Wunderbar98 last won the day on September 30 2021
Wunderbar98 had the most liked content!
About Wunderbar98

Profile Information
-
OS
98SE
Recent Profile Visitors
The recent visitors block is disabled and is not being shown to other users.
Wunderbar98's Achievements
169
Reputation
-
Running Windows 98 in 2020 and beyond...
Wunderbar98 replied to Wunderbar98's topic in Windows 9x/ME
Hi @D,Draker, wish my blown PSU had better protections. I want to slowly use up old hardware yet get upset when it dies. New dual boot Windows 98 and Devuan build complete. From the blown system using same generic case, Samsung CD-R/CD-RW writer, 1 GB RAM (was 1.5 GB), 11 GB Maxtor drive (removed 40 GB second drive), NVIDIA Geforce2 MX400 AGP graphics and 19" ViewSonic CRT monitor. Freshly installed used parts: converted Dell 200 Watt PSU, ECS Elitegroup K7S5A motherboard with American Megatrends BIOS (2001), AMD Athlon XP 1500+ (1.3 GHz) processor, onboard SiS900 PCI Fast Ethernet, onboard SiS7012 AC'97 sound controller. The PSU outputs are low side. To hopefully help BIOS disabled for floppy controller, serial ports x 2, parallel port and onboard modem. Only one hard drive and one optical drive. Dropping Win2000 and XP was no brainer for single small hard drive. Already got lots of good Windows XP installs and Windows 2000 is no longer useful to me (nostalgia only, no DOS, worse for gaming, so stable and professional it's boring). The motherboard still has traditional game controller port, cool. Used homemade thermal paste for CPU. Tinny speakers got newly soldered power box extension cord (5 feet) and drilled ventilation ports. Ancient ViewSonic 19" CRT still working following solder repair several years ago. The 11 GB Maxtor hard drive was zeroed, then 3 new primary partitions (4 GB FAT32, 6 GB ext2 Linux, 1 GB swap). It screams like a bandit and sometimes click-of-death but passed zero write fill, so SMART is disabled in BIOS and the drive will be used until it dies. The Windows 98 footprint is < 1 GB with firewall, RetroZilla, K-Meleon, OpenOffice and various maintenance software. The Devuan install is just over 3 GB with Dillo, Links2, older SeaMonkey, latest Firefox-ESR, Caja, LibreOffice 7, mplayer, Audacious, yt-dlp. Migrating a seasoned GNU/Linux install from different hardware is standard, monolithic kernel helps. Abbreviated steps: LiveCD, dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda, fdisk partitions, mkfs.ext2, cp -axv source_path/* destination_path/, mnt new partition, chroot to install, blkid for drive summary, update /etc/fstab, update-initramfs, grub-install, grub-update, cross fingers, reboot. Due to significant hardware changes i thought my customized and copied Windows 98 SE (Spectacular Everywhere) would soil it's lederhosen. Silly me, just lots of new hardware recognized and driver wizards on first boots. Answer prompts as good as possible, reboot when requested, insert Windows 98 install CD as instructed. Helped re-using same graphic card and system already set to <512 MB RAM. Phew. When dust settled just ethernet and sound wasn't working. Drivers still freely available for download. Getting ethernet running was easy. Sound driver took effort as Windows was convinced the best driver was already installed, even though sound was not functional. And then when attempting to install the driver, Windows prompted this does not appear to be the correct driver. So like i've been doing with Windows 98 SE for over 25 years, uninstall and purge old hardware's software, manually remove broken drivers and *.inf files, get excited and muck around until it works :) Last note as i've noticed this a couple times. If Windows 98 doesn't even boot with error 'Invalid System Disk', confirm the C: drive was formatted using Windows 98's FORMAT.COM executable. Once i used GNU/Linux, got error. Next time thought okay will format new FAT32 partition from Windows 2000, still didn't work. There must be different implementation of the format executable between Windows builds. -
Running Windows 98 in 2020 and beyond...
