Drugwash

How much do you know about Windows GDI? If that MSDN wouldn't be blocked here (for an unknown reason)*, I'd give you a few links to LoadImage(), LoadIcon() (deprecated) and a few ImageList_*() functions so you could see what the OS is dealing with. Especially with LoadImage(), it requires the image type to be specified in the function call, otherwise it fails. Depending on the image load routines, the resizing operation may alter the original image as I already said above. The "feature" you're talking about does nothing else than take a bitmap, create an icon that contains default system size images (16x16 and 32x32) and add it to the icon cache. Which does involve resizing. If you wanna see or save icons from exe/dll/ocx/etc., try VersionInfo Lister from the link in my signature. If only to prove I know a few things and not just copy/paste info off Google... EDIT: * It turned out that particular MSDN link (LoadImage function) would stall in K-Meleon, but Firefox 9.0 beta opened it in a few seconds, on the same 98SE machine. This is getting very, very weird! EDIT2: Nevermind, it was just one of this browser's fluke; after closing and restarting K-Meleon, it opened the MSDN link without problems. Guess me and this system are getting old at the pretty same rate. *sigh*

Now... what would it take to have IE8 or later install and run under 9x? Because I want - no, scratch that: I need - to run SlimBrowser (the Unicode, updated version). Of all these other fancy, useless (for me) browsers, none has the two options I need, in the exact form provided by SB: Auto-Logins and Groups (which accepts auto-logins as launch address). The closest is K-Meleon (which I'm using daily and which forces me to reboot everytime it crashes the video driver on some web page, for unknown reason), because it keeps me logged in (through its own cookies or something I haven't yet figured out), but still it has its limitations because - for example - I still need to log out of one Yahoo account to log into another, operation that has to be done manually, which beats the purpose of automatic logins - naturally, I'm only talking about single-user machines with no concern about local privacy. The imposibility of saving/launching bookmarks makes Firefox completely useless for someone that routinely accesses the same URLs, one or more times a day. More so when those URLs require logging in (such as GMail, Yahoo Mail, forums, etc. Am I hopeless...? EDIT: Having had an incident with a link not opening in K-Meleon 1.7.0 (particularly a MSDN link to LoadImage() returning the message The specified CGI application encountered an error and the server terminated the process.), I fired up Firefox 9.0 beta that I just installed on the 98SE machine and I noticed it doesn't create either a taskbar button or a SysTray icon. Meaning a minimized Firefox could run in the background without the owner knowing (or remembering) it. It'll only show up through Task Switcher (ALT-TAB). Also, the Hand cursor wouldn't show up over a link on a page. Compatibility was set to Windows 2000 SP4. It's all fine when set to XP-SP2, but it crashes on exit, maybe when the Bookmarks panel was accessed before exit.

There are many picture editor/conversion applications out there: IcoFX, Imagine, etc. But beyond that, you have to understand that file extension does not define the file type, which is structurally different from type to type. You cannot change a file's extension and expect it to perform differently - unless a poorly written software only takes into account file extension and does not check its internal signature. Which is not the case with Tihiy's state of the art Revolutions Pack. EDIT And to dig a bit deeper into the problem at hand: a true icon file can contain multiple images with different sizes and color depth. Depending on contents, the operating system chooses the best image and displays it. In the process, when a suitable size is not found, the OS may have to resize the nearest matching image and as such, it may induce distortion, such as losing the alpha channel (an issue I've reported above recently) or changing background color. Therefore, when creating an icon, make sure you create multiple sized and color depth images within the same icon. Usually 8bit + 32bit with sizes of 16x16, 32x32 and 48x48px, for a 9x system. Vista/7+ can use 256x256px PNG icons, but that is not a subject to discuss in a 9x topic.

If I wasn't so lazy, this post would've been added from the WinME machine that - after succesful installation of KernelEx 4.5.120 - now runs Firefox 9.0 beta1 and had no problems to open this very topic (albeit a little slower than K-Meleon that I'm using on this 98SE). A bit premature, maybe, but I'd call it a success. Thank you for being here with us again.

