RetroOS

galahs, erpdude8 provided information on a great task manager for all Windows including 9x: Windows Utilities ONGD - FREE - AnVir Task Manager Free --- http://www.anvir.com/taskmanagerfree/

Ha! What an awesome tool! Thanks erpdude8. And it works nicely in Windows 9x.

Hi 98 Guy, For nVidia cards, see this thread: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=97140 Official ATI drivers support up to Radeon 9800 series: http://ati.amd.com/support/drivers/98me/radeonaiw-98me.html Not sure about newer ATI cards and others.

Hi Eck, There were components removed after MDAC 2.5 SP3. Newer MDAC version download pages used to have notes about the missing stuff. Here is a comparison of MDAC 2.5 SP3 and 2.8 SP1 with just the additional files in 2.5 SP3. I have greyed out lines with files that are superceeded by OLE, Jet and other updates. Those left are the unique MDAC 2.5 SP3 files. ------------------------------------------ asycfilt.dll 2.40.4277.1 "Microsoft OLE 2.40 for Windows NT and Windows 95 Operating Systems" cliconf.hlp dbmsadsn.dll 1999.10.20.0 "Named Pipes Net DLL for SQL Clients" dbmsshrn.dll 1999.10.20.0 "ConnectTo RPC Net Library" dbmssocn.dll 1999.10.20.0 "Winsock Net DLL for SQL Server" dbmsspxn.dll 1999.10.20.0 "Client-Side NWLINK SPX WINSOCK Net Library" dbmsvinn.dll 1999.10.20.1 "ConnectTo VINES Net Library" drvvfp.chm msdart32.dll 2.53.6200.0 "Microsoft Data Access - OLE DB Runtime Routines" msdatl2.dll 2.53.6200.0 "Microsoft Data Access - OLE DB Implementation Support Routines" msexch40.dll 4.0.5325.0 "Microsoft Jet Exchange Isam" msexcl40.dll 4.0.5919.0 "Microsoft Jet Excel Isam" msjet40.dll 4.0.6218.0 "Microsoft Jet Engine Library" msjetoledb40.dll 4.0.5919.0 "Microsoft OLE DB Provider for Jet" msjint40.dll 4.0.2927.2 "Microsoft Jet Database Engine International DLL" msjter40.dll 4.0.2927.2 "Microsoft Jet Database Engine Error DLL" msltus40.dll 4.0.5325.0 "Microsoft Jet Lotus 1-2-3 Isam" mspbde40.dll 4.0.5325.0 "Microsoft Jet Paradox Isam" msrd2x40.dll 4.0.4910.0 "Microsoft ® Red ISAM" msrd3x40.dll 4.0.4325.0 "Microsoft ® Red ISAM" msrepl40.dll 4.0.6226.0 "Microsoft Replication Library" mstext40.dll 4.0.5325.0 "Microsoft Jet Text Isam" msxbde40.dll 4.0.5427.0 "Microsoft Jet xBASE Isam" odbcjet.chm obdcjl32.dll 4.0.6200.0 "Microsoft ODBC Desktop Driver Pack 3.5" odbcjt32.dll 4.0.6200.0 "Microsoft ODBC Desktop Driver Pack 3.5" oddbse32.dll 4.0.6200.0 "ODBC (3.0) driver for DBase" odexl32.dll 4.0.6200.0 "ODBC (3.0) driver for Excel" odfox32.dll 4.0.6200.0 "ODBC (3.0) driver for FoxPro" odpdx32.dll 4.0.6200.0 "ODBC (3.0) driver for Paradox" odtext32.dll 4.0.6200.0 "ODBC (3.0) driver for text files" oleaut32.dll 2.40.4277.1 "Microsoft OLE 2.40 for Windows NT and Windows 95 Operating Systems" oledb32x.dll 2.53.6200.0 "Microsoft Data Access - OLE DB Extensions" olepro32.dll 5.0.4277.1 "Microsoft ® OLE Property Support DLL" sqlsodbc.hlp sqlsoldb.hlp sqlstr.dll 1999.10.20.1 "String Function .DLL for SQL Enterprise Components" sqlwid.dll 1999.10.20.0 "Unicode Function .DLL for SQL Enterprise Components" sqlwoa.dll 1999.10.20.1 "Unicode/ANSI Function .DLL for SQL Enterprise Components" stdole2.tlb 2.40.4277.1 "Microsoft OLE 2.40 for Windows NT and Windows 95 Operating Systems" vfpodbc.dll 6.1.8629.1 "Microsoft® Visual Foxpro® ODBC Driver" ------------------------------------------ Has anyone tried MDAC files from Windows XP SP2 in Windows 9x? Some of the MDAC 2.5 SP3 unique files are also newer in XP SP2. soporific, here are some ideas for additional stuff in AP: ------------------------------------------ DirectX 9.0c November 2007 Update .NET Framework 2.0 .NET Framework 2.0 Updates: - NDP20-KB917283-X86.exe - NDP20-KB922770-X86.exe .NET Framework 1.1 Updates: - NDP1.1sp1-KB867460-X86.exe - ndp1.1sp1-kb925168-x86.exe - NDP1.1sp1-KB928366-X86.exe Twain 1.7.1.1 from Windows XP SP2 Sun Java 2 Runtime Environment 6.0 Update 3 (Unsupported but works better than Java 5.0 - me thinks anyway...) ------------------------------------------ I know, I know, I've mentioned most of this before, but I think it's good stuff for 9x. I've been using the Twain files (TWAIN.DLL, TWAIN_32.DLL, TWUNK_16.EXE, TWUNK_32.EXE) from XP SP2 for two years. They work great with scanners, cameras etc. No one seems to have made an update package...

