Tihiy

alive tools GDI+ thumbnails Nicer, faster thumbnails for image and video files. ME shell preffered. New version. Now works as proper COM extension and doesn't break Office picture preview. Requires GDI+ runtime. Link: http://tihiy.net/files/gdipthms.zip Install: copy dlls&exe into \windows\system. Run regsvr32 gdipthms.dll. Remove: Run regsvr32 /u gdipthms.dll. Run regsvr32 /i browseui.dll. Delete gdipthms.dll&gdipsrv.exe from \windows\system. How to enable Thumnails view for every folder in Windows 98 (not Me) shell REGEDIT4 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ExtShellViews\{8BEBB290-52D0-11d0-B7F4-00C04FD706EC}] "MenuName"="T&humbnails" "HelpText"="Displays items using thumbnail view." "TooltipText"="Thumbnails" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ExtShellFolderViews\{8BEBB290-52D0-11d0-B7F4-00C04FD706EC}] "Attributes"=dword:60000000 "ISV"=hex(2):7b,38,42,45,42,42,32,39,30,2d,35,32,44,30,2d,31,31,64,30,2d,42,37,\ 46,34,2d,30,30,43,30,34,46,44,37,30,36,45,43,7d,00 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ExtShellFolderViews\{8BEBB290-52D0-11d0-B7F4-00C04FD706EC}\ISV] @="{8BEBB290-52D0-11d0-B7F4-00C04FD706EC}" Copy into .reg file, import it. Don't forget empty line at the end!

Here are some lightweight tools made by me which you may have seen before, or may not. It's mostly abadon-ware (no further developed), but all stable and useful. They should work on 98/Me. Network activity indicator Nice applet blinking like 2000/XP does. Shows simple network stats and open ports. Link: http://tihiy.net/files/IpTest.zip Install: extract dll&exe into \windows\system, run install.reg and re-login. Uninstall: run uninstall.reg, delete dll&exe from \windows\system. Task manager Simple process manager which hooks Ctrl-Shift-Esc (not resident). Link: http://tihiy.net/files/Taskmgr.exe Install: copy exe into windows\system, run taskmgr /install Remove: run taskmgr /remove, delete exe Add/Remove program alternative I think it's clear what it does. Link: http://tihiy.net/files/programs.zip Shut down dialog alternative XP-alike shutdown dialog. Accepts command line flags [-f] [-r|-s|-l] ([force] reboot/shutdown/logoff). Link: http://tihiy.net/files/shutdown.exe

Don't use Azureus. Upgrade Firefox. Use fixed msimg32.dll from kernelex.

That's the best result i could expect!I'm thinking to revive GDI heap expander i had. But there had to be a reason for it to be. The simplest idea idea i half-baked in my expander is to move un-selected GDI objects out of the 16-bit heap. To achieve that, GDI functions are modified in such matter that GDI objects 16-bit data is copied into my 32-bit heap and de-allocated. When selected, object is allocated back into 16-bit heap and data is moved. That opens possibility to have virtually unlimited number of unselected GDI objects. In theory. In practice, most objects can't be moved from 16-bit heap, since they are allocate data in global memory (which is also quite limited), and references to them are stored in other places, like display driver. But, to the certain extent, this technology can improve GDI usage. For example, in Opera, most graphic data is stored in GDI DIB sections and can be moved and i expect heap expander will greatly improve situation. But it won't help in other cases. It won't give you power to open myriad of apps. So is it worth it? Tell me scenarios you lack resources in.

No stupid questions please. First post answers you.

You can install ME shell with 98SE2ME yourself.Other features will certainly return sometime.

That's mixture of bugs you have there! There is a bug in dibeng/32-bit icon module which you somehow trigger. I'll try to find how... Stick to 16-bit icons or remove 32-bit icons at all then.

Are you sure you didn't have things like RP7 / marxo packs before? Because those files can't be RP9 related.

Ehm, RP9 doesn't depend on IE. It depends on common controls update (comctl32.dll) and how IE interacts with it. And uninstalling RP9 still lock toolbars?! On 98SE?! I'm sorry it's not possible.

