---------------------------------------------------------------- 98lite FEATURES GUIDE 98lite Professional September 2000 ---------------------------------------------------------------- (C) 98lite.net, 2000 This document is the Features Guide for 98lite Professional and Enterprise Installer Products ------------------------ HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT ------------------------ IN DOS ------ Type "EDIT 98FEATUR.TXT" or "TYPE 98FEATUR.TXT | MORE" without the quotation marks. IN WINDOWS ---------- To view 98FEATUR.TXT on screen in Notepad, maximize the Notepad window. To print 98FEATUR.TXT.txt, open it in Notepad or another word processor, and then use the Print command on the File menu. ======== CONTENTS ======== SYNOPSIS INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE SUPPORT SETUP FEATURES Professional Enterprise SHELLS AND SHELL SWAPPING The Explorer Shell Windows 98** Explorer Windows 95** Explorer Alternative Shells NEW Windows Me Features MS Agent MovieMaker PC Health (Help Center, System File Protection, System Restore) Media Player Skins Media Player 7 Media Player 6 Windows Scripting Host WINDOWS CONFIGURATION FEATURES Internet Explorer Web Folders Internet Search Outlook Express Outlook Express Stationery Microsoft Java Machine Active Movie TCP/IP Utilities VRML Internet Control Panel Applet Internet Connection Wizard Telephony Support Connection Manager RealPlayer Media Player Microsoft Cryptographic Providers Database Connectivity Windows Management Interface Desktop Color Schemes Windows 3.1 Legacy File System Information Windows Bitmap Tiles Help Files Dr Watson Tune-up Wizard Task Scheduler Cleanup Manager Scandisk Disk Defragmenter WinAlign ReadMe Files DOS Command Files Direct3D DirectX Tour Microsoft Network (MSN) Registration Wizard Imaging Support ICM Color Profiles Default Remove Only Components 98MICRO Compressed HTML Help -------- SYNOPSIS -------- 98lite Products offer selective installation of many Windows "Features" Applets and Sub-Systems. This file gives an over view these new Add/Remove Options, some dependencies and interactions. 98lite III is very safe; you can "Remove" every option and "Add" them back as needed if you are unsure whether a particular Option is really needed. ------------------------------ INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE SUPPORT ------------------------------ 98lite Enterprise are ready for the Multi-National Enterprise and supports eighteen languages including: Turkish, Swedish, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Polish, Norwegian Korean, Italian, Hungarian, German, Finnish, French, Dutch, Danish, Czech, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Brazilian and Japanese. -------------- SETUP FEATURES -------------- Professional ------------ · select Shell Options with "On-The-Fly Shell-Swapping" (requires licensed copies of both Windows 95 and 98**) · selectively install 35 Windows System Features, Applets and Sub-Systems from Add/Remove, see: WINDOWS CONFIGURATION FEATURES · completely uninstall 98lite and all its modifications Enterprise ---------- Includes all Professional Options and: · Integrated Customized OEM/VAR Logo Graphics roll your Graphics to every installation · Supports direct install and upgrade for servicing individual PC's and Workstations · Supports custom installer layout for building and burning complete 98lite enhanced Windows installation CD's · Supports remote network installation · Supports MSBATCH for complete "hands off" installation automation ------------------------- SHELLS AND SHELL SWAPPING ------------------------- The Windows "Shell" also sometimes called the Windows "Desktop" is the User Interface (UI) or Graphic User Interface (GUI) that Windows presents to you the User. The Explorer Shell ------------------ Microsoft was very thoughtful in incorporating a Selectively Installable or Swappable Shells in Windows, the Windows 9x/Me User Interface is highly configurable as a result. The default Shell on all versions of Windows is the "Explorer Shell" or EXPLORER.EXE; 98lite offers you access to selectively install and "Hot Swap" two versions of the Explorer Shell to let you realize the benefits of both. Windows 98** Explorer The newest and most feature rich of the Windows Explorer Shells, it is also a resource pig, bug ridden, and because it includes "hooks" for Web integration has security issues. The most distinctive feature that separates the 98** series Explorer Shell from the 95** Explorer Shell is the Taskbar/Toolbar integration. Other features are the newer (and more resource hungry) Mouse Over or Flat Style Toolbars, Active Desktop and extra integrated file display options. Windows 95** Explorer The cleaner simpler shell that shipped with Windows 95. While the Windows 95** Explorer Shell gives up the "GeeWiz" features, it's still supports all the essential functions of the Windows User Interface (and then some - see "Alternative Shells"), and is a 