DougB

> Not all (un)official patches are available for Polish > version of ME currently. I could transplant ME files > myself, but what about newer files than on the CD? Hope i'm not misunderstanding you, but i'm feeling a bit of a need to clarify what 98SE2ME is and is not: It's *not* an incremental/on-going updater -- it's a one-time updater. It takes the ME disc and copies over certain files (over 700 actually!) that are ME equivalents/updates of 98SE files. But some ME files do not work correctly in 98SE -- MDGx has tested for compatibility, and the program only copies the ME files that work ok in 98SE. If you want to further update the files with newer versions, you can of course do that manually. But that's not the purview of 98SE2ME. It only uses files on the original ME disc. So again, if you have a ME disc in your own language (and of course, a 98SE installation in your own language), it would seem to be not-too-difficult a task to translate 98SE2ME, using the translation guide and source code provided on the 98SE2ME site. Not to forget ProblemChyld's gracious offer of help in the previous post. > I do not really like MDGx's writing style about > anything, extremely convoluted! Yeh, i agree that MDGx's writing style can be kind of disconcertingly verbose. :) Still, we miss his contributions around these parts. > Yes, I agree with DougB > 98SE2ME + U98SESP3 are an ultimate combination. And i agree with ProblemChyld! :) However, i additionally use KernelEx and a few other updates not included in U98SESP3. (For example, the "experimental" VC++ 9 runtime files for 9x.) - Doug B.

> 98SE2ME would be great, if it supported other languages of 98SE, not just English. If i recall correctly, MDGx provides the 98SE2ME source code as well as a translation guide -- see the page i gave links to in a previous post. Since the 98SE2ME source is just installer code (98SE2ME doesn't provide the actual ME files that are used for updating -- they come from your own ME disk), translating doesn't (potentially) seem like a difficult job. So if you have a ME disc in your language (which i'm assuming you do), you're all set! > Windows ME was the last real Operating System that you didn't RENT. Totally in agreement! The main reason i've never seriously moved beyond Win9x. (Tho i have flirted a tinybit with XP... after removing the reg requirement.) - Doug B.

I've found ME to be a mixed bag compared to 98SE. So i second the recommendation for 98SE2ME: http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/ It installs updated ME components of 98SE, but not the godawful ME "improvements" that slowed it down and otherwise made it cumbersome to use. DOS remains fully functional. In addition, i think ME looked better visually; you can add the ME icon/colors theme to 98SE using a U98SESP3 option: http://www.htasoft.com/u98sesp/ I have legit copies of 98SE as well as ME. Over the years, i've tried both (clean installs), but only use 98SE now (mostly on P4/865 systems). After installing 98SE2ME, i notice an immediate improvement in speed, especially in bootup. - Doug B.

You might want to try one of these tools that clean up after driver uninstalls -- official uninstallers sometimes leave remnants that might potentially foul up installation of newer/older drivers or other-manufacturer's drivers. * Driver Cleaner PE (freeware), last v1.5 b14: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/driver_cleaner_professional.html * Nasty File Remover (freeware), last v0.7.2: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/nasty_file_remover.html Be sure to read usage documentation before you run them, and as always, ymmv. - Doug B.

> I can testify, that msfn.org login also doesnt work on older > browsers for Windows 9x even with KernelEx. Hmmm... with Pale Moon v3.6.32 (a Firefox fork), i'm replying right now after having signed in. (Running under "pimped up" 98SE with KernelEx, of course.) But as usual, after each forum update, it does lose some functionality. In particular, after the update last month, i can no longer see the individual headers (thin, colored rectangles with the name of poster and date) for posts. And i can sign in... but not sign out. Maybe i should start a similar thread for Firefox / Pale Moon? - Doug B.

@tErmY: Thanks for the link. Got it!

I'm curious about 9x vulnerability too. And... does anyone have a link to the .exe-file patch for XP? (I do use an XP system occasionally.) - Doug B.

