98SE2ME = Killer Replacements: ME -> 98 SE

[PsycoUnc]

-only the /win9x files are needed...

[MDGx]

PsycoUnc:

Correct, only the CABs in \WIN9X are needed [all others are probably OEM/vendor custom CABs with drivers + tools from the company where the PC was purchased from], and they can be anywhere on any of your drives, but they should all be in the same directory/folder.

Otherwise the script + tool I'm using to detect them will either (1) fail, or (2) will take waaay to long to extract files from CABs.

Personally I haven't tried to put them in more than 1 directory/drive, but 1 could do that just for the sake of experimenting.

Hope this helps.

[ProCon1]

I have created a "Compressed HTML Help file" (*.CHM) to "supplement" MDGx's existing READ1ST.TXT file. The following are the primary reasons I decided to produce a *.CHM file:

1. The content and size of the READ1ST.TXT (112 KB) has grown beyond the manageability of a simple text file and capability of Microsoft Notepad.
   
2. The formatting of the READ1ST.TXT, due to Notepad's format restrictions, does not allow you to quickly and easily find desired information, thus making it difficult to use it as a convenient reference or learning source.
   
3. Some interested and less experienced users may shy away from trying 98SE2ME due to the "seemingly" overwhelming amount of information of the READ1ST.TXT.
   
4. I think that MDGx has produced a highly practical and quality program deserving representation of a help/reference document consistent with its "great value" to the end-user. It is also my way of saying thanks to MDGx for the hard work put into this project and ongoing effort to keep it up-to-date...
   

MDGx you're best my friend!

Download CHM file here [152 KB]:

http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/982MECHM.EXE

Download source here [258 KB]:

http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/982MECHM.ZIP

NOTE: This is the initial distribution of the file with information effective as of MDGx's last update, 12/14/05. Some content is subject to change based on MDGx's review and feedback.

Good Luck 'n Good Computing!

[MDGx]

ProCon1:

Million thanks for your hard work on the HTML Help file.

I have posted the CHM file here [152 KB]:

http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/982MECHM.EXE

I mentioned it in READ1ST.TXT:

READ1ST.TXT

here:

http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/

and here:

http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=46349

Best wishes

[ProCon1]

ProCon1:

Million thanks for your hard work on the HTML Help file.

I have posted the CHM file here [152 KB]:

http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/982MECHM.EXE

I mentioned it in READ1ST.TXT:

http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT

here:

http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/

and here:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=46349

Best wishes

MDGx, you're very welcome!

Please let me know of any significant updates via email so I can update the help file accordingly.

Happy New Year and all the best!

-=ProCon1=-

^

[MDGx]

ProCon1:

I sure will.

Thanks again for your work.

HNY 2 u 2.

Edited January 9, 2006 by MDGx

[PsycoUnc]

?

-does 98se2me option #1 or 2 overwrite NEWER versions of files, as well as the older ones?

-I had newer xpsp2 version of CABINET.DLL, ran 1/9 98se2me #2 today, and it replaced it with older ME version... ???... that's not supposed to happen, is it? If yes, that's NOT good, would mean anytime we run an updated 98se2me, we have to also re-run all other "newer" tweaks/updates afterwards... ???

[MDGx]

-does 98se2me option #1 or 2 overwrite NEWER versions of files, as well as the older ones?

-I had newer xpsp2 version of CABINET.DLL, ran 1/9 98se2me #2 today, and it replaced it with older ME version... ???... that's not supposed to happen, is it? If yes, that's NOT good, would mean anytime we run an updated 98se2me, we have to also re-run all other "newer" tweaks/updates afterwards... ???

Thanks for noticing.

I have removed WinME CABINET.DLL from 98SE2ME.

Please download the updated file:

http://www.mdgx.com/4

Details:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=46349

Hope this helps.

[PsycoUnc]

"thx for noticing"... lol...

-thx for correcting that one mistake, but... that doesn't correct the overall 98se2me flaw... I hate to yell at ya, since you've done so much to help all of us, BUT... ya realllllly need to make sure this flaw doesn't happen w/other files, by making sure every (I know, this hurtz) file replaced by 98se2me first checks version numbers... if not, then we can't trust 98se2me in the future, which would be VERY unfortunate...