100% Windows Compatible solution. The really nifty thing about the 95 series Shell is it's MARKEDLY less resource hungry, is less prone to instability (smaller binary with fewer bugs) and totally disintegrates the Windows Desktop Interface from the Internet and/or Internet Explorer, that is to say Internet Explorer runs as a Separate Application, just like Netscape or Opera. The benefit to installing the 95 series Shell on Windows 98** is you take advantage of Windows 98** more advanced memory management, multi-tasking, and multi-threading, with a more stable faster Shell and EVERYTHING runs faster and is more stable. Alternative Shells ------------------ The diversity of Alternative Windows Shells is beyond the scope of this document; the Alternative Windows Shell options are vast! Summarily there are MANY Alternative Shells to either version of Microsoft's Explorer Shell that are even more resource sparing, faster, more robust and feature rich. Alternative Shells also offer modularization and customization of features not possible with Explorer Shells. The benefits of employing Alternative Shells can be substantial in both performance, usability and productivity -- at the cost of additional system configuration. 98lite lets Advanced Users and Administrators take advantage of 98lite Shell Swapping and take it to the "Next Level" by "Swapping" to the Windows 95 Shell and then installing their preferred third party Shell; you can maintain the compatibility of Windows 95 Explorer File Browser and reap the benefits of a more customized or specialized Shell. ----------------------- NEW Windows Me Features ----------------------- Windows Millennium Edition or "Windows Me" is Microsoft's latest incarnation of windows 9x and includes some new "Features" that offer arguable improvements in ease of use with a sacrifice system control and a lot of bloat in the process. Corroborating this Windows Me benchmarks slightly slower than Windows 98SE. 98lite gives you the option to get things back in shape and really take advantage of some of the truly new (less visible) technology Microsoft is offering in Windows Me. MS Agent -------- Undocumented stub for Microsoft Agent employed in Microsoft Office and other products. Has no known function in installations not employing the Agent. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. MovieMaker ---------- Microsoft's desktop video freebie that consumes over 12Mb of disk real estate Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Media Player 7 -------------- Microsoft's new "Skinable" media player; if you don't like the cosmetic features you can remove what is essentially an overlay and have the more functional Media Player 6.4 with its simpler less resource intensive interface. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Media Player Skins ------------------ Default graphic overlay "Theme" or "Skin" files. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Media Player 6.4 ---------------- If you want to do away with Microsoft Media Player entirely remove this and your clean and free of all Microsoft's media toys. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Microsoft PC Health ------------------- Arguably a nice feature that permits you to restore your system to a previous working state removing offending problems; the price of employing System Restore is: incrementally growing backup structures, background consumption of resources, interference with some systems Power Management pulling the system out of standby, conflicts with gamplay and work interruptions. While Microsoft does allow for this "feature" to be turned off this does not remedy all the aforesaid on all systems. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Windows Scripting Host ---------------------- The Windows Scripting Host was optional in earlier versions of windows and 98lite restores this add/remove functionality to Me. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. ------------------------------ WINDOWS CONFIGURATION FEATURES ------------------------------ If your not frequently using these utilities, features or applets the Windows CD or CAB file directory is a much better place to keep them -- installing with "Add" only when needed; the improvements in free system resources, stability and performance will make it clear why. In addition to removing various Windows features where they are not needed 98lite also removes a spectacular volume of superfluous and redundant Registry information; enhancing Windows Registry throughput and available resources. Depending on install options; will uninstall and reinstall any or all of the following: Internet Explorer ----------------- Removes the web browser leaving the core html layout engine so that Compressed HTML Help is still supported. Applications that require Internet Explorer may still function properly with Internet Explorer removed, but some will not (e.g.. Microsoft Money 2000,). While Internet Explorer is arguable the fastest and most