Fido-X asked above: > One question: when you installed Unoficial Service Pack 3 for Win 98 SE, did you lose the ability to read "help" files? No, help files display fine on my system. But... two things i do that might make a difference: 1) The first thing i do after a *clean* install of 98SE is install Internet Explorer 6.0 Service Pack 1, even tho i won't be using IE. I believe it contains some updated .DLLs that deal with help files (and other things). (Later on, i remove IE with IEradicator, but it wisely doesn't touch most needed system DLLs.) 2) Then on this relatively-clean system, i install the "Main Updates" from Unofficial Service Pack. (And when later versions of USP are released, i've never had trouble updating.) Note that the USP Main Updates need to be installed separately -- by themselves. (Of course, other USP options can be installed later on.) Also be careful *NOT* to install the "IE Core Files" option if you have not removed IE (with 98Lite or IEradicator). Dunno if this info might help, but it might be worth a try. - Doug B.

Audacity audio editor v2.1.3, released 2017-Mar-17, working ok with KernelEx updates (v4.5.2016.16). Note that the website says this will be "the last version of Audacity that will officially support Windows XP", so i don't know what that will mean for future KEx compatibility. - Doug B.

Perhaps i can add a few observations. > Why does everything related to computers seem to be getting worse? Because some companies like and want absolute control? (I remember when the IBM PC (with PC-DOS!) first came out in the early '80s... it was being touted as "Freedom from a mainframe -- a PERSONAL computer on your very-own desk! The ultimate in security! The ultimate in productivity!" :) Also consider that the biggest segment of the bell-shaped curve is under the middle (the average, not the excellent). So if a business targets that segment for their product, they can potentially generate more profit. But the middle of the bell-shaped curve is... mediocrity. (The further out to the sides, the more of a niche market it becomes.) Then there's also the ideology of planned obsolescence -- change for the sake of change. ("Hey, it's not anything personal, it's just business....") > I hate new computers. I'm going to keep using my Windows ME > computer forever. Ta Ta. At work, we each have some recent version of Windows in our offices, but i only use it when i can't avoid it -- i do most of my work at home, using my pimped-up 98SE ("pimped up" meaning USP3, 98SE2ME, KEx, RP, IEradicator, DX9, etc). For the 1% of what i can't do with that, i have an auxiliary XP system... set to classic interface, of course. :) Most of my students are using Macs.... > Windows ME ... was the zenith of a nice looking user interface > and having intuitive and elegantly designed menus and screens. Did anyone notice back when XP and its apps came out, how the standard interface/icons looked like illustrations from baby books? Chubby, round, simple-looking, soft pastel primary colors? I wondered what kind of message that was sending about users.... > I remember the good old days of Office 2000, simple, elegant, and > still usable to this day. And then there's the free Open Office v3.2.1 (2010) under KernelEx (or v2.4.3 (2009) on straight 9x): http://kernelex.sourceforge.net/wiki/OpenOffice.org No problems using it on my system! > They force you to buy a 1080p monitor for no reason! I have 19" 1280x1024 monitors that i set to a 1024x768 res desktop with large fonts -- this works well for me. I actually prefer 4:3 AR for doing work -- keeps info more centered, eyes don't have to keep moving back and forth, far left and far right over widescreen. Of course, 16:9 AR is a must for watching movies. > Competition from Linux is growing, I think. Linux has much going for it, but recent distributions are no longer targeted to run on "older, low-end" (now defined as late-2000 decade) systems. I remember when Linux used to brag about running on even ye olde 386 machine.... There *are* a few current "lite" distros that attempt to run on late-2000 machines. Most of my students are using Macs.... - Doug B.

I've found this page interesting as well as informative: Win Me, 98SE, 98, 95 Setup & Undocumented Switches On this page: * How to use Windows 9x Setup Switches * UNDOCUMENTED Windows 9x Setup Switches * Setup Switches SPECIFIC to Windows Me, SE & 98 * Setup Switches COMMON to Windows Me, 98SE, 98, 95 * Definition of the /p Switch http://thpc.info/how/switches9x.html - Doug B.

