pangoomis

Try using Rufus and formatting the thumbdrive with the MS-DOS option (this option is not available on Windows 10, so you would need a PC with an older operating system like Windows 8.1 or 7), or you can use a virtual machine like VirtualBox with Windows 8.1/7 to format the flashdrive with the MS-DOS option. Rufus uses own hex hacks for IO.SYS and COMMAND.COM to make a Windows ME (MS-DOS 8.0) bootable flashdrive, and this option is the most reliable for me, and never caused any problems. When you've done that, download FDISK and FORMAT.COM from here (use No Ramdrive folder) and copy it to flash drive, you can also download SYS or any other file if that makes it easier for you...or all the files (except io.sys and command.com - those have to be from Rufus itself) https://www.allbootdisks.com/disk_contents/download/me.html

I've never used FreeDOS version of SYS, if it works, it would be easier for OP. I never got Win9x setup to work correctly on FreeDOS.

Ivy Bridge seems to be the last chipset with official XP drivers, as seen on my ThinkPad X230 which is based on it: https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-x-series-laptops/thinkpad-x230/downloads Haswell IGP's have drivers for Windows XP as well, but those seem to work only for desktops, not laptops: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/22875/Intel-HD-Graphics-driver-for-Windows-XP32-Embedded

FreeDOS doesn't work well with Windows 98 setup program. You need to have MS-DOS from either Windows 98SE or ME bootdisk to make setup program work correctly. Sadly, you can't just replace the files, as FreeDOS MBR you have now expects KERNEL.SYS, not IO.SYS. Make a bootable USB/CD/floppy of 98SE or ME bootdisk, and use it to FDISK, FORMAT, and copy system files (COMMAND.COM and IO.SYS) to the drive with the installation files. Make sure to mark the partition as active in FDISK, if you have problems with this, use /ACTOK switch with fdisk. Also make sure the partition is less than 127GB. Use percentage, instead of fixed size number in FDISK to help with that. Do note that FDISK shows wrong numbers for large disks, so just ignore them. You can also try using HIMEMX.EXE with the /MAX=524288 parameter to limit the RAM to 512MB, as 98SE works best with 512MB of RAM or below with NO errors. Also don't forget to use "/p i" switch so you don't have ACPI errors with modern PCs.

Hearts from 3x/9x do not use a central server like Internet Games do, should be fine forever, I think it's like a LAN thingy...

Try disabling (if not already) the Password Protected Sharing on all computers: https://winaero.com/blog/password-protected-sharing-windows-10/

Seems like a normal behaviour. I have a PCI-E x1 USB 2.0 card (not USB 3.0) for 98SE, and the driver for it (USBPORT.SYS) is also at the top of my DPC list, as well as dxgkrnl.sys and nvlddmkm.sys, as I have a NVIDIA card as well. Nothing to be worry about, the only way to remove this is to either disable the Firewire card in Device Manager or remove such card.

Aren't there better solutions to cut down the Windows size? How about removing UWP? Or cutting down WinSxS of duplicate files? I won't try to find logic in Microsoft's decisions from now on, I was really trying, but they somehow always find a way to get to a new low...like AAA game companies Not that OEMs are any smarter forcing full Windows 10 installations on devices with 16/32GB of storage. Many complains arise when people try to update them to newest Windows 10 iterations... Remember that System Restore is turned off by default in Windows 10.

@luweitest Run the setup with the /p i switch, there's a space between p and i. It should solve most setup issues. Also try to put HIMEMX.EXE in CONFIG.SYS, download HIMEMX from here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/himemx/ It solves many problems with Windows 98 on more modern PCs You also have to limit the RAM via MaxPhysPage iv you're not doing that already (1GB or less). For graphic drivers, you can also use VBEMP from here: http://www.navozhdeniye.narod.ru/vbe9x.htm For sound, as ruthan mentioned, use a cheap USB Sound Card, Windows 98 has drivers for it builtin.

I can recommend using 98lite with Chubby (or Sleek/98Micro if you test it long enough with your applications/games) option, and TCPOptimizer v3.08 from here: https://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php

Hi there! The NDIS2 drivers consist of OEMSETUP.INF and the .DOS file for your network card. You install it via the Network Control Panel, adding an Adapter, and then using the Have Disk button pointing to the INF file (not with Device Manager). Sadly, there's no guarantee that it will work, NDIS2 drivers are very, very picky. They also slow down the boot time, as they are loaded using the "net start" command that Windows 98 adds automatically to AUTOEXEC.BAT, before the OS is actually loaded. That's the way it can use the NDIS2 drivers, they were meant to be used under DOS.

Create two partitions, one FAT32 (make sure it's less than 127GB), and one NTFS. Install Windows 98 SE to the FAT32 partition. Then, install Windows XP on the NTFS partition. The Windows XP installer will automatically make a dual-boot configuration after it's done, based on the FAT32 partition, and you can select the operating systems from the boot menu. It was designed to be that way. To make the boot menu prettier, you can change the name of the OS'es in the boot.ini file.

Do you have links for the latest KB4501226 update in all/other languages than those? Although a more serious question would be, are language differences that important in time zone updates?

You can also try the latest LAN drivers from Intel for 98SE from here: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/4235/Windows-98-SE-Network-Adapter-Base-Drivers-PRO98M-EXE- What is the hardware ID (VEN&DEV) of the network card?

The rloew's RAM patch comes with the /M switch to specifically target the issue with Network Cards, read the included manual for more info. As for network optimizations, try using the TCP Optimizer v. 3.08 from here: https://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php

Umm, those are cumulative 2015/2017/2019 redistributables, they don't mean new programs will work under XP. Invoking non existing API's in other DLLs is still a thing...

Try Need For Speed Underground Demo https://www.gamepressure.com/download.asp?ID=3950

Are you sure those drivers are working under Windows ME? Can you test any 3D Games with DirectX/OpenGL? I only see Win2000 drivers and no VXD files there...

To not have the Web Page view broken, install Internet Explorer 6 before installing Main Updates from the U98SESP3. You can try also installing it after Main Updates. As for the laggy USB Mouse, please not that U98SESP3 already includes unofficial USB 2.0 drivers, though they have to be installed manually and are not listed in the installation options. They can be found (after installing Main Updates) in the System folder under the name: U98SEUSB.EXE. However, before installing them, consult the manual that shows up before selecting the installation options, it mentions how to properly install them, also make sure to use a PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse before installing any USB drivers, as otherwise you might lock up your system with no working USB devices and no way to exit the New Hardware dialog.

Take a look at these topics for driver slipstreaming information: https://msfn.org/board/topic/149231-trying-to-use-infinst-to-add-drivers-to-win-98-install/ https://msfn.org/board/topic/162717-how-do-you-slipstream-drivers-into-a-custom-win98se-install-disc/

Take a look at Microsoft Batch 98 and other stuff from this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d6Kb0uQero

Two that came to my mind are HyperCam 2.23.02 and CamStudio 2.0, try those.

@Dave-H Drum along my friend! Feel free to use the PNG

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Windows 98 SE, which was on May 5th, 1999! The OS that changed my life forever! Share your birthday wishes and OS experiences here! Many great things awaits...