For what it's worth, I've been running NUSB 3.5 ever since its release and it hasn't failed me yet, except for the bluetooth dongle that probably lacks further OS support. Other 4 USB Flash sticks, 1 multi-SDHC card reader, 1 portable camera with SD-card and at least 3 other Flash sticks belonging to my friends (of which at least one was set as removable HDD by the manufacturer), have been detected and operated without problems. The Lexmark X1150 multi-function printer/scanner has its own drivers so it shouldn't count; neither should the USB mouse Trust MI-2520p - however they both work correctly too. Got no other USB devices that may help for testing purposes. I should mention (again) however, that both motherboard chipset and USB-to-PCI adapter operate VIA chips. You may wanna wait for confirmation from someone with different USB chip or chipset, or different USB devices.

Except that VIA and SiS are the most resiliant chipsets with regard to Win9x (as in drivers still available) and thus most likely to be used by people in the present and near future. Therefore we may just have to find out how to recognize an installed and enabled VIA chipset (or USB standalone chip) and complete the installation with the USBHUB20.SYS driver. I myself use a VIA-based motherboard plus a standalone VIA USB2.0 PCI board currently, while other two machines have SIS chipsets.

As a general rule, IMHO safer than anything, patchers with proved compatibility over different file versions should be preferred over already patched/modified files, simply because installers based on version numbers or just plain dumb installers, might break functionality in already patched files, bringing confusion (or mayhem) to an otherwise perfectly working system. Let's not be hasty, but search/wait for the right solutions.

Hold on on the last one (CDFS.VXD). While possibly useful to some of us, there's a size display patch by Rudolph Loew for the same driver. I'd first wait for Mr. Loew's opinion on whether his patch would work correctly on both original and modified drivers and then the service pack should make sure that any patching will occur after the driver file has been replaced and not before. But heck, I don't even know if the Service Pack includes Mr. Loew's patch...

Namely? List of VID & PID? It does work with my storage devices and camera. No bluetooth but that's more complicated than the NUSB driver. But and however, I suppose anyone would gladly have at least some of their devices working, rather than none.Not sure about USB20DRV.EXE, I've had some trouble with it not so long ago. Hasn't it been merged with NUSB 3.5 or am I just dreaming?

Children, play nice, please. Let's not carve things in stone - Adaptec's ASPI is not an application, strictly speaking, but a driver and it is required on most systems that operate an optical CD/DVD unit. Sure, Ahead's Nero does install its own driver for this purpose, but that is a commercial application, while Adaptec released their driver freely, so I'd say let it in. After all, we don't need a 100% MS setup - we need a 100% functional system that can do the most possible, given the circumstances. Personally I'd be more concerned about any possible issues such as dll version mismatching, BSOD, etc. reported by users through the topic (if any). I'd imagine Gape has gathered such information, in time and tweaked the pack accordingly; let's be careful and not throw all his work to the bin, shall we?

The more important that someone puts together a really fully package for offline installation, should anything happen to the online "pipe". Supposedly that would've been the case with soporific's UBCD, but I'm not sure it actually did contain the complete package. Fortunately, yesterday I managed to revive my broken PM9MS mobo by replacing 5 gonflated capacitors (to a total of 19 replaced on that mobo since I got it), so I could now mount a spare HDD on the other machine and try to put together a full IE6 package through a web install. But that'll take some time and only after I get to cook something for the next week, coz working on an empty stomach is not pleasant.

... an Internet connection capped at 5GB monthly, after which the download speed will become ridiculously low to be usable. My current IE folder is 72,489,803 bytes, containing the files in the above-posted list. Last time I did a so-called web update, I remember having selected "download only" or something similar (after having selected all possible options,including language packs), so that all missing packages were downloaded and stored in the IE6 folder, so I assumed the folder would contain a full IE6 install kit. Don't forget there may be situations where a machine can't connect to the Internet right away (or ever), so the offline IE install kit should contain everything possible [EDIT] Forgot to say that certain IE6 libraries may actually be required by some applications to be able to run/display properly. MS released (deliberately or not - this is not the point right now) some system libraries only together with IE6 and in time, programmers took advantage of these updates, so whatever 9x-compatible applications out there, may well require these libraries. So it's not just a matter of "I hate IE so I remove it from my system", but a simple compatibility issue: if you want certain applications to run, you better update and keep all your IE libraries in your system. If you want, you may rename IEXPLORE.EXE to something else, as I did long ago, but removing all IE-related libraries from a system is a big mistake in my not-so-newbish opinion.

