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I am broadcasting this user guide because the essential information is being slowly lost from internet search providers. Windows 9x is a very functional OS, however, Microsoft rarely included the troubleshooting essential for resetting parts of the file system, which is the way the OS typically gets to work back to normal, even in 2022. I've learned through experience that Virtual PC Emulation is never going to support all DOS and 32-bit games library. A real PC made between 1993 - 2001 must be purchased and taken care of. The Windows Millennium embedded virtual mode DOS window is 100% functional in the exact same performance as in Windows 98... however, the AUTOEXEC.BAT and the CONFIG.SYS files located in the path C:\WINDOWS or in C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\EBD expect accurate command strings in relation to the upgraded MS-DOS Version 8.0 which is a part of Windows ME itself. Additionally, one must be mindful and careful in searching for that one original 16-bit DOS driver made by the Sound Card manufacturer because the name of the string can vary. The file path I mentioned a moment ago is not the DOS BOOT system files. Rather, it is a secondary replica of the DOS BOOT system files which is intended to be read by the embedded virtual mode DOS, which Microsoft designed. For the reason that the AUTOEXEC.BAT and the CONFIG.SYS files were left completely blank by Microsoft, I do not know why. However, with efficient work and knowledge, DOS Gaming is very functional and the CD-ROM, SOUND, MIDI, and Analog Joystick strings must be applied. It also should be noted that the MS-DOS Editor application doesn't even permit editing of the system file path I mentioned. It should be manually edited under Notepad by copying and pasting it to Desktop, and re-naming the file extension to .TXT. 1) Let us start with AUTOEXEC.BAT. A) Because my Sound Card is not an actual SoundBlaster brand, but a SoundBlaster-compatible brand called CrystalAudio, then the SET SOUND string is different. It appears: SET SOUND=C:\WINDOWS\CWCDATA\CWCDOS.EXE /P (CWCDOS.EXE is the original 16-bit DOS driver made by the Sound Card manufacturer.) B) Because my Sound Card is not an actual SoundBlaster brand, but a SoundBlaster-compatible brand called CrystalAudio, then the string particularly has the "I5" and "H5" instead of the usual "I7" and "H7." It appears: SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 E620 T6 (On a SoundBlaster brand only, it appears: SET BLASTER=A220 I7 D1 H7 P330 T6 J200) Note: Apply the "J200" at the end of the string IF ONLY your sound card is SoundBlaster. If it is SoundBlaster-compatible brand otherwise, skip and proceed to the next step. C) Because my Sound Card is not an actual SoundBlaster brand, but a SoundBlaster-compatible brand called CrystalAudio, then the string SET MIDI is PART ONE in order to activate the Analog Joystick under DOS. It appears: SET MIDI=SYNTH:1 MAP:E MODE:0 Note: PART TWO in order to activate the Analog Joystick involves installing Direct X 7.1 through 8.2. Then restart. Then these dual 16-bit and 32-bit drivers will combine functionality. The Joystick is therefore active under Control Panel > Game Controllers. D) The CD-ROM string is a universally recognized one. It appears: LH c:\command\MSCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001 E) The complete code string as a whole is a ton of gibberish code, however, it is VERY IMPORTANT to use this version of code IF YOU'RE USING WINDOWS ME because it is the resigned DOS Version 8.0 code included with it. Note: Open attachment below. 2) Let us continue with CONFIG.SYS. A) The original purpose of CONFIG.SYS was intended to sort the Disk or Diskette boot order. Microsoft expanded on it to specify memory thresholds and character thresholds. Subsequent to Windows 98 and ME, it also includes expanded memory and hardware drivers. The HIMEM.SYS string is crucial. It is used to manage extended memory on DOS. Note: Open attachment below. 3) If you have recently upgraded or installed Windows Millennium, you should adhere to the strict update process. A) Do not download and run the "Unofficial Service Pack 1" auto-script. The person who created that script did not take into account that most updates needs to be individually installed and to restart the computer every time. Your computer will either crash on blue screen or your registry will become obsolete. Instead, go over to this link so that you can download a folder that contains all relevant updates individually > https://archive.org/download/WULOS and select the file "WinUpdates_95-XP32.iso." B) Please be advised that you may not need to install too many updates for too long from that folder, as because Microsoft released an update-related Security Disc in 2004 to various magazines, which includes a lot of final component updates. Go over to this link > https://archive.org/details/securityupdatecd_2004_woutdirectx9 and download the .ISO file. Note: This is the only version of the Security CD that has Direct X 9 removed. Because Direct X 9 removed compatibility with dozens of 32-bit games and also removed the analog joystick driver. C) Do not install Direct X 9 ever. Direct X 7.1 is pre-installed with Windows Me. You may also install Direct X 8.1a and 8.2. Version 8.2 is when you stop. D) You may also browse the very large collection of updates and additional applications located here: https://www.mdgx.com/ietoy.htm 4) Browsing the World Wide Web (mainly Google and MSN) in 2022. A) Download the custom built browser called RetroZilla 2.2 located here: https://github.com/rn10950/RetroZilla/releases/tag/2.2 B) Install Internet Explorer 6.0 Service Pack 1 (IE6SP1). Don't listen to what everyone is saying regarding TSL connections being blocked by external websites. That's bs. Google will load on unsecure HTTP via either TSL and/or SSL. Therefore, open Control Panel > Internet Settings > Advanced. Then scroll down to check mark "SSL 2" "SSL 3" and "TSL 1." Install RetroZilla 2.2. Open a new browser tab, then type "about:config," then add these scripts: Script 1: security.ssl3.ecdhe_ecdsa_aes_128_gcm_sha256 Script 2: security.ssl3.ecdhe_rsa_aes_128_gcm_sha256 Again, open a new browser tab, then type "about:config," then search these six scripts and disable them each by toggling it to FALSE. security.ssl3.ecdh_ecdsa_rc4_128_sha security.ssl3.ecdh_rsa_rc4_128_sha security.ssl3.ecdhe_ecdsa_rc4_128_sha security.ssl3.ecdhe_rsa_rc4_128_sha security.ssl3.rsa_rc4_128_md5 security.ssl3.rsa_rc4_128_sha Again, open a new browser tab, then type "about:config," then search for Java and disable the script called "javascript.enabled" by toggling it to FALSE. C) If you set up Networking Devices (Sharing) via the Home Network Setup Wizard, your Internet Connection (IP Address) will be negatively compromised. Don't. There is a new yet little known setting in Windows ME called "IP Routing Enabled" which causes this issue. You can view this unusual setting by opening Start > Run > type "Command" > type "WINIPCFG." IP Configuration Utility will open and you will see that setting check marked in blue. It cannot be resolved simply by de-selecting the check mark because the registry settings were compromised too. Therefore if you have no Internet Connection (IP Address) because of this, then this troubleshooting will fix it and get the connection restored. C-continued) Repairing Winsock2 in Win9x/ME. Open Control Panel > Network. Inside the "Configuration" tab, remove all protocols (the protocol icon is T-shaped) while leaving the Network Adapters (green icon) alone. Close the Network Properties window, AND DO NOT CLICK YES FOR A REBOOT. YOU MUST NOT REBOOT YET. Open Regedit and delete these keys: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\VXD\Dhcp HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\VXD\Dhcpoptions HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\VXD\MSTCP HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\VXD\Winsock2 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2 Then close Regedit. Open Control Panel > Network again. Click Add, then click Protocol, then click add once more. Then a third box appears. Click Microsoft on the left panel, then click TCP/IP on the right panel. Have your Windows ME CD inserted for the CAB rebuilding process. Click OK and close all boxes. When the request to reboot appears. CLICK YES and REBOOT. And your Internet Connection (IP Address) settings are now restored. 5) Release and Renew the IP Address, Default Gateway, and DNS router data. A) Open Start > Run > type "Command" > type "WINIPCFG." Click Release All and then click Renew All. 6) Easy way to boot into Safe Mode. A) Hold down the "Control" key when you reboot the computer. 7) Burning blank CD-Rs for file transfer. A) CD-Rs manufactured since 2015 changed to dyes that are unstable on older CD-ROM Drives and the dyes melt very easily due to the higher power output of the laser. Your best bet is to purchase a lot of orders of vintage CD-R stocks on eBay.com. _______________________________________ Have *´) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•´ * . ´***Great Times!! I am so very tired and I will provide more troubleshooting guides when I return in a day or two. AUTOEXEC.TXT CONFIG.TXT