-perhaps a loop call with a data file, would make it much easier than coding every single file call... -have u thought about doing 98se2me with other than just batch files? -perhaps a very simple virtBasic/etc prog?

[crashnburn]

with all the positives that the 98SE2ME has done for my particular unit, a 1.4ghz.......... would it be possible to install a DVD-RW that stated for an XP/2000 OS???

[MDGx]

"thx for noticing"... lol...

-thx for correcting that one mistake, but... that doesn't correct the overall 98se2me flaw... I hate to yell at ya, since you've done so much to help all of us, BUT... ya realllllly need to make sure this flaw doesn't happen w/other files, by making sure every (I know, this hurtz) file replaced by 98se2me first checks version numbers... if not, then we can't trust 98se2me in the future, which would be VERY unfortunate...

-perhaps a loop call with a data file, would make it much easier than coding every single file call... -have u thought about doing 98se2me with other than just batch files? -perhaps a very simple virtBasic/etc prog?

I thought of using INF and/or VBS scripts [i have no programming knowledge, any help from you guys is always appreciated], but that would require a major rewrite, and unfortunately I don't have as much time as I need to do this. Maybe 1 day...

BTW:

Yelling never helps.

But feedback does.

I have checked option 2 files list against XP SP2 files list:

http://www.mdgx.com/98-5.htm#XP

and cabinet.dll is the only 1 that needed to be removed from option 2, because the 1 installed by XP SP2 is newer.

EXTRAC32.EXE 5.2.3790.0 installed by 98SE2ME [all options] is newer than XP SP2, because it is from 2003 Server setup CD.

As you well know, I've spent 1 year [since 1-20-2005 when I started this] creating + improving 98SE2ME, but like everybody else, I'm not perfect, therefore 98SE2ME cannot be [especially because of the nature of this particular project] perfect, there will always be some kind of flaw, error, bug etc...

And that's why I opened up this forum, to get feedback from as many as possible testers [thank you guys!].

IMHO that's the only way this project can be improved.

Therefore please keep sending your feedback, it is always welcome and valuable, because this way I can correct whatever errors/bugs/flaws/etc I fail to catch on my own.

Hope this helps.

____________________________________

with all the positives that the 98SE2ME has done for my particular unit, a 1.4ghz.......... would it be possible to install a DVD-RW that stated for an XP/2000 OS???

I'm afraid you need to post more details about what exactly you want 98SE2ME to do.

In case this is what you want...

please see the "FAQ" chapter from READ1ST.TXT:

READ1ST.TXT

Here's a fragment:

* Including all these > 700 WinME system files into a custom built [eventually

unattended, MSBATCH.INF based]Win98 SE Setup CD/DVD requires tedious work and

lengthy research, because we're talking about modding an entire OS here, in

order to abide by MS standards, which include among other things:

- making sure checksum detection [mostly INF code] corresponds with

altered/replaced files code;

- keeping original CAB structure, which means repack ALL Setup CABs after

replacing files inside: MS Setup CABs are interlinked, which means certain

files are split among multiple CABs.

Unfortunately I don't have [some of] that information, nor time to investigate

or create necessary scripts.

If anybody wishes to pursue such projects, please post your detailed

results/scripts here:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showforum=91

so we can all benefit.

More info + needed tools:

http://www.mdgx.com/add.htm#DEV

To add 98SE2ME scripts + Windows ME Setup CD CABs to your unattended Windows

98 SE Setup CD/DVD:

- Copy ALL *.CAB files from \WIN9X [Windows ME Setup CD] to your CD/DVD.

- Open with Notepad or similar plain text editor/viewer ALL *.BAT + *.INF

files from C:\9!M and replace ALL C:\9!M text strings with X:\9!M where X is

your CD/DVD drive letter.

- Copy ENTIRE C:\9!M folder + ALL its files modified as detailed above

[installed by 98SE2ME.EXE] to your CD/DVD.

- Add these lines to your CD/DVD MSBATCH.INF (example = modify if necessary):

-----Begin cut & paste here-----

[install]

RunPostSetupCommands=98SE2ME

[98SE2ME]

"X:\9!M\E0!X.BAT"

------End cut & paste here------

where X is your CD/DVD drive letter.