Wunderbar98 replied to Wunderbar98's topic in Windows 9x/ME
=== Dell Power Supply Conversion === I successfully converted a Dell 200 Watt ATX power supply. These Dells were proprietary. They provide the same voltage outputs (3, 5, 12 volts) and 20-pin plastic connector but a different wiring configuration. They used some different colour markings too. Check Wikipedia or similar for wiring schematics to convert the Dell to a mainstream PSU. Draw out a cheat sheet, lots of wires and it gets confusing. So if you ever come across a Dell power supply and it doesn't work on a non-Dell board that's probably why. Use a multi-meter to check voltages before recycling. Without plugging into a board, short the go pin with a bent paperclip and check output voltages. Some PSUs need a load to fire up even with hotwiring, so attach an old CD-ROM or hard drive to draw current. Swapping the wire pins in the 20-pin connector isn't easy, there will be blood loss. Using a sewing needle with a head to push on (hemming needle not machine needle), push the needle into the plastic connector between the plastic and wire pin. You need to release the 'catch' so the wire can be pulled freely back out through the top of the connector. Pushing it into the new pin location is easy, just getting them out is tough. You'll also need to amalgamate some wires, seems Dell's version of a P-4 or accessory connector, and do some soldering. Of course double-check and voltage test before attaching precious hardware. Perform at own risk. -
Running Windows 98 in 2020 and beyond...
Wunderbar98 replied to Wunderbar98's topic in Windows 9x/ME
Good to see you KernelEx @jumper and @deomsh aka DOS and driver guru, hope you are preserving well. PSU explosion 350 Watt quad-boot system (Win98, Win2000, POSReady2009, Devuan). No not the system with homemade thermal paste, that one runs like a champ. These 'faster' Athlon boards (1.8 GHz) had the same capacitor plague me thinks as the Pentium 4s, very capacitor dependent. My older 200 Watt Windows 98 hardware has less capacitors and seems to run forever. Once had a Pentium 4 motherboard go bad, though visibly good. It killed 3 PSUs before giving up, won't do that again. The days of endless old part supply is gone. No PSU parts in the cabinet for a fix. Won't re-use the motherboard but will keep for parts. Of course will never know for sure cause of the failure. The PSU and motherboard was old but clean. It blew on the primary (AC current) side of the PSU circuit board. Maybe power spike (using surge protection), drawing too much current (old capacitors), high usage, old age, electrostatic. Happened right when powering on the system. -
Wunderbar98 started following Running Windows 98 in 2020 and beyond...
-
Running Windows 98 in 2020 and beyond...
Wunderbar98 replied to Wunderbar98's topic in Windows 9x/ME
FYI Debian-based still prepares and compiles 32-bit Firefox for CPUs that don't even support SSE, let alone SSE2. Here running latest Firefox ESR 128.6 stable on 26 year old dual boot Windows 98 hardware (800 MHz single core Athlon, BIOS date 1999, 384 MB RAM). Mozilla stopped supporting non-SSE2 at something like FF 52. Last official FF support for Windows 98 was something like v2. Some here are running FF 52 in Windows ME (maybe 98) with KernelEX but most modern sites are broken on this old release. FF configured here with modified prefs.js, Vulpes and NoScript. Other than slow, no issues accessing modern sites like email and banking. Reasonably new Linux kernel, system uses 29 MB RAM for text boot, 64 MB for graphic boot (OpenBox). The rest is left for FF. Of course runs much faster on a newer 1.8 GHz (query 2004 era) single core Athlon (without SSE2), my quad-boot system (Win98, Win2000, POSReady2009, Devuan) but it's fun to push older hardware. In 2024 my almost 20 year old Windows XP Pro install needed re-activation following hardware change, Microsoft's automated phoneline re-activation still works. Using homemade thermal paste from pencil graphite and petroleum jelly. Tested for one year on old hardware with temperature monitoring, works great, cooler than old paste before hardware refurbish. Use steel nail file to grind down pencil graphite (no sandpaper or pencil wood contamination). Mix with petroleum jelly using toothpick or cotton swab, heavy on the graphite, to spreadable consistency. Apply evenly to hardware before mating. Ensure temperature monitoring. Use at own risk. -
