MDGx

All editions of 98 SE SP2 that I know of are available here.HTH

To my knowledge Gape is not available for the time being.But if you have a Spanish SP installer, please either e-mail it to me [rename the .exe extension to something like .exx (otherwise won't be accepted as attachment by my e-mail provider)] or e-mail me the link if you wish to post it on a site like MF (free to upload + download up to 30 days). As soon as I'll get it, I'll post it at my site, where it can be downloaded from (no expiration date). Thanks. Best, MDGx

FYI, my old tip works only with old browsers [not updated in years :-(].New Firefox editions beginning with 2.0.0.0 employ different methods to force themselves as default browser. I do have a REG file that I'm using for this purpose, here it is, attached [pls see bottom of this post]... Note that I removed the actual path to FIREFOX.EXE, this way the REG file can be used on any computer, no matter where FF is installed. And btw, the path doesn't need to be specified, because whenever one (re)installs FF, it creates this reg key, which means you can use the executable anywhere [REG, BAT, VBS, HTA etc] without its path [default driver letter + folder names used here, may need to change to match your computer if different]: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\FIREFOX.EXE] @="C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\FIREFOX.EXE" "Path"="C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox" Also important... FF command line for those reg values uses mandatory parameters: - when browser starts from a web page [.htm, .html, .php, .xhtml, .dhtml, .phtml, etc] or their shortcuts: FIREFOX.EXE -requestPending -osint -url "%1" - when browser starts from a URL shortcut [.url]: FIREFOX.EXE -url "%1" ""

All editions of TweakUI have always been available at my site...http://www.mdgx.com/toy.htm#SYS http://www.mdgx.com/98-3.htm#TUI TUI 1.33 links point to the archived file [@ Internet Wayback Machine, a.k.a. Archive.org]: http://web.archive.org/web/20070323001530/http://download.microsoft.com/download/winme/Install/1.0/WinMe/EN-US/Tweakui.exe HTH

I've sent you a PM on this subject.HTH

Try this:1. Uninstall all traces of WMP from your computer: [Excerpt from 98MP10.TXT, just ignore the 98MP10 bits.]2. Delete this registry key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Setup\Installed Versions] How to delete a REG key: http://www.mdgx.com/newtip16.htm#DRK 3. (Re)install unofficial WMP9 [13.3 MB]: http://www.mdgx.com/spx/WMP90_98.EXE HTH

No problem. Just let me know when. Tx

Looks like I had incorrect info. ;(Somebody sent me the tip that this older version of Office Converters works with 98/ME OSes. [?] I guess not, so I'll remove it from my web site. Thanks for checking.

Same as you would change a shortcut icon with ICO, DLL or EXE file extension [and this applies to all shortcuts/links/URLs/etc icon change dialog boxes]:Desktop -> right-click -> Properties -> Desktop tab -> Customize desktop button -> highlight Recycle Bin Empty / Full -> click Change icon button -> browse to desired file/library -> {a} type * in the "File name:" box and then press Enter -or- {b} under "Files of type:" select "All files" or "All file types" (if available) -> browse to whatever drive/partition + folder to select [highlight: single-click] desired BMP, RLE, ANI, CUR file or ICL, CPL library of icons [you have to do this because Windows doesn't recognize BMP, RLE, CPL, ICL, ANI or CUR as icons by default] -> double-click on it (select whatever icon if more than 1 = ICL, DLL, EXE, OCX files usually contain more than 1 icon) -> click Apply/OK. More info: http://www.mdgx.com/lastweek.htm#ANYGOES All these file types work as shortcut icons in all Windows OSes. HTH

What do you mean?HKCR [alias key] is same as HKLM\Software\CLASSES [real key] and as HKCU\Software\Classes [real key = clone], basically 1 is the other's "alias"/"clone"/"twin". More info: http://www.mdgx.com/reg.htm#RTS Scroll down to... "These 6 Hive Keys (HK) are interrelated: the information contained in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (HKLM) and HKEY_USERS (HKU) (the only 2 "real" keys) appears also in 3 other Hive Keys (also called "alias" keys):" and see the table right beneath that paragraph. So in conclusion [and to add to the confusion ]... [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\DefaultIcon] is identical to... [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\DefaultIcon] and has another "clone"/"alias" at... [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CLASSES\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\DefaultIcon] HKCU takes precedence over HKLM [HKLM\Software\Classes is same as HKCR]. Therefore if you change a key/value under HKCU\Software\Classes, it will automatically change also under HKLM\Software\Classes to match [they are kept "synchronized"], except a few security "sensitive" values which change only under HKCU [current user], but not under HKLM [machine wide]. HTH