By far the worst prob for old Win98 browsers in today's web is outdated https-encryption (SSL/TLS). Websites insisting to connect with modern TLS1.2 are completely BLOCKED, showing only error pages, usually this infamous one: Error code: ssl_error_no_cypher_overlap That desaster started only 1-2 years ago with Google's command to encrypt the whole public web with modern standards too, and things went downhill fast. Meanwhile half the internet is broken for old Firefox/Mozilla browsers! Amazingly, old Opera12.02 (needs KernelEx) is still holding up much better, it was amazingly advanced for its time, but now losing the uphill battle too. Lucky the people who can run the last Presto version (Opera 12.15?) Luckily, especially for Mozilla fans, rescue came from projects like Retrozilla, with TLS1.2, for pure vanilla Windows98. https://msfn.org/board/topic/174987-x/ And since a few years also from roytam1. Focussing mainly on Mozilla browsers for XP, but occasionally also a special build for older systems. Such a pity that he doesn't create own topics here for his fascinating Win98-browser updates. But hidden away in the middle of giant melting pot topics in the XP-forum that stuff just gets lost. Only just-for-fun hobby users of retro stuff (like himself) may stumble across it over there. So what do, to give notice of those gems to more regular users of old systems too? Which are HERE? Perhaps we can at least collect some links here, for real 9X users, to find that stuff easier. And there's probably more interesting stuff floating around out there somewhere, from other people, that could be added too. For longer discussions of single projects it would be better if anyone can create new separate topics around here, to keep that stuff together, then in THIS topic just post the link and a bit description.

