Wunderbar98

Hi @frank woolf. Sounds like the previous owner set an administrative password. To bypass unplug computer, open case, remove CMOS battery from motherboard for about one minute, replace battery, replug and reboot computer. Any custom BIOS settings will reset to default but you should now be able to boot the system. Reconfigure BIOS settings as needed to get hardware working to your satisfaction.

Thanks for all responses and input. Thanks for posting your notes @UCyborg. I got an NDIS driver working earlier too with help from @deomsh, brain hurt, crazy how much configuring. Doesn't matter to me where you post, just keep specifying FreeDOS. FreeDOS was briefly reviewed earlier in this thread. I liked it but never tested 3rd party applications for compatability, like MS-DOS games. Never enough time for this good stuff. https://msfn.org/board/topic/177106-running-vanilla-windows-98-in-2020-and-beyond/page/36/#comment-1192261 My old NDIS and packet driver notes in this thread if they help anyone. https://msfn.org/board/topic/181853-links-web-browser-community-edition-for-dos-with-tls-12 Thanks Windows 98, job well done, all the way to Mars - woo-woo ! https://scitechdaily.com/from-windows-98-to-mars-2022-major-upgrade-for-19-year-old-martian-water-spotter/ https://www.10news.com/news/fact-or-fiction/fact-or-fiction-mars-spacecraft-running-on-windows-98 --- We act as though comfort and luxury were chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about. - Charles Kingsley (c. 1819 - 1875) ---

Thanks for reporting your adventure @UCyborg. Pretty new hardwae for DOS indeed. No sound at all, sucks. Here Sound Blaster, sound quality isn't great in DOS, adequate for old games. For me sound is the most finicky item in DOS, then networking, the rest seems good. FreeDOS, that labour of love, has a package manager if your install wasn't fully loaded. Not sure how FreeDOS and USB storage works, in MS-DOS loading SMARTDRV.EXE may help (SMARTDrive disk-caching utility). CuteMouse is used here too with both a PS/2 rollerball and laser mouse. Pause was added to my preferred default DIR config in AUTOEXEC.BAT, only pauses if off screen scrolling is triggered, good for large directories like C:\WINDOWS\. SET DIRCMD=/W/ON/P The Good Times video from Edie Brickell mentioned earlier, from the Windows 95 install CD, is a 39 MB AVI file. The largest file on the entire CD, larger than any *.CAB file or game demo. By comparison the same ~ 3 minute video was fetched (YouTube, format 18), much better quality MP4 only 14 MB. Technology marches on..