soporific, I was using August 2007 release, then December 2007 release. Both had the problem. As always, MDGx delivers! Much appreciation for another superlative release! That fix worked a treat. Thanks a lot MDGx.

deleted. too positive.

Yep! It's MDGx to the rescue! - Good on ya mate! Now, I should have thought of that - everything Windows, visit MDGx...

Eck's got a good point! I figure, get out a 2008 release of AP to keep the hungry 9xers at bay, then as a side project, work on a new installer... AP as it stands is a model piece of batch scripting! Top marks to soporific. As far as the 'out of environment space' issue goes, I've had no problem for some releases since the various work arounds were put in place. (exception is the Paint Update that spawned it's own command session)

I've had problems before with the OAKCDROM.SYS CD-ROM driver hanging on load. My solutions was to use a different DOS CD-ROM driver. It pays to keep a few just in case. There are some floating around the Internet especially on PC manufacture support pages. Just do a search for "DOS CD-ROM driver" and you'll get some on the first page of hits! They are still widely used for boot CDs, Ghost, and so on.

Hi soporific, I cannot understand how using MD's CU can cabbage the Command Interpreter... Surley CU does not modify system settings or files? It must be the way the updates are installing. My understanding is that CU chains the installs in one hit? A problem right away is that some updates contain overlapping and different versions of certain files. If some locked files need replacing at boot time, then an update may leave a bad version matching of system files... Scenario: Install A has all updated files including some for locked files that are scheduled for WININIT boot processing. Install B has all updated files but some are older than Install A. When these older (but newer than current) files are scheduled for boot replacement, they will effectively backdate those files to a newer than current, but older than the matched file set of Install A. The problem is solved by installing A, rebooting, installing B - what AP does now. Anyway, that's how I figure it. B)

Nice! If MDGx is the Updates Guy, then dencorso is the Mods Guy! Way to go dencorso. Man, I recon that Microsoft must be complaining through their clenched teeth: "Why won't that old Windows die!" Why? Because there are too many people who figure that Microsoft made a bad judgement call by hauling their branched NotTolerant code line into the mainstream! (Remember in the NT 3.x days, you would install a Novell server because most people figured that Windows was not a real server...) ...And too many people who don't want to add another mile to the rubbish dumps just to "upgrade" their OS... Maybe I'm over simplifying, but surely fifty million users can't be wrong? The NT platform should have been an option rather than the rule! Sure NT technology has some advantages like more fluid multitasking, multiple processors, better resource management (I agree!), better security and less vulnerabilities (yeah right!), better file system (unless you try recoverying a crashed NTFS!), improved API, more compatibility (huh?), and so on. You get the idea. I won't cover the advantages of Windows 9x since those reading this are using Windows 9x because of them! My Windows 98SE box is more stable than most of the out-of-the-box XP and Vista computers I've used. Most pre-loaded Windows Vista notebooks that I have set up have blue screened a short time after completing the Mini-Setup. That's Toshiba, ASUS, Dell, and others... You decide!

