diamant

UPDATE: I had written that the files freebl.dll, nss3.dll, nssckbi.dll, nssdbm3.dll, nssutil3.dll, smime3.dll, softokn3.dll and ssl3.dll from Firefox10-new-nss didn't work with Thunderbird 2.0.0.24. But I've found a promising workaround: I downloaded the archive ns9-nss-update.7z from Roytam's stuff. It contains the files mentioned above (slightly other versions) and some files more, here the complete file list: freebl.dll nss3.dll nssckbi.dll nssdbm3.dll nssutil3.dll smime3.dll softokn3.dll ssl3.dll freebl3.chk nspr4.dll plc4.dll plds4.dll softokn3.chk sqlite3.dll The last 6 files are not in Firefox10-new-nss. I assume the ns9-nss-update files are for Netscape Navigator 9(?). I replaced those 14 files from TB 2.0.0.24 folder with the newer ones from ns9-nss-update, and surprise: It seems to work without error message?! I don't know whether all 14 files are/were necessary. Then I sent an test email from my email-adress to my email-adress; it seems that it really was received with TLS 1.2?! In source code of the email there is the line: "... Received ... with (TLSv1.2:ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 encrypted)" That could mean that I even have the choice between at least TB versions (2.0.0.24 or 9.0.1) to use an "old" email programm with TLS 1.2 support. (And Roytam seems to be an expert in solving TLS/SSL regarded issues...)

It was indeed necessary to set the option security.tls.version.max in TB24 from 1 to 3. Tools>Options>General>uncheck Thunderbird Start Page didn't avoid the errors "runs in the background after closing" respectively "crashing after/during closing." I suppose that something other was needed to avoid the errors. But I'll test TB 9.0.1 or even try to use TB 2.0.0.24 with your tips (files from Retrozilla or WinSSLwrap) for now. I'll report my experiences / test results soon.

In a few days my email provider will deaktivate TLS 1.0. That means, it will (probably) not be possible to use Thunderbird 2.0.0.24 in Win98SE anymore (ore is there a workaround to use TLS 1.2 with Thunderbird versions lower than 20.*.*.*?). But a good fact is that it seems to be possible use some newer Thunderbird versions with KernelEx, e.g. 9.*, 24.*, 31.*. I found out the following possible workarounds to use TLS 1.2 in Thunderbird: 1.) Thunderbird 9.0.1 doesn't provide TLS 1.2 per default. I found a file "Firefox10-new-nss.7z" somewhere here on MSFN whose content was normally built for Firefox(?). It contains files freebl.dll, nss3.dll, nssckbi.dll, nssdbm3.dll, nssutil3.dll, smime3.dll, softokn3.dll and ssl3.dll. Those files seem to refer to TLS in firefox(?). "Just for fun" I replaced the files with the same names(!?) in the Thunderbird 9.0.1 program folder with the files from Firefox10-new-nss.7z. Surprisingly, it was obviously possible to send and receive an email with TLS 1.2 encryption?! But I'm not sure whether there will occur some errors when using Thunderbird 9.0.1 with Firefox-10-files. I have to test it more. 2.) Thunderbird 24.0.1 can "directly" send/receive emails with TLS 1.2 support. But there is an issue: It runs in the background after closing the program. I've not tested TB 24.0.1 detailed for more issues. 3.) Thunderbird 31.7.0 can "directly" send/receive emails with TLS 1.2 support (same behaviour like TB 24). But there is another issue: It crashes always when closing the program. I've not tested TB 31.7.0 detailed for more issues. Are there other experiences/recommendations with Thunderbird + KernelEx + TLS 1.2? PS: The files from Firefox10-new-nss.7z don't work with Thunderbird 2.0.0.24.

