RetroOS

Here's an idea! I was reading in another topic about how the latest DirectX files have dependancies on newer OS versions and the 'need version' file header values are now greater than 4.0... Like 5.0 and so on... The same topic was talking about KernelEx in this regard... So... Maybe all that is needed is to install KernelEx? (I already have it installed) My test PC does not have KernelEx installed... See here: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=71476

Well... Word XP is hanging up Windows again, so I've rolled back both the Office Common Files and Windows System RICHED20.DLL files to 5.40.11.2220. Also see: http://www.msfn.org/board/RICHED20DLL-comp...ity-t72448.html Do'h! I've had more Word crashes with RICHED20.DLL 5.40.11.2220... So... it looks like my problem is far deeper than RICHED20.DLL... Nothing else crashes - just Word 2002 (XP). I'll have to look at any other possibilities...

I've started adding some Creative applets. So far AudioHQ and Surround Mixer. Most newer versions only work on WDM drivers. See first post for VxD compatible versions.

I've had the turn off monitor hang issue for years in 98SE on different PCs. I've also been using nVidia graphics cards for years too... (with many versions of drivers) I can't use the turn off monitor option. I just switch off the monitor when I'm not using the computer... Annoying, but saves power! I never found a working solution to the problem. BTW, I found the 82.69 drivers to be faster with nVidia FX cards than the 81.98 drivers...

I've found all browsing is faster. I have not done any timing tests or the like so it's really just impressions...

W W! Two sets of updates in the same month!!! Way to go MDGx! - The Updates Guy is back in action! I have a small question... CRYPT9X and CRYPTME? I have Windows 98SE and 98SE2ME - should I use CRYPT9X or CRYPTME? I currently have CRYPT9X installed and working well. Would CRYPTME work with 98SE2ME? Any advantages either way? RICHED20.DLL Update: Well... Word XP is hanging up Windows again, so I've rolled back both the Office Common Files and Windows System RICHED20.DLL files to 5.40.11.2220. Also see: http://www.msfn.org/board/RICHED20DLL-comp...ity-t72448.html

Thanks for the update galahs. It's good to see that you're still maintaining this topic.

Any DirectX releases after December 2006 require .NET Framework installed, otherwise nothing much will install in Windows 9x from the DirectX update. If you don't have .NET Framework 1.1 and/or 2.0 installed, the latest DirectX will still attempt to install (nothing!). I have MDGx's 98SE2ME installed. I wonder if some updated system files from Windows Me are the reason I can install DirectX June 2008?

Th3_uN1Qu3, I suggest you browse through the whole KernelEx topic, because there is lots of info to pull out. The cmd.exe problem seems to be fixed by taking a copy of command.com and renaming it to cmd.exe and then placing it in \WINDOWS\COMMAND. I did this for one game install.

UFOxyz, if you only need 2D video support, then you could try these generic 2D drivers. Have a read through the topic as there are links to some different drivers. http://www.msfn.org/board/Video-drivers-fo...ds-t105725.html

Yep, my 98SE system is stable and I don't see many BSODs these days thanks to the support from MSFN! Besides, even XP is sluggish on my dual PIII, and on the same box, 98SE runs better with just one CPU. Actually, Windows XP has the command-line Recovery Console that can be installed locally with Windows. If it's not installed locally, then it can be accessed off the OS CD (and installed locally if wanted). I've recovered many Windows NT, 2000, and XP BSOD at startup failures by booting from an XP CD and using the Recovery Console. ...But 95/98 DOS is fully featured!

If you use Anvir Task Manager Free, the current version 5.1.0 still has support for Windows 98 and Me. I've got it running, and it runs well with an easier to view tree layout of startup applications and services, and other new features. It's good to see some companies that recognise that millions of users still have so-called 'obsolete' operating systems. Just because my car is over ten years old doesn't mean I have stop using it! Windows 9x lives! 9x users, don't feel embarrassed by using a lean OS just because your friends and work mates use a BLOAT OS. Lean OS Linux users are bold - come on 9x users - be BOLD! BTW, statistics show that Linux users on the Internet are only about as many as 9x users! We're comrades in the digital battle with BLOAT! If you choose to use BLOATWARE, I don't have a problem with that - however, it should be a CHOICE, not a RULE!

