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Being a Mac user off and on since the 90s (and largely on for the past 10 years or so), this reminds me of the Mac OS X Public Beta, where Apple thought they'd try putting an ornamental, nonfunctional Apple logo in the top center of the menu bar, instead of a traditional Apple Menu (before Mac OS X, it was basically equivalent in concept to the Windows Start menu with some differences in execution) in the top left where it belongs. Needless to say, the criticism was fierce, so they reversed it and to this day, macOS still has an Apple menu in the top left (although since Mac OS X RTM (10.0), it doesn't function much like either the old Apple menu or the Start menu did at all, in that you can't add anything to it). Be that as it may, I feel like Apple in recent years has moved in a similar direction as MS, and I'm lagging behind at macOS 10.14 as a result, because in my opinion it is the last fairly hackable version (the OS has become increasingly locked down since then, and when run on Apple's M1 hardware, it's basically almost as locked down as iOS; I'll cut MS a little slack here in that at least there's still a freely viewable registry in which one can tweak otherwise hidden or inaccessible settings. At least for now...). Incidentally, after trying Windows 8.1 (and even 10 for a time), I have settled back to XP for doing tasks that are better suited to Windows, and 7 for the few of them that XP can't do. Since I use mostly macOS for modern stuff anyway, I have the freedom to stay with XP and 7 indefinitely if I want (so long as I have access to viable XP or 7-era hardware and/or continue to use an Intel-based computer that can run them in a VM), and if either one or both can no longer browse the internet, it'll be sad, but it won't much affect how I use them (this is especially true if they're running in VMs, as I can simply switch to the host OS to do anything they can't do). Anyway, this is a bit off topic in that I'm not discussing my impressions of Windows 11. The thing is, since I haven't used it, and probably never will (save for maybe a VM just to poke around in for curiosity's sake), I don't really have any reason to discuss it other than to say that, based on what I've read and heard from others who have tried it, I'm pretty much not going to bother, as it seems like it'd just be a waste of time (and besides, absolutely NONE of my computers are supported (my newest is Skylake-based), and even though the installer's CPU check is easily bypassed and there's no apparent negative effects from doing so, there's no guarantee that MS won't fix that loophole and make it harder). c

It feels like it's been ages since I've seen any activity here! I was starting to think that any effort to get Win98 onto the modern Internet had been abandoned, but it seems not, which is good! I just tried it (no VPN or anything), and, aside from being unable to read Polish, it downloaded fine. Why is it censored for @schwups? I'm in the US, so I'm probably somewhat naive regarding the intricacies of censorship (in my experience, internet censorship pretty much doesn't happen here except for a few highly specific cases, such as blatant fraud and copyright infringement/piracy). Anyway, I'm going to follow this thread, now that it seems to be active again c

I can second this. While I don't use it personally for such sites, from what I've read, 360Chrome appears to be the last remaining browser for XP which is still reasonably compatible with the modern Internet. c

XP forever! I've been following Windows 10 off and on since it was released in 2015, and even after dabbling in it a little and customizing it so it's bearable, I just can't like it enough to use it full time. I didn't have much hope that 11 would be any better, especially when MS declared their on again/off again intention to only support 8th gen Intel CPUs with TPMs (my newest hardware is 6th gen), so I'm not surprised that it's worse than the already pretty lousy 10. Nowadays, I mostly daily drive macOS, so it's not really a big deal right now, and it allows me the luxury of using XP and 7 on a hobby level, so it's not a problem if not everything works. I dread the day I need to buy new hardware, because most PCs are probably stuck with Windows 11 as the only viable OS option, and Macs are too expensive, and adding insult to injury, now that they're ARM based, they can't run any x86 Windows, even in a VM; they, too, are stuck with 11. Sometimes I wish I could just bring out my old Pentium Pro machine with Windows 3 and use that for everything! c

Understood! I'll examine your changes and update my file accordingly (I'll have to send it to you eventually, but I'm in the middle of a big move, so I haven't had much time). c

Oh, OK. I like to keep things simple, so Visual Studio is a bit too heavy for my needs And besides, this is how I learned HTML and CSS (by handwriting code in a text editor). c

OK, sounds good! I mentioned myself in a comment near the top as well, including the date in which I finished most of the work (from my perspective in the US, anyway; for you, it might be the day before or the day after). Thank you! I was having trouble finding the guide after several dozen new responses were since posted in the thread, pushing the guide back many pages, so I thought I'd separate it so that I can open it wherever. c

@mina7601Yes! It's an older relative of BBEdit (same developers), so I suppose one could find a Windows-based equivalent if they wanted (TextWrangler is only 32-bit apparently, so it won't run on new Macs anymore, so I think I'll look into upgrading to the latest BBEdit, which is fully 64-bit). c

I used a Mac program called TextWrangler, which is roughly equivalent to Notepad++. c

Indeed! Mr. P's actions are inexcusable and he must be stopped! OK. What I'm thinking is maybe I'll just send you the file I made, and from there you can do with it what you will. A text editor. I handwrote it in HTML 4 and very minor CSS, so it should be viewable using virtually any browser, and it should be fairly easy to maintain. c

Of course! It's a big problem, because one can't count on the Wayback Machine to completely archive anything (it's particularly hit or miss with forums). I will! And I guarantee that I will do my best to not (knowingly) use anything Russian. I neither condone nor support the unprovoked and indiscriminate killing and destruction of a nation and its citizens... Is DropBox OK with you? I understand. It was only an idea.... Of course! I don't want to make anything public without your permission and approval! And it's your right to do whatever you want with it. I only came up with the HTML version because I was bored and wanted something to do Of course! c