using the VMWare, how can i change the CPU frequency and the Video Memory?

Im trying to install and run Chrome on Windows 98, I got errors. Is there any way?

Hello I am using Windows 98 (nostalgia reasons) and I can't for get the internet working. My motherboard has a built-in ethernet adapter called Realtek RTL 8139/810X. I successfully installed the drivers for it and in the device manager it says "this device is working properly". When I connect the cable from my router the light on the adapter lights up. Then I set up a static IP, and yes I set the TCP/IP to the adapter in network options. And I still can't connect to the internet. What do I do?

Hi All, New to the forum and looking for some help/advice on a project I am working on. The scope of the project is to turn an old failing Win98 computer into something new that will live on. I am using VMware to accomplish the task of running Win98 on new hardware. ---This part of the project is flawless in operation as I am able to communicate with the equipment as needed. I am using a new HP EliteDesk computer with a Core i7, 8 gigs of ram and Win7 OS. It's the SFF for space requirement reasons. Now on to the issue I am running into. The equipment this computer communicates with has a camera and it needs to talk to the software in the computer in order to do its job. So I am looking for a Video Capture card to make this happen. ---Two Problems stopping this from working: 1) The cards that are compatible with Windows 98 have the wrong slot. 2) The cards that fit the available slots only go back as far as maybe Windows XP. I have done research and I'm just going around in circles. I have a cheep USB Capture Device and obviously it works with Win7 but no support for Win98. (bought for another project) Never did I think it would just work with this setup, I was hoping the USB capture device drivers could be adapted to work with Win98??!! At this point I am looking for some input from someone with more knowledge of Win98 and how things work and or could work. Also on the search for either a USB, X1pciEXP or a X16pciEXP slot capture device compatible with Win98. Thanks for any help you can provide, it's appreciated!

anyone know how to get the mouse to work in safe mode in win98se? it is a usb mouse and has a usb-PS/2 adapter. It works fine in normal mode. Its just easier to use the mouse for navigation instead of the keyboards. I'm dealing with an issue with the sound blaster driver fault error as it won't let the pc get past boot process.

Windows 98 wont recognize my hard-drive, but BIOS does. Any suggestions.