OS Utility Notes

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[edit section] OS Utility Notes

CVT - real mode, from command prompt
CVT1 - start, programs, accessories, system tools, drive converter
for converting FAT16 to FAT32

Dr. Watson - main tool for GPFs
system information, tools, dr watson
or run "drwatson"

sysedit - 9x/xp (not ME) (like old version of msconfig)
- manually edit system.ini, win.ini, config.sys, autoexec.bat
run "sysedit"

msconfig - 98/Me/xp only
mostly to customize startup, system.ini, win.ini, boot.ini
run "msconfig"

scanreg - from command prompt
scanregw - from run dialog
98/ME
run automatically at boot to backup registry
/autorun same as boot, will replace or fix if no backup available
/fix will fix
/restore will restore, must be run from outside of windows

hwinfo - 98/ME
run "hwinfo /ui" basically similar to msinfo32

winmsd - NT
Windows NT Diagnostics
2k and xp still have run "winmsd" but it runs the msinfo32 program

msinfo32 - 98/Me/2K/XP
run "msinfo32"
or programs, accessories, system tools, system information

MMC - 2K/XP
run "mmc"
note, the file menu in XP is called "console" in 2k

FDISK /MBR = FIXMBR
fdisk /mbr from command prompt (9x), fixmbr from recovery console (2k/xp)
repairs the master boot record of the boot disk

FIXBOOT - XP
"fixboot" from the recovery console
writes a new partition boot sector to the system partition

clarification from a random online forum:
FIXMBR grabs the original MBR code from the drive's EEPROM chip
FIXBOOT restore the native ability for Windows to boot with the
NTLDR file and bootloader, simply put.
FIXMBR first, then FIXBOOT

SYS C:
run from a boot disk to replace corrupt command.com, io.sys, msdos.sys, drvspace.bin

DIR
/W is wide
/P is pause

FORMAT volume /FS:
ex. FORMAT C: /FS:FAT32 /Q
/Q is quick
/C is for compress by default (NTFS only)

system monitor
in windows 9x/ME may need to be installed though the control panel, add/remove programs, setup tab
after installed, it will be under programs, accessories, system tools
in windows 2k/xp, system monitor is in the performance console under administrative tools in the control panel

System File Checker - 2K/XP
from cmd, "sfc /scannow"
scans all system files, restores from backups if possible

DEFRAG - old version can still be run from all command prompts / recovery console
same with CHKDSK

BOOTCFG - XP
from recovery console, "bootcfg"
to edit boot.ini file, to search for other NT/2K/XP installations and add them

Windows Update
98/Me/2k - start, windows update
XP - start, all programs, windows update

System Restore - ME/XP only
programs, accessories, system tools, system restore

Backup and Restore Wizard - NT/2K/XP pro
run "ntbackup"
or program files, accessories, system

ASD Automatic Skip Driver - 98/ME
system information, tools menu
identifies devices that can cause Windows to stop responding and disables them
so they are bypassed when you next restart your computer

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