BengalEmpire767 started following Wunderbar98
-
mina7601 started following Wunderbar98
-
--- Dave-H wrote: If 360Chrome is sending it to China and/or Russia, they can fill their boots as far as I'm concerned. I hope they choke on it! --- A detailed telemetry analysis would be more productive. In older browsers some IP addresses may no longer connect or redirect. On topic because you made it on topic: Racist hate speech from a moderator in an international forum, wishing harm on others, for shame. Hate begets more hate, stop the cycle to create an environment where we can all co-exist peacefully. This incident has not (yet) been reported, let your conscience be your guide. My posts may drift off topic but i'm not in the business of promoting hate. In most modern workplaces, including USA, your comment would promptly trigger a security escort out the door. If your lucky, maybe paid or unpaid leave until the incident is investigated. Background, both my parents and spouse's parents come from authoritarian countries (Asia and Europe). I can assure you there are good and evil people everywhere. Most citizens, for obvious reasons, do not choose to live in an authoritarian environment. Some were fortunate enough to leave (escape) but the hate and racism continues for them regardless where they live. Off-topic: Most Asian and Russian hackers would quickly make a mockery of our abilities. Post-script: Relevant screengrabs archived as current moderators have created an environment of mistrust by deleting undesirable posts.
-
Running Windows 98 in 2020 and beyond...
Wunderbar98 replied to Wunderbar98's topic in Windows 9x/ME
Thanks for getting back to me @Dave-H. I enjoyed this thread and it helped me very much but i probably won't post much anymore. Seems strange to lock an on-topic thread in a slow forum. Thread lock requests, closed door discussions, arbitrary post deletion and title renames without comment or consultation. Seems underhanded but nothing surprises me anymore. If this thread doesn't meet someone's needs, it's pretty easy to ignore. It's also pretty easy for another member to start a new topic catering exactly to what they require. Sad, leaves a sour taste. To the thread lock requester, shame on you, please learn to share space and co-habitate with fellow humans. Feel free to lock the thread it doesn't matter anymore, but please have the decency to keep this post. Thank-you to all who participated here in the last few years. I learned a lot and have some very good running Windows 98 systems. -
Running Windows 98 in 2020 and beyond...
Wunderbar98 replied to Wunderbar98's topic in Windows 9x/ME
Thanks for responses @NotHereToPlayGames and @Gansangriff, nice to see you again. Good to limp along old hardware, proud of you both. After many repairs my 20+ year old IBM mouse scroll lever broke, it's still a good 3-click mouse, just no scroll. Got so used to using arrow and page up/down keys, doesn't matter anymore. The 19" CRT monitor that was soldered and tuned several months ago still works like new again. An old popcorn maker switch, datestamped 1984, continues to power on my older Windows 98 tower, gets more use now than it ever did as a popcorn maker. The broken headphones that were re-wired, both channels into one ear, still work fine. Bugged me, confirmed, some Microsoft Natural Keyboards may have already been manufactured in the late 1990s. Advertised on my Windows 98 SE install CD (1999 release) but not my Windows 95 install CD (1997 release): D:\cdsample\videos\keyboard.mpg Looking forward to checking out Armagetron later. Test to work in Windows 98 SE after feature discovery in a non-Windows file manager. Right-click on Windows Explorer whitespace in a directory and select Properties. A recursive file count and directory size is automatically displayed without having to tediously 'select all' first. -
Running Windows 98 in 2020 and beyond...
Wunderbar98 replied to Wunderbar98's topic in Windows 9x/ME
Hi @D.Draker. Sorry you missed my post, my PM is disabled as i don't frequent here much. First third without cheats then with cheats i finished SpellForce: Order of Dawn, it was good fun. Level 26 character, two-handed weapons, more force than spells. All SpellForce related data was purged to effectively full-return the game to you. Thanks for lending it to me and your help and patience setting up the game. Take care. -
Running Windows 98 in 2020 and beyond...
