Two questions about Win95 OSR0 (4.00.950)

[pangoomis]

1. How to prevent creating the registry backup at startup? (system.da0 and user.da0)

2. How to stretch the wallpaper without using Plus 95?

 

I've tried common tricks, but nothing worked...

[jumper]

The second is easy: stretch the wallpaper in Irfanview, etc., and resave.

For the first you might try using autoruns to find and disable the backup process. Or try deleting the *.da0 files and creating folders with the same names.

[Drugwash]

No idea if it works in 95 but you can try to change a registry value for the wallpaper:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop, WallpaperStyle --> 2. If the key doesn't exist, create it as a STRING value and set its value to 2.

 

For the backup try Start > Run --> msconfig [ENTER] and see if there's something related to registry/backup in the Startup tab. Well, if msconfig exists and works in 95.

[pangoomis]

The second is easy: stretch the wallpaper in Irfanview, etc., and resave.

For the first you might try using autoruns to find and disable the backup process. Or try deleting the *.da0 files and creating folders with the same names.

Stretching image in a image editor is a workaround, not a fix.

I tried creating folders with the same name, but Win95 after a reboot then renamed the folders to System.da1 and User.da1, and created .da0 all over again, how lovely

Autoruns (oldest version I could find) wouldn't work. However, I do have a view of the whole registry (via regedit export), and there's nothing about backup anywhere.

No idea if it works in 95 but you can try to change a registry value for the wallpaper:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop, WallpaperStyle --> 2. If the key doesn't exist, create it as a STRING value and set its value to 2.

 

For the backup try Start > Run --> msconfig [ENTER] and see if there's something related to registry/backup in the Startup tab. Well, if msconfig exists and works in 95.

WallpaperStyle was one of the first things I've tried, it doesn't work.

I've tried running msconfig.exe from 98SE, but didn't work.

Edited February 1, 2015 by MrMateczko

[Drugwash]

Well, the Win95 tips and tricks have faded away in time. It's possible that the common controls pertaining to that OS family simply did not have the ability to use certain flags. What exactly is the version of comctl32.dll on your system? You may need to update that to 4.71 or whatever possible for a 95 system. The Plus! package probaly does that and some extra stuff that allows the stretch option for the wallpaper.

 

As for the registry backup... I really don't know. I do keep the backup option active in my 98SE, as one never knows when it may be needed.

[loblo]

You need cool.dll to stretch wallpaper if I am not mistaken.

[submix8c]

Not sure why you'd want to do that (re *.DA0). They have an important function, just like NT/XP->(latest) "Last Known Good Condition".

http://www.pctools.com/guides/article/id/1/page/5/

If your registry gets corrupted, how will you recover? You must have masses of extra software installed, since a "base" Win95 RTM only uses approx.2MB-System + approx.100KB-User. Alternative is to install "System Agent" (aka Task Scheduler) from PlusPack and scedule it to insert (via BAT) a RunOnce REG key so next time Windows starts, it will delete both of them. But then you'd have more software installed, larger that what you want to eliminate. Self-defeating method...

 

Extremely small HDD?

[pangoomis]

This combined with WallpaperStyle=2 did make the wallpaper stretch, yay!

 

About the sense of disabling .da0 files...let's just say, this has something to do with it.

[submix8c]

Let's just say that doesn't explain ("the sense of") anything. Did you, indeed, use that and it still creates the files? It doesn't say anything about *not* creating them, just that they need *removed* for the "changes" to work.

 

I also want to point out that the link as "tested on Win98SE". Bear in mind 98SE creates "Windows\SYSBCKUP\RBnnn.cab" files and *not* "something.DA0" files. BIIIG difference!

Edited February 2, 2015 by submix8c

[pangoomis]

I think it's hardcoded in Io.sys somewhere, I've been reading: Description of the Windows 95 Startup Process , and it says:

The Io.sys file opens the System.dat file. If the System.dat file is not found, the System.da0 file is used for startup. If Windows 95 starts successfully, the System.da0 file is copied to the System.dat file.

So, a hex edit of Io.sys would be needed then...something way beyond my knowledge.

[sdfox7]

MrMateczko

I couldn't get your above link to load but here's the archived version:

http://web.archive.org/web/20060708044551/http://truetype-typography.com/technote/fsnoplus.htm

There is a lot of good useful info regarding Windows 95 Tips and Tricks (last updated December 1996):

The original link is still active, http://www.empowermentzone.com/win95tip.txt, and here is the archived version:http://web.archive.org/web/20000818212740/http://www.empowermentzone.com/win95tip.txt

Edited February 2, 2015 by sdfox7

[submix8c]

Not really sure if it's the same file, but it can also be found in IE401 (SPx) or IE5 (and above up to but not including IE6) inside "SETUP95.CAB".

Edited February 2, 2015 by submix8c

[jaclaz]

Well, just for the record, nano98 is a (BTW nice) POC (Proof Of Concept) and nothing more than that, it has no practical use as it simply misses too many files/subsystems, if you are going after a very reduced Win9x you'd better go for the Winimize (it can still be found through Wayback Machine):

http://reboot.pro/forum/53-winimize/

More related projects here:

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=12326

 

If useful , find attached nano3.zip.

 

jaclaz

donano3.zip