Much as I dislike Windows 10 and 11, I have to agree: most people don't care what OS their computer is running, as long as it lets them run whatever programs they want to run. How else does Microsoft get away with all the Telemetry, forced updates and other junk? Because most of their user base either doesn't know the difference or doesn't care! Either way, they just blindly accept whatever MS dishes out because newer is ALWAYS better! c

I don't like censorship, but I think it's warranted in MAT's case because of the extensive (and inappropriate) usage of expletives in his resignation thread. It says much about who he is (and isn't), and if he were "bleeped" like he would be in most other respectable, family-friendly forums (such as MSFN), he would end up saying virtually nothing! Kind of like those lousy reality shows where the "stars" speak in strings of expletives, so all the viewer hears is this long, unbroken tone, like a constant, unrelenting scream. Beyond that, about the only other thing I can say about him is that the degree of his apparent rage, hatred and disdain for virtually everyone leaves me speechless. Why do people like this exist? c

Ah, I forgot that like buttons are a thing! I just went back and "liked" the guide! I have updated my prototype using the newest version of your guide, so consider any old versions forgotten. Regarding "input", I basically just wanted to ask if it was OK that I did this, and to see if you had any thoughts on it. I copied all the links over, so everything is the same as it was, as far as linking to external sources goes (though, it could easily be modified such that all linked files and guides are local, but I left the links as is for now). As for where to put it, maybe it can be included in the all in one packs as a sort of instruction manual? c

@AstroSkipperGot all caught up now, so I can comment! I looked at your guide (it's about time someone made one!), and I like it so much, I was wondering if, with your permission, I could create an HTML version of it that could be mirrored somewhere as a backup in case MSFN ever become inaccessible? I noticed that it links to several other posts on here, so those would probably have to be recreated as well, but one thing at a time! That being said, I am almost finished with a basic prototype based on an old revision of your post. Let me know if you have any input! c

i totally agree. The degree of cruelty and hatred being displayed toward Ukraine, especially toward the poor citizens of Mariupol, is absolutely appalling and disgusting. It must be stopped somehow! By the way, does anyone know where in Ukraine feodor2 lives? And now back to the topic at hand: That MAT is quite a tyrant! Maybe now that he's gone, the Pale Moon team can actually stop being so hostile toward anyone who dares to use it on any OS other than what they dictate.... c

What a jerk he is! Good riddance!! Anyway, to echo the various messages here, I hope that @feodor2 is alive and safe while he helps save his country! Слава україні! c

I was in error earlier. Only one of the four updates has a 2k3 x64 version. I think I've reached a dead end maybe? c

Well, further checking says that 64-bit W2k3 compatible versions exist for 4019276, 4493435, 942288 and probably the Root Certificate Update, so hopefully that's enough? Otherwise, I guess we'll have to determine if the fix or fixes included in 4467770 are somehow recreate-able or re implement-able in a W2k3 x64-compatible form. Or maybe an otherwise incompatible update (from Vista x64, say) has something relevant that can be coerced into working on 2k3? In the meantime, I'm away from home at the moment, but when I get back, I'll try installing all the other updates as needed and see what happens... c

Well, if there are 64-bit versions available and they're not already installed, it probably won't hurt anything to try and see what happens.... EDIT: These updates had already been installed in my 32-bit XP VM, which probably explains why it worked. EDIT #2: The updates seem to be specific to POSReady 2009, so looks like I'm out of luck maybe? c

Fixed! Serves me right for doing it from memory! Now that I entered the proper settings, it seems to have fixed the infinite redirect! Now I'm getting error 0x80072f78. c

OK. Here's a couple detailing the Internet Settings (these same settings work fine on my 32-bit XP Pro VM): I hope these are useful. EDIT: This XP Pro x64 install is also running in a VM, if that matters.... c

@maile3241I did that. Unfortunately, no change. c

@xpandvistafanGood to know, thanks! I'm trying to get it to work on XP x64, and so far I seem to be unable to. Since it's generally identical to Server 2003 (which, although untested, should work), I figured it would work. Does it matter that the last time WU worked natively, I had been using Microsoft Update? It seems stuck in the redirect loop, and I'm not sure how to fixed it, unless there's a patched MU dll somewhere? c

I came across this page, which, last I checked, only had 20 or so pages (!), so it took some time to read through it all! Anyway, I pieced together the instructions, and got everything set up. It took a few tries, but after realizing the script failed to replace wuaueng.dll with the patched version, I did it myself manually (I found that to satisfy SFC, I had to replace it in three places: C:/Windows/System32, C:/Windows/System32/dllcache, and C:/Windows/ServicePackFiles/i386), and, well, I'll let these screenshots speak for themselves: I was so excited, I forgot to get a screenshot of the initial landing page, but the fact I got these two should nevertheless imply that I was quite successful! The install I'm using is a copy of Windows XP Professional that I installed in a virtual machine running on my Mac. I'm quite surprised that everything's still here and apparently functional, and only the means of accessing it from XP was blocked! I wonder how long it will last before MS decides to shut the site down altogether? Nevertheless, it just occurred to me that maybe it's still here because some well-paying corporte or governmental customers are contracting MS to produce special extended support updates, one or more of which may enable proper, native support for SHA-2/SHA256? It sure would be fun if somehow we could find out for certain! That being said, in the interest of preservation, I think this is a good opportunity for someone to consider analyzing the site and downloading every possible file, with an eye towards perhaps reverse engineering the backend and re implementing it on a local server. Or perhaps as some sort of runtime that can run in much the same way as ProxHTTPSProxy? c