Web installer? Hmmm... What would that be? I have a (presumably) full package of IE6-SP1 somewhere on my HDD, complete with language packs. Could you check whether my package misses something? And somebody tell me why can't I upload a file to MSFN !?! IE6 file list

Are you sure? Please check again carefully. I've seen msxml3.* in two IE6-SP1 cabs: IEMIL_3.CAB and IEW2K_4.CAB, which would belong to Millenium and 2000, respectively. Since we're talking about a 98SE package, let's make sure that MSXML3 is actually installed under Win98SE.

The ISP provided the very same version of RASPPPoE created by Robert Schlabbach, but that's not the point; the point is, they pulled it from their servers together with the page that contained installation guide, so that Win9x users would not benefit from it. This is not an accident - it's on purpose, the same as pulling most Win9x drivers (that were already there before) from all major hardware manufacturers, together with the total lack of 9x drivers for new hardware. I'm not a programmer but I know a few things and for sure I know that when there's a will, there's a way... unless someone explicitely forbids you to do it. Tomorrow you might wake up with an icon in your systray saying "network disconnected" and a pool of water in the kitchen from your FUBAR old fridge.... Remember what happened to Cassandra in the ancient history - I'm at peace.

I vaguely recall having had some problems with MSXML 4.0, but that was years ago and can't remember the details. If it's not mandatory, you may add it as an optional package. It's worth waiting for other opinions too, maybe it was just me and my notorious bad luck.

How easily this topic has been forgotten... Even by myself who already raised the question at some point in time. And now comes the time to do it again: while looking for a totally unrelated (or not?) thing, I stumbled into a press communicate released by my current Internet provider on October 10, 2011. In a nutshell, it states that RCD&RDS is the first operator in Romania to implement IPv6 for household clients, nationwide. In Novemeber, the program will be extended to business clients and by the end of 2011, the program will cover the whole country. Now, I should back up a little and mention what I was looking for: it's the PPPoE driver for Win95/98, which has been available at some point from one of their servers, without which I couldn't have been able to connect to the wired network a few years ago at the old location. Well, the old address is not available anymore and my search has come up with no results. Extrapolating a bit, I would bet my life that they will never distribute any Ipv6 to IPv4 routers or any similar equipment, because they follow the worldwide trend of "upgrade to latest", therefore their clients would either have to buy Windows Vista/7/8/etc, use a recent Linux distro or break the contract. Mind you, I've called their customer service 4-5 years ago and they totally declined any responsability versus Win9x clients. Considering the above, would you still say "sit back and relax coz IPv6 is still far away"? The implications of this IPv6 being implemented on a worldwide scale are too huge to be discussed on a lite note. The link above mentions "printer, smartphone, tablet, smart TV, home theater PC, refrigerator, surveillance camera, NAS - Network Attached Storage, etc." as devices that will have their own external IP address... I know many will call me a paranoid, but when the day comes that the fridge locks itself because the Internet told it you have eaten too much at lunch, only then will you realize where this world has come to. By then, it would've been too late already.

One tip I accidentally stumbled upon and that turned out to be the most important of them all: Win9x will not open a Win7 network computer directly; instead, one must know the exact names of the shares and access them directly. For example, if the Win7 computer named TEST7 has a shared folder under the name of MyShare, then you'll have to type \\TEST7\MyShare in your file manager and it will open it. I've wasted a lot of time searching around and trying all the tips I could find, until I found the above; as soon as I followed it, the shares became available. As a mention, I'm only using Total Commander as file manager and as such, I locked a few Win7 shared tabs in one pane so they could be accessed when needed without having to type the share path again. I don't think it's been mentioned here but the Win9x machine(s) should have Active Directory Client (DSClient) installed.

