MDGx

Depends on which command(s) u want to use. For example NET exists in all 9x OSes, but an NTx command line switch like SEND is not valid in 9x OSEs. To learn all valid NET options, run: net /? Other command line tools that exist, with more or less similar NTx functionality in 9x: CHOICE.COM COMMAND.COM DISKCOPY.COM DOSKEY.COM EDIT.COM FORMAT.COM KEYB.COM MODE.COM MORE.COM SYS.COM WIN.COM ARP.EXE ATMADM.EXE ATTRIB.EXE CARDDRV.EXE CHKDSK.EXE CLSPACK.EXE CMSTP.EXE CSCRIPT.EXE CVT.EXE DEBUG.EXE DELTREE.EXE DITRACE.EXE DOSMGR.EXE EMM386.EXE EXTRAC32.EXE EXTRACT.EXE FC.EXE FDISK.EXE FIND.EXE FTP.EXE IEXTRACT.EXE IPCONFIG.EXE JVIEW.EXE LABEL.EXE MEM.EXE MOVE.EXE MSCDEX.EXE MSDLC.EXE NBTSTAT.EXE NET.EXE NETSTAT.EXE NLSFUNC.EXE PING.EXE PROTMAN.EXE REGEDIT.EXE REGSVR32.EXE ROUTE.EXE RUNDLL.EXE RUNDLL32.EXE RUNONCE.EXE SCANDISK.EXE SCANREG.EXE SELECT.EXE SETUP.EXE SETVER.EXE SMARTDRV.EXE SORT.EXE START.EXE SUBST.EXE SULFNBK.EXE TCMSETUP.EXE TELNET.EXE TRACERT.EXE WALIGN.EXE WJVIEW.EXE XCOPY.EXE XCOPY32.EXE All files listed above are found on the Windows 98 SE setup CD [example], mostly inside CABs. Most should be already installed in %windir% or %windir%\system , which means u don't need to type their path names whenever u execute them. Run them with /? to view their valid options. Some of these tools work from outside Windows [native/true MS-DOS mode], some work only from within Windows GUI [DOS box], and some work [exclusively] from within CONFIG.SYS or/and AUTOEXEC.BAT. There are also several internal DOS commands built into COMMAND.COM: CD COPY DATE DEL DIR MD REN TIME VOL etc... More details: SETUP: http://www.mdgx.com/last2.htm#SETUPSW SCANREG: http://www.mdgx.com/98-1.htm#SCANREG98 Windows 98 + 98SE tools: http://www.mdgx.com/98-1.htm#98ESS EXTRACT: http://www.mdgx.com/newtip15.htm#CABEX SMARTDRV: http://www.mdgx.com/newtip2.htm#OUTSMART MS-DOS tools undocumented switches: http://www.mdgx.com/secrets.htm Besides the MS commands bundled with your OS, you can also find many other [similar] ones on the net [most are free(ware)]: http://www.mdgx.com/dos.htm Hope this helps.

I use WMP10 [ http://www.mdgx.com/wmp.htm#98MP10 ] combined with WMP9 from XP SP2 [ http://www.mdgx.com/98-5.htm#MP9 ] on my 98SE PC.I've also installed QTM Alternative, Real Alternative, DivX codecs, FFDShow, AC-3 codecs, Codecs MegaPack, Media Player Classic [MPC], WinAmp etc. This way I can play most multimedia formats out there, with no slowdowns [using the MPC interface]. The trick is to have fast enough hardware: CPU, video + audio. What slows down WMP9 + WMP10 compatible media files is encoding requirements: hardware support [implemented thru DX9] for video/movies/DVDs, digital/AC-3 surround 5.1 audio etc. Examples: To play smoothly these video demos/movie trailers: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsme...ntShowcase.aspx one needs at least a P4 3 GHz CPU or AMD Athlon 2200+, a GeForce 6600 or better, a SB Audigy or better etc. Also take a look at the requirements for the new QTM 7.0.2 H.264 High Definition (HD-DVD, HD-TV) playback: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/ See these HD trailers [QTM MOV format = "High Definition Trailers:"] for example: http://www.apple.com/trailers/ See also these HD trailers requirements [some are WMP9/WMP10 WMV format]: http://vforvendetta.warnerbros.com/ http://www.miramax.com/thebrothersgrimm/ WMP7 does not support most newer encoding formats/requirements [unless one installs the WMP9/WMP10 codecs for WMP7, which only adds limited support], but WMP9 + WMP10 do, even in 98SE. WMP9/WMP10 codecs for older WMP 6.4/7.0/7.1 versions: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsme...ecdownload.aspx

