98SE

Just installed GeForce 6600GT. Tried your trick and it worked. Now I have to add a sound card for audio. I forgot about 98 driver hell. P4 was so much easier with PnP. DOSBOX working with Bear. Now we need Intel HD HDMI audio out driver for 98SE. Portable Gaming on the Go with USB Flash. I wonder why this trick was necessary. Lone Crusader must have had a hell of a time detecting his motherboard.

I tried the last capture as well but the zip files were corrupted after download them so I went to the earliest capture. The main Russian site were not responsive. Either way usually if my "Registry" was nuked it was due to the IEinfection. I just restored from my image since it was faster than trying to repair it if you were lucky enough to remove enough of that out of the registry it wasn't worth the headache. Sometimes I kept an image of an infected system just for fun to troubleshoot. Then try some "claimed" malware remover and see how well it does. They usually tried running some random filename during startup so it wasn't that hard to circumvent. Just rename that file in Pure DOS and it usually stopped that crap or I replaced the file with a copy of command.com which nullified it. But finding every possible virus infected registry entry trace is nearly impossible unless you had a clean registry made the same day to compare.

I was only interpreting what I think he wanted. I haven't tested these programs you are recommending. But checking the main site it was in Russian and the program to download seems to be constantly trying to load but dead. Dig for some older versions here. http://web.archive.org/web/20010606144639/paullee.ru/regstry.html I never needed to regedit in DOS. My 98SE never crashed in that manner or I restored from a DOS image which was faster if I wanted a clean state.

Hmmm... I think he's looking for a Pure DOS not inside Win9X/ME Command Prompt form of RegEdit for 98SE? My guess is to edit the Windows 98 Registry from Pure DOS and not inside 9X. This might be good for when you can't get into Safe Mode or when you couldn't get back into the 98SE OS normally due to some error.

Did you test any DOS games (which ones)? Can you try removing your "Graphics card" and let the BIOS choose the Intel iGPU instead for the graphics? See if the DOSBOX works with the Bear Driver and the Intel HD Graphics chip on your Z97.

The Xeno patch seems to just limit the Vcache setting from what I read. I never used it in my tests. My safe mode seems to work with over 512MB no problem with my method and no Window file system patching. Try DOSBOX with the Russian Bear VESA driver does it work? Which graphic card was installed? or was this using Radeon x1300 with Bear driver?

What programs are you using to benchmark the stability and performance of 98SE in your testing? Found the referral to the older Windows 3.11 and 9X Safe Mode video drivers. http://web.archive.org/web/20050219090234/http://oldfiles.org.uk/powerload/win3x.htm

I understand that but the actual FireFox and Opera installers work on multiple operating systems if you know which ones were the last version supporting your OS. I don't know if 43.0.4 lets you even attempt the installer or not. But if it doesn't perhaps installing it on XP then copying the folder over to 98SE may work? Using the same Browser version may work on 98SE if given it already works in XP for those websites. Unfortunately after reading all the comments back and forth and the last versions possible with and without the Kernel Ex it is starting to sound like the writing is already on the wall. My conclusion is 9X/ME Youtube browsing is now dead except for some really old websites you can still navigate. Unless they find a way to get FireFox 43.0.4 to work under 9X/ME I find it doubtful newer websites will function properly on it as the new SHA-256 certificates may pose a problem as more websites continually update away from SHA-1.

The only solution if the browser can't play Youtube videos is to get a Youtube video downloader and watch locally instead. You get a copy of the actual video so you can keep it and no streaming lag issues. Now I'm not sure of which of these will work on 98SE so it could be another Turtle on the MailBox Post issue.