well supported web browser it is also has constantly unfolding security issues that combined with its desktop integration make it untenable in many installations. Removal of Internet Explorer offers substantial performance improvements. Love Internet Explorer? Use 98lite to help you get a cleaner upgrade to the latest version! Use 98lite to "Remove" the older version that ships with Windows and remove the clutter and redundancy that are frequently the consequence of Microsoft "Upgrades" and get a smaller, cleaner, and better performing upgrade to the newer version you want to install. Web Folders ----------- This is Microsoft's back-end support for web or site publishing. If you're not building and uploading web pages, or you have your own preferred (and more secure) applications that don't use this feature feel free to remove it. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Internet Search --------------- Start Menu Search (Internet Component); ever use it? Give it the Heave-Ho! REMEMBER you ever want any of this stuff back all you have to do is "click" and "Add". Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Outlook Express --------------- No 98lite didn't add OE to Add/Remove but we fixed it so it works, one Microsoft Bug stomped courtesy of 98lite.net and 98lite. Now you can install without Outlook Express and Add/Remove without problems. See the upgrade tip above for Internet Explorer. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Outlook Express Stationery -------------------------- HTML stationary for your e-mail. If you send your e-mail in more universally acceptable ASCII and never use this E-mail Wallpaper, have your own, or use an alternative E-mail Client; remove the stationary. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Microsoft Java Machine ---------------------- Microsoft's version of the Java runtime library. If you don't like it, prefer another distribution, or just want more security Microsoft's flavor Java is now yours to Remove. Dependencies: Any Java application (typically Web Applets). Active Movie ------------ Older Microsoft Video Active Control plays streaming video and video files in Internet Explorer, this feature and function has been superceded in newer versions of Media player (see MediaPlayer Below). Dependencies: No known application dependencies. TCP/IP Utilities ---------------- Win-32 Console ARP, FTP, Ping, Route, Netstat, TracRT, Telnet, WinIpCfg Utilities. If you don't use them, don't know what they are, or don't have your system connected to any kind of network you can remove these. There are also many more powerful secure alternatives to these as after market products. Dependencies: Some custom scripts or batch files (these are usually home made) may call the FTP client otherwise there are no known application dependencies. VRML ---- Virtual Reality Markup Language Support -- a very dated implementation of a rarely used HTML extension, you can "Add" it back if you need it or get a much more updated version at Microsoft's site. All sites requiring this extension will prompt you to download the latest edition in any case -- remove it and save resources. Dependencies: VRML; no known application dependencies. Internet Control Panel Applet ----------------------------- Settings for Internet Explorer and Internet Connection Settings. Dependencies: Internet Explorer, IP dial-up settings, Proxy settings. Internet Connection Wizard -------------------------- Automated step by step Internet Connection Setup utility that may make configuring your Internet connection easier or more difficult if you Internet Provider requires a manually entered configuration. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Telephony Support ----------------- Or TAPI a Sub-System employed by Dial-Up Networking. If you are setting up a stand alone system that does not require Dial-Up networking, or a system on a LAN; TAPI is one more sub-system that can be "Removed" Dependencies: All Dial-Up Networking Sub-Systems require TAPI, Local Area Networking does not. Connection Manager ------------------ If you use multiple Internet Providers this is handy, but if you always connect with only one provider keeping this is unnecessary. Like nearly every other Windows "Applet" there are more feature rich alternative products as well. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. RealPlayer ---------- Windows 98 shipped with it, very out of date, remove it, then get the new version if you really like it. In a pinch it's always "there" to "Add" back if you should need it. Dependencies: No known application dependencies, Real Media Streaming content. Media Player* ------------ Microsoft's multi-format multimedia player applet. If you prefer and use any of the slew of alternative Media Players and want the better performing more stable solution with one set of file associations MediaPlayer is now Removable. Dependencies: Some alternative Media Players do not play all the different media formats that Microsoft's player does (and vise-versa). Microsoft Cryptographic Providers --------------------------------- Copy protection for various streaming media, copy protected web objects and products. Dependencies: Internet Explorer, Windows Update, MediaPlayer. Database Connectivity --------------------- MDAC (Microsoft Database Access Components) a combination of MS technologies and tools for accessing/manipulating databases over LAN, WAN, Internet and Intranets. Dependencies: Some custom, Turn-Key, and/or Web based database access clients e.g.. DB2, Microsoft Access, Fox Pro Client software and tools. Windows Management Interface ---------------------------- Web Based Client Management technologies and tools for administering PCs via HTTP. Unless you remotely administer PC Servers and Clients, or your PC is remotely administered via HTTP or a web based interface you may safely remove WMI and any security issues it may contain. Dependencies: WBEM, ZAK and other HTTP PC administrative tools. Desktop Color Schemes --------------------- This removes a slew of registry entries for all the different default "Color Schemes"; your default scheme will remain unscathed as is you ability to change it and create new schemes. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Windows 3.1 Legacy Files ------------------------ These are quasi 32-bit versions of Windows 3.1 interface applications like File Manager and Program Manager for people familiar with the older interface. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. System Information ------------------ A different display of the information that is always available in your "System Properties Dialog" but in a format that may be more useful for advanced configuration or tweaking Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Windows Bitmap Tiles -------------------- Background tiles and bitmaps; if you don't use 'em keep 'em in the attic (in the CAB files) not littering your Windows Directory No wallpaper will be available in your Background Properties Sheet after these are removed. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Help Files ---------- If there is nothing there you really need, or only rarely need you can uninstall the help files and save space, improve the speed you system defragments, and of course you and reinstall them in a jiffy if or when ever you need them. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Dr Watson --------- A diagnostic monitoring utility that can help trouble shoot some system problems; if your system is behaving erratically you might want to keep Dr Watson around till you get things squared away. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Tune-up Wizard -------------- An interface for launching the following utilities: Task Scheduler Defrag, ScanDisk and Disk CleanUp. if you don't use these utilities, have second party utilities, or you just prefer to launch them individually the "Wizard" can go. Dependencies: Wizard will look for Task Scheduler, Defrag, ScanDisk and Disk CleanUp -- if you have "Removed" any of these Applets or Utilities Tune-up Wizard may throw up an error message) Dependencies: Task Scheduler, Defrag, ScanDisk Disk Cleanup. Task Scheduler -------------- An automated scheduler for running system maintenance utilities, if you use it will always run in the background and consume resources even when not running scheduled utilities or applications. If you don't use or like this kind of automation give it the boot and get a little added performance Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Cleanup Manager --------------- Or "Disk Cleanup" is a utility for removing temporary files, Internet cache files, and unnecessary program files that Microsoft feels you can safely delete. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Scandisk -------- Microsoft's file system error checking utility; a must have unless you use a more feature complete second party utility in which case ScanDisk is just extra baggage. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Disk Defragmenter ----------------- Microsoft's Disk Defragmenter; a must have but very feature function limited utility, if you have a more feature complete utility the default accessory is of no use and will actually fragment your file system more if run on a system that has been defragmented by a more effective utility. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. WinAlign -------- An advance feature for configuring disk degragmentation. Properly configured it can measurably improve disk i/o; improperly configured it will degrade performance and increase defragmentation time. Even properly configured it only enhances performance of Microsoft and Intel applications that license the technology. Dependencies: Only works with Microsoft Defrag. ReadMe Files ------------ All the text files that litter the Windrows directory, save space and clutter, "Add" them back when you feel like reading them. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. DOS Command Files ----------------- All 16-bit DOS External Commands, Drivers and Utilities not essential to starting or running Windows. You will still be able to open a DOS Console but no applications, scripts or batch files that require any of these External Commands, Drivers or Utilities will be able to execute; this adds a margin of security to some systems where DOS is not needed. Dependencies: Real Mode and Virtual DOS Machine Applications, Games, Scripts or Batch Files requiring External Commands, DOS Mode Drivers or Utilities. Direct3D -------- A component of the DirectX Windows Graphics Sub-System. Direct3D is removable separately from the rest of DirectX for people that only require the Direct Draw components of DirectX. Think of Direct3D as the Gaming support in DirectX. If you only use Graphics or CAD programs that require the Draw support of DirectX you can remove Direct3D, recover some disk space, and a sped-up. Dependencies: Games or specialty applications requiring 3D rendering. Just "Add" it back if you need it, or better yet upgrade to DirectX 7 http://www.microsoft.com DirectX ------- The entire DirectX Sub-System. If you only run Productivity Applications you can "Remove" DirectX for a substantial savings in system and registry real estate, and a performance improvement with some applications. If you love and need DirectX, you'll want to upgrade to the latest highest performance version; use 98lite to cleanly remove the older version that ships with Windows and eliminate the clutter of redundant clutter that Microsoft "Upgrades" frequently entail and get a cleaner installation of the latest version. Dependencies: Graphics oriented applications; there are exceptions that don't use DirectX and may be faster without it - now you can try things out without DirectX and see. Tour ---- Already know what a Mouse is? How to find the Start Button? The Windows Tour is for total beginners, if you don't need the litter of the extra files "Remove" it. Then if Grandma ever comes over and needs an Intro to using Windows "Add" it back Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Microsoft Network (MSN) ----------------------- Microsoft's Internet Service. Microsoft does not provide any way to completely remove their setup software for this service should you select an alternative. The version of the MSN setup software that ships with all flavors and versions of windows is very out of date and new and more up to date versions may be had from Microsoft for free by calling their toll free number: or URL-ing to the MSN site: Removing the old files and registry information will prevent redundant files and information, and otherwise completely clean out this setup utility in the likely event you should choose another ISP. Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Registration Wizard ------------------- Do the EULA HULA! Already Registered Windows? Don't mind of you don't? Then here's one more thing for the you don't need. "Remove" it! Dependencies: No known application dependencies. Imaging Support --------------- Drivers and support files for Scanners and Digital Cameras. If you don't have a Scanner or Digital Camera or you do and just don't want you Red Haired Nephew using it "Remove" Imaging Support. Dependencies: Some software shipping with these devices will reinstall Imaging Support or require it to support certain features. ICM Color Profiles ------------------ Image Color Matching, if do Pre-Press or Desk Top Publishing and need to make exact material color matches through your monitor you need this (and probably know it) if not you'll never use this feature. Dependencies: Some DTP and Graphics software may reinstall ICM support or require it to support certain features Default Remove Only Components ------------------------------ The following components are removed from ALL 98lite installations and can NOT be restored with 98lite -- these components are grossly out of date and will be automatically server-side* installed when needed: · VDOlive · Shockwave · Wallet · VRML · RealPlayer · Tour · Out of Box Experience *Server Side Installation or Install on demand must be turned on in Web Browser Preferences. ------- 98MICRO ------- 98micro is Windows 98** reduced to core essentials while maintaining as close to 100% application compatibility as possible. 98micro is JUST THE OPERATING SYSTEM, Internet Explorer and all it's components are removed. Since Microsoft has chosen to integrate Internet Explorer into the Operating System it's complete removal in a 98micro installation does make some compatibility compromises explained here. 98micro is primarily a 98lite "Clean Install Option" but 98lite III has such advanced Add/Remove that you can virtually uninstall enough components to reduce Pre-Installed Windows to near 98micro size and performance, and build 98micro back up to near default Windows installation. ----------------------------------------------------------------