Is there any need about core.20i? Or do I have to rename it to core.ini (and overwrite or delete the old core.ini)? Actual content (not updatet yet) of CBAKK.ini: [ApiConfigurations] default=0 0=DCFG1 1=WIN95 2=WIN98 3=WINME 4=NT40 5=NT2K 6=WINXP 7=WIN2K3 8=VISTA 9=WIN2K8 10=NOHEAP [DCFG1] contents=std,kexbases,kexbasen desc=Default mode [DCFG1.names.98] KERNEL32.GetVersion=std GDI32.SetWorldTransform=kexbases.0 GDI32.GetRandomRgn=std GDI32.SetGraphicsMode=std GDI32.GetTextMetricsA=std GDI32.GetWorldTransform=std GDI32.ModifyWorldTransform=std GDI32.SetMapMode=std KERNEL32.VerSetConditionMask=none KERNEL32.VerifyVersionInfoA=none KERNEL32.VerifyVersionInfoW=none KERNEL32.CreateIoCompletionPort=std SHELL32.SHParseDisplayName=none [DCFG1.names.Me] KERNEL32.GetVersion=std GDI32.SetWorldTransform=kexbases.0 GDI32.GetRandomRgn=std GDI32.SetGraphicsMode=std GDI32.GetTextMetricsA=std GDI32.GetWorldTransform=std GDI32.ModifyWorldTransform=std GDI32.SetMapMode=std KERNEL32.VerSetConditionMask=none KERNEL32.VerifyVersionInfoA=none KERNEL32.VerifyVersionInfoW=none KERNEL32.CreateIoCompletionPort=std USER32.AllowSetForegroundWindow=std USER32.LockSetForegroundWindow=std USER32.GetMouseMovePointsEx=std SHELL32.SHParseDisplayName=none [WIN95] inherit=DCFG1 desc=Windows 95 [WIN95.names] KERNEL32.GetVersion=kexbases.0 KERNEL32.GetVersionExA=kexbases.1 KERNEL32.GetVersionExW=kexbases.1 [WIN98] inherit=WIN95 desc=Windows 98 SE [WIN98.names] KERNEL32.GetVersion=kexbases.1 KERNEL32.GetVersionExA=kexbases.2 KERNEL32.GetVersionExW=kexbases.2 [WINME] inherit=WIN98 desc=Windows Millennium [WINME.names] KERNEL32.GetVersion=kexbases.2 KERNEL32.GetVersionExA=kexbases.3 KERNEL32.GetVersionExW=kexbases.3 [NT40] inherit=WIN95 desc=Windows NT 4.0 SP6 [NT40.names] KERNEL32.GetVersion=kexbases.3 KERNEL32.GetVersionExA=kexbases.4 KERNEL32.GetVersionExW=kexbases.4 KERNEL32.CreateIoCompletionPort=kexbases.0 GDI32.GetRandomRgn=kexbases.0 GDI32.SetGraphicsMode=kexbases.0 GDI32.GetTextMetricsA=kexbases.0 GDI32.GetWorldTransform=kexbases.0 GDI32.ModifyWorldTransform=kexbases.0 GDI32.SetMapMode=kexbases.0 GDI32.SetWorldTransform=kexbases.1 [NT2K] inherit=NT40 desc=Windows 2000 SP4 [NT2K.names] KERNEL32.GetVersion=kexbases.4 KERNEL32.GetVersionExA=kexbases.5 KERNEL32.GetVersionExW=kexbases.5 KERNEL32.VerSetConditionMask=kexbases.0 KERNEL32.VerifyVersionInfoA=kexbases.0 KERNEL32.VerifyVersionInfoW=kexbases.0 [WINXP] inherit=NT2K desc=Windows XP SP2 [WINXP.names] KERNEL32.GetVersion=kexbases.5 KERNEL32.GetVersionExA=kexbases.6 KERNEL32.GetVersionExW=kexbases.6 KERNEL32.VerifyVersionInfoA=kexbases.1 KERNEL32.VerifyVersionInfoW=kexbases.1 SHELL32.SHParseDisplayName=kexbasen.0 [WIN2K3] inherit=WINXP desc=Windows 2003 SP1 [WIN2K3.names] KERNEL32.GetVersion=kexbases.6 KERNEL32.GetVersionExA=kexbases.7 KERNEL32.GetVersionExW=kexbases.7 KERNEL32.VerifyVersionInfoA=kexbases.2 KERNEL32.VerifyVersionInfoW=kexbases.2 [VISTA] inherit=WIN2K3 desc=Windows Vista [VISTA.names] KERNEL32.GetVersion=kexbases.7 KERNEL32.GetVersionExA=kexbases.8 KERNEL32.GetVersionExW=kexbases.8 KERNEL32.VerifyVersionInfoA=kexbases.3 KERNEL32.VerifyVersionInfoW=kexbases.3 [WIN2K8] inherit=VISTA desc=Windows 2008 SP1 [WIN2K8.names] KERNEL32.GetVersion=kexbases.8 KERNEL32.GetVersionExA=kexbases.9 KERNEL32.GetVersionExW=kexbases.9 KERNEL32.VerifyVersionInfoA=kexbases.4 KERNEL32.VerifyVersionInfoW=kexbases.4 [NOHEAP] inherit=DCFG1 desc=Disable custom heap [NOHEAP.names] KERNEL32.HeapCreate=std KERNEL32.HeapDestroy=std KERNEL32.HeapAlloc=std KERNEL32.HeapFree=std KERNEL32.HeapSize=std KERNEL32.HeapReAlloc=std