Yep. The Windows 98SE CD CABs contain MS Jet 3.5 and MS Jet 4.0 files.

1173 MiB rocks! Disclaimer: Kids, don't try this at home without first grabbing a large bag of potato crisps, a good can of sugary fizz, and lots of patience! Hey Fredledingue, watch those spiders! The pesky things make webs all over your cooling fans when the PC is off. Eventually, pffft, zzzzt, poooffff. - Reason one, to leave your computer running 24x7.

Yep, there's something comforting about that faint hum in the next room... You wake from one of those scary dreams to that soft sound of air movement... I had a long power outage and my UPS exhausted... No PC life signs... Worst night of my life!

Hey geek, converse on! I once had a Novell NetWare 3 server (only one used by the entire company), that ran for a continuous 380 days. I don't think I've ever seen that kind of duration in any OS since... Of course, that was in the days when the Internet was becoming publicly available, and security from the 'outside' was not a concept...

The core DirectX files for Windows 98/Me have not been updated since December 2006. In fact, Microsoft removed the core 9x files from DirectX redists several releases ago. This means having already installed an older version like Dec 2006 before installing the latest. Or... adding the two missing files (DirectX.cab, BDA.cab) from Dec 2006 to the lastest fileset... Since Dec 2006, the only changes are to Managed DirectX for .NET Framework. Unless you have a .NET application that uses Managed DirectX, there's no real advantage... Of course, you need .NET Framework 1.1 and/or 2.0 installed, otherwise the updates won't even install... I install the updates anyway for completeness.

Myself and some others have noticed that even the last two unofficial IE cumulative updates (from the official updates) have improved general response time and usability. Even Flash content appears smoother. These changes were apparent right after installing the updates (and rebooting!). See here for an example: http://www.msfn.org/board/98-FE-98-SE-ME-u...088#entry778088 I expect that on dial-up that may not be so noticable, but on broadband it is. Firstly, the new updates are more stable than older ones. Secondly, if you use Internet Explorer 6 SP1 to access public webpages on the Internet, then security fixes are crucial. Research has shown that many website servers are not properly secured or kept up to date with security patches. These servers are quickly compromised and malicious changes made to the web pages. And of course some pages are designed to be malicious in nature. If you access these pages (and you probably will not even know if a page is compromised), and your browser is vulnerable, then you may have just opened access of some sort into your computer. This may be as simple as a crash or as devastating as remote control of Windows or remote access into your file system. According to SecurityFocus last week, nearly 1 in 2 Internet users' computers could be compromised by accessing the Internet: More than 45 percent of Internet users put their computers at risk of being compromised by malicious code because they surf the Web using browsers that are behind the times, four researchers warned on Tuesday. See the full article here: http://www.securityfocus.com/news/11525/1 I don't see this as a trivial matter, but hey, it's your computer and your data. If of course, you only use IE to access Intranet pages and web content on your local computer, and never access public web pages, then no problem. For more information on web server security issues: http://googleonlinesecurity.blogspot.com/2...nd-malware.html http://www.sans.org/top20/ http://blogs.zdnet.com/Spyware/?p=811

I'm using a nVidia FX 5500 with these drivers. They work well. They also support widescreen modes that the official drivers do only partially. The official nVidia 81.98 drivers for Windows 9x do actually support the FX 5500, but these 82.69 drivers work faster!

For a more in-depth look at the Windows 9x memory settings, see this topic: http://www.msfn.org/board/Help-I-need-to-G...wo-t109574.html In the second post, there are some more topics to look at. The first of the three is not valid anymore, but the last two in the list are a good read. You will get a much better understanding of the settings. Also, see this topic for settings used by various members: http://www.msfn.org/board/Day-to-day-runni...-t-t118097.html

The Jet Database Engine is used by Windows and many applications to store and access data. Because of this, it is a targeted part of Windows by malicious software. Therefore, I would recommend that you install the Jet Database updates just for security reasons alone.

Nice!

One small correction... The line above should read (note the M): DMABufferSize=64

Those settings above will work.

Any PCI Wireless LAN card based on a Realtek RTL818x should work with WPA under Windows 98SE.