Installing Windows 98
Because the operating system is the supervisor for all the other computer programs it must be installed into the computers hard disk before installing any other program.The term installation refers to the process of copying program files onto the hard disk.Installation differs from copy paste process in that it is specifically meant to copy executable files in a form that allows the computer to run the program.
To correctly install an operating system,carefully study the manufacturers documentation(manuals) in order to get the correct information on installation procedures and system requirements.For example to install Windows 98,
Microsoft recommends that a computer should have the following minimum requirements:
1.At least 486-66 MHz Processor.
2.At least 16 MB of RAM.
3.At least 170 MB of free hard disk space.
4.A CD-ROM drive because Windows 98 comes a CD-ROM.
This configuration would work but a Pentium I and a machine with 32 MB of RAM and above would be much better.
Installation process
In order to install Windows 98 on a computer that does not have an operating system,the user must have a Windows 98 Startup disk.This disk gives the user options for loading with or without the CD-ROM support.
Because Windows 98 comes on a CD-ROM,you must boot the computer With CD-ROM support in order for the computer to recognize the CD-ROM drive.
A successful boot displays the prompt;A:>-'Then
1.Type the drive letter that represents the CD-ROM drive at the prompt e.g.A:\>D: then press the enter key.
The prompt should change to the letter that was typed to represent the CD drive e.g.D:\>
This means that the computer is able to read whatever is in the CD-ROM drive.
2.Type SETUP EXE e.g.D:\>SETUP then press the enter key.
First Setup scans the available disks for errors and if an error is encountered,it is fixed but if it is more serious,the setup process is halted.
After this,the setup program (Wizard)asks you a few questions,gets you accept the license agreement and enter the product key..
The rest of the installation is automated.All you need to do is just relax and let the wizard complete the installation task.
Troubleshooting Windows related problems
The term troubleshooting refers to the process of diagnosing and trying to fix (resolve)hardware or software related problems.When using Windows,you may experience some problems such as;
1.Failure to load the operating system during the booting process.2.The computer hangs(stops responding)now and then.
3.Abnormal restarting.
4.Displaying a blue screen with a message such as Fatal exception error has occurred etc.
These problems may be due to one of the following reasons:
1.There may be hardware conflict or incompatibility caused by interrupt request(IRQ) or missing Widows device drivers such as Himem.sys(device drivers in Windows that helps in allocation of main memory)
2.There was a problem in the installation process e.g.missing system files that could not be copied due to a damaged installation disk.
3.There may be a problem with your hard disk boot sector either due to virus infection or damage.
4.Insufficient system memory.
5.Corrupted system Windows registry.Registry is a database where Windows stores its configuration information such as system hardware,installed programs,and property settings.
6.Due to interrupt request conflict i.e.if two devices are sharing a common interrupt request number.
To resolve these problems you need to:
1.Study the troubleshooting guide that comes with the operating system
2.During the booting process,hold down the F8 key on the keyboard in order to get the start-up options from which you can choose to start the computer in safe mode or display the command prompt.
This will help you to check whether the problem is due to disk failure or corrupted registry.With safe mode,you can establish whether the problem is due to corrupted system registry or failed devices.If the registry has failed,the computer will prompt you to reinstall the registry backup.If the problem is due to disk failure,start the computer using the start-up disk and type Scandisk C:at the command prompt.Scandisk will establish whether the failure is due to bad file or directory structure or damaged disk surface.
3.Use the device manager founding System properties dialog box to check on the devices that are causing problems.You get system properties dialog box by right clicking my computer then properties
4.Reinstall the operating system if the problems above persist.In case the problem is beyond repair.
APPENDIX I
Beyond basics
Arranging multiple application Windows on the desktop
One of the biggest advantages of multitasking is that one can open and work with several applications.One may wish to arrange open Windows either,side by side(Tile) or one on top of another(Cascade).
Tiling windows
Tile horizontally
This arranges all running programs one below the other.
The program in focus will have its title bar highlighted.To switch to another program,simply click its title bar.To tile horizontally:
1.Right click the taskbar
2.Click tile windows horizontally
Tile vertically
Applications can be arranged down the screen beside each other
To tile vertically:
1.Right click the task bar
2.Click tile windows vertically
Undoing tile
You can undo tiling by right clicking the task bar then clicking undo from the shortcut menu.
then click
Cascading
Each window is placed on top of the other with the active program being foremost.To cascade:
1.Right click the task bar.
2.Click cascade windows
Undoing Cascade
You can undo cascade by right clicking the task bar,then click undo cascade from the shortcut menu.
Customizing common features in Windows 98
Customizing the desktop
Windows lets the user change desktop appearance and display.To customize the desktop,right click the desktop to display properties dialog box and make the appropriate changes by clicking each tab.
The background
To set the background
1.Click the background tab
2.In Wallpaper list,select a wallpaper pattern.
3.Click on tile to cover entire screen with small wallpaper images or stretch to fill the wallpaper with one large image or center to let the wallpaper occupy only the center of the desktop.
4.Click apply to see the changes before you close the dialog box,
5.Click ok to effect the changes and close the dialog box.
Setting the screensaver
If the screen saver is set,it starts playing on the screen if the computer is left idle for a set period of time.
To set a screensaver:
1.Click the screensaver tab
2.Select a screensaver style from the screensaver list
3.click apply to see the changes before you close the dialog box,
4.click ok to effect the changes and close the dialog box.
NB:To clear the screensaver press the mouse button or any keyboard key
Changing the screen appearance
This will change the appearance of Windows items such as icon size,border colors,highlights etc.
To change the screen appearance:
1.Click the appearance tab
2.From the schemes list box,select the color scheme such as rose,storm,Windows standard etc.
3.From the items list box,select the item that the scheme will apply to i.e.icon,desktop,menu bars etc.
4.Click apply to see the changes before you close the dialog box,
5.Click ok to effect the changes and close the dialog box.
Set Windows items effects
With Windows 98,the user can change icon type as well as visual effects of most of items such as size of icons,animate windows,and menus among others.
To set Windows effects:
Web
With Windows 98 you can customize the desktop by integrating the Web features on it.You can also turn the Web elements into desktop elements and update them at anytime,this is done by:
1.Click the web tab to apply web effects on the desktop.
2.Check view my active desktop as a web
3.Click apply to see the changes before you close the dialog box.
4.Click ok to effect the changes and close the dialog box.
Setting display colors and resolution
The clarity of an object depends on color intensity and resolution of the display unit.
To change color and resolution settings
1.Click the Settings tab.
2.From colours list box,select the calibration e.g. 256 colours.
3.Use the slide button to adjust the screen resolutions e.g. 800 x 600 pixels.
4.Click apply to see the changes before you close the dialog box.
5.Click OK.to effect the changes and close the dialog box.
Setting date and time
To set date and time:
1.Click the start button,point to settings then click control panel alternatively double click the Clock on the system tray.
2.In the control panel,double-click date/time icon.
3.Adjust date and time accordingly.
Mouse settings
To change the default mouse button,double click speed and the pointer appearance to set a mouse:
1.Click the,Start button,point to Settings then;control panel.
2.In the control panel,double click the mouse icon.
3.Change the mouse properties the click ok.
Shutting down the computer
Simply click the start button to display the shutdown dialog box.