Hardware specs on that machine: AMD Athlon XP, 2075 MHz 512 MB (PC2700 Virtual Channel DDR SDRAM) ... But I don't suppose that hardware is the problem for freezing javascript because of Retrozila with JS enabled doesn't freez, also KM74 (under WinXP) doesn't freeze (only causes JS error messages) on the same machine. OS: Microsoft Windows 98 SE 4.10.2222A (Win98 SE) with (if I remember correctly) some minor bugfixes (I would have to search for more details) Kernelex files: CBAKK.INI KERNELEX.DLL KEXBASES.DLL KEXBASEN.DLL sheet.dll kexCOM.dll verify.exe License.txt Release Notes.txt Uninstall.exe VKrnlEx.vxd msimg32.dll pdh.dll psapi.dll uxtheme.dll wtsapi32.dll userenv.dll Kstub822.dll Kstub822.ini Kstub822.log Core.ini Most of them, where file version is visible, version 4.05.2016.16. Is version 4.05.2016.16 really better than 4.05.2016.17?! In the first post of this thread there are not particular KernelEx files downloadable?! I have here an packed file collection named KernelEx Updates 4.5.2019.24.7z with many files in it. The installation seemes to be a little bit tricky(?); not just replace files in Kernelex directory like for the older KernelEx versions(?!). Maybe it will be necessary to make comprehensive (system file) backups before installing it; I'm not sure whether system files are affected by KernelEx Updates 4.5.2019.24.7z, or only files in Kernelex directory. Or should one use exactly the Kernelex files recommended in post 1 in this thread? Probably I will do more tests to "stabilize" FF 31.8.0 version. It has some more issues, e.g.: - mouse-right-click not working - new tabs don't work properly - no javascript enable/disable checkbox under "Tools->Options" in Firefox - Back-button next to URL bar does work only sometimes.

Palemoon 25.4.1 didn't work because of MSVCR110.DLL wasn't found allegedly, whether it was in the palemoon file directory. I don't think that's a router firewall problem (here) because of Kmeleon74 works under WinXP (with other minor problems) on the same machine with Javascript enabled. Retrozilla with Javascript enabled works under Win98SE, but has on the other hand more problems displaying "modern" websites than Kmeleon74.

I didn't visit msfn.org for a long time, and now I re-visited here and found this thread. Just for fun I downloaded some newer Firefox-Versions (portable and non-portable) and tried to launch them. Surprise: Only with a few modifications especially FF 31.8.0 portable immediately started! By the way, wiithout XPCOM-not-found-error. The only thing I had to do was to set KernelEx compability mode for firefox.exe and xul.dll to Windows XP SP2. No need to set anything in any *.ini-file. The installed KernelEx files are mainly version 4.05.2016.16. I can publish content of core.ini and Kstub822.ini if somebody wishes. I can't remember that I edited those files. There are some major bugs (URL bar doesn't work properly) and minor bugs (small graphic issues). No problems with being blocked on websites becaus of too low TLS version. The only (major) problem is that javascript doesn't seem to work, more precisely: Most websites will freeze during loading with javascript enabled. (But there is the same problem with e.g. KMeleon74.) Did anybody manage it to run any FF version between 24 and 48 with Javascript enabled?

Does the setting: <...msvcr80.dll in the KM Program Folder to Base (Kexbases,Kexbasen)...> in KM74 prevent KMeleon from freezing if Javascript is enabled? KMeleon74 can open many websites, but doesn't work if javascript is required.