== VCACHE == = Overview = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32\VCACHE.VXD is a disk cache driver for Windows 9x. By default VCACHE dynamically changes depending on the available disk space and memory an application requires. This 'virtual' cache is used during hard drive activity (read/write), resides in system RAM and is configurable. By default there is no VCACHE limit. The amount of cache used grows during the session and is not readily released. Although acceptable for most use cases (light work, frequent reboots), developers should have probably set a MaxFileCache upper limit based on the amount of system RAM detected at boot. Setting no VCACHE limit combined with heavy hard drive activity may cause the system to exhaust all RAM then the PageFile [1] (if present). From a performance perspective PageFile access is slow, causes hard drive thrashing, and the system may lock up and crash if it becomes exhausted. This is not a sane configuration, essentially caching the cache [2]. Setting too low a VCACHE limit can cause severe system slowdown during periods of heavy hard drive activity, as inadequate fast RAM is dedicated to caching the slower hard drive data. Setting too high an upper VCACHE limit, especially using fixed VCACHE size, may reserve too much precious RAM for hard drive activity, not allowing large applications to access this system RAM. = VCACHE Configuration = By default there is no [vcache] section or entries in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI. The user will need to determine what settings are best based on the hardware setup and intended use of the system. Fixed-size VCACHE example, set to 32 MB RAM, add [vcache] section after [386Enh] section in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI. [vcache] MinFileCache=32768 MaxFileCache=32768 ChunkSize=512 Ranged VCACHE example loosely based on the recommendation from 'Computer Hope', which suggests 10% - 25% of total memory size. Note the recommendation also indicates MaxFileCache size should not exceed 524288, even if the computer has more than 512 MB of RAM. [vcache] MinFileCache=38912 MaxFileCache=98304 ChunkSize=512 Setting the same 'Min' and 'Max' value prevents unnecessary VCACHE re-sizing during runtime. However, setting a Min/Max range may be better if the system will be used for varied applications, such as heavy file management and large applications. In general a higher MaxFileCache is best for systems that perform a lot of file management while a lower MaxFileCache is best for systems that need RAM for large applications. VCACHE can be disabled by checking System Properties -> Performance tab -> File System -> Troubleshooting -> 'Disable write-behind caching for all drives'. As this will likely cause perceived hard drive read/write slow down, it is probably only suitable for troubleshooting, to reserve as much system RAM as possible for a very large application or to prevent data synchronization errors (eg. database work, drive sharing across network). Monitor RAM used by VCACHE and applications with a system monitor, such as built-in System Monitor or TinyResMeter v0.95a. If the system approaches full RAM use, ensure a PageFile [3] is configured or the system may lock up (default system managed) via System Properties -> Performance tab -> Virtual Memory. As utilizing PageFile is slow, ensure MaxFileCache is set below a level that triggers PageFile use. = ChunkSize = A ChunkSize entry can be added, as exampled above, to specify the chunk of memory allocated to each entry residing in VCACHE. An application can use more than one chunk, similar to FAT file format for hard drives, but if it doesn't divide equally into the chunk the residual RAM in the chunk is unused (wasted). Apparently default is 512 and a formal entry is not necessary but may be useful for performance experimentation. Setting a smaller ChunkSize increases overhead (more chunks to manage) while setting a larger ChunkSize will waste more RAM (more chunks not fully filled). Examples of ChunkSize values are 512, 1024, 4096. In theory a system with 'RAM to spare', based on Windows 98's meager system requirements [4], that often handles 'larger' files may benefit from a larger chunksize. Unfortunately, there seems to be little definitive performance evidence for ChunkSize configuration. = Links = http://www.broge.com/geek/win9x_systemini.shtml https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/v/vcache.htm http://help.perfectfit.net/knowledgebase/disable-write-behind-caching/ = Footnotes = [1] PageFile aka Paging File aka Virtual Memory aka SwapFile (ie. swap RAM data to hard drive). The filename in Windows 98 is WIN386.SWP. [2] Actually Windows 98's default configuration is fairly sane, though sub-optimal for tweakers. By default Windows 98 activates both VCACHE and PageFile with auto-resizing and no size limits. Aside from periods of disk thrashing and gnashing of teeth, in most use cases these defaults should not freeze up a system from exhausted resources. The probable exception is an unfortunate system with too little RAM and hard drive freespace. [3] PageFile (SwapFile) is another topic, caching data to hard drive when RAM gets full. Often allowing a system managed PageFile (default) is less efficient as CPU cycles are used to re-size the PageFile during runtime. Disabling PageFile altogether is only recommended for systems with adequate RAM, as the system may freeze if all RAM gets utilized. Recommend monitoring RAM use over several sessions to determine if a PageFile is necessary. If so, recommend setting a fixed size PageFile (same upper/lower limit). PageFile creation tip: 'Disable virtual memory' (disable existing PageFile), reboot, defrag hard drive, create new fixed size PageFile. [4] Minimum system requirements from the official 'setuptip.txt' for Windows 98 SE: 486DX or 66 MHz processor, 24 MB of RAM, 205 - 400 MB hard disk space.