E0!X.BAT is responsible for installing all ~ 700 WinME system files completely

unattended: 98SE2ME option 2.

Hope this helps.

[Marius '95]

Hi!

I am a new user of 98SE2ME and I found a compatibility problem with 98lite. Maybe someone already reported it but I don't have time to read all these topics and posts. Sorry.

The problem:

I used 98lite to replace Windows 98 Explorer interface with Windows 95 version. 98SE2ME installation failed.

I tried to put back Win98 Explorer, install 98SE2ME and then switch to Win95 Explorer. Installation was OK but 98lite made a complete mess when I tried to switch to Win95 Explorer.

I found a solution to the problem. Install in the following order:

0) Backup all files mentioned below.

1) Install 98lite and switch to Win95 Explorer

2) Copy EXPLORER.EXE and SHELL32.DLL to a new directory. I will name it "Explorer95".

3) Run 98lite and switch to Win98 Explorer

4) Install 98SE2ME

5) Restart to MS-DOS mode

5) Rename SHELL32.DLL to SHELL31.DLL

6) Edit COMDLG32.DLL using a hex editor and replace "SHELL32.DLL" with "SHELL31.DLL". (SHELL32.DLL appears in 2 places)

7) Delete EXPLORER.EXE

8) Copy EXPLORER.EXE and SHELL32.DLL from Explorer95 directory to their original locations.

Done!

Note1: I didn't test this on another computer!

Note2: SHELL32.DLL will be the old version, from Windows 95. Some programs don't run.

[MDGx]

Hi!

I am a new user of 98SE2ME and I found a compatibility problem with 98lite. Maybe someone already reported it but I don't have time to read all these topics and posts. Sorry.

The problem:

I used 98lite to replace Windows 98 Explorer interface with Windows 95 version. 98SE2ME installation failed.

I tried to put back Win98 Explorer, install 98SE2ME and then switch to Win95 Explorer. Installation was OK but 98lite made a complete mess when I tried to switch to Win95 Explorer.

I found a solution to the problem. Install in the following order:

0) Backup all files mentioned below.

1) Install 98lite and switch to Win95 Explorer

2) Copy EXPLORER.EXE and SHELL32.DLL to a new directory. I will name it "Explorer95".

3) Run 98lite and switch to Win98 Explorer

4) Install 98SE2ME

5) Restart to MS-DOS mode

5) Rename SHELL32.DLL to SHELL31.DLL

6) Edit COMDLG32.DLL using a hex editor and replace "SHELL32.DLL" with "SHELL31.DLL". (SHELL32.DLL appears in 2 places)

7) Delete EXPLORER.EXE

8) Copy EXPLORER.EXE and SHELL32.DLL from Explorer95 directory to their original locations.

Done!

Note1: I didn't test this on another computer!

Note2: SHELL32.DLL will be the old version, from Windows 95. Some programs don't run.

Many thanks for your fix.

I have added it under the "KNOWN BUGS + FIXES" chapter in READ1ST.TXT:

READ1ST.TXT

Multumesc si mult noroc.

[jimmsta]

I think I made the mistake of using option 2 on a 2GHz machine... Now it takes ~ 3 minutes to boot, the usb wifi adapter wifi manager application crashes after 5 minutes... and the system performace is slow, overall. This is on a 2GHz celeron w/640MB RAM, and a fully tested hard drive/ram... My testbed for these sorts of things.

Seeing the newly released 1-16-06 release, I'll have to test it out and see if any issues are due to some of the new files (however, I doubt it, and it's probably related to ndis.vxd). Also, msgsvr32 crashes at random... but I have always had that crash on ALL WinMe systems I have ever used... even in vmware.

[RainyShadow]

Also, msgsvr32 crashes at random... but I have always had that crash on ALL WinMe systems I have ever used... even in vmware.

About msgsvr32 crashes... is there any driver which you always install, even in vmware? might be a driver for a virtual device too, like a software midi synth,daemon tools,etc.

Does it crash before installing all needed drivers and applications? If not, try to find which driver/app causes this crash and switch it with another version.

Hope this helps

Edited January 17, 2006 by RainyShadow