Try to put the rename-related keys in a separate inf file and launch it after the main file, see if it works that way. Although - after a little bit of thinking - just adding the relevant missing strings to the Strings section might fix it: [Version] Signature="$Chicago$" [DefaultInstall] AddReg=RegEntries [RegEntries] HKLM, "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RenameFiles\MyDir",,, "%PROGRAMF%\%COMMON%\%SHARED%" HKLM, "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RenameFiles\MyDir", REPLICAT.0,, "Replication Manager 4.0" [Strings] PROGRAMF = "Program files" COMMON = "Common files" SHARED = "Microsoft shared" ;REPLMAN = "Replication Manager 4.0"

You're probably right... we all have our limits. The folder should be created on a file copy operation; apparently this operation does not run, for some reason. Until the copy operation succeeds and the folder is created, no renaming will take place. Now, if the folder is created but the rename fails, then the problem may reside in the original 8+3 folder name - how did you come up with REPLICAT.0? I don't have any such folder in that path so can't check if the name is correct. You may also try with or without quotes around REPLICAT.0. It also occured to me that this renaming might have to take place at some other time or in a previously/later run inf. Of course, the issue may reside in a completely different place, but the file is large and complicated and I can't get to the bottom of this right now, so please try a few more workarounds if/when possible.

You really need to try harder... I explained the best I could... First key contains the path to the folder to be renamed but it does not contain the folder name! Second key contains only the folder name, without the path. That's how it should look like (theoretically - not tested); considering the mess that's in that inf, it would take me too long to analyze and fix it. If it works as is, fully, it's truly a miracle. ;MSJET SP8 HKLM, "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RenameFiles\MyDir",,, "%PROGRAMF%\%COMMON%\%SHARED%" HKLM, "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RenameFiles\MyDir", REPLICAT.0,, "Replication Manager 4.0"

@dencorso: Doin' my best to make myself understood, although I sometimes fail miserably - maybe, maybe, not always my fault. Auction sites don't quite "like" our area - coulnd't blame them, all in all: we got our bad seeds and unfortunately, wind is blowing them towards the most remote areas of the world. I'd rather have some first-hand contacts to deal with, when possible. But thanks for trying to help. @PROBLEMCHYLD: The original inf file I can read just fine from the package; yours - the failed attempt - is what I can't see anywhere around. If you'd be so kind as to post it, I or someone else could point you to the bug(s). Off the top of my head, I could think of some quotes missing from folder name, or some section name missing (CopyFiles=[...], RMDIR in [DefaultInstall], possibly).

Sure, no problem. As soon as MS acknowledge Win98SE as their best OS version ever released. Seriously now, I knew absolutely nothing about inf structure before PROBLEMCHYLD first asked for help here; all I did was read the available documentation, pass it through my logical filter and then use trial'n'error until the outcome was satisfactory. Anyone could do this, time allowing. And for what it's worth, my plate's already overflowing (need a pinch roller and a few other spare parts for an AKAI GX635D that I have to fix for a good friend - any idea?) and there's no help in view; not to mention I'm not getting any younger... I feel honored for the offer, though.

You're welcome. I forgot to mention that the LDID (Logical Disk IDentifier) codes must be used for a correct setup in any circumstances. You probably know them already - they're listed on this page, for anyone interested. For example, instead of "C:\Windows\Local Settings", use "%25%\Local Settings". Oh and please, as long as the releases are still in experimental stage, don't use the FINAL attribute, because it's misleading and may even get frustrating. I've got about 5 such "FINAL" packages and that's only because I skipped a few other releases; over 30MB of a package is not that small for a limited download quota over a GPRS connection.

I didn't know it either before starting to read this particular page. It's just 3 entries above the previous one I linked to, in an earlier post. Granted, it took me a few trials before getting to the correct format, maybe because I was trying to watch a movie on TV at the same time. Anways, since the explanations are not clear enough, let me put it in my own words: - folder renaming is done just as any file renaming, through registry keys - all paths that (may) contains spaces must be enclosed in double quotes - since at least two entries are required, first one will point to the root of the folder that is to be renamed; second entry will contain old folder name and new folder name In the following example, Im gonna rename the folder G:\Test folder into G:\Renamed test folder. Note that the main registry key to use is HKLM, "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RenameFiles" to which arbitrary names can be added to separate different paths; in this case, the arbitrary name is MyDir. [Version] Signature="$CHICAGO$" [DefaultInstall] AddReg=RegEntries [RegEntries] HKLM, "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RenameFiles\MyDir",,, "G:" HKLM, "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RenameFiles\MyDir", "Test folder",, "Renamed test folder" For further clarification, to rename the folder C:\Windows\Local Settings\Apps into C:\Windows\Local Settings\My applications, one would use the following keys in the [RegEntries] section above: HKLM, "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RenameFiles\MyDir",,, "C:\Windows\Local Settings" HKLM, "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RenameFiles\MyDir", "Apps",, "My applications"