[Tapeuup]

Tweaks for Window ME users

I found ME isn't as bad as most people say, most just repeat what they hear without trying it out for themselves first. For the "home" user & after a few tweaks it's not bad.

here's another for you ME'ers

http://www.careyholzman.com/winme_tips.htm

[aarhus2004]

At Home with Windows Millennium


Tapeup,

Thanks for that link - I like its shape! And for your comments too.

This tip leapt out at me "CHANGE SYSTEM RESTORE DISK USAGE" and I believe many of the others will have the same level of interest.

Ben.

Re: Change Disc Space Usage by System Restore.
Here are the DWORD values: In the Disabled state

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\StateMgr\Reser vedDiskSpace]
"Min"=dword:00000019
"Percent"=dword:00000002
"AbsoluteValue"=dword:00000077
"DiskUsage"=dword:00000003
"Max"=dword:00000077
"Status"=dword:00000001
"UIFreezeSize"=dword:00000032

I am unsure how the values, for Min 00000019 and 00000077 for Max, relate to 200MB and 718MB respectively unless one just used, say, 10 for the Min and 40 for the Max.
I will try that and edit again.

No cannot do that. Here are the Enabled DWORD values Usage setting at 20MB (Min):

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\StateMgr\Reser vedDiskSpace]
"Min"=dword:000000c8
"Percent"=dword:0000000c
"AbsoluteValue"=dword:000000c8
"DiskUsage"=dword:0000000a
"Max"=dword:000002ce
"Status"=dword:00000001
"UIFreezeSize"=dword:00000032

and here the Enabled DWORD values Usage setting at 718MB (Max):

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\StateMgr\Reser vedDiskSpace]
"Min"=dword:000000c8
"Percent"=dword:0000000c
"AbsoluteValue"=dword:000002ce
"DiskUsage"=dword:0000000a
"Max"=dword:000002ce
"Status"=dword:00000001
"UIFreezeSize"=dword:00000032

Tapeup - anyone - How are these DWORD values to be edited to reflect say values of 100MB (Min) and 300MB (Max)?

INPUT PLEASE

[aarhus2004]

Originally Posted by Tapeuup

Tweaks for Window ME users

I found ME isn't as bad as most people say, most just repeat what they hear without trying it out for themselves first. For the "home" user & after a few tweaks it's not bad.

here's another for you ME'ers

http://www.careyholzman.com/winme_tips.htm

I combed the site (above).

I think it is neglected, out of date, and some of the pages are slow-loading and have been taken over by assorted sites of no relevance.

Verdict - "ME'ers" can find far better ones by searching for themselves. Please share them here - in our thread.

Ben.

[aarhus2004]

(See Post #32 above)

Hello,

Well here is how to do it.

Go to Start>Run>type-in regedit>click OK.

In the Registry Editor (LH Pane) expand HKEY_LOCAL MACHINE (click-on the + i.e. expand)
Expand SOFTWARE
Expand Microsoft
Expand Windows
Expand CurrentVersion
Expand StateMgr and click-on the Key 'ReservedDiskSpace'.

This is the full identity of this Key, the values of which you have opened:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\StateMgr\Reser vedDiskSpace

In the RH Pane you will see listed the values for this Key (i.e.ReservedDiskSpace).
(See attached gif "Before Edit DWORD value RHPane").

Right-click on Min. Then click on Modify. The 'Edit DWORD Value' dialog box will open and show the hexadecimal (the default and highlighted) value of c8
(See attached gif "DWORD Min Value (hexadecimal").

"Hexadecimal" is 'bulleted' - now click-on the circle alongside "Decimal". It is now bulleted.
The value shown has changed to 200 - which figure reflects the default setting in System Restore for the minimum value and is in MBs.
(see attached gif "DWORD Min Value Decimal")

Change this highlighted value to 100. Click OK. You have now set the minimum System Restore disk space reserved usage to a figure of 100MBs.
(See attached gif "After edit in RH Pane")

Reverse your opening of the Registry keys (thus restoring it to its unopened state). Close the Editor.

Check in Start>Settings>Control Panel>System>Performance tab>File System and you will see the slider now shows a minimum position of 100MBs.

Why do this this?

Apart from the obvious which may not be as important as it once was (this was when hard-drives were smaller), a large system restore folder has a bearing on system resources and their usage. It can slow Windows Millennium down. I often read that the disablement of S.R. is desirable and, indeed, I have seen advocated its complete removal. However I can't go along with the latter mind-set.

