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The Windows 98 'Startup' or
EBD ( Emergency Boot Disk)

Readme.txt File

With a few comments by The Starman




 What's New for the Windows 98 Startup Disk?

 The Startup Disk has changed significantly for Windows 98.  The
 following items are new for Windows 98:

 - MULTI-CONFIG START MENU
 - REAL-MODE CD-ROM DRIVERS
 - EBD.CAB FILE
 - RAMDRIVE
 - WINDOWS 98 STARTUP PROBLEMS
 - USING THE TOOLS AVAILABLE ON THE STARTUP DISK


 MULTI-CONFIG START MENU
 =======================

 If you boot your computer using the new Windows 98 Startup Disk, a boot
 menu appears allowing you the option to load drivers for the most common
 CD-Rom drives or perform a normal clean boot.

 After you make your selection, the Config.sys file loads the appropriate
 CD-ROM driver (if selected) and then loads a 2MB RAMDrive.  The RAMDrive
 is used to store all the diagnostic tools necessary to troubleshoot the
 most common problems.


 NOTE: The RAMdrive may cause your CD-Rom to pushed back 1 drive letter.
 If your CD-Rom is usually drive D:, it will now be Drive E:.


 REAL-MODE CD-ROM SUPPORT
 ========================

 The Windows 98 Statup Disk includes generic ATAPI IDE & SCSI CD-ROM
 drivers that allow your CD-ROM to function at DOS when the Windows 98
 GUI is not available.

 NOTE: Not all CD-Rom drives are supported. If your CD-Rom drive does not
 function with these drivers, you must use the drivers that came with your
 CD-Rom drive.


 EBD.CAB FILE
 ============

 The Ebd.cab file is a compressed file whose contents are extracted to the
 Ramdrive during the startup process. The table below identifies the files
 in the Ebd.cab file.

 File            Function ( Click here for a complete Directory Listing )
 ============   =================================================
 Attrib.exe      Add or remove file attributes
 Chkdsk.exe      A simpler and smaller disk status tool
 Debug.exe       Debugging utility
 Edit.com        Real-mode emergency text editor
 Ext.exe         New, simple file extract utility
 Format.com      Disk format tool
[ Help.bat ]     Apparently added after this text was written!
 Mscdex.exe      Microsoft CD-ROM file extension for MS-DOS
[ Restart.com ]  Apparently added after this text was written!
 Scandisk.exe    Disk status tool
 Scandisk.ini    Disk status tool configuration file
 Sys.com         Transfers system files and make disk bootable

[ Uninstal.exe   A tool to remove Windows 98 from the system and
                 return the system to its previous state ]
 ( This last file was *not* in the EBD.CAB file on the Win 98 disk
  I examined here.  Apparently this was only distributed with BETA
  versions and someone forgot to remove this entry from the file!? )


 CREATING A RAMDRIVE
 ===================

 The RAMDrive is created during the processing of the Config.sys file and
 is 2MB in size.  The Ramdrive is created using system RAM to emulate a
 physical Hard Disk.  Without creating the RAMdrive, we would not have
 enough space on a single 1.44 meg floppy disk to contain all the
 diagnostic tools as well as the CD-ROM drivers.

 WARNING: Since the RAMDrive is created during the processing of the
 Config.sys file and uses System RAM, it is only temporary.  It will
 disappear if you restart your computer normally.


 LIST OF ALL COMPONENTS ON THE EBD
 =================================
 ( Click here for a complete Directory Listing )

 The following table describes the function of each file copied to the EBD.

 File            Function
 Aspi2dos.sys    Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
 Aspi4dos.sys    Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
 Aspi8dos.sys    Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
 Aspi8u2.sys     Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
 Aspicd.sys      Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
 Autoexec.bat    Startup batch file
 Btcdrom.sys     Mylex/BusLogic CD-ROM driver
 Btdosm.sys      Mylex/BusLogic CD-ROM driver
 Command.com     Command interpreter
 Config.sys      Loads the device drivers
 Drvspace.bin    Microsoft DriveSpace compression driver
 Ebd.cab         Cab file containing extract utilities
 Ebd.sys         File identifying the E[B]D
 Extract.exe     File to expand the Ebd.cab file
 Fdisk.exe       Disk partition tool
 Findramd.exe    Utility to find the RAMDrive during startup
 Flashpt.sys     Mylex/BusLogic CD-ROM driver
 Himem.sys       XMS Memory Manager
 Io.sys          System boot file
 Msdos.sys       Boot option information (paths, multiboot, and so on)
 Oakcdrom.sys    Generic device driver for ATAPI CD-ROM drives
 Ramdrive.sys    Creates a Ramdrive during startup
 Setramd.bat     Searches for first available drive to be a Ramdrive


 WINDOWS 98 STARTUP PROBLEMS
 ===========================

 This section includes some common troubleshooting steps that can be used
 when it's necessary to use the Windows 98 Startup Disk. These steps are
 designed to get the user at least into Safe-Mode where you have access
 to Windows 98 extensive HELP system to further troubleshoot any issues.