Thanks for your feedback and research @deomsh. I may move most DOS games to a newly created C:\GAMES\, then C:\DOS\ will only contain drivers, utilities and web browsers. Probably negligible performance improvement, more to separate game fluff from system stuff. It is surprising Windows 10 still has a FAT-driver. A 20 GB drive was probably unheard of when Windows 95 launched. The Windows 98 SE value system i built in 1999 had only a 6 GB Quantum Fireball IDE drive. There's an appreciable performance boost using a 7200 RPM drive vs 5400, can't imagine those running these snappy old operating systems with SSD. Feeling old, my Windows 95 install CD contains a bonus music video from Edie Brickell. Her song Good Times was released in ~ 1994 when she was in her prime, now she's approaching 60 years of age. Where does the time go, enjoy as much as possible. Microsoft Windows 95 with USB Support (copyright 1997): D:\funstuff\videos\goodtime.avi --- Good Times songfacts: After two albums with Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians, Brickell married Paul Simon and started a family. In 1994, she released her first solo album, Picture Perfect Morning. "Good Times" was released as a single and became a her only chart entry outside of New Bohemians, going to #60 in the US. Over the next decades, Brickell continued to record both as a solo artist and with New Bohemians, and embarked on many other projects as well, including collaborations with Steve Martin and Willie Nelson. Many know this song from the Microsoft Windows 95 installation CD-ROM that included the video as part of some multimedia samples. It seems quaint now, but being able to watch a music video on a computer was a big deal in 1995, even if it was confined to a tiny box on the screen. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/edie-brickell/good-times ---

Thanks for the information @jumper, that date range has me well covered :) Hi @deomsh, FAT32, 4096 bytes per allocation unit. FDISK indicates PRI DOS, partition C: 1, status active, 6150 Mbytes, 100% usage, enable large disk support yes. Windows Explorer properties for C:\DOS\ : 762 files 54 folders 41.4 MB (43,421,437 bytes) Thanks @Goodmaneuver, a reboot confirms it, SystemTray was re-enabled via MSCONFIG. Didn't even notice volume slider was missing (using AutoHotkey for volume) but yes to me this is part of the essential Windows 9x experience. Slow learner, in DOS 'CD \' goes to root directory, no more wasted time with 'CD C:\'. DOS is efficient, the space can be ignored, 'CD\'. This i do remember, switching to a different partition or drive is easy, example 'D:' to access CD-ROM. Going back to C:\ drive with 'C:', automatically returns prompt to the most recent sub-directory accessed on the C:\ drive. Discovered an interesting DOS and earlier Windows game, query 1994 titled 'WINDOZE'. Common falling block type game using Microsoft icons for blocks, query Windows 3.1. Seems pretty good, briefly play tested and deleted. --- WINDOZE by Lenny Boreal WINDOZE is for sophisticated audiences who are less than pleased with Microsoft's effort to take over the world with a similar program called "Windows" (TM). WINDOZE is a hacked version of Loren Blaney's FLAKES game (sorry) that uses only the finest quality, environmentally-safe 1's and 0's. Screenshot: https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/690894-windoze-dos-screenshot-a-column-and-a-diagonal-even-better.png ---

Thanks again for your input @deomsh. When i do as you say with a fresh directory everything seems created in historic order of creation, even when trying to trick the filesystem with different name and number schemes. There is, however, an issue that may be related to existing directories. For example, yesterday a new sub-directory C:\DOS\GAMES\ was created, C:\DOS\ was pre-existing. I don't recall for certain whether this GAMES directory was created via DOS boot (MKDIR) or Windows boot, i think using Windows Explorer. Now when plain DIR command is used in C:\DOS\, the GAMES directory is not listed at the bottom. It's listed about 7/8 way down, even though the two directories and one file below it have not recently been created or manipulated. So there's an issue present, not sure why. Maybe DOS vs Windows boot, maybe Windows Explorer related. ScanDisk was run today without error, regardless of how new files and directories were created (Explorer, EDIT, ECHO, MKDIR). Anyway it's okay, i believe you regarding directory and name creation, it's just that during day to day computing the DIR command without argument does not consistently seem to work as expected and benefits from a more human friendly sorting argument. ***** This probably only interests me, roguelikes are some of the most replayable, strategic and satisfying games ever created. Played around a bit with DND and Telengard, there are so many roguelikes. If you were raised on basic Dungeons and Dragons, some of these older games are the best. The oldest 'last modified' files on this entire system [1]: TELENGARD.BIN -> 02FEB1984 ROGUE.EXE -> 24FEB1984 [1] Windows -> Find -> Date parameters can't be set before 1/1/1980.