I'm guessing this has something to do with either an internet connection being unavailable, or the Windows Update manager.Is there any way to install the player without needing to check online for any MS update cr*p...? Is there maybe a way to manually install WMP 9? Check this out...http://www.mdgx.com/wmp.htm#WMP9 Install Unofficial WMP9 [13.3 MB]: http://www.mdgx.com/spx/WMP90_98.EXE Unofficial WMP9 was created by one of our own: erpdude8. Pls PM him for questions. HTH

To my knowledge KEX works by adding core, kernel + API functions for older non-NTx apps, has nothing to do with the hardware-to-software translation layer, i.e. drivers. To create a tool like KEX to deal specifically with drivers, opens a whole new can of worms, and probably needs huge amounts of time + programming code, and maybe even kernel/core rewrites. IMHO, I don't see this as a feasible solution. But there are plenty of Windows 2000 + XP drivers out there [trial-and-error in some cases, depending on your specific hardware device +/- driver] which work out-of-the-box with 98/ME, or some need to be extracted from their NTx-only installer/archive and then run separately [eventually by hand by running the 9x OS Hardware Wizard and detect your specific device], or may just need minor INF tweaking to install properly. Which means the actual driver code is ok, just needs to be recognized by the 9x OS thru appropriate INF functions. Same goes for Vista/7 drivers that can be used [some with minor tweaking] with 2000 + XP. HTH

Pffew...Glad something actually works... 1 down, 1 to go.

Thanks loblo. MDGx can you remove WinMe version of cabview.dll it is the cause of the broken extract function. All credit goes to loblo. Hmm... strange.I'm not using cabview.dll in 98SE2ME scripts to extract any files, I use only extract.exe 1.0.0610 (in native DOS + Windows = for 8.3 SFNs) + extrac32.exe 5.2.3790 (in Windows = for LFNs), and to my knowledge they both are stand alone executables. And besides, I've always used cabview.dll from WinME with my Win98SE computer, and never had any problems. But some internal INF functions that might need to use cabview.dll choke with the WinME version [which should not happen]... [?] I'll have to test this in a virtual machine [hopefully soon] and will let you guys know... Thanks for the feedback.

I've sent you a PM about this subject.

2) Audio CDs + music [mp3, flac, ogg, wav, mid, etc]... - I like foobar (older versions that work with 9x OSes), has lots of options, and supports old versions of add-ons/plug-ins (free) (thanks loblo) for even better customization. There is an ASIO add-on to bypass the software drivers and play directly thru the sound card hardware [if you have an Audigy or Audigy2 (powerful audio processor) it is the best solution], and another which allows 4 channels digital surround from any 2.0 stereo source. - A simple but effective app to play strictly audio CDs is Deluxe CD Player: more info here. - To play 5.1 surround audio like ac3, dts, mka, ts, I like MPC (Media Player Classic), because it is easy to set up if you have your sound card [for example SB Audigy/Audigy2/Live! 5.1] connected thru a digital coaxial/optical cable to a DD5.1/DTS stereo/amp + speakers system. This MPC setup can also play movies/video, TV/HDTV, DVDs/Blu-Rays, etc in 5.1 surround sound, pure digital. HTH