Oooh! AP to get a facelift? It's sooo nice to see that's there's still dedication to 9x in 2008. Take your time soporific. BTW, I posted some new tweak stuff in your 9x Tweaks Pack thread.

A Correction (incorrect URL - duplicated from previous entry line...): Scanner Drivers LAST - FREE - Mustek 1200 UB Plus Scanner Driver 2.0 --- http://www.mustek.com.tw/apprg/listdriver?LID=2&PRODUCTID=SOff1200UBPlus

Hi soporific, You really have your hands in too many pies! But they're good pies though! I found an interesting performance tuning article from Symantec in the middle of the year. It really helped some resource and stability issues I had. The article is here: http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgen...&view=docid The key settings are in the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files. I used to have an empty CONFIG.SYS file since I figured that Windows 9x no longer needed anything here... But in fact, Windows 9x is still dependant on CONFIG.SYS and the defaults are often not sufficient... See Part 2 of the article, in particular the following settings: AUTOEXEC.BAT Add entries to increase the environment variables: Add the following line: SET DOS16M=2 This line should be added as the first line before any other lines in the Autoexec.bat file. It's function is to extend memory in DOS for strings of information that more than 64 characters in length. CONFIG.SYS Add entries to increase the environment variables: Add the following line: DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS /M:1 The /M:1 switch commands HIMEM.SYS to identify the processor. Add the following lines or, if they already exist, modify them to read as follows: FILES=150 BUFFERS=80 STACKS=12,256 If the computer is connected to a network, use a value of 200 instead of 150. The default value for files is 60, for buffers is 30, and for stacks is 9,256. Man, a year ago, I really thought Windows 9x was doomed! Then I came across MSFN and you guys! I know what it's like trying to find time in a busy schedule! How can one say thanks enough! soporific, MDGx, the_guy, Tihiy, Maximus Decim, Gape, Xeno86, and many more that I have not mentioned (and least we forget the valuable contributions of LLXX - even though she got the pip and went to Linux land...). We love you guys! (In a purely technical sense that is!)

Huh? Do you mean like soporific's Auto-Patcher 98 or Gape's 98 SE Service Pack?

It appears that there is partial success with the Office 2007 Comp. Pack running with Office 2000, at least to load Office 2007 files. Office XP, however, looks like a no go zone... I don't really see why there should be a difference since it's just a filter... Surely the actual Office files would not interfere with the filter? Sadly it appears so...

Hi galahs, looks like the above additions did not copy correctly into your master list... The web links are messed up... Happy New Year! UPDATE: New Stuff Genealogy - new section ONGD - FREE - Legacy 6.0 Standard Edition --- http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/DownloadLegacy.asp ONGD - $$$$ - Legacy 6.0 Deluxe Edition --- http://www.legacyfamilytreestore.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=1 Move: LAST - $$$$ - Family Tree Maker 2006 16.0.350.0 --- http://past.familytreemaker.com/FTM16.aspx From Others to Genealogy - new section Move: LAST - FREE - Atomic Clock Sync 2.7.0.3 (no longer updated or posted) --- http://www.worldtimeserver.com ONGD - FREE - Neutron (7KB Atomic Time Synchronisation) --- http://keir.net/neutron.html LAST - FREE - AnalogX Atomic TimeSync 1.03 --- http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/ats.htm ONGD - $$$$ - AtomTime Pro v3.1d --- http://www.atomtime.com From Others to Time Synchronisation - new section Move (also updated): LAST - $$$$ - ABBYY FineReader 7.0 - http://finereader.abbyy.com/ From Others to Optical Character Recognition (OCR) - new section Windows 9x Rocks on in 2008!

Woohoo! - You 'da man MDGx! - Another nice XP transplant. 98MP10 has worked well for me for some time now - it rocks! Keep up the good work with 9x! Happy New Year All! - Windows 9x alive and kicking in 2008! UPDATE: I installed the lastest 98MP10 and got a problem with two missing files. I installed 98MP10, rebooted when prompted, and then got a missing CABINET.DLL file error when the desktop appeared. I looked in the WININIT.BAK file and noticed that it had renamed CABINET.DLL and MSHTML.TLB to their .MP9 backup files but had not replaced them with anything... I recall having the same problem when I installed the last August update but was not sure if it was a one off... I have resolved the issue by copying the two .MP9 backups to their original files.