Thanks again for the AUTOEXEC.BAT tips, very nice, and the follow-up explanation and screenshot @RainyShadow. Disabled custom DIR entries in AUTOEXEC.BAT, rebooted for testing. In same C:\DOS directory pasted in earlier post. First created a file named BBB, then DIR added the file BBB to the bottom of the list. Good, historic order on disk. Second used MKDIR to create a directory named A1. Running DIR again and A1 was listed above BBB, even though it was created afterwards. Hmm. Kept the newly created BBB file and A1 directory in place (no DELete). Third created a new file 222. Running DIR placed this file in the middle of the entire printout, well above the other two new entries. Hmm. Just a 'computer' thing then only sensible to a disk controller, not a humanoid. I'll keep custom SET DIR presets in AUTOEXEC.BAT for sane sort orders. Long live the mysteries of DOS.

Internet Explorer tombstone popped up, in case link dies: Internet Explorer 1995.8.17 - 2022.6.15 He was a good tool to download other browsers https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/internet-explorer-grave-01.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=744 ***** Thanks @RainyShadow and @deomsh. The SET commands in AUTOEXEC.BAT work great. Other custom commands may be added if they are useful or repetitively used. Pause switch is good too. Maybe a DOSKEY enhanced bug regarding XCOPY. Once XCOPY gets installed it seems tab autocomplete stops working for the original COPY command. The COPY command still works, just without autocomplete, no big. Autocomplete for XCOPY command works fine. Still don't understand the seemingly random order, 'historical order'. Forgive format, didn't want to attach screenshot. Below is DIR /V (verbose) of a DOS software directory on this system. To the end user, what exactly is the pattern of the default sort order? Volume_in_drive_C_has_no_label Volume_Serial_Number_is_3040-1CE7 Directory_of_C:\DOS File_Name_________Size________Allocated______Modified______Accessed__Attrib .______________[DIR]______________________10-08-19_10:04p__10-08-19______D_ .._____________[DIR]______________________10-08-19_10:04p__10-08-19______D_ VIDECDD__SYS________11,294________12,288__10-08-19__1:12a__06-16-22_______A PICTVIEW_______[DIR]______________________10-20-19__9:17p__10-20-19______D_ MUPDF__________[DIR]______________________08-30-21__3:30p__08-30-21______D_ CWSDPMI________[DIR]______________________09-01-20__3:35p__09-01-20______D_ LINKS__________[DIR]______________________06-11-22_11:09a__06-11-22______D_ LNE100_________[DIR]______________________06-11-22__1:06a__06-11-22______D_ MTCP___________[DIR]______________________08-26-20__2:47a__08-26-20______D_ LIVEDOS________[DIR]______________________10-17-19_12:07a__10-17-19______D_ DOS_HELP_______[DIR]______________________10-08-19_12:31a__10-08-19______D_ GOPHERUS_______[DIR]______________________03-14-21__1:30a__03-14-21______D_ LYNX___________[DIR]______________________03-09-21__7:16a__03-09-21______D_ CTMOUSE__EXE_________6,120_________8,192__06-01-03__2:00a__06-17-22_______A ARACHNE________[DIR]______________________03-15-21_12:42p__03-15-21______D_ PKUNZIP__EXE________29,656________32,768__03-14-21__6:51p__06-13-22_______A CMOS___________[DIR]______________________09-17-21__3:16p__09-17-21______D_ ROGUE__________[DIR]______________________06-14-22__1:45a__06-14-22______D_ DCRAWL_________[DIR]______________________06-11-22__1:51a__06-11-22______D_ DIR_DOS__TXT_____________0_____________0__06-17-22__3:29p__06-17-22_______A _________4_file(s)_________47,070_bytes ________16_dir(s)__________53,248_bytes_allocated _________________________4,114.51_MB_free _________________________6,137.84_MB_total_disk_space,__32%_in_use