I tested an arbitrary youtube site and found indeed that value in its source code. But in FF9.0.1 there's no possibility to change text/values in source code view; it's just for viewing. I tried to save a youtube site ("completely") and to edit the *.html file with a hex editor, but in the so created website the youtube video still didn't work. How exactly did you proceed? For now, the only method to view youtube is that method with bookmarklets. Maybe it would be possible to write a more comfortable bookmarklet or extension, which will automatically create download links while visiting any youtube site. Another disadvantage is that you have to wait until the video is downloaded; only then you can watch it (e.g. with media player classic). OK; that's not such a big problem if the video is "small" or short. You could try the version I've uploaded. Additional: Maybe it's necessary to activate micross.ttf in "Display properties -> Appearance". I've set it as standard font in some settings there (a long time ago).

Same result here. It seems they've changed something regarding HTML5(?). Although Firefox 9.0.1 is principially able to play HTML5-embedded videos, youtube is no longer working. A current workaround: You could create a so-called bookmarklet (i.e. a bookmark) with the following URL: javascript:(function(d){d.PwnBkmkVer=3;d.body.appendChild(d.createElement('script')).src='https://deturl.com/ld.asp?'+1*new%20Date;})(document); You have to call this link while a youtube video is "playing" (better: is not playing) and you will get some links with the video in several file formats. It's advantageous to have the addon HyperBK installed to have bookmarks in FF 9.0.1. Maybe it's possible to associate the file extension "mp4" to any media player of your choice directly in firefox; if you don't want to save the video, but only to view it. The mp4-files from youtube work even with the good old MCP (Media Player Classic) 6.4.9.1 revision 82. Disadvantage: You have to wait until the video is fully downloaded. I.e. a video doesn't start immediately, because the videos in mp4-format are not streamed in real time. Any ideas how to achieve that?

As far as I remember correctly it's a font file from WinXP.

I've downgraded all KernelEx-files to version 16. Result: The security-component-errors don't occur again. Even Kmeleon does (principially) work with that version of KernelEx, but it's a little bit buggy, and e.g. youtube doesn't work properly.

I got a version from here k-meleon-74-windows-9x-edition from roytam. I'll try your tip with the db-files. Maybe some files from firefox are working(?). I also found out a strange behaviour. For tests I wanted to create a new firefox 9.0.1 profile. But it didn't work; I got the same error like with Kmeleon: However, my "old" firefox 9.0.1 profile did still work. After downgrading KernelEx from 2016.17 to 4.5.2 that strange "security-component"-error was gone away! So I suppose it has something to do with 2016.17-version; maybe only one file. Also with an older version 2015.xx(?) from KernelEx I had tested with new FF-profiles and had never have such security-component-errors. Presumably KMeleon 74 won't work with any older KernelEx version than 2016.17, but I'll try to change every *.dll from it separately.

For me, youtube is still(!) working in FF 9.0.1. A general problem seems to be that youtube (and other sites with videos) have started to "eliminate" Adobe's Flash player, which worked fine. Howewer, fullscreen mode in youtube doesn't work, but that's better than nothing. As far as I remember I had changed something in Firefox' about:config regarding media(?) to prevent videos from jerking, but I'm not sure. Regarding to the "strange characters problem": I had have exactly the same problem with Firefox 9.0.1, too. If I remember correctly (I'm not sure whether I will now forget something): My solution was to copy the font-file MICROSS.TTF (Microsoft Sans Serif Standard v1.33) into the Windows\Fonts folder and to add the following into the registry: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Fonts] "Microsoft Sans Serif Standard (TrueType)"="MICROSS.TTF" That was the most important thing what made FF9 usable (even more than FF 3.6) for me. For bookmarks functionality, I use HyperBK. It works almost exactly like original Firefox bookmarks.