First 9X/ME is mostly dying and used by few if any. Maybe a poll needs to be done to see who is still using 9X/ME and what memory configuration they have now. Second if 9X/ME can be installed on modern systems without extra patching to the OS it simplifies the installation process especially for USB bootable on the go experiments. Also any kind of commercial license will come with restrictions aside from the additional costs. Depending on the license terms and agreement there could be license restrictions to the use of the patch to just one person or to just the one machine it is installed on and non-transferable. A solution that is not machine dependent or at least limited to even one person for as many machines used by that person would be the least restrictive. Later a freeware possibility would invite more potential 98SE users and experimentation without being burdened by additional costs or restrictions expanding the 9X/ME community to modern day usage and if anything more interested users who could assist in creating a true 9X/ME emulator for XP, 7, and 10. 98SE never stressed using over 512MB as a feature and most graphics cards would fall into the 256MB or less range with the occasional rare 512MB models which weren't originally meant to run on 98SE without driver patching so games would theoretically still work with just 384MB OS usable memory installed so no compatibility issues if any exist will come up. The avoidance of tweaking the other files could cause unintentional problems and there is no need to constantly tweak something if it's working fine. I haven't tested tweaking those other Windows system files as of yet as I more concerned about getting 98SE to install on a machine with over 512MB with ease and seeing what's possible and how stable it is first. Gaming possibilities could be dead as there could a future AMD/Intel chipset that simply refuses to work with any PCI and PCIe cards in Windows 98SE which in that case this method I've come up with would at least still be useful for 98SE with the Integrated GPU and the Bear Windows driver and be a glorified 98SE PE type system. Later I plan on reducing the footprint of 98SE to its bare essentials to shrink it down as much as possible and then force this into a Ramdrive loaded off the USB which can later be ejected.

Wait Opera 12.50? works with Kernel Ex? Then someone should try Opera 12.15. On XP I can confirm Youtube videos are working. I can't vouch for how it performs on other sites. FireFox 43.0.4 is my recommended lowest minimum version that should probably work for a long time on XP and high resolution Youtube videos 480P+ working. There are lower FF versions I've tested let me dig that up. FireFox 34.0, 34.0b9, 34.0.5 Video scrolling is not laggy nvidia quoting response works These were successful and should work on 99% of all sites I would say but gimped 240P Youtube Flash playback. So this won't be good for the Youtube experience but just general websites like MSFN and other forums.

It was referring to what you knew from being on the board and reading the forums since you have been around longer and prior to the 98SE memory issue was resolved and post so you would have heard about its existence. And as far as you know has or hasn't there a way to the best of your knowledge if 98SE can be installed fresh without a commercial Ram patch nor with tweaking the Windows 98 system INI or VMM related files with over 512MB memory installed?

What was the max Opera and FireFox version that you could get working on 98SE w/o the KernelEx? And what about the max Firefox version with your KernelEx? Jaclaz answered a few of these simultaneous posting... But still the FireFox last version I'm interested in normal 98SE vs 98SE KernelEx. I think the key is in the FireFox browser for 98SE. It had longer support in my mind. An old user with an iMac was able to use FireFox longer than that blasted Safari which said you must upgrade the Mac OS first.

Okay that at clears up your current knowledge side of it. What OS(s) are you currently using? I have been working on the Z77 for most of the experimenting and have been testing a method to boot 98SE without any need of Windows system files modifications. I'll have to do more tests on older chipsets later once I've confirmed the Z77 runs 98SE stable all around but I also need to find out what's the best 98SE stability test program to make sure it doesn't crash and is a reliable method of using 98SE on modern chipsets.

I'm already aware of that thread and others. If you haven't done it or Dencorso or anyone else I'd like to know.

It doesn't bother me if you posted it here. I'm only curious if Opera 12.15 will resolve your 98SE issue? Do you use any special patches on your 98SE like the KernelEX or is this plain 98SE you are using? If you're using that KernelEx see if the Firefox v43.0.4 will resolve the website issue you are having.

As interesting as it would be to start that thread now which is not on the priority list at the moment until MSFN can be salvaged first. I have another project AM4 with XP and possibly 98SE that would need to be solved as if AMD can't install them and work properly then it will be Intel going forward for backward compatibility. I feel that given the impending doom of MSFN < 1 Month I have another idea to try and raise funding for 1 year of keeping MSFN up as being more vital than worrying about getting the XP xHCI drivers first. On the subject of 9X/ME, have you, Dencorso or anyone else been successful at getting 98SE installed on a system with 4GB without using a commercial RAM patch? Basically a 98SE system with more than 4GB or more of memory installed and installing Windows 98SE from scratch and completing the setup process. No tweaking of the Windows .INI files and absolutely no patching of the Windows VMMs or any other Windows system files? And if this has been done who has done it? And on what systems? Has it also been done (with the same above requirements) for these memory capacities installed: 8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB 128GB or higher?