As far as I know DRM protects WMA + WMV copyrights for files downloaded from/streamed over the internet [especially those u have to pay for], if DRM code was written into them at encoding time.I don't have details on DRM differences for WMP7, WMP9, WMP10. Your best bet is to search Microsoft site using Google [example]: http://www.google.com/search?q=DRM+site%3Amicrosoft%2Ecom Results can be further narrowed if needed. I have a few links to MS DRM related downloads here: http://www.mdgx.com/add.htm#DRM Hope this helps.

1. WMP10 works just fine with 98SE + ME if you 1st install WMP9 + MS IE 6.0 SP1:http://www.mdgx.com/98mp10/READ1ST.TXT WMP10 installer for 98SE [103 KB]: http://www.mdgx.com/98mp10/98SEMP10.EXE 2. DRM was 1st introduced in WMP 7.0, and gradually upgraded to a new generation. Most recent DRM comes with WMP10. You can safely uninstall DRM from any version of WMP from any Windows 32-bit OS release [see the "HOW TO REMOVE DRM" chapter]: http://www.mdgx.com/98mp10/READ1ST.TXT Additional to the steps in the text above, one needs to delete [or rename] also the respective files from %windir%\System32\Dllcache , %windir%\Downloaded Program Files\i386 and eventually C:\ServicePackFiles [example] if using 2000/XP/2003/Vista. Hope this helps.

Everything you ever wanted to know: guides, tools + HOSTS: http://www.mdgx.com/modem.htm#HOS Hope this helps.

Please do, at your convenience.Many thanks in advance.

May I also have a copy of these hotfixes, please?Many thanks in advance.

Any shortcut to a file [not necessarily system or folder shortcut] that does not find its target file is disabled, and displays a generic icon, to let you know that you need to repair it or delete it.For example, create a new shortcut on your desktop to winfile.exe, found in %windir% [usually C:\WINDOWS]. Then move winfile.exe to any other directory. You will notice that after u restart Windows, or after you refresh/delete/recreate %windir%\ShellIconCache, or after you press F5 on the desktop, the winfile icon will show as a generic icon, represented by whichever shell32.dll icon is set on your computer for generic/non-existant/disabled/invalid file/folder shortcuts. Then if u move winfile.exe back to %windir%, the icon should "fix" itself upon next restart, F5, shelliconcache repair/recreation. Hope this helps.

Replacing commdlg.dll didn't fix the problem. Comdlg32.dll in the System folder is the same as the one in the Win98SE CD. So I suppose it's not a problem with either of those files.Bummer. I guess you need to determine what other programs/updates/whatever messed up your LFNs, and eventually which file(s)/registry entries you need to restore. All that comes to mind: - These 2 registry entries which must be listed exactly like this: REGEDIT4 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem] "Win31FileSystem"=hex:00 "PreserveLongNames"=hex:ff,ff,ff,ff - This scandskw switch which u should *never* use: scandskw /o and here's why: http://www.mdgx.com/newtip18.htm#SHS Hope this helps.

R u using Korean or Chinese version(s) of Sound Blaster software? If it's a multilanguage version, make sure to select English at install time. Also make sure your SB software [or some other app(s)] did not replace/add English fonts into %windir%\fonts at install time. Also, make sure all your fonts in %windir%\fonts are English [or same language as your OS]. D/l + install TTF Extension [free from MS]: http://www.microsoft.com/typography/truetypeproperty21.mspx and/or other 3rd party tools [like a font viewer/manager, most are free(ware)], and look for Asian character strings inside fonts properties. If u find any, make sure that particular font file also contains English chars, or replace that font with the English version. Also make sure u don't have too many fonts in %windir%\fonts , if u do, some may not display properly. If that is the case, delete [backup 1st] some of the fonts u don't use too often. Then restart Windows. Notice that some of the fonts [especially the ones used by the UI] may not allow to be deleted from within Windows. If that is the case, delete them either from native/true MS-DOS mode, or from Safe mode: http://www.mdgx.com/msdos.htm#MEN But make sure not to delete the system fonts installed by Windows. Those are listed inside %windir%\INF\FONTS.INF . Hope this helps.

