|
Every
time you crack open your PC's case to add or remove hardware,
you're rolling the dice. Maybe you'll slip that new
modem or ethernet card into its slot and watch Windows seamlessly
install its drivers. Yeah, and maybe your Internet stocks
will return to triple-digit share values, too -- but I sure
wouldn't count on it.
Even with
such technologies as Plug and Play, hardware can still be
quite tricky to install. Mistakes or problems can lead to
hours of trouble-shooting, or even to an unusable PC. These
installation guidelines should help keep your system running.
- First,
create a backup. Windows 98 automatically backs up its Registry
files every day. By default it stores the last five backups
in the Windows\Sysbckup folder as .cab files named rb xxx.cab,
where xxx is the number of the backup -- 001, 002, or whatever.
Copy the most recent .cab file, and give it a different name
so it won't be overwritten by a corrupted copy. If you need
to restore a backup file, restart your system in DOS mode
and run regscan.exe -- running it from a DOS session in Windows
won't work
Windows
Me's System Restore utility automates system backups. Click
Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore
to reload a system configuration that Windows saved previously.
Last,
make sure that you're electrically grounded. Even a small
static charge on your body can damage your PC's delicate circuitry.
Touch the system's metal chassis just before you unplug it
from its grounded outlet. Always remove all traces of the
old device before you install the new one. Here's what to
do:
1.
Use the Add/Remove Programs applet in Control Panel to remove
all of the software associated with the device.
2.
Remove the device's driver. Click Start, Settings, Control
Panel, System, choose the Device Manager tab, double-click
the device's category, select the device you're uninstalling,
and click the Remove button. Note: To remove the driver of
a graphics card (Windows calls it a "display adapter"), first
double-click the device name, choose the Driver tab in its
Properties box, and select the Update Driver button; then
use the Update Device Driver Wizard to install Windows' generic
VGA driver.
3.
Shut down your PC.
4.
Open your system's case, and remove the old device. If you're
upgrading your graphics card, put the new one in now.
5.
Restart the PC and check Device Manager. If the old device's
entry is still there, repeat the uninstall. Sometimes you
have to "remove" a device more than once before there are
no traces of it left in Windows.
Install
new devices one at a time, and use your PC for a few days
between each installation to give problems time to reveal
themselves. Some things to remember as you install:
1. Plug
and Play isn't always the best method for installing a device.
Some drivers have their own installation programs that are
best run independently of Windows' own installation routines.
2. If
the installation instructions are unclear or refer to a different
model number, go to the manufacturer's Web site and look for
updated documentation.
3. Get
the latest driver update. The drivers on the floppy or CD-ROM
that came with the device may be out-of-date. Check the vendor's
Web site for newer versions.
4. Don't
interrupt a driver installation. Stopping in midprocess can
cause all kinds of trouble. If you want to abort an installation,
finish the procedure completely, and then uninstall the driver.
5. Secure
cards to the case with their fastening screws. Unfastened
cards can work their way out of their slots over time.
Reserve
a cab
About
the only time you need your Windows CD-ROM once your PC is
running is when you install hardware. If you can't find the
disc, or if you can't get your CD-ROM drive to work, you could
be stuck.
To
play it safe, make a folder on your hard disk, name it CABS,
and copy Windows' .cab files (the compressed versions of Windows
operating system files) to it. Just copy the 'win98' and 'drivers'
folders from the Windows CD. They occupy about 275MB, but
it's space well used, even if you only need the files once.
|
