Open the System Configuration Editor, click Start>Run>type in "sysedit". Click on the the System.ini window. In the [386enh] section, add the line:

ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1

This will minimize use of the Windows swap file. For those who don't know what this is, the swap file is "fake" RAM on the hard drive  that windows utilizes when real RAM runs low. Unfortunately, the swap file actually slows down system performance in PC's with adequate RAM. Microsoft confirms that this will make Win98 write to the swap file less often. They say this may hurt performance, but if you have enough memory, it can improve it. For Microsoft's explaination, go to http://search.microsoft.com/us/default.asp.and search for Q223294.