I also believe that adding these files to your next SP 2.x release would be a good idea. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks MDGx, [where is the erpdude8? ] This new HTML Help update looks like causes problem with old IE versions. Please, check this link. About unofficial fixes, I'll add them in the next version, but they'll be optional. I guess erpdude8 has taken a vacation. [?]Petr: I'm aware of official HTML Help (HH) errors with IE 5.5. Could you [when/if you have the time] try the unofficial Win2003 SP1 HH files to see if they have the same bugs with older IE versions, and then post results here at your convenience? Petr + Gape: Because if unofficial 2003 SP1 HH files exhibit same bugs, then IMO Gape should replace them in next SP2 release with official MS HH files from KB896358. Gape: You're welcome, glad to help. I've been testing the unofficial voltrack.vxd, krnl386.exe + update.sys fixes for a while, and never had problems [so far]. I've also installed them on a friend's PC with same results. I believe erpdude8 also tested them [at least on his PC] successfully. Gape: IMO it would be a good idea to add the TSHOOT.OCX registry fix [as an option] to your next SP2 release: http://www.mdgx.com/ietoy.htm#IEC Hope this helps.

Gape: I received this in email from erpdude8: I also believe that adding these files to your next SP 2.x release would be a good idea.HTML Help Update [official from MS]: http://www.mdgx.com/add.htm#HHU voltrack.vxd fix [unofficial]: http://www.mdgx.com/files/Q249824.EXE krnl386.exe fix [unofficial]: http://www.mdgx.com/files/98KRNLUP.EXE update.sys fix [unofficial by Petr]: http://www.mdgx.com/files/98UPDSYS.EXE Hope this helps.

Sorry, I'm not familiar with Logitech Pagescan nor winfax software.Usually a greyed out [shortcut] icon means that the respective program the shortcut was pointing to does not exist anymore, for whatever reason. Have u tried to reinstall your scanner and/or fax software to see if that icon shows up again? Or if that doesn't work, try to recreate/repair that shortcut manually if respective program is somewhere [else] on your hard drive(s)/partitions. I don't think 98SE2ME is in any way responsible for deleting that icon. Hope this helps.

I have installed 98SE2ME on my "tweaked-way-too-much" 98SE PC.Then I have installed 98SE from "scratch" [on a different HD partition] and installed 98SE2ME again. Then I asked a friend of mine to install 98SE2ME on his PC. In all 3 cases that dialog [and all other similar ones] display(s) LFNs correctly. Sorry, can't reproduce the issue you have experienced. Also, I don't believe this is related to 98SE2ME in any way. A wild guess: your comdlg32.dll and/or commdlg.dll might be corrupted. [?] To make sure they are not corrupted, reinstall the original ones from your 98SE setup CD CABs [example]: EXTRACT/Y PRECOPY1.CAB /L %TEMP% COMMDLG.DLL Repeat same with COMDLG32.DLL [found inside WIN98_27.CAB from your 98SE CD]. Then reboot/exit to native/true MS-DOS mode [or reboot from a 98SE boot floppy] and copy this file to %windir%\SYSTEM [example]: COPY/Y %TEMP%\COMMDLG.DLL %winbootdir%\SYSTEM COPY/Y %TEMP%\COMMDLG.DLL %winbootdir%\SYSBCKUP from native MS-DOS, outside Windows. If COPY/Y doesn't work, make sure these files' attributes are not set to (H)idden, ®ead-only or (S)ystem: ATTRIB -H -R -S %winbootdir%\SYSTEM\COM*.DLL ATTRIB -H -R -S %winbootdir%\SYSBCKUP\COM*.DLL Then run the 2 COPY/Y lines above one more time. Then reboot normal or type WIN and hit Enter. Or to get WinME COMMDLG.DLL, reinstall 98SE2ME, but make sure your WinME setup CD CABs are intact, eventually copy them over from your CD onto your HD one more time. 98SE2ME options 1 + 2 do not replace COMDLG32.DLL. This file must be from 98SE CABs if u have not installed 98SE2ME option 3. If u have installed 98SE2ME option 3, u must use COMDLG32.DLL from WinME CABs [which 98SE2ME does anyway whenever u install option 3]. If you believe those files were corrupted, run your anti-virus tool [with up to date virus signatures] to make sure you're not infected with a virus. Hope this helps.