Wunderbar98 replied to Wunderbar98's topic in Windows 9x/ME
--- Quote: 6 hr Dave-H changed the title to Running Windows 98 in 2020 and beyond... --- Hi @Dave-H. What is the rationale to arbitrarily remove 'vanilla' from the thread title, it's been like this since November 2019. The relevant discussion to 'vanilla' is outlined between @siria -> @bphlpt -> @Wunderbar98 -> @bphlpt. https://msfn.org/board/topic/177106-running-windows-98-in-2020-and-beyond/page/11/#comment-1173541 There are plenty of forum posts here pertaining to tweaked systems where the software versions discussed won't run on a fresh vanilla Windows 98 install. This thread is a safe-haven for those setting up a new system that don't want or require major OS manipulation to get some software running. There's a big difference between software that will run in vanilla Windows 98 FE or SE versus swappping DLLs, Kernel Extensions, major registry hacks, etc. When i got back into Windows 98 in about 2017 it took many hours, days actually, to find out exactly which softare versions were last supported by a vanilla installation. Maybe this thread can save other, now 'retro' users, the effort. If the thread just turns into another free-for-all then it's anyone's guess what will actually run on their particular system or how many modifications are required. PS. Since admins read these posts, could someone please restore or comment on my missing SpellForce post from ~3 weeks ago. -
Running Windows 98 in 2020 and beyond...
Wunderbar98 replied to Wunderbar98's topic in Windows 9x/ME
Sorry been busy. @Dave-H. Yes i remember the natural keyboards, query very early 2000s. Some of my coworkers liked them, supposed to keep better wrist alignment. I worked in healthcare back then when RSDs (repetitive strain disorders) were trending. Personally i type well when needed but cross over fingers too much when gaming, never got used to the split layout. Good quality keyboard. @UCyborg. Thanks for your computer history and experiences. Since i use Windows 9x, 2000 and XP it can be confirmed that i resemble that (grumpy old dinosaur). Why not, there's lots to be grumpy about. Anyone who used good old hardware and software back in the day can see where things have led. Not to pick on you personally, Windows 10, for example, is not much more than an advertising and closed source spyware platform that happens to run hardware, requiring a multitude of additional CPU cycles to perform essentially the same tasks. @XPerceniol. Thanks for posting, i wish you well on your journey, thanks for supporting @Drugwash, we all need support these days. I read some of your posts and see how you struggle, you are not alone. @marco_a. Thank-you for taking the time to post a picture of your keyboard. Very nice, i've never seen one labelled specifically for Windows 98. @jumper. Dig up a 5 year old post and request a thread title change. My Windows 98 SE test systems are part of the Windows 98 family and i can't know what Windows 98 releases other contributors are running, the thread title is accurate. Safe to say 99% of the software versions and OS tweaks discussed also apply to Windows 98 FE. To make the thread title Windows 98 SE specific is equally misleading, sure enough the next poster will indicate 'hey software versions abc and xyz work on my Windows 98 FE too'. Impossible to keep everyone happy, as recent forum drama can attest. @Kiriko Takemura. Your posts have been moved by admin to it's own project page. Seems to have been well liked, all the best with your project. My rendition of the "Browservice" project https://msfn.org/board/topic/184179-my-rendition-of-the-browservice-project/ @Tommy. Thanks for creating a project thread for @Kiriko Takemura. The post indicates it may work with Windows 2000 too, if that matters for project page placement. To me a project that requires external hardware, OS, web browser and software to spoonfeed Windows 9x is not vanilla. @Tommy. Kindly restore my SpellForce post (about 2-3 weeks ago), query inadvertently deleted when you created the project page for @Kiriko Takemura. If not accidental deletion, please clarify rational for removal. -
Multi-boot Windows 9x with current GNU/Linux
Wunderbar98 replied to Wunderbar98's topic in Pinned Topics regarding 9x/ME
Recent Distrowatch mention, Linux kernel developers may remove i486 support after ~30 years, arghh. -
Thanks for responses. No assistance was requested, just wanted to provide a quick command line fix for anyone that inadvertently disables DCOM and ends up with a broken system. There were all sorts of nonsense helps related to reinstalling OS, restore from backup, 3rd party registry tools. Simple command line fix, done. Yes odd @UCyborg, 'services.msc' just describes DCOM as 'Provides launch functionality for DCOM services'. No mention of critical, no warning, user beware. Microsoft must think it's critical, it temporarily broke my system, but @AstroSkipper's link seems it's mostly a security hole. Thanks for the information @AstroSkipper, hopefully it will help someone. Since i rarely use Windows XP i don't want to go too far down the rabbit hole, including 3rd party software to disable a Windows service. I will leave it alone for now, thanks again.