Hi @UCyborg, NetCaptor i've never heard of either. I remember Internet Explorer v6 being quite the upgrade. Versions 5 and 6 were used here, then Netscape Navigator. After leaving Windows 98 it was mostly Firefox and SeaMonkey. SeaMonkey is falling behind so primarily Firefox now for modern, full-featured browsing. For some reason Firefox v3.6 is memorable, hard to believe that was only 12 years ago, now they're on version 101, ugh. My favourite browsers probably not many use, Dillo (seems abandoned), Links, RetroZilla and personal webscraping scripts. Anything to keep browsing snappy and lean. There's almost always a non-JavaScript website alternative. A few years ago i coded by own browser in Bash script (bsurf - Bash Surf), including a scratch coded HTML parser and viewer. It doesn't do JavaScript and is text-only, keyboard commands, from a terminal. It has basic features: bookmarks, search engines, history, page search, file downloads, image popups (external viewer, eg. feh). It doesn't do tabs. To avoid new terminal popups for another page, hyperlinks can be preloaded in the background while reading the existing page. Upon page exit, all preloaded pages are listed on the main screen, below the bookmarks, ready to be instantly viewed. Fun but lots of work, still needs bug and speed fixes. The world has changed so much and i'm older, don't work on it anymore but still use it for some sites. ***** More time was spent in DOS v7 (from Windows 98) this week than any other OS. Most of it online via Links, reading and research, weather and news, some downloads. Also tested packet drivers, tweaked network, set up an image viewer and PDF reader. EDIT.EXE is a pretty good editor, unfortunately no word wrap. No i don't want another editor, unless Windows 98 has another built-in that works in DOS. A useful keyboard shortcut in EDIT is Ctrl-PageUp/Down, which warps one screen at a time left/right for reading off-screen sentences. Help -> Commands is informative. Mentioned before, EDIT can load i believe 9 documents at a time, toggled via View dropdown or Alt-[1-9] key combination. More than one file can be opened at a time from a command line prompt, just space separate the file names. Recommend running DOSKEY enhanced for tab autocomplete functionality. EDIT DOC1.TXT DOC2.TXT Frustrating, there does not appear to be any logical order in file and directory listing when the DIR command is used without argument. It does not appear to sort by name, file size, extension, directories first. Seems a jumbled mess. So i usually run DIR/W/ON to get everything on one screen, ordered by name, but it's a hassle. There does not appear to be a configuration, like a GNU/Linux .bashrc file, that will always use the '/W/ON' options. DOSKEY may have a configuration for this but it would be nice if there was something native in DOS. Often MORE is piped to prevent off-screen scrolling, example: DIR /ON | MORE The MORE and TYPE commands are useful as a document reader. Longer documents are better in MORE as it will pause each screen, TYPE just dumps everything at once, or just use EDIT. MORE DOC1.TXT TYPE DOC1.TXT | MORE EDIT DOC1.TXT There does not appear to be a quick method to create a new, empty document like the 'touch' command in GNU/Linux. Minor hassle, run EDIT then select 'Save as', enter document name and the file gets created, empty file okay. ECHO can, however, be used to create a new file with content, example: ECHO review_DOS_games > TO_DO.TXT ... and append an existing file: ECHO get_more_sleep >> TO_DO.TXT

Correct @UCyborg - IMMC.EXE and correct again, an installer. Windows 98 SE @jumper, i don't own FE. First MMC was a non-functional shell, don't know how it got there as this is an old, seasoned install with lots of playtime. Yesterday running D:\tools\reskit\setup\mmc\immc.exe made MMC functional. Perhaps @justacruzr2 owns Windows 98 SE. I can't confirm from this OS/browser whether it's on a Windows Me CD, someone could review contents of an Me ISO via archive[DOT]org. Aside, no MMC on my Windows 95 CD.