I tried "Kmeleon 74 windows9x edition". With the "original" KernelEx 4.5.2 version that Kmeleon version didn't start. But with the latest KernelEx 4.5.2016.17 it started at lesat - a partial(?) success! However unfortunatelyI noticed some issues: 1.) @mindingulove At first I can confirm your observation regarding the "could not initialize..."-error. You can see a screenshot below. 2.) It seems that it's (as a consequence of issue 1 ?!) not possible to open any(!?) site with "https". You can also see an example sceenshot below. 3.) Every time I try to add a bookmark Kmeleon crashes with an "invalide page fault". The exact wording (partially in german) is: "K-MELEON verursachte einen Fehler durch eine ungültige Seite in Modul BOOKMARKS.DLL bei 016f:035908f5. Register: EAX=00000000 CS=016f EIP=035908f5 EFLGS=00010246 EBX=00000000 SS=0177 ESP=008cb704 EBP=78144cad ECX=00000028 DS=0177 ESI=00000000 FS=2107 EDX=81bf59c4 ES=0177 EDI=00a49640 GS=0000 Bytes bei CS:EIP: 66 83 3b 00 56 57 8b f3 8b fb 74 4e 55 8b 2d 4c Stapelwerte: 00000f60 035909de 00000000 00000028 008cb75c 00a49640 00000194 7f2e7a8a 00000f60 0358e4fa 008cb75c 00000028 12b29301 00a49140 00a4b580 008cb9b0". But nonetheless the idea to backport a quite new browser like Kmeleon 74 to Win98 is nice. Maybe that could solve some problems which exist with Firefox 9.0.1, what is actually still the best browser for Win98SE with KernelEx. Main Problem in FF9 is that lately more and more sites are blocked because of "invalid" TLS-version (I suppose so).

Until now it was (as far as I know) impossible to use any Java Plugin in Firefox 3.6.* or higher. So the last Firefox version which is usable is 3.5.19. But now I've read some news about several KernelEx updates here. So here's now me question: Is anybody out there who managed it meanwhile to run a Java Plugin (I'm thinking especially about the Java next-gen-plugin) in FF 3.6.* or higher (including until FF 9.0.*)? The non-working Java Plugin in FF 3.6.* or higher is a reason why to stay at FF 3.5.19.

Is the "paste button" (or similarly) in CorelDraw active (i.e. not greyed out) if you previously have selected "copy graphic" in SeaMonkey? Do you use an older or newer CorelDraw version? Firefox 3.5.19 is a "KernelEx browser". So if copying works (does it?) with Firefox 3.5.19 your problem should not be a general KernelEx issue. If I were you I would try/test the following: - Try to copy&paste from an old SeaMonkey version into your current CorelDraw version. - Try to copy&paste from FF 3.5.19 version into your current CorelDraw version. - Try to copy&paste from current SM 2.0.14 version into several (older and newer) CorelDraw versions. - Try to copy&paste from current SM 2.0.14 version into another image editor (like FixFoto; I can email you an old exe for testing if you want). That you can copy into IrfanView shows that copying from SM 2.0.14 isn't impossible in general.

After trying some fonts (especially for working with MathML) I stayed in conclusion at the font "Symbola". I modified the newest version a little bit; i.e. improved some integral symbols and compressed the font file symbola_hint.ttf by deleting emtpy glyphs so that it has only 3,19 MB now. Symbola has not all symbols (e.g. chinese or japanese symbols are missing), but many Unicode symbols are included. Actual screenshot from http://www.w3.org/Math/testsuite/build/main/Characters/Blocks/02190_Arrows-full.xhtml with Symbola: @ MiKl How did you install that font FontAwesome? I tested it by simply copying the file fontawesome-webfont.ttf into Windows' fonts folder. I did not copy the other files included in the downloaded file font-awesome-4.3.0.zip. After that Firefox 3.5.19 displays http://fortawesome.github.io/Font-Awesome/ correctly without any further modifications. Firefox 3.5.19 requires KernelEx, too (like SeaMonkey 2.0.14 does). Which KernelEx version do you use? Yoo should try Firefox 3.5.19 together with FontAwesome to find out whether your problem is maybe a SeaMonkey issue. Does copying images from websites work with Firefox 2.0.0.20/Firefox 3.5.19? I can't try it with CorelDraw because I don't have Corel Draw; but with some other image viewers/editors (IrfanView & Fixfoto) does it work if I copy an image from Firefox 3.5.19 into the editor. What exactly happens if you try to copy and paste an image directly from SeaMonkey into CorelDraw?