-
Command line rules. The service guides used for reference do not mention DCOM so it was test disabled. https://www.blackviper.com/service-configurations/black-vipers-windows-xp-x86-32-bit-service-configurations/ https://www.overclockersclub.com/guides/windows_xp_services/2.htm Disabling DCOM Server Process Launcher via 'services.msc' causes the GUI to become non-functional ( without warning! ), not allowing the service to be re-started. Upon reboot the system has poor function (safe mode too) but it's still possible to Ctrl-Alt-Delete to access Task Manager and get a runbox to launch 'cmd'. Alternatively press F8 at boot and select 'Safe Mode with Command Prompt'. Reconfigure DCOM via command line, note space after 'start=': sc config dcomlaunch start= auto Very helpful including services reference: https://www.windows-commandline.com/start-stop-service-command-line/
-
Multi-boot Windows 9x with current GNU/Linux
Wunderbar98 replied to Wunderbar98's topic in Pinned Topics regarding 9x/ME
A switch to slower 3G USB tethered cellphone internet caused some issues. Network performance was good direct tethered to GNU/Linux system but not through Asus router. Biggest problem was outdated firmware on the router, now updated and fixed using a variation of 'plug and pray'. MTU tuning for packet fragmentation was completed. Windows 98 SE was boss for networking, seamlessly working with dial-up and ethernet, easy to set up, GUI assistance, lots of free helper software. Unfortunately a direct USB tether during a Windows 98 boot didn't work and, admittedly, not much time was spent trying. Packet fragmentation occured at a lower byte size when direct tethered to the computer (running GNU/Linux) vs the Asus router. To keep a consistent data pipe the lower MTU setting (of the cellphone) was configured throughout the network. Don't matter to others, the best MTU value for this 3G network is 1440. In Windows 98 free sofware like TCP Optimizer v3.0.8 can be used to test for best MTU. Old school command line also works to check for packet fragmentation. Start at 1500 and work down, example: ping yahoo.com -f -l 1492 GNU/Linux uses a similar command for fragmentation checks, example: ping -M do -c 2 -s 1492 yahoo.com Lots of MTU guides available, remember to adjust maximum non-fragmented packet size with headers (generally add 28) to get the MTU: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/how-to-find-the-proper-mtu-size-for-a-network/ In Windows 98 SE, TCP Optimizer was used to set the MTU. Query whether it can also be manually set through this registry entry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\NetTrans\0000\MaxMTU The Asus router has an MTU setting for a USB tethered connection. In GNU/Linux custom .bashrc alias' are used here to manually connect/disconnect and check network status from command line, adjust for your network's preferred MTU: alias netstart='sudo ifdown eth0 && sudo ifup eth0 && sudo ifconfig eth0 mtu 1440 && sudo ifconfig' alias netstop='sudo ifdown eth0 && sudo ifconfig' alias tetheron='sudo ifconfig usb0 up && sudo dhclient usb0 && sudo ifconfig usb0 mtu 1440 && sudo ifconfig' alias tetheroff='sudo ifconfig usb0 up && sudo dhclient -r usb0 && sudo ifconfig' alias ping2g='sudo ping -c 2 8.8.8.8' alias ping2y='sudo ping -c 2 yahoo.com' -
Running Windows 98 in 2020 and beyond...
Wunderbar98 replied to Wunderbar98's topic in Windows 9x/ME
A used HP brand PS2 keyboard had a couple sticky keys causing occasional mis-types. Fortunately these old keyboards are simple to maintain. Pop off key and use a cotton tip with alcohol to remove debris and old grease from the male key and female keyboard components. Pop keys back on, smooth, good as new. I don't add new grease, the keyboard will outlive me.