Good call @UCyborg. Don't know how this non-functional shell of MMC.EXE got on my system. Perhaps i use a different Windows 98 SE release or from exploring the CD earlier. Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition 4.10.2222A MMC.EXE is on my Windows 98 SE installation CD as a Resource Kit tool: D:\tools\reskit\setup\mmc\mmc.exe Clicking on this 'installed' MMC. Don't know whether i installed it and all components properly, OP will need to review documentation. Regardless my system now has a functional C:\WINDOWS\MMC.EXE with a working Add/Remove Snap-in popup.

--- Breaking headline: Internet Explorer is officially retired after 27 years - CNN --- What were they on, version 100. Haven't used it since the beginning of time. It was, however, the first browser used here when i built my Windows 98 computer in 1999 (just like MS wanted). It wasn't long before i switched to other browsers but yes i did use it for a while and have fond memories. Same with Outlook Express, patiently synchronizing emails over 56k dial-up. The Internet Explorer v5.00.2614.3500 installed here doesn't appear to do 'tabs'. From About Internet Explorer 5 (1999) below. --- Based on NCSA Mosaic. NCSA Mosaic(TM); was developed at the National Center for supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Distributed under a licensing agreement with Spyglass, Inc. Contains security software licensed from RSA Data Security Inc. Portions of this software are based in part on the work of the Independent JPEG Group. Contains SOCKS client software licensed from Hummingbird Communications Ltd. Contains ASN.1 software licensed from Open Systems Solutions, Inc. Multimedia software components, including Indeo(R); video, Indeo(R) audio, and Web Design Effects are provided by Intel Corp. Unix version contains software licensed from Mainsoft Corporation. Copyright (c) 1998-1999 Mainsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Mainsoft is a trademark of Mainsoft Corporation. Warning: This computer program is protected by copyright law and international treaties. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this program, or any portion of it, may result in severe civil and criminal penalties, and will be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible under the law. --- MS has been benefiting from the work of others forever, then making it their own. Just ask Tim Paterson, 86-DOS creator (known internally as QDOS - Quick and Dirty Operating System). Dirty was later changed to Disk, obviously it sounded more professional. Interesting old The Register article. Every programmer had to start somewhere. Thank-you Bill Gates for your contributions. https://www.theregister.com/2000/06/29/bill_gates_roots/ --- Bill Gates' roots in the trashcans of history Garbage in, garbage out, stick your hands in, rummage about... Gates said: "I'd skip out on athletics and go down to this computer center. We were moving ahead very rapidly: Basic, FORTRAN, LISP, PDP-10 machine language, digging out the operating system listings from the trash and studying those." ---

Hi @justacruzr2. The MMC.EXE installed here in vanilla Windows 98 is v1.1 (1998). For whatever reason, creating a new console and selecting Add/Remove Snap-in (selectable, not greyed out) does nothing. Not sure what executable is then failing. Didn't check my other, more virgin, Windows 98 install.

Guess JavaScript's not a priority then @UCyborg ;)

Thanks @MrMateczko. Unfortunately v2 also runs as a process here despite preparations: original KB891711.EXE and registry references removed, reboot. So the new version is installed but disabled via MSCONFIG. Windows 9x may be the biggest hack every monetized, or is it? Hmm, well there's Windows XP -> 7 -> 11 progression. Isn't Windows 10+ free, now MS needs to give it away to maintain market dominance. Recent troubleshooting research for slow My Documents and Min/MaxFileCache, there were lots of hits for slow Windows 10 Explorer, that sort of thing. If anything we seem to have created more complex software and problems. Windows 98 SE captured my heart too. I have used and trialed many OS over the years, nothing as fun. DOS web browsers like Links automagically connect to DHCP provided the packet driver is working. It then creates a W32DHCP.TMP file in C:\WINDOWS\TEMP. Unless expired or deleted the file gets re-used for the next session. It can be modified before next browser reboot to experiment with network settings, like DNS provider (eg OpenDNS) or modifying TTL. Preferred changes can be made permanent by creating a custom WATTCP.CFG file in the web browser directory. Default TTL in the Windows 9x era was 32 (up to Windows 98 First Edition) to 128. For DOS networking i am currently experimenting with lower TTL values, presently around 54. DOS packet drivers never seem fast and running via a router connected to a USB phone tether has it's limitations. Default TTL (Time To Live) Values of Different OS - Subin's Blog https://subinsb.com/default-device-ttl-values/ Forgive format errors, researched and posted from DOS.