Another way of looking at it is to ask does my computer control me? For several years I would have had to answer that question with a yes. I never ask it now.

Cheers.

Ben.

[aarhus2004]

Well, if you have one it will show here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

click on the CurrentVersion key and in the RH Pane (listed alphabetically) look for ProductKey and alongside it will be the 5 groups of five letters and numbers.

If you bought your system from a local Ma and Pa computer store it probably came with a WiNME CD with the pretty holograms on it. This is the (original) O.E.M. installation disc. If you don't have that you may have something else - it would be interesting to know what.

The product key is needed when one does a format and install of WinME using the WinME CD.

Ben.

Don't like working in the Registry? Then this zip attachment is for you. It is a simple VBS (Visual Basic Script) tool which will instantly display the key. Courtesy Bill James MVP from his website here: http://www.billsway.com/vbspage/

[Stoner]

Good thread, Ben

My WinMe was preinstalled on an HP laptop and the instalation method is by reimaging the entire drive along with the provided software rather than installing Me from a regular install CD (OEM or retail) . So, I have 2 install discs, but they contain a drive image specific to my laptop.
I think only Money2000 was shipped on a seperate CD, and it needed no product key to install either.
There is a product key, but it was never needed for a reinstal as the setup automatically called for Bios ID recognition specific to my laptop and proceeded to install after that confirmation.

Like I posted before, I switched to 98se before many of the tweaks were known that you have posted.
I might just retry Me sometime and see how it compares , using some of the info you provided.

Thanks,
Jack

[aarhus2004]

Hello Jack,

Appreciate that. When one's own computer is the only WinME installation played with it does occur that every manufacturer has a different agreement with Microsoft about precisely what is to be given with the new system. And how.

In your case had you wanted to do a format/install of WinME you would presumably have formatted first, or would the image discs do that for you? And why two install image discs? Is it because HP had loaded everything you needed (or asked for) on purchase onto the two discs?

Can you use Money2000 on Win98?

Does your win98 respond to the search for a product key?

I went back to your original post:

"I had WinMe on a laptop. A factory instal. I bought it shortly after Me came out and there was little knowledge of what to tweak to overcome the early problems. The laptop maker (HP) provided Win98se for those that complained ( and I had to be instant about it ) under warrenty, so I took the easy way out ..... "

Love it. What a bargain...just in case!! Was the Win98 'option' on an image CD too?

And Jack, are you using the same HP laptop but with Win98 on it?

Cheers.

Ben.

[Stoner]

Hello Ben

The Me install CD's also do the reformatting and partitioning so it's a pretty simple job to just stick the first CD in the cd drive, start the computer up and the machine automatically boots to the cd and starts the installation.
There are 2 cds because there are lots of other software included with the machine.Too much to put on one CD, along with Me. Unfortunately, there was no way to retrieve the 'bundled' software and reuse it with the 98se install. All HP would send was a 98se install disk. No big problem though.
The Money 2000 cd did install on win98se with no problems. I just never used it.

I haven't looked for the product id on the 98se install, but it's probably at the same spot as Me. I wrote the key IDs on the 98se install disc, with a felt pen. Actually, I do that with all my software.

No, the 98se install was from a 98se install disk HP sent me...so it was not an image. I did have to download specific drivers, though, for the touch pad , the speed step feature of the CPU, vid card and also the DVD player. Did work out pretty well.
One hitch though. I have just decided to install a PCMCIA ethernet card, but for some reason, it's not recognized properly. I thought I'd put some more time to it, but if it doesn't look promising in a reasonable time, I think I will reinstall Me sooner than later and see if that setup works better.

And Jack, are you using the same HP laptop but with Win98 on it?

Not often, my posts are coming from a $35 Dell P3 800 Optiplex I bought at auction
I use the HP infrequently right now. There developed a problem with the LCD screen. A common problem with this vintage HP, as it turned out. It went black and the replacement parts and labor were over a thousand dollars...and the same problem
was being reported with the replacement parts......so....as I needed a portable, I decided to buy a new laptop and just hook the HP up to a CRT and use it as a desk top comp. But I haven't had much need for an extra comp on the desk, so, mostly, it's been sitting around unused lately

[aarhus2004]

Hello Jack,

My goodness our computing lives are different. But that probably applies to us all!

