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I've been playing with my routers URL blocking function. It does redirect the browser to a simple page with "This URL was blocked" text. It works quite well with blocking the commercial banners in the entire network. The problem is the TCP ports from the connections redirected are not closed as they would be in other case. The ports are kept open untill the time out. So, after fast oppening a few pages the amount of open ports is quite high. The IE starts acting weird in such a case. It does not download the pages completely leaving some page elements unloaded. The conclusion is, there is some TCP open ports limit in the Windows 98. I'm curious if it is possible to increase it.

When comes to testing some software or system patches it is a very good idea to make a copy of the Windows and Program Files directories. There are many easy ways to do it. But, the things are getting a bit more complicated when it comes to restoring the system. The simplest way for me was to doot to DOS and run the DOSLFNMS.COM and then to switch the directories with RENAME command. After a few times I felt tired with constantly typing: RENAME P1 "Program Files". So I've decided to make a script. The script grew with time. The idea is to keep up to 9 backup system copies with W1,W2,..,W9 (Windows) and P1,P2,...,P9 ("Program FIles") folders. The switching script displays the list of available copies, then exchanges the current system with the selected backup copy slot. The slots are simply named W1,W2,...,W9, but it is possible to provide additional description through placement of a INFO.TXT file in Wx folder. The script and the DOSLFNMS.COM driver should be placed in the C:\ folder. It is possible to call it directly, or from AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS files. Echo OFF doslfnms.com cls Echo Current OS: if not exist c:\windows\info.txt ECHO No decription. Type c:\WINDOWS\info.txt Echo. Echo. if exist c:\w1\win.com Echo 1 - W1 if exist c:\w1\info.txt type c:\w1\info.txt if exist c:\w1\win.com Echo. if exist c:\w2\win.com Echo 2 - W2 if exist c:\w2\info.txt type c:\w2\info.txt if exist c:\w2\win.com Echo. if exist c:\w3\win.com Echo 3 - W3 if exist c:\w3\info.txt type c:\w3\info.txt if exist c:\w3\win.com Echo. if exist c:\w4\win.com Echo 4 - W4 if exist c:\w4\info.txt type c:\w4\info.txt if exist c:\w4\win.com Echo. if exist c:\w5\win.com Echo 5 - W5 if exist c:\w5\info.txt type c:\w5\info.txt if exist c:\w5\win.com Echo. if exist c:\w6\win.com Echo 6 - W6 if exist c:\w6\info.txt type c:\w6\info.txt if exist c:\w6\win.com Echo. if exist c:\w7\win.com Echo 7 - W7 if exist c:\w7\info.txt type c:\w7\info.txt if exist c:\w7\win.com Echo. if exist c:\w8\win.com Echo 8 - W8 if exist c:\w8\info.txt type c:\w8\info.txt if exist c:\w8\win.com Echo. if exist c:\w9\win.com Echo 9 - W9 if exist c:\w9\info.txt type c:\w9\info.txt if exist c:\w9\win.com Echo. Echo 0 - Exit Echo. Choice /C:1234567890 Select slot if Errorlevel 1 Set SYS=1 if Errorlevel 2 Set SYS=2 if Errorlevel 3 Set SYS=3 if Errorlevel 4 Set SYS=4 if Errorlevel 5 Set SYS=5 if Errorlevel 6 Set SYS=6 if Errorlevel 7 Set SYS=7 if Errorlevel 8 Set SYS=8 if Errorlevel 9 Set SYS=9 if Errorlevel 10 Goto END rename WINDOWS WX rename "Program Files" PX rename W%SYS% WINDOWS rename P%SYS% "Program Files" rename WX W%SYS% rename PX P%SYS% :END The DOSLFNMS.COM is a part of the DOSLFN package. It's function is to provide the long file name support in the "Clean DOS".