Windows 3.1 should have its own mouse driver, which theoretically should pick up most PS/2 mice. But in reality, intellimice are newer gen laser mice, and may not be 100% compatible with 16-bit environments/OSes such as Win3.1. And the worst part is [as we all know] MS does not provide 16-bit Windows drivers for newer hardware. Try [if not already] a few DOS based mouse drivers: http://www.mdgx.com/drv.htm#MOU they might just work. Also, this server: http://www.mpoli.fi/files/hardware/MOUSE/ has a plethora of mouse drivers, some even for Win3.1. Hope this helps.

In normal conditions USB drivers [most recent ones anyway] should properly detect the USB port version u have [1.0, 1.1, 2.0] and work ok, but that's just in theory. ;(

my 2 ¢ As said before, marketing and profit are the only purposes gaming companies are driven by when selling new games. But we can't blame them [entirely, anyway] for dropping support for 9x platforms, because MS is the 1 who ended the "life cycle" of these OSes in the 1st place: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle/ and every business/person who wants to successfully sell/license/etc software, must [are forced to] or should follow into MS's footsteps. This means if MS does not support an OS anymore, nobody else can on their own, because they all rely on MS for most part [patches, fixes, updates, MSKB articles, MS TechNet, MSDN etc]. And this includes all OEMs, developers, retailers, vendors, publishers etc. So if any game developer/publisher was to still support 9x OSes on their own, they must provide custom patches/fixes [not only for their games, but also for the OS if necessary], and that's not possible [and probably also against MS EULA] without MS's "blessing" and help. ... But that doesn't stop me from playing Doom 3 [with a "patch"] on 98SE.

It can probably be done, but you need to theoretically... 1. Reboot in XP and install MSN WM 7.5. 2. Reboot in 98/98SE/ME and install MSN WM 7.0. 3. Compare files from 7.5 with 7.0. 4. Copy over newer files from 7.5 onto 7.0 folders. 5. Test to see if it works. Make sure you backup replaced files in case newer ones don't work. MSN WM download links: http://www.mdgx.com/add.htm#WM I'm not going to create scripts for an automated install, because I don't use [MSN] Messenger, and don't have enough time for testing. But if you or anybody else like to do this, please post scripts/results here, so we can all benefit. Thanks. Hope this helps.

You're probably talking about MSINFO32 or HWINFO:http://www.mdgx.com/98-4.htm#HAIN More info here: http://www.mdgx.com/me2.htm#WWWBF and here: http://www.mdgx.com/me1.htm#REMI To see hardware assignments for all AGP, PCI, USB, ISA etc devices attached to your computer, u can also use PCI List [freeware]: http://www.entechtaiwan.net/files/pcilist.exe More info here: http://www.entechtaiwan.net/util/legacy.shtm More diagnostics tools [free(ware)]: http://www.mdgx.com/speed.htm#SPE To try to fix your USB problems, install also [if you haven't already]: 98SE SP2: http://exuberant.ms11.net/98sesp.html 98SE2ME [installs most USB files from WinME setup CD + web updates]: http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=46349 NUSB: http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=43605 Current drivers [if any] for your USB devices from their vendors. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the help MGDx, but I get an empty black screen while it shuts down. I like the included screens ahead of the originals but I'm talking zero graphics while shutting down, which is no big deal but a minor annoyance. I even tried replacing them with XP screens and I still get the 98SE2ME startup and no shutdown...If u don't have any LOGOS.SYS or LOGOW.SYS in your %windir% [usually C:\WINDOWS] directory, you will get a black screen upon shut down.If u have LOGOW.SYS + LOGOS.SYS in %windir%, and still get a black screen, it might be your video controller [which may not support EGA video mode] or you may have a laptop/portable [some LCD screens may not support EGA video mode properly]. If u don't have a portable, you may have a TSR [Terminate and Stay Resident] program/device/driver that loads from your autoexec.bat or config.sys or win.ini or Startup folder or from the registry [HKLM or HKCU Run key] that is not 100% compatible with the logo EGA video mode [640x400]. Try to place a static [as opposite to animated] logo [in any colors except black] called LOGOS.SYS in %windir% and then shut down Windows, see what happens. Then try the same with LOGOW.SYS file [just rename logos.sys to logow.sys]. Hope this helps.