 Starting Your Computer in Safe Mode
 -----------------------------------

 There are several reasons why Windows 98 may fail
 to start properly. The first step in troubleshooting
 is to try starting your computer in Safe Mode. If
 Safe Mode works, you can then use the extensive Help
 system and troubleshooters located in the Start
 menu/Help option.

 >>> To start your computer in Safe Mode:

 1. Remove the Startup Disk and restart your computer.
    After the computer restarts but before Windows begins
    to load, hold down the CTRL key until the Microsoft
    Windows 98 Startup Menu appears. (If you are running
    Windows 95, press the F8 key at the "Starting
    Windows 95" prompt.)

 2. From the Startup menu, select Safe Mode.

 If you can start your computer in Safe Mode, use
 Windows 98 Help to resolve your original issue.


 Setup Fails and the Computer Will Not Start
 -------------------------------------------

 There are a few common reasons why Windows 98 Setup
 may fail to complete successfully. The following
 section explains what you can do to recover from
 these situations. For more information on other
 Setup problems, see the Setup.txt file in the
 Win98 folder of your Windows 98 CD or Setup Disk #1.

 If you encounter any of these error messages while
 running Setup:

 *  Invalid System Disk
 *  Incorrect MS-DOS Version
 *  Missing or Corrupted COMMAND.COM
 *  Compression Driver errors

 It is likely that your computer's startup drive may
 need updated system files. You can use the SYS command
 to copy the needed files to your computer.

 NOTE: If you are currently loading compression software,
 you will need to know your host drive letter. This is
 typically H. If you are not loading any compression
 software, then you will need to SYS your C drive.

 >>> To use the SYS command to copy system files to your
    computer:

 1. Restart your computer using the Windows 98 Startup
    Disk, select option 2 on the Startup menu, and then
    press ENTER.

 2. At the A:\ prompt, type:  SYS X: (where X is your
    Host or Startup drive).

 3. If the procedure is successful, a "System transferred"
    message appears. If it is not successful, check to be
    sure you are typing the correct drive letter for your
    Host Drive.

 IMPORTANT: If you have installed software that came with
 your hard drive, be sure to read the documentation that
 describes how to start your computer using a floppy disk.


 Antivirus Software
 -------------------

 If antivirus programs are left running during Setup,
 they may prevent Setup from properly updating the system
 files. If this occurs, disable or uninstall the antivirus
 program, and then run Setup again.

 NOTE: Some computers have built-in antivirus software.
 This built-in software should also be disabled before
 running Setup. If the software is left enabled, you
 may receive a warning message informing you that the
 Master Boot Record has changed. If you see such a
 message, you MUST accept these changes or Setup may
 stop responding.


 Setup Stops Responding During Hardware Detection
 ------------------------------------------------

 If Setup stops responding while it is detecting the
 hardware in your computer, turn your computer off and
 wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. You may need
 to do this several times, because Setup could stop
 responding during several different detection modules.

 NOTE: Use the power switch to turn your computer completely
 off. Do not use the reset button or press CTRL+ALT+DELETE
 to restart your computer.

 If Setup still fails to complete successfully, it may be
 necessary to start your computer in Safe Mode so that
 you can view the Help topics associated with hardware
 detection.


 Compressed Drives Not Mounted
 -----------------------------

 There are several reasons why compressed drives may
 not be accessible. If your Windows directory is on a
 compressed drive that is not mounted, you will not be
 able to start Windows. If you suspect problems with your
 compressed drives, try using Scandisk to fix them.

 From the A:\ prompt, type:

         Scandisk /Mount X:

 where X is the drive letter of the compressed drive.
 ScanDisk will then attempt to repair any errors and
 mount the drive.

 If there is not enough memory to check your compressed
 drives, see "Installing Windows 98 from MS-DOS," in
 the Setup.txt file on Setup Disk 1 or the Windows 98 CD.


 USING THE TOOLS AVAILABLE ON THE STARTUP DISK
 =============================================

 This section decribes how to use some of the utilities
 included with the Windows 98 Startup Disk. To run each
 program you should do the following:

 1. Put the Windows 98 Startup Disk in the floppy disk
    drive, and then restart your computer.

 2. At the Startup menu, select option 1 or 2
    (depending upon whether you need CD-ROM access),
    and then press ENTER.

 3. At the MS-DOS command prompt (A:\), type the name
    of the utility you wish to run, and then press ENTER.


 SCANDISK.EXE and CHKDSK.EXE
 ----------------------------

 These two programs are useful for checking your hard
 disk for errors. If you suspect there may be file
 corruption or other problems with your hard disk(s),
 run ScanDisk to check for and repair errors.

 To check all your hard disks for errors, type:

         Scandisk /all

 To perform a full surface scan of your hard disk(s) for
 maximum protection against data loss, type:

         Scandisk /all /Surface

 NOTE: You may receive errors about Long File Names. The MS-DOS
 version of ScanDisk can only detect problems with long
 file names, it cannot fix them. To correct these types of
 errors, you must run ScanDisk from within Windows 98.