Strange, but the most of Windows 98 users would give much to get rid of the shell integrated with IE. Some are deliberately removing the Windows 98 shell replacing it with the Windows 95 one. The IE and shell integration was one of the most buggiest Microsoft creations, I believe.

According to my observations the Shell98 update solves just a part of the problem. It is better to use both Shell98 and browser dll replacement fixes, at the same time.

I've tested the Go OO 2.4.1 version of the OpenOffice. It seems to be working as good as the OpenOffice.org 2.4.0. The most important difference seems to be the DOCX support and a bit different installation system. As, there are no Java plugin and Google Toolbar in it. It looks a bit different, because the icons are different (bigger).

An interesting point of view. Because I hate USB keyboards and mices. They are much less reliable when something is going wrong with the computer or system. A computer without a separate port for a keyboard or/and mouse is something I would not buy, for sure. I think, in your case the simplest solution would be to disable the USB controller driver used by the Windows 98 and to use just the BIOS legacy USB keyboard and mouse support.

I can confirm the GoOO 2.4.1 does work in the Windows 98SE. It does not have the Java plugin and the Google Toolbar plugin, as the UX version of the OpenOffice 2.4.0 has. So, I'm satisfied, because the java plugin kills the Microsoft Update system in the Windows 98. I'm not the Google Toolbar user, as well. I tested just the Calc application. The two differences I've found so far are the DOCX support and a bit different icon and button style.

The GOM player seems to be working quite well. But, I had to uninstall the KernelEx 0.3.4. As, the GOM Player hanged with the KernelEx present.

I found nothing particular with the Dependancy Walker. I do not have experience in using it, anyway. It's possible the problem is related to some enviroment checking (like enviroment variables or something like that).

I had to run the openofficeorg30.msi file directly. There were no wrong windows version communicate, in my case. The Setup.exe will not finish, even with the kexver.ini forcing a newer OS version for the Setup.exe. Still, the OpenOffice does not start after the installation. I think it is doing some unusual check (or something) when running. I was using OOo_3.0.0beta_20080429_Win32Intel_install_wJRE_en-US.exe

The message just says "too low version or missing". So, it is not possible to tell which the case it is.

The OpenOffice team is simplyfying the code to use the newer API functions. Still there is a possibility to keep the OpenOffice 3 able to work with the KernelEx extension. Here are the posts from the OpenOffice.org: ------- Additional comments from sb Thu Jun 12 07:57:54 +0000 2008 ------- At least some (but strategically important) code now uses the Unicode (...W) versions of Windows functions, which, AFAIK, are not available on Windows 98/ME, and the emulation code we used before has either been removed or is no longer reachable (due to the distribution of code to three layers). It is IMO a fruitless (and even counterproductive) effort to try and get OOo running on Windows 98/ME, after it has been decided to drop support for that platform, and developers started to take advantage of that in their code additions/modifications (read: simplifications). ------- Additional comments from mh Fri Jun 13 08:13:59 +0000 2008 ------- mark issue as unassigned, since I will not work on that issue. If there are people volunteering for this effort, I recommend to create an childworkspace (cws) for these efforts to collect necessary changes for keep this run on Win98 and to have the impossibly to keep those efforts in sync with latest OOo relaseses. @sb,hro: I recommend not to "simplify" the code not to fast, to raise not too high hurdles for people who want to volunteer for this effort. @forsoft: Simplifying code is quite important for maintainability and code quality, so I think we have to find volunteers for this effort quite fast otherwise we need to continue "simplification". I believe, the first step would be to collect the informations about the API functions implemented in the KernelEx, and the Windows 98 incompatible API functions used in the OpenOffice 3. The OpenOffice 3 code simplification is progressing just as we speak. It would be good to stop the OpenOffice team from using the KernelEx unavailable functions, if they did not do it, already.

I had to put the Msimg32.dll file to the Opera folder. In the file was placed just in the C:\Windows\System folder the Opera complained it can not find it.

