Slow boot Win98SE after format

I just formatted my C: drive 2 days ago after numerous frustrations--3 yrs of adding/deleting/downloading programs/viruses, etc etc. I am experiencing a really slow boot up time and I remember tweaking something to make it faster.
I have looked up msdos.sys according to some online instructions and can't find it anywhere on my computer. I have removed everything I think I can from my startup, via programs and msconfig. I am stumped and would like to get the boot up time way down.

any suggestions?

Mudlet

 

It is located at C:\ , and it is a Hidden and Read Only file. Select Show All Files in Windows Explorer to see it.
If you trying to take out the default 2 second boot delay, remember you will make it harder on yourself to access the boot menu at a later date if you need to start in Safe Mode, or start with a Command Prompt.

 

I'm not sure that taking out the 2 second boot delay will help that much but I remember looking it up online somewhere and there was something I did that made the boot up time faster. The part where there is a delay is when the Windows 98 screen comes up and it just hangs there. I have begun loading in programs and there are are only 3 things running on bootup in my status bar, the same as I had before formatting. I just can't remember what it was I did. I especially don't want to do anything that causes me more trouble in the long run.

thanks,,,,,,,,,,,

 

Mudlet

Do you have a Network card installed in your machine ?

If so that will almost double the bootup time whether it is actually used or not.

Here is a small batch file that you can use to edit the MSDOS.SYS. It takes care of the attrubute changes with no intervention by the user.

Just create it with Notepad. The I save it in the Windows folder as MS.bat.

It can be run right from the Start.run line by just typing MS.

Just don't forget like I did to resave it after any editing. Seems like changes do not hold if not saved.

MS.bat

@echo off
c:
cd\
attrib -r -h -s msdos.sys
edit msdos.sys
attrib +r +h +s msdos.sys

BillyBob

 

Billy Bob,
I do have a network card and it's currently not in use,
didn't even think about that.

I did go through my files in msconfig/startup and got rid of everything I could which has helped some.

When I bring up the msdos.sys file,
where do I edit in that window?
Does it matter or should your batch file
be places in a certain place?

Sorry for the slow reply, I had updated my email address
here on the forum and then didn't get the email to reply to,
as my ISP sends any suspicious or junk mail to a message center,
and I just found it this am!

Thanks again,
Mudlet

 

Does it matter or should your batch file be places in a certain place?

That is why the C: and CD\ are there. It will work from any folder you put it in. just don't forget where you but it

I myself have it in the C:\Windows folder. I just type MS in the start\run line.

The msdos.sys is ( or should ) always in the rrot folder of the C: drive.

Any editing should be done ABOVE the lines containing the XXXXXX. And under the heading OPTIONS.

Sometimes though there may be stuff below the XXXXX lines.

But in any case DO NOT remove any of the XXXX lines. They do serve a purpose.

All editing is done in the lines that start with something like Logo=( 1 or 0 ).

Unless there is something below the XXXX lines nothing else need to be edited.

BTW. Anything that might be below the XXXX line WILL OVERRIDE any thing above the XXXX lines.

If you are not using the Network card I believe it can be disabled in the Device manger and may speed thing up a little.

But in any case if you are not comfortable with editing the msdos.sys it is best to leave it be.

Although that MS.BAT can be run from a floppy if needed. I myself have it on the 98 startup disk.

BillyBob

 

If you aren't using the network card, disable it in device manager. You'll see quite a difference in boot time by disabling it.