WHOA ! Who said 9x was dead? - Oh wait, it was just a small pain in the side of my head! Talk about a mammoth fourth quarter of updates for 2007 and what a start to 2008 with a hiss and a roar! MDGx, how do you find time to keep up all those updates? You make up the hub of 9x support! Maybe we should call you 'Little Microsoft'? - Just friendlier! Well, 2008 is lookin' goooood! Long Live Windows 9x!

Some more stuff: Office Programs LAST - FREE - Microsoft Office Converter Pack 97-2003 --- http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;DisplayLang=en LAST - FREE - Microsoft Word 97 Viewer (97-2003) --- http://downloads.pcworld.com/pub/new/busin...s/wd97vwr32.exe LAST - FREE - Microsoft Excel 97 Viewer (97-2003) --- http://downloads.pcworld.com/pub/new/busin...es/xlviewer.exe LAST - FREE - Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 Viewer (97-2003) --- http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;DisplayLang=en LAST - FREE - Microsoft Visio 2002 Viewer (5-2002) --- http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;DisplayLang=en CD/DVD Authoring Programs ONGD - FREE - DVDFab HD Decrypter --- http://www.dvdfab.com/free.htm Webcam Drivers ONGD - FREE - Sonix SN9C105 PC Camera Controller (Webcam) Driver (5.21.2000) --- http://www.sonix.com.tw/sonix/product.do?p=SN9C105 Scanner Drivers LAST - FREE - Mustek 1200 UB Plus Scanner Driver 2.0 --- http://www.mustek.com.tw/apprg/showdriveri...Plus&LSID=1 EDIT: More added

Hi soporific, how's November installment looking? Sun Java 5 Update 14 is out. I have a suggestion. I've been using Java 6 Update 3 for a while now with no apparent problems and actually faster and more stable browsing... How about including both Java 5 Update 14 and Java 6 Update 3 (perhaps with a note about unsupported?) so either can be installed for those who want to use Java 6? Just an idea. On another side, your menu still says DirectX December 2006 instead of August 2007... Will you include DirectX November 2007 in your November pack? No new issues to report after installing October release. Old issue: paint update back-dating some filters... Now, what would we do without Auto-Patcher? EDIT: Just noticed that Maximus Decim Native USB ver.3.3 is released!

AFAIK, the current definitions and engine work in 98SE, although McAfee say it is 'unsupported' in 98SE... I've used engine 5100 okay even 'unsupported' since all 5000 series engines are 'unsupported' in 98SE. Not sure about 5200 working though... Have not tested it... If you have MDGx's 98SE2ME or Tihiy's RP installed then you will probably have problems with 4.5.1 SP1 since it does not work correctly in Windows Me and the two mentioned custom packs update enough of 98SE with Me files to be a problem with 4.5.1 SP1...

Okay, I have located the source of my Excel startup error... It is an Excel add-in called Odfaddin... So... Looks like the Sun ODF Plugin 1.1 for Microsoft Office at least has a problem with Excel... No other issues to report with the ODF Plugin although I have not actually tested saving/opening odf files... Stay tuned... B) I had tested the Office 2007 pack opening (saved from Office 2007) and saving .???x formats (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) with no joy. Access 2007 and Publisher 2007 do not appear to use XML formats. I have not tried the latest Office 2007 Comp Pack... Will try it out...

Anyone out there tried the 82.69 drivers with a 8800 series? Anyone? One? .. Okay, So far the following post-81.98 nVidia GPUs (>6800) have been reported to work: GeForce 7300GT PCIe GeForce 7600GS PCIe GeForce 7600GT AGP GeForce 7600GT PCIe GeForce 7800GS AGP and... That's all folks! Has anyone else got another 7 or 8 series nVidia GPU working with 82.69? * PCIe support depends on chipset manufacture driver support and availibility for Windows 98SE EDIT: Added some more reported cards!

Okay then, I suppose I should redirect my 'cool update' to you erpdude8! Your udpate did update some other files so instead of making it not install with 98MP10, maybe just don't back-date those two files... What about the added WMPBAND.DLL file in the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory instead of \Program Files\Windows Media Player? I've never had this file in \WINDOWS\SYSTEM before that I am aware of...