-_-; Optimizing Windows 95

Long story short: At work there is a computer running windows 95 that is exceptionally sluggish. No discs are available for a reinstall of the system or any of the software that it is running.

I already virus/spyware scanned the system, and was wondering if anyone knew of any effective & free downloadable registry/disc defrag programs that will work on it.

 

Not much software works on WIN95. Why don't you sell it or recycle or something?

 

It's a company computer that is issued to our store. We can't.

 

I suggest getting a new computer.

 

In that case, i don't have any suggestions. Sorry.

 

suggest that they replace the computer! i mean; what kind of company still use windows 95!??! thats like.... 13 yearrsssss ago!

 

Try to search for some good registry cleaners.

RegScrubXP is good, but I don't know if it'll work on Windows 95. Try to search on google for a Registry Clearner Windows 95

And try to stop the startup programs that you don't need on startup by typing:

msconfig in the RUN BOX in your start menu.

Then go to the start up tab and remove what you think is not needed from there. Then restart, a popup box will show up, click on do not show this message again.

 

Doesn't Windows 95 come with Microsoft's own disk defragmenter?

 

here is waht you do..... download a copy of win 95 vis the internet (i think since he owns it and lost his disc it is ok, if not you can censor this), or check ebay for a 95 disc

 

They won't give us a new one while this one still works and I am not willing to sabotage it.

It does but there are always much better defraggers than the default window's one.

 

Yeah i beleive that since the company legally owns a copy of Win95 you can legally download a copy of Win95 for your company...

Same way with movies and music and ROMS.

 

I already considered this option, but we do not have install discs for the any of the software that the computer uses.

But on a better note, I have found an older version of Auslogics disk defrag that supports 95. I am having trouble finding results for it's registry defrag.

 

Windows 95 is big and bloated. Go back to Windows for Workgroups 3.11.

ok, seriously, it could be infected with malware or just have other issues, so you may want to reinstall the OS.

But yeah, really, they need to replace that machine.

Hey, could you install Linux? Some of the lighter distributions of Linux should be usable on an ancient system like that.

 

RegSeeker is a good, free product which should work well if you need to clean out a bloated Registry, even on your old machine with Windows 95.

 

Can't your store just buy a new computer at its own expense? It could even be cheaper than trying to fix the current one. New (or refurbished) desktops are very cheap now days. Besides, what do you use that computer for?

 

Do something so that this one doesn't work !!

Anyway, you can get older versions of all major softwares at : http://www.oldapps.com/

See if you can find some which run on win 95

 

And by the way, make sure you run A squared FREE to check for any malware/trojans.

Also, consider using NOD32 AntiVirus as it is very light on the system and barely uses any resources.

 

I doubt NOD supports 95.

What's teh specs on that thing? That'd probably broaden your solution.

 

ouch win95? thats just....sad

hmm i cant recall any programs with windows95, wasnt much of a techie back then as i am now. ^^

all i can suggest

for the sake of your company to work more productively. UPGRADE!

 

Hey you can still play Oregon Trail, can't you?

 

Mess up your registry via 'regedit' & tell them Windows Update ruined it !! Hehe

 

A registry is easy to fix for a knowledgeable admin. Erasing the hard drive via the command prompt would do more damage. But didn't he already say he didn't want to sabotage it?

 

Lots of helpful (not) suggestions here....

You treat Win95 just as you would any other windows install

Clean the temp directory

Check for virus (if you do not have a win95 capable scanner, remove the drive and drop it into a current machine as a slave and scan it from there.

Run a disk check utility--in windows 95, double click MY COMPUTER, right clickyour C; Drive, choose PROPERTIES, go to tools
Run diskscan (you could also do this from the other machine using the parent machines disk scan utility)

Run defrag of your choice. (you could also do this from the other machine--most modern defraggers will do a far supperior job to the Win 95 based ones)

Disable any startup items that are not needed--I am not sure if many of today's better startup utilty programs work with Win95, but you can copy
MSConfig.exe
Msconfig.chm
Msconfig.cnt
Msconfig.hlp
from a working win98 machine and it will run on Win95

Reboot to DOS
Run
scanreg /fix

Compact your registry:
http://www.aumha.org/win4/a/regpak.php

If your system can recognize newer hard drives, image the drive to a newer faster drive, as these old drivers were quite slow

 

The computer is used to sync our data reports with the main office. It uses two programs to do this that are not available anywhere other than the company. The computer launches a program that works a lot like a kiosk (except we can exit out of the program back to windows). So most of the suggestions to buy a new computer or reinstall the OS and programs cannot be done.
I will try regseeker and asquared.
I have already tried spybots and cleaning up the startup programs. Temp folder is clean as well.

Anyone know of a defragmenter that works on win 95? Its 4 Gig HD is 1/2 full and I doubt it has ever been defragmented.

 

unless ur job is secure (ha ha), i would not even try to touch the dingy. No software, no backup, u r asking (or have been asked) for problems. 4gigo drive, what happen when it croaks during a defrag?

my 2 c for this box - if it ain't broke, dont touch it!

cheers ...

 

He's got a point there. I must admit touching an ancient PC will only make things worse, especially that you need to for the daily operation of the company to continue.

 

why don't you upgrade the memory.it might speed up the process...that is if u can remove the cover..if nobody uses that pc and its just there to sync up the data,,why do ever shut it down..just leave it on...
you can get norton ghost bootable and create image of hd on external drive(i dont think this **** even has a cd-rom 2x) and then try to fix it..

 

I know some that still use Windows 3.1 or Dos.