I didn't catch; try later with kex4 RC2 and drwatson open.

I do approve of this guide. Thanks for your [extremely] hard work!

Dunno. If you don't have IE6 but have proper 98 shell, i can't you give you any good advice... Except, install IE6 and use IERadicator again?

Well, right-click taskbar and uncheck "Lock the Taskbar".

No, that's bad news. Since percents are trimmed by amount of resources left after startup programs, it means those programs eat too much resources. I saw 3% up max.

Well, if your USER percentages go up that high, i have bad news for ya It can only mean that there's too much resource intensive apps in startup.

Of course it is. I just lack time to compile all info about RP9.

supem, looks like DIBENG update failed to install. Do you use ME? If so, try to reinstall it with System Restore temporary disabled.

Win98SEonSteroids, please, don't distract/spam my thread. There are already more your replies than mine! If you run into bugs (and uh, installing over RP4 is surely not supported scenario), post me a PM.

Version 9.0.4 released http://tihiy.ahanix.org/RP9.exe - Fixed 16-bit code bug which could lead to kernel32 system crash; - Fixed minor installer bugs. I hope it's final critical update! Stay tuned.

Eh, it's already in released RP9.

Since i fail to deliver guide, i'll tell you how GDI Salvation works here: 1) Handle protection. 9x lacks proper GDI handle validation which may result in incorrect memory access or wrong resource deletion and as result crash, hang or BSOD. Which is not-so-rare: i know a lot of programs which try to delete deleted handles or wrong handles (icon handles for example). 2) Handle arena cleaning. GDI relies on moveable 16-bit handles. Too bad that they require significant memory overhead, since handle arenas are allocated in heap too. Worse, they're never freed (by design?): that's why when you quit heavyweight programs GDI resources don't go up back. Even worse, they can fill most heap and make whole system slow crashing a**. RP9 addresses this by running through those arenas and removing free ones. This run is performed after every app termination or when resource allocation fails. It's disabled for first 60 seconds of system uptime and you can diable it through RPConfig. Test numbers: try running programs which consume much GDI. I've runned 3 ImgBurns. After exiting them, without GDISalv 9% of GDI were lost. 3) Leak protection. Bizzare bug, but 'extended pen' GDI objects are somehow not marked with owner, meaning they can leak permanently. This was corrected in 9.0.2. USER Salvation was explained before. In short, it saves >100 bytes per process by combining comctl32 classes with system classes. Not much, but you can run 60% more Notepad copies on clean system. Writing a proper heap expander, with proper performance and compatibility is an extremely hard task.

Version 9.0.3 released http://tihiy.ahanix.org/RP9.exe - Fixed crash/hang at system shutdown; - Shell icon cache is deleted after installing or uninstalling; Stay tuned.

Version 9.0.2 released http://tihiy.ahanix.org/RP9.exe - Fixed GDI salvation bug causing extended pens to permanently leak; - Fixed incorrect large icon applying; - Improved core support for DBCS kernels. 2All who had shutdown issues: try to reinstall RP without 32-bit icons. I suspect dynamic 16-bit code generation has something to do with it. And please pardon me: wait for feature guide a bit more. Don't speculate if you're not sure. It's only path limitation so far.

Yeah, i tested and found those patch faults. I'll fix them, although more fixes are required for DBCS versions. As usual, you have to save theme under same name or name_variation. Hold Explorer window open when you're changing icon theme.All: a bug was discovered within GDI Salvation. If you experience leakage, retain from RP9 so far I'll prepare a fix as well as proper tour around RP9 features. Translators are also welcome. Thanks for feedback.

UberSkin notes Skins were moved from \Windows\Resources to \Windows\Resources\Themes. UberSkin stock themes will be removed from there when you are upgrading. Sub-themes are now combined with sub-schemes. I.e. Vista Standard is now Vista_Standard and is located in \Vista\Skin_Standard.ini. You may want to have My other tools IF you have a question and you believe it's important for you and not everyone, ask me via PM. Revolutions Pack 7 is dead. You can't upgrade over it. Sorry.