I tried to download the patch, but I was defeated by the Rapid Share "cat protection system". I'm just unable to figure out, what is it all about. My eyes are not as effective as they used to be, apparently. Is there some other server I could download the patch from?

I'm working with a Polish language Windows versions. I do not know if the Maximus Decim update is fitted to patch other than English language Windows versions.

Well. In my case Opera is complaining about Msimg32.dll file missing or too old (I do have a 5.00.1693.1 so it is too old, apparently). It says some transparrency effects can be slow or not drawn correctly. It suggects to copy the file from Windows ME. I took a 5.00.2180.1 Msimg32.dll version from Windows 2000. But, the Opera complains about it, as well. The effect with oppening .URL links remained unchanged.

The Windows 98 is using a quick like format as the default routine. So, your chances of retrieving the data are quite good.

I was able to install OpenOffice 3 by running the openofficeorg30.msi file directly. Sadly, the application does not work. Trying to run any .EXE brings up an "Parameter is invalid" (translated from Polish)error message. There seeting in the kxever.ini do not influence the issue.

It's much too late to get rid of the OpenOffice, I'm afraid. The Open Document Format is an accepted form of communication with Polish Govermental facilities. LaTeX is not something a common worker can use. I had an opportunity to work a bit with TEX many years ago. Now the most common editor is Word from Microsoft and Write from OpenOffice. The general knowledge about the actual document structure is very weak among workers. They are using the text editors just like improved type writers. Still the most important feature of the text editors is possibility to use different document formats to both opening and saving documents. Open Office is very good according to those terms. So, getting rid of the OpenOffice is out of the question, I'm afraid.

It's quite possible the OpenOffice 3 will be able to work in Windows 98 as is, without additional changes. Still, I'm unable to test it, as the setup procedure reports a proper version of Microsoft Installer missing. I know no way of tricking the Microsoft Installer 3 based setup procedure to work on Windows 98. A change in the setup system can give the ability to setup and test the compatibility of KernelEx and OpenOffice 3. Perhaps, by voting on some minimal Windows 98 support on the OpenOffice.org it will be possible to persuade the creators to use a different setup procedure than Microsoft Installer 3.0 related. -------------------------- I do not get it. According to the Setup.ini file, just the Microsoft Installer 2 is required. I have the MSI 2 in my system, as far as I know. Still the same message is displayed as MSI 3 would be missing.

Yes, that's exactly the problem. I've been trying to replace the shdocvw.dll to some older versions. But, I was unable to correct the issue that way. The attempt to replace the shdocvw.dll to some other language version prevented the system from booting correctly. The shdocvw.dll seems to be a wrong trail, I think.

Yes, there is exaclty the same setting. My shdocvw.dll version is 6.00.2800.1849. It is possible the problem is version or language related. In my case the shdocvw.dll is a Polish language version.

The registry keys I have posted are used, when the Explorer or Outlook Express is opening internet shortcuts. I've proved it, because a change in these keys does change the way the .URL files are opened. The Opera (while making it the default browser) changes these keys by default. If they would not be selected, other browser would be used to open the shortcuts. So, the check box you are referring to should change nothing. And as a matter of fact it does change nothing, as I have tried all the possible Opera settings long time ago (with this particular setting included).

No, the problem does not happen with the .HTM and .HTML files. But, when I'm trying to open an internet page shortcut from my desktop (Active Desktop - Switched off) without the Opera running, the Opera starts without the link loaded. If Opera is running, the link opens correctly. When creating a new shortcut on the desktop to an internet page, the Windows 98 creates a .URL file. The file extension is not shown by the windows explorer in any place. In order to confirm the file extension is .URL it is necesary to open properties of the link. The file extension is visible in the MS-DOS file name field, only. When creating a new shortcut, the explorer does create .LNK or .URL file depending on what is entered in the command line field. Local file path means .LNK. While an internet page address will result in the .URL.

I've tried the latest Opera 9.5 beta build 10048. The problem is still present there.