It should be possible, but with a lot of work.The main problem is [if you're referring strictly to 98SE2ME] that WinME files from CD-ROM CABs are commercial software [under license], not allowed to distribute. So if you'd like to build such CD/DVD, you need to do this on your own, only for your home computer(s). To replace the files, it may work also if you just build a single [huge] CAB with all ME files [> 700] replaced by 98SE2ME option 2 (see list), and name it 0_982ME2.CAB [for example], the 1st character in the filename must come before any other original CAB name on the CD [1st one on the 98SE install CD is BASE4.CAB (WIN98 folder)]. Then you may also need to edit the SETUPPP.INF +/- LAYOUT*.INF [3 of them: LAYOUT.INF LAYOUT1.INF LAYOUT2.INF] files [using Notepad or better replacement] to add a line for each of your new CABs, if more than 1. Individual filenames [some ME files may need additional files (not present on original 98SE install CD) to work properly, and/or some may have different names] may also need to be added on separate lines into those INFs. Once edited, the INFs can be re-packed inside the new CABs. Also [but not sure], 98SE setup routine may detect those INFs if they exist as separate files inside the WIN98 folder on CD, and if that is true, the stand alone files take precedence [they are used 1st] over the ones inside the CABs. So I would do both: repack the edited INFs into CABs, and also add them as standalone files to your install folder on your new CD. There are [of course] other considerations, you may need to go thru my 98SE2ME BAT + INF files with a fine comb, certain files might need "special care", like renaming their filenames in the INFs, +/- add "REGSVR32 /S" lines in the infs, custom registry entries, etc. This is a tedious, time consuming job. HTH

I think I fixed it.Pls reinstall 98SE2ME, see if it works, and if it doesn't, pls post here or PM me. Tx I reverted the INFs back to the 1st version, that worked ok. Was under the CustomDestination directive [CDF] section, replaced ",85" with ",5": [DefaultInstall] CustomDestination=CDF [CDF] 49000,49001,49002=PFD,5 49300,49301,49302=MPD,5 49400,49401,49402=SKD,5

I think I found the fix. Was under the CustomDestination directive [CDF] section, replaced ",85" with ",5" [back to 1st version, the 1 that worked]:[DefaultInstall] CustomDestination=CDF [CDF] 49000,49001,49002=PFD,5 49300,49301,49302=MPD,5 49400,49401,49402=SKD,5 Pls download + install 98MP10.EXE [9.1 MB] one more time, and pls let me know if still doesn't work ok. Tx PS: 98SE2ME had the same bug, fixed now.

Thanks for the find. Looks like we still have hopes, maybe 1 day exFAT will be available to 9x OSes. [native driver... any1?] I've added the links here: http://www.mdgx.com/drv.htm#LKU and here: http://www.mdgx.com/secrets.htm#NEW HTH

When you update your skin, pls PM or e-mail me so I can update the link at my site.Tx

I guess it's time to go back to the drawing board... For that, I have to install 98SE in a virtual machine. See next post 4 the fix...

If any1 interested, I also share the same space for my swap files: http://www.mdgx.com/newtip15.htm#MXSF Aaaah... the good ol' days... HTH

IEAK 6.0 SP1 (English) contains a newer version of cabarc.exe [build 5.1.2600.1106]. Actually, you should replace all older files from cabsdk.exe with the newer versions from IEAK 6.0 SP1, except for makecab.exe. You should keep the old makecab.exe v1.00.0601 [from 1997] bundled with cabsdk.exe, because it does not have the current date/time stamp bug, like most newer makecab.exe versions do. And it is safe [in my experience] to use even newer files from IEAK 6.0 SP3 [4.11 MB, all available languages (25) in separate ZIPs]. More info: CAB SDK: http://www.mdgx.com/add.htm#CAB IEAK: http://www.mdgx.com/add.htm#IEA HTH

I've been installing Windows XP using (almost) exclusively using USB keyboards since it came out in 2001. All XP Editions I've used: - XP OEM RTM (2001) - XP retail RTM Professional (2001) - XP retail RTM Home (2001) - XP SP1 (+ MSJVM)/SP1a (without MSJVM) (2002) - XP SP2 (2004) - XP SP3 (2008) installed ok on all computers with USB keyboards I've tested this on, without the need for a PS/2 (legacy) keyboard. The trick is to enable all USB options including legacy, boot, native/real mode, etc [they differ depending on your mobo] in the BIOS setup before installing XP. That means your motherboard BIOS has to support USB keyboards in native/real/true DOS mode ("smart" BIOSes load a native DOS mode USB driver), and to my knowledge all modern motherboards made in the past 5 years do so. Also, make sure your keyboard doesn't have a Function lock, F-lock or similar (proprietary) key. If it does, make sure it is *not* enabled/pressed. FYI: To make it easier to install XP hands-free (heavily customized) with all available/current updates, drivers, applications + tools, you could use nLite (free) + the MSFN unattended XP setup guide. More info @ my site, including how to customize some of those steps by hand. HTH