Regarding http://www.w3.org/Math/testsuite/build/main/Characters/Blocks/02190_Arrows-full.xhtml: Does it look like the following screenshot (with ? instead of squares with numbers within)? Those files I have in the the mozlla firefox\res\fonts folder from Firefox 2, too. They are also readable by MS Word and Firefox. They are not fonts themselves; maybe only properties or settings. P.S.: Inspired from the tip with missing fonts I found for the moment a font called arialuni.TTF on my MS-Word-2000 CD. It has 23 MB(!). After installing the font I get many more symbols than on my first two screenshots; see the actual screenshot from Firefox 3.5.19 above. Only some very "exotic" and rare symbols (column 21F and partially 21E) are missing. It seems that I get with the font arialuni.TTF the same result as you got already "per default". Did/do you have already the font arialuni.TTF? I will now try some of the other fonts you suggested, and compare with arialuni.TTF.

I've found a new (strange?) issue regarding Firefox 3.5.19 (and other versions above 2.0.0.20): Firefox 3.5.19 seems not to be able to display MathML symbols (like special arrows and similarly) properly. Here's a screenshot from http://www.w3.org/Math/testsuite/build/main/Characters/Blocks/02190_Arrows-full.xhtml: And here is the same with Firefox 2.0.0.20: . I must say that I have yet installed some additional fonts for displaying such symbols. But you can see that Firefox 3 shows only mysterious small squares with 4 numbers in each of it . Firefox 2 shows either the correct symbol or a question mark (if it doesn't find a corresponding symbol in any font-file). The behaviour of FF 2 seems more normally - and furthermore shows me that there are somewhere some correct symbols on the computer. But for any reason FF3 doesn't find/use them . Especially the comparison of column 21D (see the images above) ist remarkably. Could anybody please test the website www.w3.org mentioned above? Another website where I can see many of those strange squares (instead of symbols or question marks) is e.g. http://www1.chapman.edu/~jipsen/mathml/asciimathsyntax.html. I'm not sure whether it's a Firefox or KernelEx problem.

Some time ago I remarked the issue that it was not possible to print with Firefox 3.5.19; i.e. Firefox 3.5.19 (and other 3.*-versions) often crashed while trying to print. You can see old threads regarding this topic: http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/162474-kernelex-printing-once-again-k-meleon-firefox/ http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/155505-printing-with-kernelex-451/ http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/170832-fireshot-extension-for-firefox-3;-print-with-kernelex-in-win98se-once/ But nothing seemed to work properly. So here's now my new workaround. I've written a small extension called PrintWithfFF2 which makes it possible to print making a "detour" via the Firefox 2 engine. So if you want to use PrintWithFF2 you will need the firefox.exe from Firefox 2. Furthermore you need another extension called Command Line Print. I have modified that extension from 0.5.2 to version 0.5.3. Here are some install instructions (not detailed): 1.) If you have not yet Firefox 2: Download and install (or extract) Firefox 2.0.0.20 from ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/2.0.0.20/win32/. 2.) You will need two separate profiles: One for Firefox 3 and another one for Firefox 2. If you have only one profile (e.g. your Firefox 3 profile), you should now create a new profile for Firefox 2. Don't forget the name of that profile; you'll need it later. 3.) Download PrintWithFF2+CommandLinePrint0.5.3.7z which contains both needed extensions, CommandLinePrint and PrintWithFF2. 4.) Install cmdlnprint_0_5_3.xpi in Firefox 2. 5.) Install PrintWithFF2.xpi in Firefox 3. It should not be necessarily to edit settings for CommandLinePrint in Firefox 2. Now it should be possible to print with Firefox 3 in Win98SE + KernelEx, using the Firefox 2's firefox.exe. You will find two new options under "File" in Firefox 3: "Print with Firefox 2..." "Print Preview with Firefox 2..." I think it's clear what they do . Before using the extension you should have a look into the settings of PrintWithFF2. I think settings are all self-explanatory. You'll see that it's also possible to print to an PNG-image. It should be clearly that KernelEx must be installed because Firefox 3.* will not work without it.

@Ponch It's an built Audio CD. Win98SE detects it as an Audio CD -- because the CD is shown with the Win98SE-"AudioCD"-icon in "my computer". I had/have the file CLAudioCD.ax from Cyberlink archived from an USB stick. BTW: I have also a Cyberlink filter for playing DVDs. All with MPC 6,4,9,1. The MPC can also yet play *.mov, *.mp4 and other. Newer MPC-versions (called MPC-HC) don't work (they also don't play files or crash, even with KernelEx enabled), but were not needed until now. @GrofLuigi I tried CDDAReader.ax (the oldest version available on sourceforge.net) and registered it; but with no success. With this filter I get the well-known "cannot render the file" error. I now found a interesting posting on http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=29798&page=70, quote: "I have installed powerdvd 5.0 and was trying to use the included audiocd playing filter (CLAudioCD.ax) for playing cd's with mpc on win98se. I know that the included audio filter only works with winxp which is why I was trying to get this to work. The "open cd-rom" option is greyed out so I go to open file and select a track to play but it doesn't work." I have marked the deciding passage. It could maybe be that the internal MPC AudioCD-filter CDDAReader.ax will not work in Win98SE even with older versions of MPC?!

