China DOS Union

Windows 98 Resource Kit Sampler is a tool package on the Windows 98 CD. It contains many practical utility programs closely related to Windows 98, and some of the functions may be exactly what you have been wanting for a long time, so don't miss it. But because it is relatively independent and is not installed together with Windows 98, it is easy for most people to overlook. In the \Tools\ResKit directory, click Setup.Exe to install it completely. The basic functions of the tools are introduced below:
I. Deployment Tools


batch98（BATCH.EXE）


　　If you are the administrator of a computer lab, this tool could not suit you better. After you install Windows98 on one computer and finish the setup, you can use this tool to generate that computer's information file *.inf (including installation information, network settings, hardware settings, user custom settings, etc.). Then when installing Windows98 on other computers with the same configuration, no other manual setup is needed. Usage: copy the generated information file (such as mysetup.inf) to the root directory of drive C on another computer, type “x\setup c:\mysetup.inf” (where “x” is the location of the Windows98 installer), and the whole installation process will proceed at full speed without any involvement from you.


Code Page Changer（CHDOSCP.EXE）


　　Converts the code page of MS-DOS-based programs to a code page matching Windows98 (the current version still does not support Chinese).


Time Zone Editor（TZEDIT.EXE）


　　Time zone editor


Windows 98 INF Installer（INFINST.EXE）


　　This tool lets you add new software components or new hardware drivers to the Windows98 installer. For example, when you install Windows98, if the automatic hardware detection process does not detect the new hardware you added, you can use this tool to specify the locations of the hardware driver *.inf and Windows98's setup.exe respectively, and then generate new installation files.

II. Desktop Tools


Checklinkes（CHECKLINKS.EXE）


　　This tool scans all the “shortcuts” in your system. If it finds invalid “shortcuts,” it prompts you to delete them. The tool is in “wizard” form and is simple and clear to use.


ClipTray（CLIPTRAY.EXE）


　　Have you ever sighed while using the clipboard, “Why can I only use the last item in the clipboard”? Then give this tool a try. This tool lets you save and organize text content stored in the clipboard, and is especially useful for program developers, writers, editors, and the like. Since it can be saved as export files, file sharing can be achieved. You can use multiple different text files (the number of text items can be freely set), and since after it starts it shrinks into an icon at the lower right corner of the screen, it is especially convenient to use.


Minitel .TTF Files（MINITEL.TTF）


　　Two fonts used by Minitel terminals


Quiktray（QUIKTRAY.EXE）


　　At present this tool is the easiest toolbar to use and takes up the least screen space. You can put your favorite or frequently used programs, documents, URLs, and any other resources into the toolbar. After starting, it simply hides in the lower right corner of the screen. You can launch and close files in the toolbar as simply and conveniently as switching input methods. If you create a shortcut for this tool and put it in the “Startup” directory, then this “smallest menu” can start automatically every time the system starts. It also supports network file sharing.

III. Diagnostics and Trouble-shooting


File Wise Utility（FILEWISE.EXE）


　　This is a multithreaded tool that can be used to check file changes and damage, so you can find out which files in a directory have changed.


Microsoft File Information（FILEINFO.EXE）


　　Microsoft file information tool, providing detailed information about Windows98 and the IE browser. For more and more detailed information, you need to visit Microsoft's sites at www.microsoft.com/technet and http://www.microsoft.com/support


USBViewer（USBVIEW.EXE）


　　This is a tool for developers and technical support personnel to inspect USB device information in a computer system, and it can also configure USB devices.

IV. File Tools


Lfnback（LFNBACK.EXE）


　　This is a command-line tool that can delete and restore long filenames.


Text File Viewr（TEXTVIEW.EXE）


　　A graphical interface tool that can quickly browse text files on local or shared devices, and provides basic editing and search functions.


Where（WHERE.EXE）


　　Seeing this name, everyone can guess what it does. This command-line tool is used to locate files on local hard disks and networks, and display information such as date, size, and type.