Opera 10.63 stopped functioning on XP. Opera 12.15 Last Presto version worked on XP on Youtube 240P only. Can you watch videos on Opera 12.02 on Youtube at the moment? If not Try Opera 12.15 and report back. If that doesn't work see if you can install Firefox v43.0.4. I don't know if KernelEx and all those patches can allow this version to work properly on 98SE but give it a try.

Yes I took a look at that thread already but I wanted to get more insight into your own collection before responding in more detail. I was more interested in the actual MSFN users that had the older copy protection duplication hardware and are still active would have been more beneficial for the OP. I have such gear so if any others exist still around could also help. As for the floppy disks condition. I have to disagree since I still have older 3.5" floppies going back to 1987 that still are readable. It depends on how you stored the floppy disks in a safe environment. Only the no brand name cheaper 720KB disks tended to have a higher failure rate from memory than say TDK or Maxell. I even have some 8 inch disks from 3M still sealed in the box but these won't work with modern PCs at all unless someone comes up with a special interface to at least a standard 34 pin Floppy controller. If you're dealing with the 5 1/4" ones you need to keep these in a disk jacket and then place into a disk box at the minimum. The 5 1/4" I would imagine has higher failure rates as over the years even digging back to them a decade ago you will find some just have given up or crop up with CRC errors. Then you will have to resort to cleaner methods of extracting the data off the disk which is very time consuming. The micro floppy 3 1/2" diskettes are more durable since it is encased so dust and accidental finger print smudges can't damage the media. Plus the sturdiness of the plastic it also less likely you'd bend the disk like a 5 1/4" which can accidentally happen like locking the 5 1/4" drive and trying to insert the disk. Most of the "programs" you listed in that forum topic are Windows based imagers good for unprotected disks which probably would freak out when encountering a copy protected disk. Try using DiskCopy back in the day and you'll know what I mean. Even the DOS based copy protection copiers probably won't work on any modern computers and a lot of these I've tested have limitations of which ones could be copied successfully. Some of the very old school duplication programs were broken/nonfunctional because of the speed of the machine an issue that MultiBoot encountered which no one clued him in. My "old gear" is more hardcore than just software based copy protection duplication software since it actually physical hardware that does bit by bit duplication so it retains the copy protection scheme making it appear as the original disk would (a virtual clone). Also this equipment does not function on modern computers which makes it less likely you will find the combination of a MSFN user with the original disk duplication hardware combined with the proper computer combined with the actual experience of using the dupcliation software and most importantly the willingness to offer their time to do it. As for your older hardware. 286, yes some of my IBM PC/XT stuff predates yours. Although I had a nice Epson laptop 386 16MHz. I still have a dozen of these XT motherboards sitting around in the garage never used. But I have a few 286 AT but nothing special (had a turbo switch) to slow it down to PC/XT speeds. Some 386 which I liked the most and the 486 I got plenty of those and maybe 20 or so new motherboards old stock in case I need to do some build in the distant future but my P4 can take care of almost everything that the 486 could do and more. I got a warehouse of CPUs some are older 8088 and 8086 and the various 286-MHz speeds of AMD and Intel, then the 386 mainly Intel SX and DX but I'm sure some AMD in the mix. Too much old computer memory from that time. The 486 I have trays of these 16MHz and up. The Pentiums 1s I think some 60MHz and 75MHz... I wasn't too much of a fan of the Pentium 1s and later until P3 and P4. I also have other computers aside from IBM, Apple, Mac, Atari, Commodore/Amiga and others of different models. The nice thing you have is the ZX81, a couple Spectrums. Most of those computers never made it to the USA so later I will try and get them off eBay and play around. As for floppy drives I have a bunch of the original Teac models 360KB and 1.2MB still sealed in the baggie with the disk protector insert. A bunch of 720KB and 1.44MB but these are quite common. One 2.88EHD just to mess with. The only shame today is they never bothered to make a 360KB and 1.2MB USB powered floppy drive so these are going to be really hard to interface on modern computers. LS-120 I bought several of these before they got shelved. I only had wished they became popular instead they fizzled away probably due to the CD-rom moreso than the Zip drives competition. The only problem is they still used an IDE interface instead of the floppy controller. So you needed a BIOS that could boot from it.

