First-have at least 16MB of RAM installed! Do not use "RAM Expander" software.
Second-Don't use disk compression software-huge hard drives are cheap!
Third-See my Win95/DOS Memory Tips for ideas on how to tweak up your startup files.
Fourth-get a copy of "Windows 95 Secrets" by Brian Livingston
Windows 95 Updates: If you have original Win95 (Version 4.00.950) by all means download and install "Service Pack 1" (This upgrades you to 4.00.950a). If you are on a network also consider installing "Kernel Update." If you use Win95 Dial Up Networking (DUN) to connect to the internet, consider installing the DUN 1.2 Beta update from Microsoft. The "newest" version of Win95 is called "OSR2" or "Win95b" (Verson number is 4.00.950b or 4.00.11111). It is not intended for general release. You have to get it via an OEM by purchasing a new computer, hard drive or motherboard. It basically adds the "FAT32" file system to version "950a" above. "FAT32" allows you to have hard drives into the terabyte size range. An update to "OSR2" called version 2.1 has been released that just adds drivers for the new "Universal Serial Bus" (USB).
Minimize hard drive "thrashing": To better control or limit Windows 95 seizing most of your free RAM for it's "Virtual Cache" and thus doing much more "swapping" of data to your harddrive swap file-go to the [vcache] section of your SYSTEM.INI file and add or edit these lines:
MaxFileCache= <Max RAM cache size> Example I use "1024" for my 16MB system.
MinFileCache= <Min RAM cache size> I use "512" for 16MB system.
For an 8MB system try Max=256 Min=128.
Note: You have to restart Win95 for the changes to take effect.
The Win95 MSDOS.SYS file: Click Here to see a table of common Win95 MSDOS.SYS file parameters.
Printer Settings: If you are having problems printing on a network or just printing DOS applications you might try these settings by going to your default printer's "Properties":
Try these one at a time in this order:
Note: To be able to "Printscreen" with the Printscreen key from DOS apps, go to the properties for the app, under "Misc" uncheck "PrtSc"
Enhanced Performance:
Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/System/Performance/File System
Set "Typical Role of this Machine" to "Network Server." Move the slider all the way to the right. Save then restart.
Update1: There is a technote (Q138012) at Microsoft's KB Page that says there is a Registry entry bug that adversely affects the "Network Server" and "Mobile or Docking System" choices. (To read what this setting does see another technote: Q140679) Download Q138012 for details! The "Desktop Computer" choice is NOT affected by this bug. You have to edit your Registry to fix it.
Update2: This bug is fixed in version Windows 95 "OSR2."
The infamous DUN "lock up on disconnect bug": Many who have used the Win95 Dial Up Networking (DUN) to connect to their ISP have had their system lock up tight upon "Disconnect" from the DUN connection from time to time. Here is the latest proposed "fix" making its way around the internet-try these one at a time:
Update: Updating your DUN to at least version 1.2 (downloadable from Micorsoft's site) also appears to fix this problem. See other pages at this site for the link/URL.