> Under Windows 98, What is the mininum number of files
> that should be loading through the "start-up"
routine? I always use I.E. 5, Office 97, and ftp.
>
> My system has 128 RAM, yet when I try and combine 2 files
> (approximately 30k each), I recieve an
"out-of-memory."
James is right. The fewer programs that run
in the background, the better.
I have seen Windows PCs with as many as 25
or 30 background processes running -- all of which nibble away at system
resources. In general, most systems require only three or four of these
programs to run well. Removing superfluous programs can make a system more
stable.
In Windows 98 and Windows Me, there is a
utility for managing these programs. It is called msconfig.
To start msconfig, go to the Start menu,
choose "Run" and type "msconfig" in the edit field.
On the "General" page tab, choose
"Selective Startup."
On the "Startup" page tab, you
will find the names of (and paths to) 10 or 20 or more programs that load automatically
when you boot your PC. You can prevent a program from automatically launching
by unchecking the check box beside its name. The names of some programs are cryptic;
sometimes the path name will give a clue as to what it does.
Try deactivating as many programs as
possible. Very few are actually necessary. I suggest, however, that you leave alone
the following:
- ScanRegistry
- LoadPowerProfile (however, there are
usually two of these; so uncheck one of the two.)
- Your virus software.
Programs with important-sounding names like
“Critical Update,” “Scheduling Agent,” and “TaskMonitor” are not vital, in my
experience.
When you close msconfig, you will be
prompted to restart your PC. The changes come into effect when you reboot. If
you unchecked many programs, your PC will boot significantly faster, and your
system will have more RAM available. If you discover later that an application
does not work properly or is not available, then return to msconfig, go to the
"Startup" page tab, and re-check boxes that are connected to the
misbehaving application.
Knowing how to manage startup programs is an
essential skill for assistive technologists. Many startup programs conflict
with the software people with disabilities depend upon. I have seen, for
example, software associated with a scanner that made NaturallySpeaking
virtually unusable. I fixed the problem by deactivating the scanner software in
the startup group. The user now launches the scanner software only when needed.
You should run msconfig periodically. New
startup programs may be added when you upgrade software, download applications
from the internet (e.g. RealPlayer), or reconfigure software.
Alan
Alan Cantor
Cantor + Associates Inc.
Workplace Accommodation Consultants
www.interlog.com/~acantor