A similar program to consider is HLTIdle that i found on Vernon Brooks' "PC DOS Retro" site (ASM source code is included in the download): https://sites.google.com/site/pcdosretro I haven't tested whether or not it exhibits the behavior you described; i'm just offering this info as a potential alternative that might offer more stability than MS Idle and a smaller memory footprint than FDAPM. Here is the program description: "HLTIDLE reduces power usage during the DOS keyboard idle loop by executing a HLT instruction when the keyboard idle function (INT 2Ah function 84h) is called. INT 28h is not used, because in addition to being called during the DOS keyboard idle loop, INT 28h is called once for every 64 characters output via INT 21h function 02h (note INT 21h function 09h uses the function 02h code). HLTIDLE also hooks INT 15h and checks for functions 90h (wait) and 91h (post) with device type codes 01h (floppy drive) or 02h (keyboard), so it can execute a HLT instruction while waiting for floppy disk I/O completion or BIOS keyboard input via INT 16h functions 00h or 10h. HLTIDLE is a small TSR program which uses 192 bytes of memory and may be loaded into upper memory. If the LO parameter is specified, then HLTIDLE will relocate itself to the unused area from 556h to 5BFh (segment 50h), effectively using no DOS memory at all." - Doug B.

>> By the way, my main system is "just KernelEx" -- no Kext/Kstubs or ROS, so as to not complicate testing. (98SE with USP3x, 98SE2ME, RP9, IEradicator, etc.) > Did you mean without? Please clarify. Ok, my main system: 98SE, including U98SESP 3.55, 98SE2ME, KernelEx r13 (without Kext/Kstub or ROS), RP 9.7.2, IEradicator, etc. For this system, i'm trying to "Keep It Simple" in terms of KEx; plain-vanilla KernelEx to lessen the chances of weird interactions in order to (hopefully) simplify testing/reporting/troubleshooting. I also have another 98SE system that does use Kext and ROS, but that is secondary and isn't used as much. - Doug B.

Thanks for the update, jumper! After a couple of days of typical usage, R13 is working well (no apparent glitches in my "everyday" programs)... but i don't really know what to look for. What were the changes? By the way, my main system is "just KernelEx" -- no Kext/Kstubs or ROS, so as to not complicate testing. (98SE with USP3x, 98SE2ME, RP9, IEradicator, etc.) - Doug B.

I posted a comment a long time ago here that every time msfn "upgrades", it makes it less compatible with 9x-compatible web browsers. The most-recent upgrade was another case in point. To type this reply, i am using PaleMoon v3.6.32 with KernelEx as well as the final NoScript add-on (v2.9) that supports this FF version. NoScript is important, because when i set NoScript to allow msfn scripts, i cannot post! In other words, when all msfn scripts are *blocked* by NoScript, i *can* reply (but with minimal editing -- for example, no preview). When i tell NoScript to "Temporarily allow msfn.org", the reply box at the bottom disappears; when i tell NoScript to "Revoke Temporary Permissions", the reply box returns. For comparison: Before the most-recent msfn upgrade, i had full reply/editing capability when i set NoScript to *allow* msfn scripts... although that slowed down performance significantly. - Doug B.

Thanks for this new build! It seems to be working fine, and has fixed a couple of irritating interface quirks that the older version (9.22beta) had. The file provided (above) is a self-extracting executable. I unzipped it to a temporary location and copied the files over my previously-installed 7zip folder (v9.22beta). One DLL file would not copy in Windows, so i had to copy that in real DOS. - Doug B.

Latest KoolPlaya (DirectShow media player) v1.3.1.9ß (2014-Feb-02) is again working using updated KernelEx DLLs r11+r12 (no Kext/KStubs or ROS): http://www.koolplaya.de/index.php Download actual latest version: http://www.koolplaya.de/download/beta/ Requires the kpsamuplugin.dll file from the parent directory: http://www.koolplaya.de/download/ Note: Will play non-encrypted DVDs, but not encrypted ones. - Doug B.

FontSub.dll has been working for me as well, v5.1.2600.5888 from XP SP3 (or maybe USP4). I put it in the Windows\System\ folder since it's a Ms file, but it would work in the I_View32.exe folder too (not the Plugins\ folder). (IrfanView v4.42) - Doug B.