WinDiff（WINDIFF.EXE）


　　This tool is used to compare differences between ASCII files or between two directories. It is especially convenient for comparing source code. This tool can be called the strongest comparison tool, and it also supports command-line comparison.

V. Network Administration Tools


Network Monitor Service（Netmon目录）


　　The Network Monitor application is provided by Microsoft Systems Management Server. This is a client/server system that allows administrators to play a key role when managing computers distributed in various locations. When accessing network communication statistics for NDIS 3.1 protected-mode network adapters, you can use System Monitor to view performance data provided by the protocol driver. You can use this application to detect and solve problems encountered in LAN, WAN, and Microsoft Remote Access Service (RAS) connections. To use the Network Monitor tool to solve network problems, this program must be installed on every computer on the network that you want to monitor.


Password List Editor （PWLEDIT.EXE）


　　With this tool you can edit the password files used by users in Dial-Up Networking, Windows networking, and so on.


System Policy Editor（POLEDIT.EXE）


　　With this tool you can create or edit system policies, so that Windows 98 has a standard interface and functions for a single user, a user group, or the whole network.

VI. Power Toy


TweakUI（Powertoy目录）


　　It provides many unusual functions for modifying Windows 98, and some of them may be exactly the problems you have been trying so hard to solve.


　　Mouse（mouse）: can adjust animated menu speed and mouse sensitivity;


　　General（general）: “Effect” can customize various effects (the author used it to solve the problem of “removing version information” from the lower right corner of the desktop), and “Special Folders” can move special folders such as “My Documents” and “Program Files” to other places;


　　Explorer（Explorer）: can set the icon style of shortcuts and whether to save automatically when exiting the system;


　　IE4（browser）: can configure IE;


　　Desktop（desktop）: you can delete or rename icons such as Recycle Bin and Network Neighborhood;


　　My Computer（My Computer）: can hide irrelevant drives;


　　Control Panel（Control Panel）: can specify what contents the Control Panel can display


　　Network（network）: “Logon” allows automatic login to Windows with a preset password, without needing to enter the password every time;


　　New（New）: right-click “New” and see how many items appear in total (there were once 12 on my computer). How many of them are actually useful? Hurry and delete the useless ones;


　　Add/Remove（Add/Remove Programs）: if no matter what you do you cannot delete extra entries under “Add/Remove Programs” in the Control Panel, then hurry and try this;


　　Boot（boot）: can set whether to display the boot menu and whether to start Scandisk after an improper shutdown;


　　Repair（repair）: can fix errors in system icons, file associations, and so on;


　　Paranoia（paranoia）: functions for paranoiacs. “Covering Your Tracks” can clear out all kinds of information left over from the previous startup when booting (for example, your Internet history). Here you can also set whether CDs or other discs should auto-run.

VII. Scripting Tools


TimeThis（TIMETHIS.EXE）


　　Can measure the time required for the system to execute a certain command. You can add it before a command line in a *.bat or *.cmd file, for example “timethis dir c:\”.


Waitfor（WAITFOR.EXE）


　　Can make the computer wait for signals sent over the network (the domain name must be the same).


Winset（WINSET.EXE）


　　This tool sets environment variables through the command line or batch files.


Final notes:


1. Although all the tools are fairly simple to use, since they all have English interfaces, I suggest everyone use fullscreen Chinese-localization software at the same time when using them.


2. If after installing Resource Kit Sampler, when restarting the computer you get a message about “cannot find win.com”, please enter the Windows98 system directory (generally c:\windows), run c:\windows\win.com, and after entering Windows 98, if you find there is no windows entry in “PATH” in automexec.bat, add “PATH C：\WINDOWS” and it will be restored.


3. After the above introduction, you only need to use the tools that interest you. There is no need to install everything completely (it needs 6M of space). If there is a setup file in the tool's directory, you can install it; if there is an inf, you can right-click it and click “Install”; ordinary executable files generally do not need installation and can be run directly.