Doing my Maintanence for Win98/Me

You are spending way too much time needlessly on your system maintenance.

I only use multiple utilities when I experience a major system problem and am trying to avoid a clean install of Windows and applications.

Choose the software for each step that does the best job for you, and run only that 1.

Clean files,

Scan the registry for errors and correct them,

Scan the disk for errors and correct,

Defrag the hard drive.

Performing the multiple disk scans and defrags can actually shorten the life of your hard drive.

Other tasks that should be on your list:

Update virus definition files. (Weekly)

Install selected Windows updates.
(Do NOT automatically install ALL updates from Microsoft. Some (such as DirectX 9b) can cause problems on older PCs.

Check for device driver and application software updates. (Monthly or quarterly)

Chas

wow beating a dead horse!

As the previous answerer said you are shortening the life of your hdisk very much so and making everything unstabble to boot. My opinion differs a bit from his.

The defrag must be the first step done not the last. thescreensaver must be off during defrag

As for the rest, decide which method of clean-up best suits you. Iexplorer is the poorest or sloppyest and leaves alot of MS junk behind. Sys Mechanic and Norton (cleansweep) do a much better job but you only need to use one.

unless you are having problems with your filesystem do not use scandisk/norton disk doctor/ win doctor . If filesystem ok but concern is for redundant registry links etc then win doctor can be run.

best of luck rick