I have 2 optical drives. Same problem with both of them. The WMP9 doesn't support other file-types which are played by MPC, i.e. *.mp4 and *.mov; I like the MPC (still) some little more. Now I found a (partial) solution for the MPC: It was possible to cause MPC to use the filter CLAudioCD.ax. At first I had to register this filter using the command regsvr32 CLAudioCD.ax. Then I added the following registry key: [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Media Type\Extensions\.cda] "Source Filter"="{54F4C1CD-D46A-11D4-9D0E-DA91C8F4645E}" That caused that I can now at least load *.cda-files manually into MPC. But the "open-disc"-option stiill stayes greyed out. MPC does not detect automatically if a CD is inserted. BTW: If I insert a CD under WinXP, so MPC detects automatically(!) when the CD is inserted; the option "open-Disc" changes from grey to black and can be selected. UPDATE: It's now possible to play an Audio-CD if inserted into CD-Rom-drive automatically with MPC. How-To: Associate the file-type "AudioCD" with mplayerc.exe. But the filter (codec?) CLAudioCD.ax seems still to be needed. Maybe it's not possible that MPC uses the same filter like the Win98SE-internal cdplayer.exe?! The option "open-Disc" stayes greyed out.

I tried to play an Audio CD using Media Player Classic (MPC) version 6,4,9,1. More precisely, what I tried: First of all I inserted the CD into the CD-Rom-drive. I selected "play" from the CD-right-click-menu, and the CD was played using the Win98SE-internal cdplayer.exe. Then I tried to play the CD with MPC. I started MPC, selected "file" - and there was a command "open disc", what should obviously start playing CD ... but the command was greyed out! Then I tried to load the *.cda-files from the Audio-CD manually to MPC, but I also got a (well-known?) error message "cannot render the file" from MPC. I tried to edit some options inside MPC (e.g. assign *.cda file extension to MPC), but all with no effect - I got always the same error message, and the "open-disc"-command stayed greyed out. I tried also some other MPC-versions than 6,4,9,1; always the same error occurs. It seems that MPC hasn't detected that there was inserted a CD with files to play?! Or that it can't find the correct filter(s) to play *.cda files? So the deciding question: Did anybody ever have success to play an Audio CD with MPC? BTW: I had the same issue while using the player "mplayer" which seemed to be an interesting alternative to MPC, but it can't play *.mid-files (and no *.cda-files).

Good news: WinXP is finally installed successfully now! Your tip with the SP3 was the decisive point. I downloaded and integrated SP3 with nLite - and so I could overcome this last obstacle (34-minutes-error) during WinXP install procedure. No need of custom file ntdetect.com, no need to integrate some special Acer drivers with nLite. After installation I added some drivers (Chipset, VGA driver,...) from Acer's website for that Acer notebook, but still not the AHCI driver. One thing I remarked: I changed the BIOS setting to SATA/AHCI mode (only for testing) after successful installation. With this setting WinXP no longer started. Changed it back to IDE --> WinXP started again. I think I could maybe now install the AHCI Intel SATA AHCI Driver (8.8.0.1009) so I would be able use the SATA/AHCI mode. But has the usage of SATA/AHCI mode any advantage compared to the IDE mode? I mean - WinXP runs fine now, actually without SATA/AHCI mode. Any suggestions? Another thing: I want maybe backup the data from the actually clean WinXP system by simply copying it to one (ore more) bootable DOS "backup USB stick(s)". How to restore it if (anytime) necessary? Could I simply format the internal HDD (again), and copy the files from USB sticks back to it? Or will it not work (I'm thinking about problems with the boot sector and/or WinXP's boot loader). Or (if anytime necessary) might it be a better strategy to delete(!) all system folders by the DOS-command deltree and replace them by the backuped system folders on USB-Sticks?