Basic Microsoft
Windows 95 troubleshooting.
Issue:
Basic Microsoft Windows 95
troubleshooting.
Additional Information:
This document has been created as a
location of general steps that can be taken to help you with problems
you may be experiencing with Microsoft Windows 95 that are either
general problems
Below are some reasons why a user may
follow the steps in this document.
- Unknown or undocumented problem with
computer running Microsoft Windows 95.
- Performance issues with the computer,
i.e. computer running slow.
- Users who wish to run a maintenance
on the computer or potentially speed up the computer.
- Users looking for steps to help
resolve a issue or that may help locate the cause of an issue.
Solutions:
Error messages
encountered during boot before Windows loads
- Ensure that your computer BIOS settings are correctly configured
to the hardware that is installed in your computer. Improper
settings in the BIOS may cause various types of errors when first
booting a IBM compatible computer. These errors often occur as the
computer is first booting and may stop the load process of the
computer.
- Like previous versions of Microsoft Operating Systems, Windows
95 still utilizes the autoexec.bat and config.sys for backwards
compatibility. Errors that occur before Windows loads are often
caused by a misconfiguration in the autoexec.bat and/or config.sys.
Error messages while Windows is loading
Errors that occur while Windows 95 is loading and/or prevent
Windows from loading your issue may be caused by issues in the win.ini
and/or the system.ini. These issue can often be resolved by restoring
a backup of the win.ini and the system.ini. Below are steps that can
be taken to restore a backup of these files.
- Exit to a MS-DOS prompt.
- At the MS-DOS prompt type: cd\windows and press enter.
- from the C:\Windows> prompt type dir system.* and dir
win.* this will enable to you see if any backups of the
system.ini or win.ini are available and if so what they are called.
You should be looking for a system and win file that end with either
---, bac, or bak. If this file is present then continue with the
remainder of the steps. Unfortunately if this file is not found you
will be unable to proceed with this recommendation.
- If you were able to locate a backup file type ren system.ini
system.ch and ren win.ini win.ch to rename the current
system.ini and win.ini files.
- Finally, type copy system.??? system.ini and copy
win.??? win.ini where ??? is the name of the backup extension
you were able to locate.
Other error messages that occur while
Windows is loading or after Windows is loaded
Errors that have occurred while Windows is loading and/or after
Windows has completed loading are often caused by a program that is
automatically loading each time Windows is loading, problem or
misconfiguration of a hardware device, or computer virus.
- If errors occur but Microsoft Windows still loads verify no
issues or conflicts exist in device manager. If errors are found
read through our device manager page for steps on resolving issues.
- Ensure that if programs are loading automatically that these
errors are not associated with these programs. Many times utilities
such as virus programs may attempt to load when Windows first starts
and cause errors to occur. If you believe that your startup errors
are associated with another program please refer to our
basic software trouble shooting.
- If your computer has a virus protection program installed make
sure it is up to date and that no viruses are being detected. If
your computer does not have a virus protection program you may wish
to consider installing a program to make sure no viruses are causing
your problems.
Other error messages
If you are experiencing other error messages it is likely these
errors are being caused by the software program you are running and/or
a hardware device you are attempting to utilize it is recommended you
see the
basic trouble shooting section for your hardware device or
software program.
Computer running slow
- Make sure your computer has at
least 100MB of hard disk drive space. If your computer has less then
1000MB it may cause the computer to operate more slowly.
- Run Microsoft Scandisk and Defrag
on the computer.
- Click Start, Search, and click
For Files or Folders in the search window search for a file
named *.tmp and make sure you are searching or looking in the
local C: drive. Once search has completed delete any files found.
- Windows 95 still utilizes the
autoexec.bat and config.sys therefore make sure your autoexec.bat
and config.sys are optimized. Changing the way programs load into
memory, removing lines that are not necessary, and changing the
order of lines in your config.sys can all help with improving the
speed of your computer.
- If you have not already restored a
backup copy of your system.ini and win.ini it is recommend you
restore an older version of these files. See the above "Error
messages while Windows is loading" section for steps on how to do
this.
- Ensure that no errors on conflicts
exist in the device manager.
- Ensure your computer has the latest
drivers for the hardware devices installed in your computer.
- If your computer has a virus protection program installed make
sure it is up to date and that no viruses are being detected. If
your computer does not have a virus protection program you may wish
to consider installing a program to make sure no viruses are causing
your problems.
Issue with hardware
device
If you are having difficulties with a
hardware device please see our
basic trouble shooting section for steps that can be taken to help
resolve your hardware issues.
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