24.2.1999
Apparently, Windows 98 compresses the system registry automatically when it has more than 500k of "wasted space" in it. If you want to compress your registry manually, you'll have to drop to MS-DOS mode (you can't be in Windows when you do this). When you've backed up your registry (which is always a good thing to do), type: "SCANREG /OPT" (without the quotes). FYI, to backup the registry from the command prompt, type: "SCANREG /BACKUP" (without the quotes).