 225Mhz is asking for trouble. Don't expect anything else but a fried CPU. Generally the greater the frequency of the CPU greater overclocking can be done.
Some also say that overclocking leads to reduction in life of the CPU. However with computers getiing outdated within a years time life of CPU is not such a great factor.
2. Do I really need to Overclock?
Sometimes it isn't the best idea to Overclock. Take for eg myself. When I first heard about overclocking I was very thrilled. I overclocked my CPU to 180 MHz But had to reduce the main clock generator frequency to 60 MHz from 66 MHz. THat meant my PCI Bus running at 1/2 of the clock frequency would reduce to 30 MHz from 33MHz and the ISA bus running at 8.25Mhz would get reduced to 7.5MHz..This would lead to appreciable downfall in performance of system.
SO how do You Overclock. Its simple. Just chage the Internal Clock Speed selector to the desired and safe frequency andyour system is overclocked. If in any way you need to change the frequency of your main clock generator make absolutely sure that the frequency of PCI bus which is normally 1/2 the frequency of the clock generator does not exceed the limit of your PCI cards(generally Video Card) frequecny. You also have to make sure that your ISA bus isn't too fast for your ISA card. Or else you'll end up frying up your PCI and ISA cards.
Anyway Best OF Luck for your overclocking experience.
I'll be putting up links to more CPU and Video Overclocking pages soon.