Hi @justacruzr2. Vanilla Windows 98 already has C:\WINDOWS\MMC.EXE, you need to add your own snap-ins. Windows 98's management tools are scattered and accessible from all sorts of places (eg. CLI, Control Panel, Programs menu). Since i prefer, and am used, to the scatter method MMC was never used and tested here. The Microsoft Management Console in Windows 2000: Where Management Begins https://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=21280 Forgive format errors, researched and posted from DOS :)

Links v2.27, ooohh, aaahh.

Outstanding @jumper, thanks again. Via MSCONFIG -> Startup tab, disabled 'System Tray' and 'LoadPowerProfile'. Now DDHELP.EXE no longer runs at boot but does load when initiating a DirectX game. I always thought 'LoadPowerProfile' was related to power saving (eg. screen blank, hard drive power down). Well it's not, this feature still works. Now down to the 5 core services @jumper mentioned, plus KB891711.EXE. From wasted time, KB891711.EXE was probably Windows 98's most controversial update. It left an extra background process. Although labelled critical it was not solely a Windows 9x issue. It was reported to cause system instability, blue screens of death and spontaneous restarts. The update may have caused more problems than it fixed. There was apparently an official, updated KB891711.EXE that would not run as a service but the discussion around this was convoluted. If the updated patch still required manually modifying the registry, did it really not run as a service, no idea. For now i'll also uncheck KB891711.EXE via MSCONFIG. Maybe try to find the newest release or uninstall altogether, won't kiss and tell. --- Official MS: http://web.archive.org/web/20070113164903/http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS05-002.mspx --- Maybe not a big deal: Mar 26, 2005 The latest from MS: "Microsoft has received reports about issues with KB891711 on Windows 98, Windows 98 SE and Windows ME. At this point, we have been able to confirm these reports and are currently working on a resolution. "Please note that by uninstalling the current update, the machine will return to a ulnerable state. At this point, we are currently not aware of customer's being exploited by way of the vulnerability fixed in MS05-002 on Windows 98, Windows 98 SE and Windows ME. Gary S. Terhune MS MVP Shell/User https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/whats-the-deal-with-ms05-002-kb891711-exe-and-windows-98.1145386/page-4 --- KB891711.EXE updated: Apr 12, 2005 I've had KB891711 installed on my machine since it was first offered as an update at WUD. I've never had any problems but followed the discutions about all of the troubles other people have had. I just updated my computer from WUD and after installing the "new" KB891711 update I no longer have it running in the background. So the update is probaly a new version. --- KB891711.EXE information: Yes, they advised all to use the new revised version: 04/12/05 Security Update for Windows 98 (KB891711) Download size: 149 KB, < 1 minute https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/whats-the-deal-with-ms05-002-kb891711-exe-and-windows-98.1145386/page-6 --- Apparently MS even advised uninstalling the patch if problematic: Installed by the Windows KB891711 critical update, see this security bulletin - this file reportedly needs to continue running in order to patch the vulnerability, at least until a more practical solution is found. There have however been reports of fatal exception errors in systems running Windows 98, and in such a case Microsoft advises to either uninstall the patch (Add/Remove Programs) or prevent it from running at startup. https://startups.glarysoft.com/KB891711/KB891711.exe/3893/ --- Another unofficial patch from an unknown author, i'll pass: https://msfn.org/board/topic/58780-q891711-u891711-unofficial-ms07-017-ms05-002-ani-fix/

