Gape

This problem exists on the most of Notepad alternatives that I've tested. This problem exists on FixedSys and Terminal fonts. However, there was not problem on my system (SP 2.0 installed) with Turkish characters on Metapad. Do you know a small Notepad alternative which has similar look, and supports lots of languages, and doesn't have this problem? What about Notepad2? I should write that again: Metapad is optional, and is a simple NotePad product. It can be easily replaced. You don't have to add it into your localized version, too. Please don't forget that Windows 98's Notepad is an at least 7 years old product. I highly recommend that this pack should be installed on a freshly installed Windows 98 SE, if possible. My opinion is that SESP 2.0 can be installed at any stage, too. We tested it on many systems, and on many cases. But I highly recommend that you should take a backup, if you have old Windows 98 SE installation. Also we have a installation guide, we can improve it.

Maybe you should add a warning at the end telling to check if all the devices and stuffs works properly and to reinstall the drivers if not. With some explaination on how to do it. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'm still not sure that I understand it. Can you and/or Petr try to explain it? Also note that, preserving mechanism is mainly based on registry keys, not on the version number. If Windows tries to install anything from Windows' CAB files, firstly it looks at the preservation list in the registry. For example, it want to install HyperTerminal files, it will install them from SP2.CAB. (So this should be noted that this preserving mechanism replaces original CAB files only.)

Petr, you're right about that SP should not contain any freeware product, but I think Notepad should be a exception. I don't want to add any other freeware product into the SP. This Metapad totally free and freely distributable, and of course it's optional, however, we can change it with another open source alternative on the next version. As I said before, I don't want to modify any file, so this is one of the reasons to add a Notepad alternative. About your comments on preservation and installation order, do you have any example? I'm not sure that I understand it. You know, this pack (2.0) has installed on LOTS of systems, and it has tested since October 2004.

Not problem. Maybe I should make some web page about SED files and my INFEx tool. But there're many things to do (table for hotfixes, next version, forum, web page, school, work etc.) and I don't have time enough.

This check is in the SP since the version 1.2, probably eGorZ saw it in the SP. They're undocumented, but I tested them, they works. Language checking is a good idea, but it's not as easy as version checking.

High priority: - Add new updates and hotfixes. - Replace modified EXPLORER.EXE and SHELL32.DLL files with patchers and make optional Windows 2000 look. - Better uninstallation support with batch files. - Optional fix for IE 6.0 SP1 file deletion problem with IE 5.5 SP2 files. - Install "MaxFileCache" fix on only 512+ MB of RAM systems. - Petr's UPDATE.SYS work. - 137 GB HDD limitation fix [with FDISK + FORMAT tools]. Low priority: - Tweak: Change the Number of Simultaneous Connections. - Add IPROP.DLL from DCOM98 [?]. - Add Q816093 MS Java VM update [5 MB!]. - Language checking for non-English systems. - Checking of free HDD space. - Add QFECHECK info. They are only ideas, they are NOT certain features of the next version now.

Does anyone know anything about the SP's legality? It is here since January 2004, and Microsoft have never requested removing of the pack from the net.

Needed updates (We haven't got them): * Q265528 - vnetbios.vxd * Q323708 - nscirda.sys * Q329128 - ndis.vxd, vip.386, pppmac.vxd New updates (We have them, I haven't added them yet): * Q282949 - wbemprox.dll * Q295629 - cbss.vxd * Q307004 - grouppol.dll * Q314941 - ssdpapi.dll, ssdpsrv.exe, upnp.dll Updates that have problems: * Q252187 - esdi_506.pdr - Causes lockups on some systems * Q318307 - msmouse.vxd - Causes mouse lockups on some systems

I didn't have Q307004, thanks. About Q230766 and Q243174, I probably don't have them (, but if you install DirectX 7+, you don't need them).

Thanks for the corrections. But I want to explain that these comments state the source of the file, they are not for listing all related updates. And I try to give a KB-number instead of a name. I have already added localizable strings. (Maybe I don't reply all posts, but trust me I read all posts carefully. )

I want to make a detailed table for all updates & hotfixes for Windows 98 SE... It should contain: - KB number (and link to MS's KB page) - KB title - Multilanguage? - Known Problems - Deprecated By - SP Version Any more idea?

Merhaba Yes, there are some bugs, and some problems. You can use Maximum Decim's USB drivers, they're very good. Or don't uninstall RC1, install RC3 over RC1.