 NOTE: If you have any compressed drives, you may receive an
 error message stating that there is not enough memory
 to check your compressed drives. To solve this problem,
 try starting your computer with the Windows 98 Startup
 Disk, as described in Step 1, earlier in this section.
 Select option 2. This may allow ScanDisk enough memory to
 check your compressed drives.

 If ScanDisk is unable to check your drives, try using
 CHKDSK.EXE instead. CHKDSK will check for cross-linked
 files and lost allocation units.


 SYS.COM
 =======

 The SYS command is used to copy system files from one
 disk to another. Your computer needs these system files
 to start.

 >>> To SYS your C drive, type:

    SYS C:

    and then press ENTER. After a few seconds, a
    "System Transferred" message appears.

 The following files are copied to your hard disk during
 the SYS procedure:

 *  IO.SYS
 *  MSDOS.SYS
 *  COMMAND.COM

 If the SYS C: command does not work and you have a
 compressed drive, you may need to type the drive letter
 of your host drive. With the DblSpace or DrvSpace programs,
 the host drive is typically designated drive H. If you are
 not sure of the drive letter, run ScanDisk and see if it
 prompts you about your compressed drive.


 FDISK.EXE and FORMAT.EXE
 ------------------------

 FDISK and FORMAT are utilities necessary for installing
 a new hard disk in your computer or for starting over
 fresh with a clean disk. FDISK is used first to create
 a partition and then FORMAT is used to make the partition
 available for use.

 WARNING: Using FDISK incorrectly can destroy all data
 on your hard disk. If you are unsure of how to use FDISK,
 consult your computer documentation.

 You can use the Windows 98 version of FDISK to create
 FAT32 partitions on drives over 512 megabytes in size.
 FAT32 reduces the cluster size for large drives and allows
 you to create single partitions on drives over 2 GB.

 To view your current drive status, type FDISK /STATUS
 at the MS-DOS command prompt.

 After you have partitioned a drive using FDISK, you will
 need to use the FORMAT command. To format a newly
 partitioned drive, type:

         FORMAT X:

 Where X represents the letter of the drive that you
 want to format.

 If you want to format drive C, you need to make this
 disk a system disk so that your computer can start. To
 do this, type /s at the end of the FORMAT command. For
 example:

         FORMAT C: /s

 System Startup files will be automatically copied after
 your drive is formatted.


 CD-ROM Drivers
 --------------

 The Windows 98 Startup Disk includes a set of generic
 CD-ROM drivers. These drivers work with most IDE ATAPI
 and SCSI CD-ROM models.

 If your particular CD-ROM drive does not work with
 these drivers, you will need to use the drivers that
 came with your CD-ROM drive.

 Following are some known issues about the CD-ROM drivers:

 1. CD-ROM drives connected to sound cards may not work
    properly.

 2. Early proprietary CD-ROM drives (for example, Mitsumi,
    Panasonic, Sony) may not work with these drivers. Some
    older IDE controllers may fail as well.

 3. The SCSI drivers on the Startup Disk support most
    Adaptec, Buslogic, and Mylex adapters. Some other
    SCSI CD-ROM drives may not work with the drivers on
    the Startup Disk.

 4. If your SCSI controller is configured for a non-default
    I/O range, the drivers may not detect your SCSI card.
    Consult your SCSI driver documentation for the default
    I/O ranges for your card.

 5. Drivers are not included for any PC Card (PCMCIA)
    CD-ROM drives.


 UNINSTAL.EXE
 ------------

 If you need to remove Windows 98 from your system, you
 can use the real-mode uninstall utility included on the
 Windows 98 Startup Disk.

 IMPORTANT: If you did not choose the option to "Save
 System Files" during Setup, then you will be unable to
 use this utility.

 >>> To use the uninstall utility, perform the following
    steps:

 1. Restart your computer with the Windows 98 Startup Disk,
    select option 2, and then press ENTER.

 2. At the MS-DOS command prompt, type UNINSTAL, and then
    press ENTER.

 NOTE: If you see the message "WINUNDO.DAT is missing or
 corrupt," you cannot uninstall this version of Windows 98.


 EXT.EXE
 -------

 The EXT command is used in conjunction with the Extract.exe
 utility to make it easier to extract Windows 98 files to
 your hard disk. You can use this to replace missing or
 damaged files.

 This utility is extremely useful if you are receiving errors
 during startup about missing files, or execution errors such
 as General Protection Faults or invalid page faults.

 >>> To use Ext.exe to extract a file, perform the following
    steps:

 1. Use the Startup Disk to start your computer. Select
    option 1, and then press ENTER.

 2. Make sure the Windows 98 CD is inserted in the drive.

 3. Type EXT at the MS-DOS command prompt, and then
    press ENTER.

 4. Follow the prompts to indicate the location of the
    Windows 98 Setup files, the files you wish to extract,
    and the location in which you want to place the extracted
    files.

 NOTE: If your CD-ROM drive letter is E, then type the location
 to the Setup files as E:\WIN98.

 NOTE: If you wish to extract more than one file at a time, you
 can use wild card characters.