Don't forget PC Tools could also format single sided 160KB and 180KB 51/4" Floppy Disks. It also had a nice Hex Editor.

Could you be specific of any MSFN members with a tremendous amount of "old" gear? And you would be surprised by mine as well (cough) warehouse. Curious what was your first computer? What are some of your oldest computers you still own? Any non PC based computers? What sort of floppy copying hardware do you have?

As others have mentioned the Dual core wouldn't apply to 98SE in performance boost. What's interesting is the highest performing single core of the CPU regardless if Dual or Quad core. Second is working DMA ISA slots a lot of these industrial motherboards don't have the DMA feature making DOS Sound Blaster ISA cards unusable. So an AGP/PCIe/PCI/DMA ISA slot motherboard with the maximum CPU possible would be the most important for dealing with DOS and 9X/ME gaming. Memory of 4GB/8GB/16GB are only bonuses for Ramdrive possibilities. I don't care too much if it is SATA 1 or 2 but IDE and Floppy controllers should also be present. Two PS/2 ports would be best or 5 Pin DIN for sturdiness. Serial and Parallel Ports would be nice as well. So whatever motherboard (if it exists or can be manufactured) encompasses those requirements I would put at the top tier for legacy gaming.

What were the final release versions for the corresponding 9X/ME and NT family of this program? Any superior older versions which sometimes happens as not every new version is the best imo.

If he's truly your mentor and you "physically" know him unless you don't and just call him your "mentor" as Yoda would be the mentor of Star Wars fans, however if perhaps you physically know him then you can urge him to work on having a limited xHCI XP driver that can at least activate the USB mouse and USB keyboard and possibly other game controllers. The idea is to able to slipstream this xHCI driver with XP SP3 installation. And get an idea of how long this might take. After your initial message and time that has elapsed it seems unlikely to happen any time soon so again lifting hopes and then smashing them. I'm not too concerned about the xHCI ports for data storage at the moment because it won't impact XP installations for newer chipsets and made useful for low bandwidth input/output devices most importantly the Keyboard and the Mouse. This beta driver should be able to be tested much quicker and more useful for the masses or 10% of the World if that figure is not Microsoft "fake news". As for higher xHCI functionality that can come later through time and I'm in no rush as USB 3 cards will work in XP if you required that immediately.

Nice Post. I have some more questions regarding your setup. First do you have any older Intel Chipsets: Z68, Z77, Z87, or Z97 in your possession for testing the same configuration using your GeForce 7950GT 256MB and the same sound card or device? Second on your current X99 setup, What sound card or audio device are you using and does it function and if so can you add screen shots of it from Device Manager? How are you connecting your keyboard and mouse? Each into its own PS/2 port or using a USB port? Do any of the onboard USB ports work in 98SE or if not are you using any USB card and if so what USB card? Here are some tests I'm interested in seeing if they work on your system. If you do a clean install of 98SE on the system with only "JUST" the RAM patch and nothing else can you still detect your graphics card GeForce 7950GT 256MB? and your sound card also working? Let me know the result of this test. If you doesn't work on the X99 without the SATA patch what are the issues? Can you even install to a working desktop screen? Does it even start the installation process at all? If it fails on the X99 assuming you have another system from Z68, Z77, Z87, or Z97 that still has SATA IDE Compatibility mode can you redo the clean 98SE installation and install your Graphics card and sound card with the Ram Patch only and nothing else and get this system to work?