I'll look into it, and if I can reproduce this on my PC and [eventually] find a fix, I'll post it here.

ZIPFLDR.DLL for WinME or the 1 for Plus! 98 [both install same functions] can be installed on 98FE/98SE even without Plus! 98 pack: * Microsoft Windows ME ZIP Decompression Unchecked Buffer + Recoverable Compressed Folders Passwords ZIPFLDR.DLL Security Vulnerability Fix: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/...n/ms02-054.mspx Direct download [270 KB, English]: http://download.windowsupdate.com/msdownlo...6BFCFC147E1.EXE More info: http://support.microsoft.com/?id=329048 Install PowerArchiver [nag shareware]: http://www.powerarchiver.com/ Extract the files from the EXE [see link above]. Copy ZIPFLDR.DLL, DZIP32.DLL + DUNZIP32.DLL to %windir%\SYSTEM [usually C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM]. Then run from a DOS box: %windir%\SYSTEM\REGSVR32 /S %windir%\SYSTEM\ZIPFLDR.DLL Done. This ME fix is also found here: http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#WME Or install zipfldr.dll for Plus! 98 [also found here]: http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#98SE * Microsoft Plus! for Windows 98/98 SP1/98 SE ZIP Decompression Unchecked Buffer + Recoverable Compressed Folders Passwords ZIPFLDR.DLL Security Vulnerability Fix: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/...n/ms02-054.mspx Direct download [268 KB, English]: http://download.microsoft.com/download/WIN.../329048USA8.EXE More info: http://support.microsoft.com/?id=329048 How to install Fixed ZIPFLDR.DLL on Windows 98/98 SP1/98 SE without MS Plus! installed [thank you miko!]: 1. Copy + paste text between cut & paste lines below in Notepad -> save as ZIPFLDR.REG (example) -> (double)-click on ZIPFLDR.REG to merge into Registry: -----Begin cut & paste here----- REGEDIT4 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Plus!98\Setup\ZipFldr] "Installed"="1" ------End cut & paste here------ 2. Install ZIPFLDR.DLL Fix (see above). FYI: Please note that zipfldr.dll adds only basic [very primitive] ZIPping/unZIPping functions. I suggest to install a fully-fledged ZIPper/unZIPper [most r free(ware)]: http://www.mdgx.com/toy.htm#ZIP Hope this helps.

Thanks a lot for your kind comments.I have added your tip about using command.com for 4DOS users to READ1ST.TXT ["EXTREMELY IMPORTANT" chapter]: READ1ST.TXT Many thanks.

You're welcome, glad it works, and appreciate your kind comments.Tweaking ME compared to upgrading 98SE with ME files is a very different thing, because of so many different file functions/interdependencies/etc. IMHO: I prefer a tweaked 98SE OS over a tweaked ME OS anytime. In my experience an upgraded/tweaked 98SE OS works better/faster/more stable than a tweaked ME OS, but I'm biased, because I don't like ME very much. If u prefer to tweak your ME OS, please see these tips: http://www.mdgx.com/wme.htm The Start Menu vertical banner that displays "Windows ME" is embedded inside ME explorer.exe, which is installed only by 98SE2ME option 3. U can get the 98SE explorer.exe back from: Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs -> "98SE2ME Option 3: Restore Win98 SE Explorer, Shell32 + UI". Or u can use Resource Hacker [ http://www.users.on.net/johnson/resourcehacker/ ] to replace the BMP with your own or with the 98SE one. Or u can use TClock (freeware): http://homepage1.nifty.com/kazubon/tclock/ About shut down logo and how to restore yours: Original files (if any) are backed up as C:\LOGO.W98 , %windir%\LOGOW.W98 + %windir%\LOGOS.W98 . How to restore your original files (if any): Delete C:\LOGO.SYS and then rename C:\LOGO.W98 back to LOGO.SYS . Delete %windir%\LOGOW.SYS + %windir%\LOGOS.SYS and then rename %windir%\LOGOW.W98 + %windir%\LOGOS.W98 back to LOGOW.SYS + LOGOS.SYS repectively. More info in READ1ST.TXT: READ1ST.TXT Hope this helps.

You must...feel the power... of the Dark Side... [insert James Earl Jones' voice here]