Current version of GPL Ghostscript (v9.18, 2015-Oct-05) from Artifex is working again for me with updated plain KernelEx r11+12 DLLs (no KExt/KStub or ROS): http://www.ghostscript.com On the other hand, Sumatra PDF reader (since v3.1) displays files ok, but the toolbar is horrific looking: big ugly icons, and the icon backgrounds are displaying as magenta color (FFh 00h FFh) instead of transparent. It doesn't seem to be in the embedded toolbar bitmap -- those from both new and old versions have the same res/depth, so (i think) it must be in the rendering. Does anyone else have these transparency and/or icon-size issues? Can anyone suggest a fix? (It's really ugly....) - Doug B.

Hah -- DLL HELL!!! The situation i'm trying to avoid by keeping, as much as reasonable, the "system"-type DLLs only in the Windows\System\ folder. But your suggestion is a good one when my approach might not work. - Doug

After manually disabling those system DLLs, same trouble with VLC Media Player v2.1.5 as before (with winsys reg patch): VLC media player could not start. Either the command line options were invalid or no plugins were found.The main culprit was MSVCRT.dll; resetting back to "default" allowed VLC to (at least) start (did not do more-extensive testing). Using v7.00.9981.0 for MSVCRT; no KExt/KStub. - Doug B.

R11 with kexbasen r12 has been working well for me; no more problems with VLC v2.1.5. (W98SE, U98SESP3, 98SE2ME, IEradicator; KExt/KStubs disabled for testing.) @jumper: >> "Kex16." Sounds intriguing... will this be a re-write of KernelEx? >> Many thanks to everyone for their feedback and patience while I >> worked through this challenging puzzle. @Dave-H: > Thank you @jumper for sticking with this! +1! If i was more experienced with Windows programming, i could help more. - Doug B.

Ok... my first glitch after the Release-11 fix: VLC media player could not start. Either the command line options were invalid or no plugins were found.No info was written to Faultlog.txt file. I haven't changed anything regarding VLC, same behavior occurs on two separate systems, behavior unchanged after reverting back to Release 10. I'm using VLC v2.1.5 (last ver that could play DVDs for me). - Doug B. P.S. To clarify a point in my previous post (#254): At some point, Audacity did require KExt, now it runs with straight KEx.

Just installed the fix, and it seems to be working ok here (U98SESP3, 98SE2ME, IEradicator, etc) -- it got past the desktop. Just for kicks, i removed Kext/KStubs to see what would / would not work. Recently-released Audacity v2.1.2 audio editor is working for me with straight KEx updates; previously, it required KExt. Will report on others if there's any interest. To follow up on loblo's comment, KExt/KStubs is pretty-much over my head, being primarily an end user (but a fairly-decent "paint-by-numbers" guy ). While it's certain that KExt will always be useful, I welcome the more-generalized solution of the KernelEx updates. It seems to make sense from an efficiency/elegancy standpoint as well (from a not-too-technically-inclined end-user perspective). Attempting a "one-size-fits-all" solution certainly does present challenges, though. - Doug B.

Most-recent MPlayer WW version is svn-r37356 (2015-Jan-13). Homepage has always worked ok for me: http://www.mplayer-ww.com/eng/ There is a "Download The Latest Verison:" line near the top and a menu on the left. Nevertheless, here is it's Sourceforge page: http://sourceforge.net/projects/mplayer-ww/files/MPlayer_Release/ I agree about it being a great player -- it's also my default (left-click) player. All versions are portable, though -- download the 7zip file, unpack it, and you're set to go. One of the great things about it (IMO) is that it integrates MPlayer right into the GUI binary -- it's not just a separate front-end that runs an external MPlayer.exe file. Another is that (like all MPlayers) it includes it's own codecs inside the main executable. But you can also download some extended/rarer codecs (and other stuff) in the "Extra Package". And if you really do want to go "DirectShow" anyway, you can download an extension for that too. Unfortunately, on my systems at least, the meditor.exe preferences program has some visual glitches under KEx, but the meditor2.exe (main) preferences program is fine. Still, it has always worked for me "right out of the box". - Doug