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Before you do something as drastic with your computer system as changing the operating system, you want to be sure that you're doing the right thing. You'll want to understand exactly how you'll benefit and what problems might occur. This article is about what's new with Windows 98 and how it will effect the way you use your computer.

The major difference you find in Windows 98 over 95 is that your desktop and the Internet are fused in many ways. Windows 98's Active Desktop gives your Windows desktop the look and feel of the Web. When you use Windows Explorer, you'll not only be able to view files on your own computer, but those on the Web as well. Uploading and downloading files from the Internet is as simple as copying a file from one subdirectory to another.

The Active Desktop lets you place the Channel Bar and Internet components on the Windows desktop. These components include regularly updated news headlines and scrolling stock tickers. Windows 98 even lets you set a Web site as the desktop's background wallpaper.

Other features that have been added to Windows 98 include the following:

• There is built-in driver support for new hardware devices like DVD and USB and AGP (advanced graphics port) video cards.
• There is upgrade and conversion support for FAT32 file storage. FAT32 is a file system scheme that packs more data onto a drive without using disk compression. Note: If your system currently uses FAT16 (as most do) and you choose this option on setup, you won't be able to uninstall Windows 98. If you want the option of getting rid of Windows 98 and going back to Windows 95, be sure to choose to back up your system files as you install and don't install the FAT 32 option.
• You'll have the ability to choose either the new Active Desktop or use the classic style desktop you're used to from Windows 95.
• The Channels available on the Active Desktop allow you to set certain intervals for downloading the latest information from your favorite Web sites. For example, you can set your computer to download the latest news from CNN during the night while you sleep so it's available first thing in the morning.
• Windows 98 is self-updating. Through a connection to the Internet, Windows 98 can periodically download drivers and updates for your system so that you always have the most current version of the software.
• Windows 98 seeks to prevent system hang-ups by implementing a System File Checker that checks to see if Windows' files (*.dll, *.com, *.vxd, etc.) are the current versions and replaces those that aren't or have been damaged.
• Windows 98 includes FrontPad, a stripped-down version of Microsoft's web page creation software, FrontPage. FrontPad steps you through basic Web page creation.

If you would like to see if you want Windows 98 before purchasing it, you can download many of the Windows 98 components for free from the Microsoft Web site. Go to the Windows 95 update page at www.microsoft.com/windows95/info/updates.htm, and download and install Service Pack 1, the OSR 2 components, and system updates.

Depending on which version of Windows 95 you're now using, you may be able to skip downloading some or most of these files.

To add the Active Desktop and Web-link interface changes, download and install Internet Explorer 4.0 from www.microsoft.com.

If you're still nervous about upgrading, you don't have too. This change is not like the jump from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95. Programs written for Windows 95 will work fine under Windows 98. A shift in software is not required.

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