Wow ! Firstly, I don't like to modify any file of Windows. I always try to avoid it. (However, I don't avoid to modify a file to fix any serious bug, for example, annoying 137 GB HDD problem). Secondly, IMHO, the only problem of SP about its legality is modified files. SP 2.0 RC3 has only two modified files, EXPLORER.EXE (icons, bitmaps, 256-color tray patch) and SHELL32.DLL (icons, bitmaps). Because of they're very small changes, it seems that it's not problem for Redmond. I have tried to remove these modified files. I think it should include: - An (optional) patcher for 256-color tray icons. - A good free (optional) Notepad replacement like MetaPad, instead of modifying it. - An (optional) icl file for Windows 2000 icons. But I have some problems: - I haven't found a good patching tool. - Changing icons w/o modifying files doesn't look good as Petr explained above, (and there's lots of icon references on the registry). SP has carefully chosen updates (not only 98SE updates), and registry settings to make a more stable and secure Windows 98SE environment. It is a succesfull result of years of experience and feedback of lots of users. But I don't claim that SP is perfect, of course you can prefer Windows Update instead of SP. I feel that every version of SP will be better with your excellent support and feedback.

OK, I'll try to write more detailed changelog.

This file (msmouse.vxd) causes mouse lock-up, and slowness problems on some systems. I agree. I will make a detailed table for hotfixes... For 1.6.2, you can look these links: 1.6.2 Updates List 1.6.2 File List

They have lost Win98 code. erpdude8, maybe you're right. (There's no need to scream). But coders like Tihiy should be encouraged. Microsoft are not supporting Win98 well now, they will also stop Win98 support totally someday, and we always need coders like Tihiy and Petr. In fact, SP 2.0 final will probably contain Microsoft's 891711 fix only, but the reasons to add Microsoft's revised fix are "working OK", "official", and "its compatibility of possible future updates from Microsoft" like ssmokee said. Anyway, thanks so much for your efforts, Tihiy.

Sometimes it produces very big EXEs, and it requires that the original and modified files must be in same size. I have just send an email to Restorator's author, waiting for the answer...

@Tihiy, Petr: It looks like to create ResPatcher with Restorator is free for non-commercial products. But the trial version doesn't contain ResPatcher function. Do you know anything about this problem?

Some files are changed for the next version: Files from Windows 2000 SP4 REGSVR32.EXE Files from Windows XP SP2 EXTRAC32.EXE RICHED20.DLL I keep them in the SP2.CAB for semi-slipstreaming support. But maybe installing twice is not necessary. The latest version is 4.72.3612.1700, and IE 6.0 SP1 doesn't contain it. But IE 5.01 SP2, and Office 2000 has it, and installs it. No. you've listed all changes properly for EXPLORER.EXE, SHELL32.DLL and NOTEPAD.EXE. Nice idea. Regedit fix was strongly recommended by MGDx. But because of your examination, it looks like it is not necessary. IMHO, the order is not important. I haven't found a good and free patching tool. Because of preserving mechanism, it's not a bad idea. Search the forum for more information about the preserving. I have kept some (not ALL) msinfo32 registry information for the Windows Update. Maybe to add ALL msinfo32/qfecheck information is better, but I can add them only for the next future version (2.1). No, generally they're very important updates. For example, 269601 is necessary for supporting AC3/DTS properly. We have found them from other sources (for example, IBM, Toshiba, HP.. etc.) I think Microsoft doesn't want to support them directly.

When I have updated MSIEFTP.DLL on a freshly installed Win98 SE, I couldn't find "Enable folder view for FTP sites", but there is a option titled "Use Web Based FTP". However, this option didn't activate folder view for FTP sites.

Eck, It seems a registry corruption problem according to MS KB article. Did you installed IE 6.0 SP1? Because IE 6.0 SP1 contains MDAC (I'm not sure about the version). Installing only MDAC 2.8 is enough. You should not install old versions before installing the new version.

Why UPDATE.SYS size doesn't match with the original? Your UPDATE.SYS: 60,576 bytes. Original UPDATE.SYS: 60, 592 bytes. Do you know any good free patching program (supports silent patching)?

Thanks Petr! Are these microcodes for only Intel processors? I think Xeon / Pentium Pro microcodes are useless for Windows 98 / ME, they can be replaced. But what about "Mobile Pentium II" microcodes? Still lots of users have old Pentium II laptops with Windows 98.

I have no idea but SP 1.6.2 is very old now. I recommend SP 2.0. On the other hand, if you get this message again, please write the full error message with your detailed hardware list on this topic.

Petr, that's excellent work, Thanks! I think I'll add this work into the SP. I have a question. To add new microcodes into UPDATE.SYS, which old microcodes are removed/replaced?