But the experience you have had is valuable. I have been sheltered in some ways. Very little (except for settings) has changed on my comp since purchase. I don't regard the adding of another HDD and a CD Burning ROM\DVD player as having been much of a challenge. I haven't any plans to move to XP or Vista. The real challenge is the fighting off this addiction to using the PC from morn to night! I was an avid book reader before.

However I am running without all the concerns for security. I wanted to check out the significance of doing so. No problems thus far. My machine is less cluttered and the only updating I do is the Windows one.

$35 for a computer. That sounds like a real bargain. In fact it's an unbelievably low price. I kept a list of what I spent on this system - with everything included it came to $4500 CAN in 2000.

Thanks for the sharing, Jack.

Ben.

[ekim68]

aarhus2004,
Thanks so much for this info...I've been checking and trying a lot of the stuff. I'll give
you some feedback when I get a little more time...

[angelize56]

I've had WinME on my pc since I first got it in 2001....I've never had the inclination to install a different Windows version...I've only had a few problems with my pc...knock on wood...and thank you TSG...why not leave well enough alone! I appreciate the links and info you've posted aarhus2004! Thanks! Take care! angel

[aarhus2004]

Thank-you both, ekim68 and angelize56

Ben.

[aarhus2004]

As a user of the Microsoft Community Newsgroups for several years and within the ones which applied to Windows Millennium, beginning here:

http://www.microsoft.com/communities...&lang=en&cr=us

I found much evidence of the problems Win ME users have had with Norton Anti-Virus. This product was acquired by Symantec some years ago, read here

and is perhaps best summed up in this article by a person whose contribution to those mentioned Newsgroups has been large indeed, Noel Paton MVP. What follows is quoted from his website to be found here

it reads in part:

Remove Norton - "Remove Norton?" I hear you say "Why should I do that, it's my protection!" - No it isn't!! It's one of the most damaging pieces of software known to users of Windows Millennium Edition. It WILL kill your system sooner or later, I promise you!! The biggest problem is that all Norton Software comes with LiveUpdate attached, and this utility at some stage is likely to prevent System Restore working properly. I routinely remove all traces I can find of Norton software on my clients' machines - replacing the necessary bits with more ME-friendly apps - and I've never had a complaint (yet!). To uninstall all things Norton, use the Add/Remove Programs wizard, and then follow up with the appropriate cleaning tools from this list, and/or follow the instructions here...

Links are provided to the relevant data on the Symantec website - they are many and detailed.

************

McAfee Anti-Virus..

It may be mere co-incidence but on reading of the problems of Win9x users whose computers have slowed down I am struck by how many of them are running either the SymantecNorton A/V or the McAfee one. I don't know how many times I have read that this latter is a resource hog. Since there are several others available and at no charge, and if you spend time reading here in TSG you will find these mentioned.

My own experience has been with Anti-Virus Grisoft. I liked it and had confidence in it. Recently, however, I came across a mention of an anti-virus freeware never before heard of and, what is more, it was the recommendation of an MVP, by name Mow Green, who said he found it compatible with WinME. This is it: "AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic" from here.

Cheers.

Ben.

[tj29392]

I had WinMe a few years ago and it was pretty good. I felt I was missing out until I bought a new PC with XP and dumped WinMe in the trash.

Tom

[aarhus2004]

Tips, Tricks and Tweaks So Far.

The Post Numbers given are also links

In Post 16.

DELINDEX - THE Cleaner.
REGSEEKER - For very useful and auto-tweaks.

In Post 17.

BOOTLOG EXAMINER - Checking the Bootup time-taken and content.
SCANDEFRAG - For automatic and daily maintenance.
Removing the MS Logo (Advertising) on Bootup.
Desktop Shortcuts for Shutdown and Restart. (and see Post 24)
Enabling Direct Memory Access. (DMA).
Expanding the Control Panel and Speeding-up the display of Menus.
Great Tips, Tricks and Tweaks from Jack Gulley.

In Post 24.

SPIDER - View those Index.dat files in detail (including the hidden ones).

In Post 30.

Windows Millennium - Support Future.
HIJACKTHIS - The Valuable Freeware.
CLEANIE - Take a quick look at the size of the burden placed in WinME by websites - and quickly remedy this - your choice.

Hoping this may be useful.

Ben.