Okay i'm gonna stop posting when too busy for proper research. DDHELP.EXE is not related to MS Help, it's Microsoft DirectX Helper. Without this most of my games won't run, just tested with Madden 2000, so that won't get disabled. You must not be a gamer @jumper :)

Regarding KB891711.EXE, this is what was researched before: KB891711.EXE Information This is a valid program that is required to run at startup. This program is required to run on startup in order to benefit from its functionality or so that the program will work. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/KB891711.EXE-7773.html

Thanks for the feedback @jumper. On both my systems KB891711.EXE runs after install, every boot. It doesn't show in Ctrl-Alt-Delete 'Close Program' popup but is listed in Process Explorer under MPREXE.EXE service (WIN32 Network Interface Service Process). Attempting to kill the service during runtime crashes the OS. If i disable the service from booting, how to confirm the patch is effective? Very interesting. DDHELP.EXE can be renamed to disable within Windows. Upon reboot Start menu -> Help still works, what the.. SYSTRAY.EXE must be renamed to disable from DOS. Upon reboot to Windows the SYStemTRAY still works and appears fully functional, what the.. Don't think above is the most elequoent way to stop a service. No memory testing was performed, any gains are probably negligible. Thanks again for the feedback, good tips to lean things out, still not sure about KB891711.EXE. Maybe a critical update patch about 20 years later isn't meaningful anyway.

Hi @D.Draker, the tags don't work from old non-JavaScript browsers. To create hyperlinks i manually need to paste the code myself to get it to show for others. Here minimal air conditioning is used to minimize energy use. Where i live there are plenty of months per year that require heat, then 'waste' heat from intense computing is welcome. In the summer i generally shift to reading, handhelds and low powered computing. EDIT: Hi @D.Draker. Thanks for the tips. We've installed reflective glass, use blinds and sewed extra-insulated curtains. My old house was better than this newer one, maybe an example of how we used to be smarter. Climate change has only been on the radar for decades. It had nice, small windows, beautiful awnings over south-facing windows, geothermal cooling, large shady trees. Almost all neighbouring houses removed the awnings over the years to 'upgrade' the siding. https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/13/health/falling-iq-scores-study-intl/index.html

A laggy boot was noticed on my faster (1.8 GHz) Windows 98 system the other day, including a busy hourglass cursor for a few extra seconds at startup and brief hang before Windows Explorer first open. Process Explorer listed an unfamiliar service, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WMIEXE.EXE, described as 'WMI service exe housing'. The service was related to USB stack software installed several weeks ago when testing USB internet tethering with a cellphone. The boot lag was fixed and the service no longer runs after removing the USB software and disabling USB from System Properties -> Device Manager. On this system USB is not used. The USB software was only installed for testing purposes and i got to lazy or distracted to uninstall the software afterward. Now Process Explorer indicates 8 core Windows and a system update processes: DDHELP.EXE EXPLORER.EXE KB891711.EXE KERNEL32.DLL MMTASK.TSK MPREXE.EXE MSGSRV32.EXE SYSTRAY.EXE Plus an extra 4 related to optional software: PERSFW.EXE AUTOHOTKEY.EXE TINYRESMETER.EXE PROCEXP.EXE

SpellForce is ongoing @D.Draker. Funny you should comment about the game's age @UCyborg, it's the most CPU and GPU intensive Windows game my old systems have ever run! Disabled almost every known Windows XP service known to man and the system now games better. Observation, don't play intensive games on a hot summer day, best in winter time to heat the house :) Agree all, dry okay as long as heat dissipation still works, hence temperature monitor. The only other way i know to tell if the paste has lost contact is to remove the heatsink clasps and gently nudge the heatsink assembly to confirm it's still 'glued' to the CPU. This was the case described above, not sticking at all, no longer effective. Of course by the time the computer is stripped to this level may as well remove the heat sink, clean up the old paste and finish the job right. Agree @D.Draker, older paste is generally harder to remove from precious hardware, especially if the previous owner was sloppy with paste application.